Queen 2011 Reissue Bonus Tracks

This page summarises the various bonus tracks which were included on the 2011 remasters, either on the double-disc CD or downloads, or as bonus videos on the iTunes LP's. For each album, the bonus tracks are listed, along with a classification of their release status - either new content, or content that was previously released.

The bonus tracks include a mixture of live performances, non-album tracks, remixes, alternate versions and demos, and while the demos which are included are very interesting, it is probably fair to say that the balance of tracks is wrong, with far too many previously released live tracks included. Overall, the choice of bonus tracks is disappointing, given how many demos are known and rumoured to exist, and the wealth of non-album material which has appeared on the various singles. However, the demos which are included are brand new, as I'm not aware that they had ever been circulated on bootlegs/MP3's prior to the releases. Much better though would have been a full length bonus CD, rather than EP, featuring all the tracks from the singles (where different), which would then have given more than enough room for a nice selection of unreleased songs, demos, and a couple of live performances from the era.

The bonus tracks include just one brand new song, 'Feelings Feelings', which was previously unreleased in any version. However, as a counter to this, the omission of 'A Kind Of 'A Kind Of Magic'' means that the track is now officially unavailable, alongside the extended version of 'Scandal', which was previously available on the US CD. Removing the other bonus tracks from the standard 'A Kind Of Magic' and 'The Miracle' CD's and including them as bonus tracks is also dubious to say the least.

On the whole these reissues are probably fair, neither dismal nor outstanding, but they do shed some additional light into which tracks and shows exist in the Queen archives, and moreover, the quality of those recordings.

Of the fifteen releases, 39 of the bonus tracks are new, with 45 previously released, while 12 of the bonus videos are new, with 33 previously released. The bonus tracks consist of 12 non-album tracks, 3 formerly CD bonus tracks, 28 live tracks (including BBC tracks), 9 single versions, 2 extended versions, 6 alternate versions, 5 remixes, 15 demos or early versions, and 4 instrumental versions. The iTunes bonus LP's feature 20 promo videos, 22 live videos, and 3 documentary features.

The best release, in terms of the number of new tracks, is 'News Of The World' with six, followed by 'Queen', 'Queen II', 'Flash Gordon' and 'Innuendo' with five, while the worst are 'Hot Space', 'The Works' and 'The Miracle' with one.

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