The Making Of 'A Night At The Opera'
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Released on 20 March 2005 as a single or double
DVD set.
Length 98 minutes (disc 1) and 43 minutes (disc 2).
Executive producers for Eagle Rock Entertainment: Terry Shland
and Geoff Kempin
Executive producers for Isis Productions: Jamie Rugge-Price
Series Producers: Nick de Grunwald & Martin R Smith
Edited & directed by Matthew Longfellow
This is a DVD concentrating on the album 'A Night At The Opera', and
features a 50 minute documentary featuring new interviews with
Brian, Roger and Roy Thomas Baker, and adds a range of special
features. The double disc version contains the same disc, but
adds the disc from the 30th Anniversary
CD & DVD set, and is housed in a card slipcase. From
personal experience, in the UK at least, the single disc edition
is much harder to get hold of.
The main program was originally broadcast on BBC 2 on 18 December
2005, at 12:30am.
The packaging featured a sticker on the front of the cellophane
which advertised an acoustic performance of 'Good Company' by
Brian May; unfortunately, whilst a short version appears on the
disc, this is not a complete performance and the sticker should
read 'Love Of My Life'.
This page includes full details of the first DVD, which was
produced by Eagle Rock Entertainment. The main program lasts for
49:19, and the disc adds 48:56 in additional bonus features,
making a total running time of 98:15.
The main menu features an excerpt of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and
contains options to play the main program, or
jump to the Track by Track, Special Features or Subtitle menus.
When the DVD first loads, the excerpt is played twice, then the
main program is played. On subsequent visits to the main menu,
the excerpt plays repeatedly.
The 'Track By Track' menu features all twelve album tracks,
spread over two menus (the two sides of the record), with an
excerpt of 'You're My Best
Friend'. Most of the tracks are the same as in the main
program, but have been divided into separate titles. The two
exceptions to this are 'The Prophet's Song' and 'God Save The
Queen', which were not featured in the main program and which are
both the same as in the 'Special Features' section.
The 'Special Features' menu features eight additional
featurettes, arranged over two menus, with a live excerpt of 'I'm In Love With My Car' on
both. The menu choices are:
Play All (plays all special features, divided
into their own chapter) (48:56)
How The Album Got It's Name
39 - Brian May
Half A Sonic Volcano
Sweet Lady - Hyde Park 1976
The Prophet's Song
Love Of My Life - Brian & Freddie
Bohemian Rhapsody
God Save The Queen
Finally, the subtitles screen allows you to
select between German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch
and Portuguese subtitles, or turn them off, and features an
excerpt of '39'.
- 'Classic Albums' introductory titles
- Short interview with Brian, excerpt from the promo video
of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', archive Freddie interview,
footage of 'You're My Best Friend', and interview with
Roy Thomas Baker
- Audio excerpt of '39' with footage from Earl's Court,
interview with Jac Holzman (founder of Elektra), and
audio excerpt of 'I'm In Love With My Car' with footage
of cars and live footage from 1981
- Short interview with Roger then more footage of 'Bohemian
Rhapsody'
- Interviews with Nicky Horne (DJ), and Bob Harris
(presenter) about the impact of the album
- Footage from the promo video for 'Keep Yourself Alive'
and interview with Bob Harris about the track on 'Old
Grey Whistle Test'
- Interviews with Jac Holzman (founder of Elektra Records),
Brian and Bob Harris about Queen's debut album, and Ian
Hunter (Mott The Hoople) about Queen's live shows
- Audio excerpt of 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' with footage of
Queen in Japan in 1974, and interview with Mick Rock
about Queen's attitude and ambition, with some early
photographs
- Interview with Freddie from 1985, and footage of 'Killer
Queen' from the Rainbow 1974, and further interviews with
Mick Rock and Jac Holzman
- Interview with Roger explaining Queen's position before
the album's release, and interviews with Bob Mercer
(Managing Director of EMI), Brian and Roger about the
background of the song
- Excerpts from the album version, with photos from the
recording sessions and some live footage from Houston
1977
- Short interview with Brian about the guitar riff, and him
playing it, before cutting back to the album version and
more live photos
- Interview with Brian about the lyrics of the track,
archive Freddie interview from 1985, a-capella excerpts
of the track, and then an excerpt of a live performance
from Earl's Court 1977
- Interview with Brian about changing management to John
Reid, and interview with Roger about Beatles' influences
- Footage from the new promo video of the track, and
interviews with Gary Lyons and Roy Thomas Baker about the
recording techniques used for the track, with excerpts
from a-capella vocals and guitar solo
- Interview with Nicky Horne about recording techniques,
and interview with Brian about engineer Mike Stone, with
photos from the recording sessions
- Interview with Joe Perry (Aerosmith guitarist) about the
album's impact, further interview with Brian about
pushing boundaries, and interview with Rosie Horide
(journalist) about the recording sessions
- Live footage of the track from the 1978 Jazz tour (focusing
on Roger) and interviews with Joe Smith (chairman of
Elektra records) and John Ingham (journalist) about the
style of tracks on the album
- Interview with Roger about 'I'm In Love With My Car', and
a short excerpt of Roger playing the track on the drums
in the studio, with further live footage of the track,
