The Solo Collection is a box set detailing the solo career of Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...

; it includes the material Mercury recorded before joining up with Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

, up through the 1993 No More Brothers remixes. Mercury's singles and two studio albums are included, as well as a disc of instrumentals, numerous rare tracks, and a set of interviews conducted by David Wigg. Also included are two DVDs: a collection of music videos, and a documentary covering Mercury's life.

Disc one: Mr. Bad Guy (1985)

1. Let's Turn It On (Mercury) – 3:42
2. Made in Heaven
   Made in Heaven (song)
   Made in Heaven is the third single recorded by Freddie Mercury, and his fourth release as a solo artist.Originally featured in Mercury's debut album, the song was slightly edited and published as a 45rpm paired with "She Blows Hot and Cold", described on the record sleeve as 'A Brand New Track'...
   
    (Mercury) – 4:05
3. I Was Born to Love You
   I Was Born to Love You (song)
   "I Was Born to Love You" is a 1985 song by Freddie Mercury, and was released as a single and on the Mr. Bad Guy album. After Mercury's death, Queen remixed this song for their album Made in Heaven in 1995, by having the other members play their instrumental parts over the original track.The song...
   
    (Mercury) – 3:38
4. Foolin' Around (Mercury) – 3:29
5. Your Kind Of Lover (Mercury) – 3:32
6. Mr. Bad Guy (Mercury) – 4:09
7. Man Made Paradise (Mercury) – 4:08
8. There Must Be More To Life Than This (Mercury) – 3:00
9. Living on My Own
   Living on My Own
   "Living on My Own" is a song by Freddie Mercury, originally included in his first solo album Mr. Bad Guy.It was released as a single in September 1985 in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 50...
   
    (Mercury) – 3:23
10. My Love Is Dangerous (Mercury) – 3:42
11. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Mercury) – 3:46

Disc two: Barcelona (1988)

1. Barcelona (Mercury) – 5:39
2. La Japonaise (Mercury) – 4:48
3. The Fallen Priest (Mercury/Moran/Rice
   Tim Rice
   Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...
   
   ) – 5:45
4. Ensueño (Mercury/Moran/Caballé
   Montserrat Caballé
   Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
   
   ) – 4:21
5. The Golden Boy
   The Golden Boy
   The Golden Boy is a song recorded by Queen frontman Freddie Mercury together with catalan operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé.Originally included in the 1988 album Barcelona, the song was released as a 45 rpm two weeks after its appearance in the main album, with another excerpt from the LP, "The...
   
    (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 6:03
6. Guide Me Home (Mercury/Moran) – 2:49
7. How Can I Go On (Mercury) – 3:50
8. Overture Piccante (Mercury/Moran) – 6:39

Disc three: The Great Pretender (1992)

1. The Great Pretender
   The Great Pretender
   "The Great Pretender" is a popular song recorded by The Platters, with Tony Williams on lead vocals, and released as a single on November 3, 1955. The words and music were created by Buck Ram, the Platters' manager and producer who was a successful songwriter before moving into producing and...
   
    (Brian Malouf Mix) (Ram
   Buck Ram
   Buck Ram was an American songwriter, and popular music producer and arranger.-Biography:...
   
   ) – 3:39
2. Foolin' Around (Steve Brown Mix) (Mercury) – 3:35
3. Time (Nile Rodgers
   Nile Rodgers
   Nile Gregory Rodgers is an American musician, producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist.-Biography:...
   
    Mix) (Clark
   Dave Clark (musician)
   David 'Dave' Clark is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the leader and drummer of the 1960s beat group The Dave Clark Five, the first big British Invasion band to follow The Beatles to America in 1964....
   
   /John Christie
   John Christie
   John Christie may refer to:*John Christie , English footballer*John Christie , author, ski historian, Member Maine Ski Hall of Fame*John Christie , opera festival founder...
   
