The Solo Collection
The Solo Collection is a deluxe compilation box set chronicling the solo career of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock band Queen, released on October 23, 2000, by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom.[1][2] It comprises 10 compact discs and 2 DVDs, encompassing Mercury's pre-Queen recordings from the late 1960s, his three primary solo studio albums, singles collections, instrumental versions, rarities including demos and alternate takes, radio interviews, music videos, and a documentary.[3] Housed in a 16-by-12-inch silver-embossed slipcase with a 120-page hardcover book featuring unpublished photographs and a foreword by Queen's guitarist Brian May, the set provides an exhaustive overview of Mercury's independent musical endeavors outside the band.[3][1] The collection highlights key phases of Mercury's solo output, beginning with early works like the 1973 single "I Can Hear Music" (released under the pseudonym Larry Lurex, with backing from Queen bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor),[4] and extending through his 1985 debut album Mr. Bad Guy, the operatic collaboration Barcelona (1988) with soprano Montserrat Caballé, and the 1992 covers album The Great Pretender.[3] Notable inclusions are remastered tracks from these albums, B-sides such as "Love Kills" and "How Can I Go On," and extensive rarities drawn from recording sessions spanning 1969 to 1988, some of which were previously unreleased.[3] The instrumental disc offers backing tracks composed or performed by Mercury, while the interviews disc captures eight conversations with journalist David Wigg from 1979 to 1987, offering insights into his creative process and personal life.[3] Complementing the audio content, the DVDs present 12 of Mercury's solo promotional videos, including those for "Living on My Own," "I Was Born to Love You," and "Barcelona," alongside the 111-minute documentary The Untold Story, which delves into the making of his solo projects through archival footage and interviews with collaborators.[3] All material has been digitally remastered for the release, underscoring its status as the definitive anthology of Mercury's solo legacy, which blended rock, pop, and operatic elements while reflecting his multifaceted artistry.[3]Background
Development
Following Freddie Mercury's death in November 1991, efforts to catalog his extensive solo recordings began as part of broader archival work managed by Queen Productions and Mercury's estate, aiming to preserve and organize material spanning his pre-Queen experiments to posthumous releases.[5] This initiative was driven by the need to document Mercury's independent artistic output separately from his Queen catalog, with the estate retaining control over solo rights under executor Jim Beach.[6] Jim Beach, Queen's longtime manager and executor of Mercury's estate, played a central role in conceiving and executive-producing the compilation, overseeing the selection of tracks recorded between 1969 and 1993.[3] Assisted by archivist Greg Brooks and a dedicated team, the process involved scrutinizing archival tapes for unreleased demos, outtakes, and session material to create a comprehensive retrospective of Mercury's solo career.[5] The team spent approximately 18 months in detailed review to ensure authenticity and completeness.[5] Key curatorial decisions emphasized rarities from album sessions, such as alternate mixes and instrumental versions, alongside spoken-word content to provide deeper insight into Mercury's creative process.[3] Notably, the inclusion of interviews conducted by journalist David Wigg from the 1970s and 1980s offered personal anecdotes and reflections on Mercury's solo endeavors, highlighting his evolving artistry during that period.[3] Planning for the box set commenced around 1998–1999, culminating in its finalization for a 2000 release by Parlophone to capitalize on sustained fan interest in Mercury's solo legacy.[5]Release and editions
