Queensrÿche’s ‘Mindcrime,’ ‘Empire’ Get Expanded

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Two of Queensrÿche’s landmark progressive metal albums are being celebrated with expanded editions. Their 1988 breakthrough collection Operation: Mindcrime and its successful follow-up, 1990’s Empire, will be released in multiple formats with 2-CD deluxe editions and in multi-disc CD+DVD box sets. In addition, the original versions have been remastered for CD and 2-LPs (180-gram). They arrive June 25, 2021, via Capitol/UMe.

From the June 17 announcement: Newly mastered at Abbey Road Studios, the deluxe versions bring together all the available recordings in 10′′ x 10′′ boxes that also contain DVDs of accompanying promotional videos and live performances of the albums. The live audio material revisits Queensrÿche’s worldwide headlining status during the “Building Empires” tour, an 18-month trek that saw the band headline arenas after previous high-profile supporting slots on the Def Leppard Hysteria and Metallica And Justice For All tours.

The Operation: Mindcrime deluxe edition features live audio concerts from London’s Hammersmith Odeon in 1990 and Wisconsin’s Target Center in 1991. The Empire deluxe version completes the Hammersmith Odeon 1990 concert with the live audio from the non-Mindcrime setlist. Former lead vocalist Geoff Tate sheds new light on the albums in extended interviews for the liner notes.

Operation: Mindcrime, the band’s third studio album, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late British actor Anthony Valentine), Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. The concept album was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the Top 100 Metal Albums of All Time by Kerrang! magazine.

Produced, like its predecessor, by Peter Collins (Bon Jovi, Rush, Alice Cooper), Empire spawned six singles that lit up Billboard’s rock tracks chart: the power ballad “Silent Lucidity” (#1), “Jet City Woman” (#6), “Another Rainy Night (Without You) (#7), “Anybody Listening? (#16), “Empire” (#22) and “Best I Can” (#28). “Silent Lucidity” became the band’s first crossover hit, reaching #9 on the Hot 100. (It also earned a Grammy® nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.) RIAA-certified triple-platinum, Empire is the band’s most commercially successful album.

The progressive metal greats emerged from Bellevue, Wash., in 1982 and have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

The band has a busy 2021 tour schedule. Tickets are available here and here.

See the complete track listing for the expanded editions below the links.

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Queensrÿche Operation: Mindcrime [4-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Version]

CD1

1. I Remember Now
2. Anarchy-X
3. Revolution Calling
4. Operation: Mindcrime
5. Speak
6. Spreading The Disease
7. The Mission
8. Suite Sister Mary
9. The Needle Lies
10. Electric Requiem
11. Breaking The Silence
12. I Don’t Believe In Love
13. Waiting For 22
14. My Empty Room
15. Eyes Of A Stranger

CD2

1. I Don’t Believe In Love – Extended Version
2. The Mission – Live At The Hammersmith Odeon, London, 1990
3. My Empty Room – Live At The Astoria Theatre, London, 1994
4. Interview With Queensrÿche
5. Overseeing The Operation
6. The Lady Wore Black – Live From Wisconsin, 1991
7. Roads To Madness – Live From Wisconsin, 1991

CD3 Operation: Mindcrime Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London, England, 1990

CD4 Operation: Mindcrime Live From Wisconsin, 1991

DVD Operation: Mindcrime Live / Promo Videos

1. I Remember Now [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
2. Anarchy-X [Music Video] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1988
3. Revolution Calling [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
4. Operation: Mindcrime [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
5. Speak [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
6. Spreading The Disease [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
7. The Mission [Music Video] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1988
8. Suite Sister Mary [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
9. The Needle Lies [Concert Film] – Live On Location in Wisconsin, 1991
10. Electric Requiem [Music Video] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1988
11. Breaking The Silence [Music Video] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1988
12. I Don’t Believe In Love [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
13. Waiting For 22 [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
14. My Empty Room [Music Video] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1988
15. Eyes Of A Stranger [Concert Film] – Live On Location In Wisconsin, 1991
16. Operation Livecrime End Credits [Concert Film]
17. I Remember Now [Concert Film]
18. Anarchy-X [Concert Film]
19. Revolution Calling [Music Video]
20. Operation: Mindcrime [Music Video]
21. Speak [Music Video]
22. Breaking The Silence [Music Video]
23. I Don’t Believe In Love [Music Video]
24. Waiting For 22 [Concert Film]
25. Eyes Of A Stranger [Concert Film]
26. Operation: Mindcrime End Credits [Concert Film]
27. I Don’t Believe In Love [Concert Film] 2019 Remaster
28. The Making of Operation: Mindcrime [Behind the Scenes] – Bonus Track
29. I Don’t Believe In Love
30. Eyes Of A Stranger
31. Revolution Calling
32. Operation: Mindcrime [Trailers/Teasers] – Bonus Track
33. Revolution Calling
34. Eyes Of A Stranger
35. I Don’t Believe In Love
36. Menu / Queensrÿche / Operation: Mindcrime [Concert Film]

Queensrÿche Empire [3-CD/1-DVD Deluxe Version]

CD1

1. Best I Can
2. The Thin Line
3. Jet City Woman
4. Della Brown
5. Another Rainy Night (Without You)
6. Empire
7. Resistance
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. One And Only
11. Anybody Listening?

CD2

1. Last Time In Paris – (Bonus Track)
2. Scarborough Fair – (Bonus Track)
3. Dirty Lil Secret – (Bonus Track)
4. Silent Lucidity – Edit
5. Empire – Edit
6. I Dream In Infrared – Acoustic Version
7. Prophecy – Live In Tokyo
8. Best I Can – Radio Edit
9. Anybody Listening? – Radio Edit

CD3 Empire Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London, England 1990

1. Resistance
2. Walk in The Shadows
3. Best I Can
4. Empire
5. The Thin Line
6. Jet City Woman
7. Roads To Madness
8. Silent Lucidity
9. Hand On Heart
10. Take Hold Of The Flame

DVD
1. Building Empires Opening [Concert Film]
2. Nightrider [Music Video]
3. Prophecy [Concert Film] – Live In Tokyo, 1983
4. Gonna Get Close To You [Concert Film]
5. Eyes of A Stranger [Music Video] – Alternate Version
6. Empire [Concert Film]
7. Best I Can [Music Video]
8. Silent Lucidity [Music Video]
9. Jet City Woman [Music Video]
10. Another Rainy Night (Without You) [Concert Film]
11. Another Rainy Night (Without You) [Music Video] – Alternate Version
12. Anybody Listening? [Concert Film]
13. Resistance [Concert Film] – Live
14. Walk In The Shadows [Music Video] – Live
15. The Thin Line [Music Video] – Live
16. Take Hold Of The Flame [Music Video] – Live
17. The Lady Wore Black [Music Video] – Live
18. Silent Lucidity [Music Video] – Live
19. Building Empires End Credits [Concert Film]
20. Menu / Queensrÿche / Building Empires [Concert Film]