   ) – 3:49
4. Your Kind Of Lover (Steve Brown Mix) (Mercury) – 3:59
5. Exercises In Free Love (Mercury/Moran) – 3:56
6. In My Defence (Ron Nevison Mix) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:51
7. Mr. Bad Guy (Brian Malouf Mix) (Mercury) – 4:00
8. Let's Turn It On (Jeff Lord-Alge Mix) (Mercury) – 3:45
9. Living on My Own (Mix) (Mercury) – 3:38
10. My Love Is Dangerous (Jeff Lord-Alge Mix) (Mercury) – 3:40
11. Love Kills
    Love Kills (Freddie Mercury song)
    12" single release-Remixes:* "Love Kills " was found in a promo CD issued only in the USA in 1992.* "Love Kills " and "Love Kills " can both be found in the UK double-CD release of the 2006 compilation album Lover of Life, Singer of Songs: The Very Best of Freddie Mercury Solo* Several remixes of...
    
     (Richard Wolf Mix) (Mercury/Moroder
    Giorgio Moroder
    Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
    
    ) – 3:28

Disc four: The Singles 1973–1985

1. I Can Hear Music
   I Can Hear Music
   "I Can Hear Music" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector. It was originally performed by the Ronettes in 1966, and later covered by the Beach Boys in 1969, by Larry Lurex in 1973, by José Hoebee in 1983, and by She & Him in 2010.-Beach Boys version:"I Can Hear Music"...
   
    (Larry Lurex
   Larry Lurex
   Larry Lurex was the artist name used for a musical project by Trident Studios’ house engineer Robin Geoffrey Cable, in 1972.The name is a pun on the stage name of glam rock star Gary Glitter and the metallic yarn Lurex....
   
   , 1973 Single) (Greenwich
   Ellie Greenwich
   Eleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
   
   /Spector
   Phil Spector
   Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
   
   /Barry
   Jeff Barry
   Jeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
   
   ) – 3:29
2. Goin' Back (Larry Lurex, 1973 B-side) (Goffin/King) – 3:34
3. Love Kills (Original 1984 Single Version) (Mercury/Moroder) – 4:31
4. Love Kills (Original 1984 Extended Version) (Mercury/Moroder) – 5:22
5. I Was Born to Love You (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 7:05
6. Stop All The Fighting (1985 Non-album B-side) (Mercury) – 3:19
7. Stop All The Fighting (1985 Non-album B-side Extended Version) (Mercury) – 6:37
8. Made in Heaven (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 4:50
9. She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non-album B-side) (Mercury) – 3:26
10. She Blows Hot & Cold (1985 Non-album B-side Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:50
11. Living On My Own (1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) - 6:40
12. My Love Is Dangerous (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 6:29
13. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:32
14. Let's Turn It On (Original 1985 Extended Version) (Mercury) – 5:08

Disc five: The Singles 1986–1993

1. Time (Original 1986 Single/Album Version) (Clark/Christie) – 3:58
2. Time (Original 1986 Extended Version) (Clark/Christie) – 4:37
3. Time (Original 1986 Instrumental Version) (Clark/Christie) – 3:22
4. In My Defence (1986 Album Version) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:57
5. The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Single Version) (Ram) – 3:29
6. The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Extended Version) (Ram) – 5:54
7. Exercises In Free Love (1987 Non-album B-side) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:59
8. Barcelona (Original 1987 Single Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:27
9. Barcelona (Original 1987 Extended Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 7:07
10. How Can I Go On (1989 Single Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:02
11. Living on My Own (1993 No More Brothers Extended Mix) (Mercury) – 5:16
12. Living on My Own (1993 Radio Mix) (Mercury) – 3:38
13. Living on My Own (1993 Club Mix) (Mercury) – 4:27
14. Living on My Own (1993 Underground Solutions Mix) (Mercury) – 5:45

Disc six: The Instrumentals

1. Barcelona (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:26
2. La Japonaise (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:46
3. The Fallen Priest (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 5:50
4. Ensueño (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Caballé) – 4:00
5. The Golden Boy (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 6:05
6. Guide Me Home (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 2:38
7. How Can I Go On (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:58
8. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:03
9. Made in Heaven (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:17
10. Mr. Bad Guy (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 4:14
11. There Must Be More To Life Than This (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 3:08
12. In My Defence (Instrumental) (Clark/Soames/Daniels) – 3:56
13. The Great Pretender (Instrumental) (Ram) – 3:26