and interview with Roger about playing a demo of the
track to Brian
- Interview with Brian about the track, with shots of the
Blue Vinyl Bohemian Rhapsody, then short excerpt of Roger
performing an acoustic version, which then cuts to the
album version with footage of cars, mixed with some
footage of Roger drumming
- Interview with John Ingham about Roy Thomas Baker and the
album's production and excesses, and interview with Roy
Thomas Baker about the Queen sound
- Excerpt of the promo video for the track, and interviews
with Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme guitarist), Joe Smith,
Brian May and Anthony DeCurtis (journalist) about the
track and it's popularity
- Interviews with Brian and Mick Rock about John Deacon,
with some early photographs, and archive interview with
Freddie from 1985
- Interview with Brian about the origins of the song, and
interview with Roger about John's retirement
- Interview with Anthony DeCurtis about the band's
harmonies and Queen sound, and interviews with Brian and
Roger about vocals and multi-tracking
- Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about backing vocals,
including a-capella backing vocals from the track, an
interview with John Ingham about harmonies, and
interviews with Roger and Brian about single selections
- Footage of Brian performing an acoustic version of the
track
- Interviews with Roger and Brian about the song's space
origins and the meaning of the track, with excerpts from
the album version with space footage, various live
photographs, and footage (not audio) from Hyde Park, with
a second short interview with Brian
- Interviews with Roger and DJ Nicky Horne about Brian,
with some period photographs, then footage of the track
from Hyde Park 1976
- Interviews with Anthony DeCurtis and Mick Rock about
Freddie's influences, and footage from the new promo
video for the track
- Archive interview with Freddie from 1985 about
songwriting, interview with Roger about sound effects
from the song, further footage from the video, and
further interview with Anthony DeCurtis
- Interview with Brian about the ukulele banjo, and him
playing the track on the ukulele banjo, before cutting to
the album track with early photographs of the band
- Further interview with Brian about jazz bands and the
recording of the track, with shots of the original track
sheets, and interview with Nuno Bettencourt about the
style of the track
- Interview with Brian and standalone excerpt of the
'guitar jazz band'
- Interview with Bob Harris about Freddie's voice, and
archive interview with Freddie about songwriting, with
early photographs of him
- Interviews with Rosie Horide and Mick Rock, followed by
excerpts from the album track, with photographs of
Freddie and Mary Austin
- Interview with Brian about Freddie's multi-tracking, and
interview with Roy Thomas Baker, with excerpts of stand-alone
backing vocals
- Interview with Brian about the recording of the track and
Freddie's piano playing, with some live photographs of
Freddie at the piano
- Interview with Brian about singing the track live, an
excerpt of him performing an acoustic version in the
studio, and more photographs of Freddie.
- Interview with Roger about Freddie's songwriting and
musical ability, with early photos of Freddie, and audio
excerpt of the album track with photographs from the era
- Interview with Brian about the track, with excerpts from
the promo video, and interview with Roger about the
single
- Footage of the track from Hammersmith 1975
- Interviews with Jac Holzman, Ian Hunter, Mick Rock, Bob
Mercer (managing director of EMI) and Joe Smith about the
length, style and complexity of the track
- Further footage from the promo video, and interviews with
Joe Perry and Brian about the guitar solo
- Footage from the promo video, which cuts to Brian
performing it in the studio, before cutting back to the
video
- Interview with Bob Harris about the album's impact, with
newspaper extracts, and interviews with Nicky Horne and
Brian about the success that it brought
- Interview with Brian, Bob Mercer and John Ingham about
the Hyde Park concert, and general footage from the
concert, edited to fit the rock section of the album
track
- Interview with Joe Perry about why the album became a
classic, interviews with Ian Hunter and Jac Holzman about
the album's style, and interviews with Brian and Roger
about the impact of the album
- Album version of 'God Save The Queen' and closing titles
Title 13, length 2:03.
- An interview with Roger about watching the Marx Brother's
film during the recording of the album, and how Freddie,
Brian and Roger met Groucho Marx, including still
photographs of the album, the Marx Brothers and Queen
with Groucho Marx
'39 - Brian May
Title 14, length 2:50 (performance length 2:47).
This is a new acoustic performance of the track by Brian.
Click here for the
original song details.
In the year of '39 assembled here the volunteers
In the days when lands were few
And the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The sweetest sight ever seen
And the night followed day
And the story tellers say
That the score brave souls inside
For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas
Never looked back, never feared, never cried
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew
In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The volunteers came home that day
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
Though their hearts so heavily weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darling went away
But my love this cannot be
So many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mothers eyes from your eyes cry to me
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
All your letters in the sand
Cannot heal me like your hand
For my life still ahead - pity me
Title 15, length 4:34.