The Solo Collection was first released on 23 October 2000 in Europe by Parlophone Records.[2] A three-disc sampler edition, titled Solo, followed on 23 October 2000 and featured remastered versions of Mercury's two primary studio albums alongside a bonus disc of select tracks.[7] In the United States and Canada, the collection appeared under Hollywood Records, with minor variations in packaging such as regional artwork adjustments on the outer sleeve.[8] The twelve-disc edition of The Solo Collection is housed in a deluxe book-shaped box measuring 16 by 12 inches, featuring a silver-embossed slipcase and hard-back cover; it contains 10 CDs with remastered audio from Mercury's solo career, plus 2 DVDs compiling video content in either PAL or NTSC format depending on the region.[3] In contrast, the three-disc Solo edition uses a simpler cardboard slipcase with an included booklet, packaging the albums Mr. Bad Guy (1985), Barcelona (1988), and a bonus compilation disc.[9] Upon release, the twelve-disc set retailed for approximately £50–£60 in the United Kingdom, positioning it as a premium item for collectors.[10] Both editions were produced as limited runs, with no major reissues or remastered republications occurring by 2025.[2] Promotion for the collection leveraged Freddie Mercury's lasting appeal following Queen's success, including advertisements in music magazines like Q and Mojo, as well as outreach through official Queen fan clubs and networks.[11]Content overview
Audio components
The audio components of The Solo Collection comprise 10 CDs that systematically archive Freddie Mercury's solo recordings, structured to trace his artistic evolution outside of Queen. Discs 1 and 2 present his primary studio albums: Mr. Bad Guy (1985) and Barcelona (1988), the latter featuring collaborations with soprano Montserrat Caballé. Discs 4 and 5 focus on singles compilations, gathering non-album releases and extended mixes from 1973 to 1993, while Disc 3 includes additional remixed singles under The Great Pretender (1992). Disc 6 offers instrumental tracks derived from his solo material, Discs 7 through 9 compile rarities and session outtakes, and Disc 10 contains spoken-word interviews conducted by journalist David Wigg.[3] Key themes across the set emphasize Mercury's versatility, blending pop-rock ballads with introspective lyrics on Disc 1, operatic and symphonic elements on Disc 2, electronic remixes and dance-oriented tracks on the singles discs, and stripped-down acoustic demos in the rarities sections, all underscoring his expansive vocal range and willingness to experiment beyond Queen's rock framework.[3][2] Unique elements enrich the collection's depth, such as the inclusion of B-sides like "I Can Hear Music" from Mercury's early Larry Lurex pseudonym era, instrumental versions that reveal production techniques and arrangements, and interviews spanning the late 1970s to 1987 that offer insights into his personal influences and creative process.[3][2] The total runtime is approximately 10 hours, encompassing recordings from 1969 early demos to 1993 posthumous mixes.[2]Video components
The video components of The Solo Collection consist of two DVDs that complement the audio tracks by providing visual documentation of Freddie Mercury's solo endeavors, capturing his dynamic stage presence, distinctive fashion choices, and artistic evolution during his independent projects from the mid-1980s onward. Disc 11, titled The Video Collection, features 12 music videos and promotional clips drawn from Mercury's solo singles, spanning releases from 1984 to 1992, including notable entries such as "I Was Born to Love You" and "Living on My Own." These visuals highlight Mercury's charismatic performances and creative direction in non-Queen contexts, offering fans insight into his individual aesthetic and performative style beyond the band's collective output.[12][13] Disc 12, The Untold Story, is a 111-minute documentary dedicated to Mercury's solo career, incorporating interviews with key collaborators like Montserrat Caballé—his partner on the Barcelona album—and archival footage that illustrates his personal narrative and professional journey outside Queen. The film emphasizes Mercury's creative process, relationships with musical partners, and the personal dimensions of his solo work, serving as a narrative bridge to the accompanying audio material by contextualizing the tracks through visual storytelling and testimonials.