Disc seven: Rarities 1

1. Let's Turn It On (A Capella) (Mercury) – 3:04
2. Made in Heaven (Alternative Version) (Mercury) – 4:27
3. I Was Born to Love You (Vocal & Piano Version) (Mercury) – 2:58
4. Foolin' Around (Early Version) (Mercury) – 4:14
5. Foolin' Around (Original 1985 Unreleased 12" Mix) (Mercury) – 5:37
6. Foolin' Around (Instrumental) (Mercury) – 3:40
7. Your Kind Of Lover (Early Version) (Mercury) – 4:47
8. Your Kind Of Lover (Vocal & Piano Version) (Mercury) – 3:38
9. Mr. Bad Guy (Orchestra Out-takes) (Mercury) – 0:35
10. Mr. Bad Guy (Early Version) (Mercury) – 3:29
11. There Must Be More To Life Than This (Piano Out-takes) (Mercury) – 2:48
12. Living on My Own (Hybrid Edit: Early/Later Versions) (Mercury) – 4:29
13. Love Is Dangerous (Early Version) (Mercury) – 2:12
14. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Early Version) (Mercury) – 2:18
15. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (2nd Early Version: Extract) (Mercury) – 1:03
16. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (3rd Early Version) (Mercury) – 3:26
17. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow (Live Take) (Mercury) – 4:22
18. She Blows Hot & Cold (Alternative Version featuring Brian May) (Mercury) – 4:36
19. Gazelle (Demo) (Mercury) – 1:20
20. Money Can't Buy Happiness (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:37
21. Love Makin' Love (Demo) (Mercury) – 3:35
22. God Is Heavy (Demo) (Mercury) – 1:22
23. New York (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:12

Disc eight: Rarities 2

1. The Duet (The Fallen Priest) (Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 3:04
2. Idea (Barcelona) (Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:12
3. Idea (Barcelona) (2nd Extract from Garden Lodge tape) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:04
4. Barcelona (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:21
5. Barcelona (Freddie's Vocal Slave) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:31
6. Barcelona (Later Version: Freddie's Vocal only) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:26
7. La Japonaise (Early Version: Freddie's Vocal only) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:41
8. La Japonaise (A Capella) (Mercury/Moran) – 4:17
9. Rachmaninov's Revenge (The Fallen Priest) (Early Version) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 4:46
10. Rachmaninov's Revenge (The Fallen Priest) (Later Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) – 5:51
11. Ensueño (Montserrat's Live Takes) (Mercury/Moran/Caballé) – 5:36
12. The Golden Boy (Early Version: Freddie's Demo Vocal) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 3:54
13. The Golden Boy (2nd Early Version: Extract) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 2:56
14. The Golden Boy (A Capella featuring Gospel Choir) (Mercury/Moran/Rice) – 5:12
15. Guide Me Home / How Can I Go On (Alternative Versions) (Mercury/Moran) – 6:54
16. How Can I Go On (Out-take: Extract) (Mercury/Moran) – 1:31
17. How Can I Go On (Alternative Piano Version) (Mercury/Moran) – 3:45
18. "When this old tired body wants to sing" (Late Night Jam) (Mercury/Moran) – 2:42

Disc nine: Rarities 3

1. Rain
   Rain (The Beatles song)
   "Rain" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, credited to Lennon–McCartney. It was first released in June 1966 as the B-side of the "Paperback Writer" single...
   
