Songs of the Weekend: early Queen

Lately I have been listening to, mainly, "Sheer Heart Attack", Queen's third album.  While it was a departure from their first two albums in that it was a more straightforward pop/rock album, it still contained some ethereal lyrics and some of the flourishes of it's predecessors.  As Brian May and Roger Taylor have said, the roots of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "A Night At the Opera" lay within their first three albums.

Here are two live clips of Queen circa 1974, as they toured to promote "Sheer Heart Attack".  These clips are from their show at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

"White Queen" from "Queen II"


"In The Lap of the Gods" from "Sheer Heart Attack"



Bonus:
"Now I'm Here" is Brian May's tale of the experiences that filled his head during their first tour of the United States in 1974.

"Now I'm Here" from "Sheer Heart Attack"

Song of the Day: '39

One of my fave Queen songs, live and acoustic in Houston 1977:

"'39"

Song of the Day: Queen

I have returned, faithful reader, from a short break from posting.  Alas, I have returned with a short post about one of my favorite Queen songs, "Sail Away Sweet Sister", from their 1980 album "The Game".

One of but a handful of songs not sung by Freddie Mercury (save for a short few lines in the middle) this is sung by it's composer, guitarist Brian May.  Mercury does, however, play piano.  Brian May remarked a few years ago on his blog that he coaxed Freddie into playing piano on this because he wanted the sound of Freddie's great rhythmic piano playing on the backing track.

"The Game" signaled a change for Queen.  Gone were the ornate arrangements and theatrics of their 70's albums.  Instead "The Game" featured (for them) a more stripped down and basic rock style.  "Sail Away Sweet Sister" does feature one of Brian May's best orchestrated and layered guitar solos. 

Queen, "Sail Away Sweet Sister"

Songs of the Day: 80's Anime

Here are a few of the better 80's songs with videos featuring animation, either as large or small portions of the video:

First, a small example: "All I Wanted" by Kansas, 1986


"Save Me" by Queen, 1980


One of the most famous examples, "Take On Me" by A-Ha, 1985  Damn good video, lo these many years later.



Bonus:
Although it was released in 1991, this is one of my faves and features some Disney animation, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" by Queen.  Freddie Mercury's last video performance:

Queen: Another Look At "Hot Space"

In 1980, Queen was coming out of a wildly successful decade.  True to their eclectic tastes, their album "The Game" not only featured a throwback rockabilly song, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", but a R&B/funk song, "Another One Bites The Dust", which ended up being an even bigger hit.

In an attempt to continue in that vein and exploring their own interests in that field, their next album, 1982's "Hot Space" featured more dance beats, new wave sounds and utilized more synthesizers than ever before.  Critical and popular reception was cool and, in some respects, resulted in long term damage.  A band which was wildly popular in England, Europe, Asia and South America, Queen had always worked and strived to "make it" in the United States.  Just as quickly as "Crazy Little Thing" and "Another One Bites The Dust" vaulted them toward that next level, the reaction to "Hot Space" slowed their momentum.

Although "Hot Space" did produce the hit, "Under Pressure", in my opinion there are a number of very good tracks that have been overlooked.  Here are two:

"Calling All Girls"




"Back Chat" (live in 1982)




Bonus:

Here is the karaoke version of "Under Pressure".

Don't Stop Me Now

Here's a first: two versions of the same song (because it's that damn good): "Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. 

First the official video, with the studio backing track:




Now the karaoke version, with the real Queen backing track.  This version allows you to hear Freddie Mercury's great piano playing.  Feel free to sing along.



Freddie Mercury, while not a formally trained musician (or vocalist, for that matter) was still an impressive piano player.  Roger Taylor, Queen's drummer, has said that it pisses him off when people call Freddie an "entertainer" because he was not just a guy who ran around on stage, he was a damn good musician.  This track bears that out.