7410.jpg "Freddie Mercury - The Great Pretender (Compilation) (1992) front album cover")
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🎤 Freddie Mercury – The Great Pretender (Compilation, 1992)
The Great Pretender is a posthumous compilation album by Freddie Mercury, released on 24 November 1992 in the United States by Hollywood Records. It serves as the American counterpart to the UK release The Freddie Mercury Album, issued a week earlier. While both collections celebrate Mercury’s solo output, The Great Pretender features a slightly different tracklist and mostly remixed versions of his solo recordings from 1983–1988.
Released nearly one year after Mercury’s death in November 1991, this compilation was designed to honor his solo career — showcasing his genre‑bending solo work ranging from pop and dance to theatrical balladry.
📀 Album Credits
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Artist: Freddie Mercury
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Title: The Great Pretender
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Type: Compilation / Posthumous release
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Released: 24 November 1992 (US)
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Label: Hollywood Records
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Recorded: 1983–1988 (original sessions)
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Producers: Various producers authorized by Jim Beach (original material and remixes)
The compilation was overseen with permission from Mercury’s estate, with re‑mixes and production choices intended to modernize the tracks for early‑’90s radio and club audiences, while introducing Mercury’s solo work to American fans.
🎶 Tracklist (US Edition)
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The Great Pretender (Brian Malouf Mix) – 3:39
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Foolin’ Around (Steve Brown Mix) – 3:36
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Time (Nile Rodgers Mix) – 3:50
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Your Kind of Lover (Steve Brown Mix) – 3:59
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Exercises in Free Love – 3:56
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In My Defence (Ron Nevison Mix) – 3:52
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Mr. Bad Guy (Brian Malouf Mix) – 4:01
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Let’s Turn It On (Jeff Lord‑Alge Mix) – 3:46
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Living on My Own (Julian Raymond Mix) – 3:39
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My Love Is Dangerous (Jeff Lord‑Alge Mix) – 3:40
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Love Kills (Richard Wolf Mix) – 3:25
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Living on My Own (Techno Remix) – 5:14 (included on some US/Mexico editions)
This version replaces certain tracks found on the UK The Freddie Mercury Album, such as “Barcelona,” with remixes like “My Love Is Dangerous,” presenting a dance‑oriented and remix‑focused collection.
🌟 Notable Songs on the Compilation
“The Great Pretender”
Originally written by Buck Ram and first recorded by The Platters in 1955, Mercury’s spirited cover became one of his iconic solo performances. The track’s Brian Malouf mix anchors this compilation and encapsulates Freddie’s flair for theatrical pop.
“Living on My Own (Julian Raymond Mix)
A standout solo track, remixed here for early‑’90s appeal. While originally from Mr. Bad Guy, the remixes of this song (and other mixes released around the same period) helped reignite interest in Mercury’s solo dance pop sound.
“In My Defence” (Ron Nevison Mix)
Originally from the musical Time but remixed for the 1992 compilations, this emotional ballad reached UK chart success posthumously, underscoring Mercury’s dramatic vocal range.
📊 Legacy & Context
While The Great Pretender did not have the same chart impact as some of Mercury’s band‑oriented releases, the compilation played an important role in reintroducing his solo work to the American market during the early 1990s. It showcased not only his versatility beyond Queen — embracing synth‑pop, dance rhythms, and theatrical flair — but also how his voice and songwriting continued to resonate after his passing.
The album complements the UK’s The Freddie Mercury Album, together forming a retrospective of his solo period and offering both original and re‑imagined mixes of his work.
⚡ Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Posthumous Appeal:
The Great Pretender was released in late 1992 as part of a coordinated effort to celebrate Freddie Mercury’s solo achievements nearly a year after his death — alongside the UK The Freddie Mercury Album.
🎧 Remix Focused:
Unlike its UK counterpart, this US edition is more remix‑heavy, reflecting early‑’90s production styles and catering to dance/club sensibilities.
🎼 Different Track Swaps:
The American compilation swaps “Barcelona” (present on the UK version) for remixed tracks like “My Love Is Dangerous,” giving this version a distinctive identity.
🎶 Rare Editions:
Some copies of the US release include an extended techno remix of “Living on My Own” as a bonus track, adding even more variety for collectors.
💡 Did You Know?
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The Great Pretender compilation shares most of its material with The Freddie Mercury Album but was specifically tailored for the American market, with a unique track order and remix choices.
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Freddie’s cover of “The Great Pretender” was originally recorded in 1987 and became a signature solo performance capturing his dramatic vocal personality.
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Tracks like “In My Defence” weren’t major hits during Mercury’s lifetime but found a larger audience through these compilations and subsequent single releases.
🎵 Why It Matters
The Great Pretender stands as a key release in Freddie Mercury’s solo catalog — not because it broke sales records, but because it helped define and preserve his independent artistry apart from Queen. Through remixes, reinterpretations, and thoughtful sequencing, the album showed the breadth of Mercury’s talent: from danceable grooves to show‑stopping theatrical numbers — all united by his unmistakable voice and charisma.
Freddie Mercury Full Discography
Download Freddie Mercury Albums from Amazon
More Albums:
Freddie Mercury - Mr. Bad Guy (1985)
Freddie Mercury - Barcelona (with Montserrat Caballé) (1988)
Freddie Mercury - The Freddie Mercury Album (Compilation) (1992)
