Queen: Innuendo(1991)

My Queen collection is patchy at best! Having said that Queen Rocks Montreal and especially 1980’s The Game are albums I love but it was cool to get into Innuendo as both myself and my daughter Lexie both love it.

Speaking of which I really like this cover and colour scheme used…

Speaking of Lexie it was along with her twin sister Lauren who were both in the High School Production of We Will Rock You that I hadn’t  heard tracks from this album in a long  time! The title track Innuendo and Headlong were both featured in the play. This of course piqued my curiosity!

So this past Christmas(2017) there was Innuendo under the tree and it was a quick trip to the turntable…..

Queen in 1991 had signed a new record deal and things were on the up an up but of course behind the scenes Lead Singer Freddie Mercury was very sick but by his vocal performance here you would have never known!

Innuendo the title track opens the album and it’s what you would expect from these guys! This is a Queen and Zeppelin Mashup of Kashmir. Big drums/Epic Guitars and Fred delivers it in spades as you know he would! This song is easily one of my fav’s in the Queen catalogue as here is Queen almost all but forgotten in North America as the early 90s rolled in but Fred/Brian May/John Deacon/Roger Taylor put a stamp er I mean STOMP and set off with this epic over 6 minute track.

I’m Going Slightly Mad shifts gears and it’s almost new wavy 80’s synth n slide which is an exact opposite of the bombastic opener of Innuendo but then again Queen never played by the rules now did they. This tune sounds like programmed drums but does feature a real cool slide guitar solo by Brian May.

Headlong is a quick hit a run number as when Fred opens his mouth your hooked by the catchiness of his voice. The music just takes it to another level. Real cool power riffs courtesy of May! Great harmonies it’s all here in this track!

Back to a mid 80’s like vibe with I Can’t Live With You. Mid tempo track. May as he does on many Queen tracks lifts off with the solo along with some nifty keyboard work as well.

Ride The Wild Wind to me sounds like electric drums playing in double time. The sound of this track reminds  me of that TV Show Miami Vice!?? I just has that vibe of a mid 80’s TV song but the solo on this track is wicked good. So for all the techno trappings Queen at times would immerse themselves Brian May would deliver knockout solo’s!

Big time Choir like vocals are featured on All God’s People and is once again a different sounding tune. Too be honest a little to left field for me. It’s an interesting  song to say the least.

These are the Days of our Lives is chill like Queen and the quiet music vibe with Fred’s voice carries this song.

Ha …Fred sings about the joys of his life and that’s his cat named Delilah. I did read there was some arm bending by some to get this song on this album. Its Quirky Queen perhaps showing a side of them that everything doesn’t need to be taken seriously all the friggin time…

Don’t Try So Hard is your Queen prototype ballad track. Start slow and build it up and have the big dynamic chorus or in these guys case the word Bombastic needs to be applied here.

Love this next song and watch yourself as The Hitman  wants your life! Queen digs into a  deep sleaze like riff but it features a few breakdowns and a few ramps up with an added dose of those big vocals. Tons of riffing and Queen smashing around all kinds of sonics and Frigg thanks Fred for still kicking ass as your health wasn’t the best.

After the Hitman takes you out it’s onto Bijou which is very mellow but what fantastic guitar riffing throughout this song.

Innuendo ends with a big sonic sendoff and that would be The Show Must Go Own. I hate to use the term ballad with these guys as Queen changed there dynamics around so much that ‘Ballad’ doesnt need not apply here.  Kind of a fitting send off after what would happen in November of 1991.

Why the Hell did it take me 26 years to get into Innuendo?  Thanks to my daughters play and the opening tune being Innuendo it had me hooked. Another reason would be as I had stated earlier that my purchasing curve was scattered throughout Queens tenure. After the brilliant The Game I did not buy another Queen album  till 1988’s The Miracle on cassette no less! The Miracle I purchased on the strength of the song I Want It All and  that song hooked me in with May’s power chords and catchy chorus. To be honest I actually like to this day  Khashoggi’s Ship better than I Want It All. Still though it must be said that Fred battling Aids and being sick still put out a wicked effort vocally on this album. The Show Indeed does go on!