Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)

Five Live (EP)
EP by George Michael and Queen with Lisa Stansfield
Released	19 April 1993
Recorded	1974, 1991, 1992
Genre	Pop rock, dance-pop
Length	28:46
Label	Hollywood (U.S./Canada) Parlophone (Rest of world)
Producer	Queen George Michael Roy Thomas Baker
George Michael chronology
Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) Five Live (EP) (1993) Older (1996)
Queen chronology
Live at Wembley '86 (1992) Five Live (EP) (1993) Made in Heaven (1995)
Lisa Stansfield chronology
Real Love (1991) Five Live (EP) (1993) So Natural (1993)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Five Live, released in 1993, features five (in some countries, where it is considered to be a reduced-length long-playing album, six) tracks, performed by George Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (both also available on video) were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held on 20 April 1992, at Wembley Stadium.

All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Sales of the record were in fact very strong throughout Europe, where it debuted at number one, in the UK Singles Chart, and several European countries, either considered as a single, or charting on album charts as an extended play or an LP. Chart success in the U.S. was far less spectacular, but the EP still peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200.

An edited shorter version of "Killer" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a live medley performed by Michael at Wembley Arena, was released as a further independent single, in some territories only. The singer also shot a video for it, although he did not personally appear (it was during the time Michael refused to exploit his outward look, which he thought would distract the audience from the music, his main concern). The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

While "These Are the Days of Our Lives" is played by the remaining members of Queen, it is actually a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield. The version on the EP is not identical to the actual performance on the night, however.

The sixth track—only featured on some releases—is represented by a short performance by Queen, entitled "Dear Friends", originally sung by Freddie Mercury himself. Recorded in 1974, this constitutes the one studio recording on the record. It was not included in the UK vinyl of the EP.

Usually, countries where the six-track work is distributed consider it to be a short LP, whereas those where the five-track (hence, its title) work is available generally tend to see it as an EP or even (if "Killer"/"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was not marketed independently in those same territories) as a particularly long or content-rich single. However, no matter its status, whether an EP, a short album or a long single, the work as a whole sold an estimated 5 million copies worldwide.

Track listing

1. "Somebody to Love" (Freddie Mercury) – 5:17 (U.S. #30)
   • Performed by Queen and George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
2. "Killer" (Adam Tinley/Seal-Henry Samuel) – 5:58
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
3. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong) – 5:24
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
4. "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (Queen) – 4:43
   • Performed by Queen, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield
     • Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
5. "Calling You" (Bob Telson) – 6:17
   • Performed by George Michael
     • Recorded at Wembley Arena on 22 March 1991
6. "Dear Friends" (Brian May) – 1:07 (some releases only)
   • Performed by Queen (1974 studio recording)

• Note: On some CD releases in the UK, tracks 2 and 3 are grouped together as one.

Charts and certifications

Release details

References