[14][15] Both DVDs are presented in standard DVD format with Region 2 compatibility for European markets, utilizing PAL encoding, and as of 2025, no Blu-ray upgrades or remastered high-definition versions of these specific components have been released. This visual archive thus enhances the understanding of Mercury's solo singles—such as those detailed in the audio components—by pairing sound with imagery that underscores his versatility and charisma in live and promotional settings.[16][17]Track listing
Twelve-disc edition
The twelve-disc edition of The Solo Collection, released in 2000 as a limited-edition box set, compiles Freddie Mercury's solo discography across ten audio CDs and two DVDs, housed in a deluxe hardback book with a 120-page biography and photographs. This comprehensive archival release includes his studio albums, compilation albums, singles collections, instrumental versions, rarities from various sessions, radio interviews, music videos, and a documentary film.[3][9] Disc 1: Mr. Bad Guy (1985)This CD reproduces Mercury's debut solo album in full, featuring 11 original tracks recorded primarily in Munich and London, blending pop-rock with dramatic ballads.[3]
- Let's Turn It On – 3:42
- Made in Heaven – 4:05
- I Was Born to Love You – 3:38
- Foolin' Around – 3:29
- Your Kind of Lover – 3:32
- Mr. Bad Guy – 4:09
- Man Made Paradise – 4:08
- There Must Be More to Life Than This – 3:00
- Living on My Own – 3:23
- My Love Is Dangerous – 3:42
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow – 3:46
The second CD presents Mercury's collaborative album with soprano Montserrat Caballé, containing 8 operatic pop tracks that fuse rock elements with classical influences, highlighted by duets such as "How Can I Go On" and the title track inspired by the 1992 Olympics.[3]
- Barcelona – 5:39
- La Japonaise – 4:48
- The Fallen Priest – 5:45
- Ensueño – 4:21
- The Golden Boy – 6:03
- Guide Me Home – 2:49
- How Can I Go On – 3:50
- Overture Piccante – 6:39
This posthumously released compilation CD features 11 tracks, including remixes of earlier solo material and covers like the title track, serving as a retrospective of Mercury's solo hits up to that point.[3]
- The Great Pretender – 3:39
- Foolin' Around – 3:35
- Time – 3:49
- Your Kind of Lover – 3:59
- Exercises in Free Love – 3:56
- In My Defence – 3:51
- Mr. Bad Guy – 4:00
- Let's Turn It On – 3:45
- Living on My Own – 3:38
- My Love Is Dangerous – 3:40
- Love Kills – 3:28
Compiling 14 tracks from Mercury's early solo singles and B-sides, this CD spans his pre-Queen and initial solo era, including extended mixes and rarities like "Love Kills," originally written for the film Metropolis.[3][9]
- I Can Hear Music – 3:29
- Goin' Back – 3:34
- Love Kills (Single Version) – 4:31
- Love Kills (Extended Version) – 5:22
- I Was Born to Love You (Extended Version) – 7:05
- Stop All the Fighting – 3:19
- Stop All the Fighting (Extended Version) – 6:37
- Made in Heaven (Extended Version) – 4:50
- She Blows Hot and Cold – 3:26
- She Blows Hot and Cold (Extended Version) – 5:50
- Living on My Own (Extended Version) – 6:39
- My Love Is Dangerous (Extended Version) – 6:29
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Extended Version) – 5:32
- Let's Turn It On (Extended Version) – 5:09
This CD gathers 14 tracks from Mercury's later solo singles, including extended and remix versions of hits like "Time" from the Time musical and solo contributions to Queen's "Innuendo" era, culminating in posthumous releases.[3][9]
- Time (Single Version) – 3:58
- Time (Extended Version) – 4:37
- Time (Instrumental Version) – 3:22
- In My Defence – 3:57
- The Great Pretender (Single Version) – 3:29
- The Great Pretender (Extended Version) – 5:54
- Exercises in Free Love – 3:59
- Barcelona (Single Version) – 4:27
- Barcelona (Extended Version) – 7:07
- How Can I Go On (Single Version) – 4:02
- Living on My Own (No More Brothers Extended Mix) – 5:16