- Interview with Brian about the 'Sonic Volcano'
partnership of John and Roger as backing track musicians,
both together and individually
- Interview with Roger sitting at a drum kit, explaining
and playing some of his trademarks, including backbeats
with a hi-hat and snare drum, cymbals, roto-toms and
tom-toms, and he plays parts of 'I'm In Love With My Car'
and 'Let There Be Drums' to demonstrate
- Continued interview with Brian about playing alongside
Roger
Sweet Lady - Hyde Park 1976
Title 16, length 5:48 (song length 3:45).
This featurette begins with an interview with Brian about the
origins of the track, the riff, playing it on the guitar to
demonstrate, and the meaning of the track, and is then followed
by Queen's performance of the track from Hyde Park 1976.
Click here for the
original song details
Freddie: Thank you very much, good evening everybody, welcome to
our picnic by the Serpentine. You all look very beautiful, I must
say. We should like to carry on now with a song called Sweet Lady
Ooh, I like it
You call me up and treat me like a dog
You call me up and tear me up inside
You've got me on a lead
Ooh, you bring me down
You shout around
You tell me things when I'm alone
No, you don't believe me
When you say
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Come on
Come on
Stay sweet
You call me up and feed me all the lines
You call me sweet like ah, I'm some kind of cheese
You're waiting on the shelf
Ooh, you eat me up
You hold me down
I'm just a fool to make you a home
Ooh, you really, really, really do me
When you say
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Come on, stay sweet
My sweet lady, seems like we wait forever
Stay sweet baby
Believe and we've got everything we need
Ooooh
We've got
Everything we need
Yeah, yeah
Oooh, do it
My
Stay sweet
Ooh, you're my sweet lady
You're my sweet lady
Come on
Yeah, come on
Sweet, ooh, my
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Stay sweet
Titles 17 and 22, length 11:35.
This featurette appears twice on the disc, title 17 is played
from the special features menu and title 22 is played from the
track by track menu. Both titles are identical.
- Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about the recording of
the track, with shots of the original track sheets, and
interview with Roger about the length of time it took to
record
- Interview with Brian about the guitar on the track,
playing the riff to demonstrate, and about choruses in
Queen songs
- Continued interview with Roy Thomas Baker and interview
with Brian about the Toy Koto, and Japanese influences
- Audio excerpt of the track, with footage of Queen in
Japan from 1974/5, interview with Brian about the origins
of the song, which then cuts to the album track with
footage of Queen in Hyde Park
- Interview with Brian about delays
- Interview with Roy Thomas Baker, whilst playing the album
track's 'now I know' section, about how the track was
recorded
- Excerpt from the Hyde Park vocal improvisation of the
song, with continued interviews with Roy Thomas Baker and
Brian about Freddie's live improvisations
- Interview with Brian about the backing track, and excerpt
from the album track with live photographs from the era
- Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about some of the effects
used on the track, interview with Anthony De Curtis about
the album as a whole, and final short interview with
Brian
Love Of My Life - Brian &
Freddie
Title 18, length 3:55 (performance length 3:53).
This is a new acoustic performance of the track by Brian, which
then cuts to footage of Brian and Freddie performing the track,
taken from Live At Wembley
1986, before cutting back to Brian for the final verse.
Click here for the
original song details
Love of my life - you've hurt me
You've broken my heart and now you leave me
Love of my life, can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
What it means to me
Love of my life - don't leave me
You've stolen my love, you now desert me
Love of my life, can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
What it means to me
You will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you
How I still love you
(Audience: I still love) you
I still love you
Ohh hurry back, hurry back
Don't take it away from me
Because you don't know what it means to me
Love of my life
Love of my life
Oooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Title 19, length 13:08.
- Archive interview with Kenny Everett about first hearing
the track, with archive photographs and footage of him in
a radio studio
- Footage from the promo video of the track, and interview
with Brian about the origins of the track in earlier
albums, with an excerpt from 'The March Of The Black
Queen' and early photographs
- Interview with Brian about influences in Queen music, and
how engineer Mike Stone recorded vocals to get a 'bell'
effect, with further excerpt from 'The March Of The Black
Queen'
- Interview with Roy Thomas Baker, with a-capella excerpts
of the track
- Interview with Roger about the backing track, and further
footage from the promo video
- Interview with Brian about the guitar solo, live excerpt
from Hyde Park 1976, and interview with Roy Thomas Baker
about the solo, with standalone excerpts of it
- Interview with Brian about the rock section guitar riff,
and he plays it to demonstrate
- Interview with Roger about recording with Freddie, and
interview with Roy Thomas Baker with excerpts from the
piano and drum backing track of the song
- Further interview with Roger about the backing tracks on
the album, and interview with Anthony DeCurtis about the
meaning of the song
Titles 20 and 23, length 5:02.
This featurette appears twice on the disc, title 20 is played
from the special features menu and title 23 is played from the
track by track menu. Both titles are identical.
- Interview with Brian in the studio, with demo version of
the track played on the piano (0:57) with shots of the
original track sheet, and further interview about the
production techniques and the recording of the track.
- Brian then plays the full album version, adjusting the
volumes of some elements, then a further short interview
about the track
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| File last modified: 04 December 2011