Originally published by L.S. Media. September 7th 2011.
The final Queen album to get the re-mastered treatment is the one that may have divided Queen fans the most. Made in Heaven was released after the death of vocalist Freddie Mercury, its songs taken from the last days of the charismatic singer and his insistence to get as many songs down on tape before his untimely death. Several songs were recorded and the band met up after to finish the project.
To some fans, this would have been an ideal way to get one more album from the band, to hear some more of Freddie’s vocals, Brian’s distinctive guitar sounds, Roger’s idiosyncratic drums and the excellent John Deacon’s supreme bass ability. To others it may have been a straw too far, almost trading on the name, in pretty much the same way The Cosmos Rocks did in later years, and giving the band a final pay day with songs that were recorded under difficult and extreme circumstances.
Whatever your point of view, there can be no doubting the simple beauty of Made in Heaven, from the early inspired It’s a Beautiful Day and Freddie’s own creation of the title track which appeared on Freddie’s solo album Mr. Bad Guy but given the distinct Queen sound afterwards by the rest of the band, the whole album is a tribute to the group’s desire to finish the job they started with the debut album Queen.
Made in Heaven is a fitting epitaph, not only to Freddie Mercury but also to the band as a whole. From the roller coaster of the early albums, the absolute majesty of A Night of the Opera, the misguided dalliance with the disco era and the re-emergence as one of the finest and much loved bands that the U. K. has ever produced with albums of such quality as The Works and the incredible Innuendo. There is an era for everyone, a favourite album, a particular song that when played on the radio, heard as background noise in a city cafe or even come across for the first time as you kiss the love of your life, all should be savoured and remembered as songs that were created with love and a sense of belonging.
Made in Heaven should be heard and remembered of what could have been had circumstances and life not got in the way, an album maybe not of warmth but certainly of love from the band to the audience and vice-versa.
Ian D. Hall