    (Ibex, Live 1969) (Lennon/McCartney
   Lennon/McCartney
   The Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
   
   ) – 3:51
2. Green (Wreckage, Rehearsal 1969) (Mercury) – 3:15
3. The Man From Manhattan (Eddie Howell 1976) (Howell) – 3:22
4. Love Is The Hero (Billy Squier: 12" Version 1986) (Squier) – 5:22
5. Lady With A Tenor Sax (Billy Squier: Work In Progress 1986) (Squier/Mercury) – 4:02
6. Hold On (Freddie Mercury and Jo Dare 1986) (Mercury/Mack
   Reinhold Mack
   Reinhold Mack is a German record producer and sound engineer, mostly known for his collaborations with rock bands Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. Most of this work took place at Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studios in Munich...
   
   ) – 3:38
7. Heaven for Everyone (The Cross Version: Freddie Vocal 1988) (Taylor) – 4:48
8. Love Kills (Rock Mix) (Mercury/Moroder) – 4:27
9. Love Kills (Instrumental) (Mercury/Moroder/Keenan) – 4:26
10. The Great Pretender (Original Demo) (Ram) – 3:04
11. Holding On (Demo) (Mercury) – 4:12
12. It's So You (Demo) (Mercury) – 2:40
13. I Can't Dance / Keep Smilin' (Demo) (Mercury) – 3:43
14. Horns Of Doom (Demo) (Richards
    David Richards (record producer)
    David Richards is an English-born Swiss-based record producer, engineer and musician. In the Mountain Studios in Montreux, owned by the rock band Queen, and in Attalens he engineered and co-produced many albums by Queen, David Bowie and other artists. Richards also played keyboards on some records...
    
    ) – 4:16
15. Yellow Breezes (Demo) (Mercury/Moran) – 5:25
16. Have A Nice Day (Fan Club Message) (Mercury/Moran) – 0:45

Disc ten: The David Wigg Interviews

1. 1979, London (The Crazy tour
   Crazy Tour
   Crazy Tour was a short tour by the English rock band Queen during November and December 1979.After the release of the single "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the band decided to change the concert dynamic they used to do the last years. In this tour Queen would revisit smaller venues, many which...
   
   ) – 8:11
2. 1984, Munich (The Works tour
   The Works Tour
   The Works Tour was one of the largest tours by the English rock band Queen. During this tour, Queen participated in the Rock in Rio festival in 1985; the concert was released on VHS but there has not been a worldwide DVD release as of 2011...
   
   ) – 11:27
3. 1984, Munich (Pt. 2 Going solo) – 7:37
4. 1985, Wembley, London (Week of Live Aid
   Live Aid
   Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
   
   ) – 6:45
5. 1986, London (The Magic tour) – 10:35
6. 1987, Ibiza (Freddie's 41st birthday) – 9:56
7. 1987, Ibiza (41st birthday. Pt. 2 Montserrat Caballé) – 8:21
8. 1987, Ibiza (41st birthday. Pt. 3 The Great Pretender) – 10:26

Disc eleven: The Video Collection (DVD)

• Barcelona (Live Version) (Mercury/Moran)
• The Great Pretender (Single Version) (Ram)
• I Was Born to Love You (Mercury)
• Time (Clark/Christie)
• How Can I Go On (Mercury/Moran)
• Made in Heaven (Mercury)
• Living on My Own (Mercury)
• The Golden Boy (Mercury/Moran/Rice)
• The Great Pretender (Extended Version) (Ram)
• Barcelona (Mercury/Moran)
• In My Defence (Re-edit 2000) (Clark/Soames/Daniels)
• Guide Me Home (Mercury/Moran)

Disc twelve: The Untold Story (DVD)

• 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

Solo

The box set was also released as a three-disc sampler titled Solo. This edition contains Mercury's two original studio albums, as well as a third disc of selected tracks from the twelve-disc box set.

Disc three: Bonus CD

1. I Can Hear Music (Larry Lurex, 1973 Single) – 3:29
2. Love Kills (Original 1984 Single Version) – 4:31
3. The Great Pretender (Original 1987 Single Version) – 3:29
4. Living on My Own (1993 Radio Mix) – 3:38
5. In My Defence (2000 Remix) – 3:55
6. Time (2000 Remix) – 4:02
7. Love Kills (Rock Mix) – 4:27