Five Live is an EP released on 19 April 1993, featuring 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 very strong throughout Europe, where it debuted at number one on 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 US was far less spectacular, but the EP still peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200.

A shortened 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 music video for it, but did not personally appear in full face. The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.

While "These Are the Days of Our Lives" is played by the remaining members of Queen, the vocal is a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield. However, it features alterations from the tribute concert (Michael's vocals are re-recorded, for example).

The sixth track – only featured on some versions of the release – is represented by a short performance by Queen, entitled "Dear Friends", originally sung by Freddie Mercury. Recorded in 1974 and originally appearing on the band's Sheer Heart Attack album; 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.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1993)PeakpositionDanish Singles (IFPI)2European Albums (Top 100)5European Singles (Eurochart Hot 100)7Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)39French Albums (SNEP)12Greek Singles (AFP)2Japanese Albums (Oricon)35Portuguese Albums (AFP)1Spanish Albums (AFYVE)18Spanish Singles (AFYVE)1

Year-end charts Chart (1993)PositionAustrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)19Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)19European Singles (Eurochart Hot 100)49French Albums (SNEP)30German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)30UK Singles (OCC)11

Certifications

Release history

Country Date Label Format Catalogue United Kingdom Parlophone CD CDRS 6340 7-inch vinyl R 6340 Cassette TC-R 6340 Europe EMI CD 0777 7 89418 2 8

References