- Living on My Own (Radio Mix) – 3:39
- Living on My Own (Club Mix) – 4:27
- Living on My Own (Underground Solutions Mix) – 5:46
Containing 13 instrumental versions drawn from sessions for Mr. Bad Guy, Barcelona, and other projects, this CD highlights the orchestral and synth arrangements behind Mercury's vocals, providing insight into production layers.[3]
- Barcelona – 4:26
- La Japonaise – 4:46
- The Fallen Priest – 5:50
- Ensueño – 4:00
- The Golden Boy – 6:05
- Guide Me Home – 2:38
- How Can I Go On – 3:58
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow – 4:03
- Made in Heaven – 4:17
- Mr. Bad Guy – 4:14
- There Must Be More to Life Than This – 3:08
- In My Defence – 3:56
- The Great Pretender – 3:27
This CD offers 23 demos, outtakes, and alternative mixes from the 1984–1985 Mr. Bad Guy recording sessions, including a cappella takes, piano versions, and unreleased demos like "Gazelle," showcasing Mercury's creative process.[3][9]
- Let's Turn It On (A Cappella) – 3:04
- Made in Heaven (Alternative Version) – 4:27
- I Was Born to Love You (Vocal & Piano Version) – 2:58
- Foolin' Around (Early Version) – 4:14
- Foolin' Around (Original 12" Mix) – 5:37
- Foolin' Around (Instrumental) – 3:40
- Your Kind of Lover (Early Version) – 4:47
- Your Kind of Lover (Vocal & Piano Version) – 3:38
- Mr. Bad Guy (Orchestral Out-Takes) – 0:35
- Mr. Bad Guy (Early Version) – 3:29
- There Must Be More to Life Than This (Piano Out-Takes) – 2:48
- Living on My Own (Hybrid Edit) – 4:30
- My Love Is Dangerous (Early Version) – 2:12
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Early Version) – 2:18
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (2nd Early Version) – 1:04
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (3rd Early Version) – 3:26
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Live Take) – 4:22
- She Blows Hot & Cold (Alternative Version) – 4:36
- Gazelle (Demo) – 1:21
- Money Can't Buy Happiness (Demo) – 2:37
- Love Makin' Love (Demo) – 3:36
- God Is Heavy (Demo) – 1:23
- New York (Demo) – 2:13
Featuring 18 excerpts and demos from the 1987–1988 Barcelona collaboration, this CD includes Garden Lodge home recordings, a cappella sections, and alternative takes of operatic tracks, emphasizing the project's experimental fusion.[3][9]
- The Duet (The Fallen Priest) (Extract from Garden Lodge Tape) – 3:04
- Idea (Barcelona) (Extract from Garden Lodge Tape) – 1:12
- Idea (Barcelona) (2nd Extract from Garden Lodge Tape) – 1:04
- Barcelona (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 4:21
- Barcelona (Early Version: Freddie's Vocal Slave) – 4:31
- Barcelona (Later Version: Freddie's Vocal Only) – 4:26
- La Japonaise (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 4:41
- La Japonaise (A Cappella) – 4:17
- Rachmaninov's Revenge (Early Version) – 4:46
- Rachmaninov's Revenge (Later Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 5:51
- Ensueño (Live Takes) – 5:36
- The Golden Boy (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 3:55
- The Golden Boy (2nd Early Version Extract) – 2:57
- The Golden Boy (A Cappella) – 5:12
- Guide Me Home / How Can I Go On (Alternative Versions) – 6:54
- How Can I Go On (Out-Take Extract) – 1:31
- How Can I Go On (Alternative Piano Version) – 3:46
- When This Old Tired Boy Wants to Sing (Late Night Jam) – 2:42
This CD collects 16 miscellaneous demos and collaborations from 1969 to 1988, including pre-Queen live recordings with Ibex, duets with Billy Squier, and unreleased sketches like "Hold On," spanning Mercury's diverse early and mid-career experiments.[3][9]
- Rain (Ibex, Live 1969) – 3:51
- Green (Wreckage, Rehearsal 1969) – 3:15
- The Man from Manhattan (Eddie Howell 1976) – 3:22
- Love Is the Hero (Billy Squier Duet, 12" Version 1984) – 5:22
- Lady with the Tenor Sax (Billy Squier Duet, Work in Progress 1984) – 4:02
- Hold On (Jo Dare Duet 1986) – 3:38
- Heaven for Everyone (The Cross Version, Freddie Vocal 1988) – 4:48
- Love Kills (Rock Mix 1988) – 4:27
- Love Kills (Instrumental 1988) – 4:26
- The Great Pretender (Demo 1991) – 3:04
- Holding On (Demo 1987) – 4:12
- It's So You (Demo 1988) – 2:40
- I Can't Dance / Keep Smilin' (Demo 1987) – 3:43
