The Miracle (Collector’s Edition Box Set)[2 CD]

I've always had a soft spot for "The Miracle" as I think it's one of Queen's best and most underrated albums of the 2nd half of their career. There's really not a bad song on the album and even the b-sides are good, so I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Queen and doesn't already own it.The album has always sounded great but was remastered in 2011 to sound even better. Unfortunately, Queen has released two different 2CD versions of this 2011 remaster, each with different bonus content on the 2nd disc. In 2011, the new remaster was offered with a short bonus disc featuring 7 tracks (a few b-sides, a single mix of "I Want It All" and both an early draft of "The Invisible Man" and a 12" mix). Unlike many albums, the b-sides are pretty much all good and in fact one of them ("Hang On In There") might be my favorite song from these sessions, so the 2011 2cd remaster is a solid offering, although it does omit one of the b-sides ("My Life Has Been Saved", which they instead offered up on the 2011 2CD remaster of "Made In Heaven").With this 2022 release of the Miracle (an abbreviated version of the full box set), we get the same 2011 remaster of the main album, but the bonus disc is a "Sessions" disc that includes early/alternate versions of all 10 "Miracle" tracks + 6 "new" songs based on demos or rough ideas the band explored but ultimately abandoned in the 1988-89 "Miracle" sessions. While some of these unreleased songs are ok, I don't find any to be essential or anything that one would argue should have been on the album, but it's still good to hear them. "Face It Alone" was the most heralded track but I find "I Guess We're Falling Out" to be the best of these unreleased songs.But... to my surprise, the alternate versions of the 10 songs that did make "The Miracle" album are more than worth owning. For starters, if there's one complaint I would have about "The Miracle" it's that it's a little over polished for my taste. But on the sessions disc we get to hear real Roger Taylor drums and John Deacon bass powering "Breakthru" and "Party" (songs that featured drum machines and synth/keybd bass on the final recordings). It's more like "being in the room" hearing Queen belt out these songs and very enjoyable for this fan. It's a treat to hear Freddie exclaim "Oh, I love it! I love that one!" at the conclusion of the first "Breakthru" chorus as he clearly likes the song as it's coming together. Other songs have extended guitar solos, completely different outros, etc., but still enough of the album arrangements you know and love from the actual album to where it's still great listening (and unlike many "rough" or alternate takes, there are plenty of finishing touches on these like background vocals, etc.). One downside is that the lyrics were still coming together on some of these so Freddie may throw out a line other than what you're expecting if you're familiar with the final versions, but even that is interesting to hear some of the alternate ideas that were considered before these songs were finalized.All told, I think this "Sessions" disc is VERY enjoyable and very much worth owning for anyone who likes "The Miracle" album. That said, unless you're willing to double-dip as I did, you'll have to choose between the original 2011 release and this newer 2022 release. As the album itself is the same on both releases, it comes down to the bonus disc on each, and, much as I like the Sessions disc, the bonus disc from 2011 gets you several official and final recordings that are not on the album, such as "Hang On In There," "Chinese Torture," "Stealin" and "Hijack My Heart", all very good songs (esp. the first three). And imo that makes for a better package than alternate versions of existing songs. BUT.... if you do really enjoy the "Miracle" album as I do, this 2022 release is a more than worthy addition as well.

This 2CD form grabs the 2 most important discs from the super deluxe box set and puts them in a nice little hardback book. This is a convenient package, especially if you don't want to shell out the big bucks on the box.I won't comment on the music, it's the same album as it's always been. The second disc is some great unreleased stuff.The case/book itself is good. Lyrics, some discussion of the Miracle Sessions, the expected pictures you've seen before. The binding is nothing special - just a stapled booklet glued into the hard cover. They did the CD sleeves right. They aren't bound to the inside covers, the sleeves are full pages. And the thumb slots are asymmetrical, so it's easy to put the discs back into the sleeves

another great reissue

Good CD very happy with my purchase.

Extra tracks, demos, and outtakes are reminiscent of 'Beatles Anthology'. Queen need to do this treatment across all their albums based on this effort.Deacon's bass has a completely new lease of life.

So it's Queen what's not to love

I bought this CD this when it first came out in 1989. The only reason I'm double dipping is for disc 2 (The Miracle Sessions). The second disc is great and the new songs pulled from the vault make it worth the purchase. So, why the drop to 4 stars? There are 3 songs from my 1989 version that are not included on disc 1. Hang On In There, Chinese Torture (a short May guitar solo) and the 12" version of The Invisible Man. I don't understand why they'd release this great 2 CD set with new songs but exclude those 3.

I gave it as a Christmas present to my mom who is the biggest Queen fan I’ve ever met. She absolutely loved it and was fascinated by all the songs she actually never heard before. She was like a teen again!!! Recommended 100%. If you are a Queen fan, this HAS to be in your collection.

El cd2 tiene varias buenas sorpresas, y la canción de Freddy Mercury esta genial.

A nice sounding alternate takes of the Miracle by Queen. For those who don't want the big box set but wants the bonus tracks.

This is a great a CD and I loved it the music brings them all alive again.

Gran álbum, el disco extra tiene material interesante, demos y canciones inéditas, la presentación, fotos, papel, etc de muy buena calidad

Combining the album plus the second CD of the super deluxe edition. I'm happy getting this stuff more than getting a best of the 3 other CDs in the super deluxe set.Overall this is not their best album but still quite good. At this time you could see Freddie not being "normal" in terms of the way he looked. Vocals were still there.