QUEEN’S “KIZUNA”, THE FAN-VOTED LIVE COMPILATION ALBUM SET FOR RELEASE ON VINYL 2LP – LIMITED TO 2,000 COPIES – ON JULY 17
PAPER SLEEVE CD COLLECTION OF QUEEN’S ORIGINAL ALBUMS FROM “FLASH GORDON” ONWARDS (7 TITLES) + OTHER 5 TITLES ALSO TO BE RELEASED ON 17 JULY AND 7 AUGUST
Universal Music Japan proudly announces the release of Queen’s “KIZUNA”, the fan-voted special live compilation album, as a limited edition half-speed mastered 180g vinyl 2LP, available from July 17, 2024. The album was originally released on CD earlier this year, on January 31, to mark the band’s return for its Japan February tour. The double vinyl version of “KIZUNA”, limited to 2,000 copies, has been mastered and cut for vinyl by mastering engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.
When Queen + Adam Lambert toured Japan back in 2020, a special “Greatest Hits in Japan” album, including the Top 12 Most Popular Classic Queen Songs voted by Japanese fans, was issued exclusively in the country. Similarly, this fan-voted greatest hits live compilation features the top 16 tracks from the results of the poll, where fans residing in Japan were invited to cast their votes via a special section on Universal Music Japan’s official website for two of their favourite live tracks by Queen off the band’s six live albums, which made the total of 150 tracks eligible for voting. As for different versions of the same song, the decision was based on the rule that the version with the highest number of votes would make it to the tracklist. Voting ran from Wednesday 15th November 2023 until Thursday 30th November 2023, and 6,886 fans in total helped to compile this special live album.
Originally, the 2LP version of “KIZUNA” was intended to be released simultaneously with the CD version on January 31 to commemorate the Queen + Adam Lambert tour in Japan in February, but the release was postponed as the legendary mastering engineer Miles Showell was assigned to cutting the LP master at short notice. The new release date has finally been confirmed as July 17, and fans will surely enjoy a remarkably enhanced sonic experience of the cutting by Abby Road’s half-speed maestro Miles Showell, with differences in sound from the CD version. The 2LP will be pressed in Japan on 180g heavy-weight vinyl, limited to 2,000 copies. A limited number of 1,000 copies will also be available worldwide through the Official Queen Online Store.
“Hello, dear Japanese fans, how are you doing? Thank you so much for having participated in the voting process. The results of the votes have surprised me once again. I think the listing reflects the unique preferences of Japanese fans, and that it also shows the special bond that we have developed with you over the last half-century”. Brian May
“To our Japanese fans, thank you so much for your loyal support. And many thanks to everyone who took part in the voting! We’ve always been surprised by the results of these kinds of polls by Japanese fans, and this time is no different. The listing proves that you all have listened to and loved our music over the years. A show with a setlist like that seems a bit unusual, but it would be truly dramatic. It’s a real “bonding” album for us and you all”. Roger Taylor
In conjunction with the release of the 2LP version of “KIZUNA”, the paper sleeve CD collection of Queen’s original albums from “Flash Gordon” onwards, which have been hard to obtain for quite a while, are also set to be reissued, along with five other Queen related albums.
Six titles from “Flash Gordon” (1980) to “Innuendo” (1991) will be released on Wednesday, July 17. Then six more titles, “Made in Heaven” (1995), “Greatest Hits III – Dedicated to Freddie Mercury” (1999), “Return of the Champions” (2005) and “The Cosmos Rocks” (2008) both by Queen + Paul Rodgers, as well as the soundtrack to the mega-hit movie “Bohemian Rhapsody (Original Soundtrack)” (2018) plus “Live Around the World” (2020) by Queen + Adam Lambert are scheduled to be out on Wednesday, August 7, five of which except “Made in Heaven” are packaged in miniature paper sleeve LP replicas for the first time. For the “Greatest Hits III – Dedicated to Freddie Mercury” album, a PVC outer sleeve that came with the original UK first pressing LP is to be faithfully replicated, while Queen + Paul Rodgers’ “Return of the Champions” will be issued as a 2CD set, housed in a box reproducing the original artwork of the UK first pressing 3LP box set. This paper sleeve CD collection will all be released with SHM-CD specifications. In addition, the paper sleeve CD collection will alos be available worldwide through the Official Queen Online Store.
FURTHER DETAILS
QUEEN KIZUNA
JPN Product #: UIJY-75269/70
8,800 JPY (with TAX)
【Limited Edition】【Pressed in Japan】【180g Heavy Vinyl】SIDE A
1. SOMEBODY TO LOVE (Mercury)
Taken from the 2004 album “QUEEN ON FIRE – LIVE AT THE BOWL”
2. ’39 (May)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
3. DON’T STOP ME NOW (Mercury)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
4. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (Mercury)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
SIDE B
1. SPREAD YOUR WINGS (Deacon)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
2. RADIO GA GA (Taylor)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
3. WE WILL ROCK YOU (May)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
4. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (Mercury)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
SIDE C
1. KILLER QUEEN (Mercury)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
2. ONE VISION (Queen)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
3. LOVE OF MY LIFE (Mercury)
Taken from the 1979 album “LIVE KILLERS”
4. HAMMER TO FALL (May)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
SIDE D
1. STAYING POWER (Mercury)
Taken from the 2004 album “QUEEN ON FIRE – LIVE AT THE BOWL”
2. A KIND OF MAGIC (Taylor)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
3. FRIENDS WILL BE FRIENDS (Mercury/Deacon)
Taken from the 2003 album “LIVE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM”
4. SAVE ME (May)
Taken from the 2004 album “QUEEN ON FIRE – LIVE AT THE BOWL”
All tracks recorded live in concert, 1979 – 1986.
Vinyl lacquers cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.
More details on ordering these releases through the Official Queen Online Store to follow.