- Horns of Doom (Demo 1982) – 4:17
- Yellow Breezes (Demo 1988) – 5:26
- Have a Nice Day (Fan Club Message 1987) – 0:45
Comprising eight radio interviews conducted by journalist David Wigg between 1979 and 1987, this CD totals approximately 70 minutes of spoken-word content, offering personal insights into Mercury's life, career, and relationships during tours and album promotions.[3][9]
- 1979, London (The Crazy Tour) – 8:11
- 1984, Munich (The Works Tour) – 11:27
- 1984, Munich (Pt. 2: Going Solo) – 7:37
- 1985, Wembley, London (Week of Live Aid) – 7:45
- 1986, London (Barcelona Promotion) – 10:09
- 1986, Munich (The Magic Tour) – 9:45
- 1987, London (The Magic Tour) – 9:12
- 1987, Wandsworth Prison (A Concert for Life) – 5:42
This DVD compiles 12 music videos and promotional clips from Mercury's solo career, spanning 1984 to 1993, including official promos for singles like "Living on My Own" and "Barcelona," presented in chronological order where possible.[3][18]
- Barcelona
- The Great Pretender
- I Was Born to Love You
- Time
- How Can I Go On
- Made in Heaven
- Living on My Own
- The Golden Boy
- Mr. Bad Guy
- Love Kills
- I Can Hear Music
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
The final disc is a 111-minute documentary produced by DoRo Productions, narrated through interviews with family, friends, and collaborators, chronicling Mercury's life from his Zanzibar childhood to his final days, divided into 11 chapters with bonus features like a photo gallery.[19][2]
- Spice Island Dawn
- Strange Discipline
- Culture Shock
- The Draftsman of Ealing
- Musical Awakenings
- Love of My Life
- Bacchus and Aphrodite
- Butterflies and Peacocks
- A Day at the Opera
- My Kind of Towns
- Last Days
Three-disc Solo edition
The three-disc edition of ''The Solo Collection'', simply titled ''Solo'', serves as a streamlined sampler of Freddie Mercury's solo career, released on 23 October 2000 by Parlophone in Europe.[20] This version targets casual fans and budget-conscious buyers by compiling Mercury's two primary studio albums with a selection of key non-album tracks, providing an affordable overview without the exhaustive archival depth of the full twelve-disc set.[9] Priced accessibly around £20 at launch, it emphasizes vocal highlights and remastered audio while excluding instrumentals, extended rarities, spoken-word interviews, and video components.[21] Disc 1: Mr. Bad Guy (1985)This disc reproduces the complete 1985 album Mr. Bad Guy, Mercury's debut solo effort, featuring 11 tracks that showcase his pop-rock style. Produced by Mercury and David Richards and remastered at Abbey Road Studios, the album captures his songwriting range from upbeat anthems to introspective ballads.[20]
- Let's Turn It On – 3:42
- Made in Heaven – 4:06
- I Was Born to Love You – 3:37
- Foolin' Around – 3:28
- Your Kind of Lover – 3:33
- Mr. Bad Guy – 4:10
- Man Made Paradise – 4:09
- There Must Be More to Life Than This – 2:58
- Living on My Own – 3:22
- My Love Is Dangerous – 3:40
- Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow – 3:46
This disc presents the full 1988 album Barcelona, a symphonic collaboration with soprano Montserrat Caballé, consisting of 8 tracks blending opera and rock elements. Remastered at Future Disc Systems, this disc highlights Mercury's experimental side in fusing classical influences with his signature vocals.[20]
- Barcelona – 5:38
- La Japonaise – 4:49
- The Fallen Priest – 5:45
- Ensueño – 4:20
- The Golden Boy – 6:04
- Guide Me Home – 2:40
- How Can I Go On – 4:00
- Overture Piccante – 6:40
This disc compiles 7 bonus tracks drawn from singles, early projects, and remixes, offering highlights of Mercury's broader solo output, including covers and film soundtrack contributions, but omitting the deeper dives into demos and live recordings present in the comprehensive edition. Remastered at Abbey Road.[20]
- I Can Hear Music – 3:28
- Love Kills (Single Version) – 4:28
- The Great Pretender (Single Version) – 3:28
- Living on My Own (1993 Radio Mix) – 3:37
- In My Defence (2000 Remix) – 3:51
- Time (2000 Remix) – 4:01
- Love Kills (Rock Mix) – 4:27