QUEEN I is the debut album by British rock group Queen, released in July 1973. It was recorded at Trident Studios and De Lane Lea Music Centre, London, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony, and Queen.
The album was influenced by the seaside rock, hard rock, and heavy metal of the day and covers subjects such as folklore ("My Fairy King") and religion ("Jesus"). Lead singer Freddie Mercury composed five of the ten tracks. Lead guitarist Brian May contributed four songs, including "Doing All Right" which was co-written by Smile band-mate Tim Staffell. Drummer Roger Taylor composed and sang "Modern Times Rock and Roll." The band included the comment 'No synthesizers' on the album sleeve, as some listeners had mistaken their elaborate multi-tracking and effects processed by guitar and vocal sounds as synthesizers. Bassist John Deacon was credited on the sleeve notes of the original vinyl release as "Deacon John", as Mercury and Taylor thought this may make him sound more interesting.
Queen's debut considered by many as their most underrated album. Although most tracks aren't as well known as the band's later material, QUEEN I proves to be an impressively consistent listen from beginning to end. It's extraordinary how many of the group's future musical trademarks were already detectable in their debut - Brian May's orchestrated guitar harmonies, multi-tracked vocal "choirs," imaginative songwriting and dynamics that could switch from head-banging heavy metal to reflective balladry in the blink of an eye.
Although QUEEN I was recorded off and on over a three-year period, the tracks still manage to be focused and unified. The rocker "Liar" contains a middle section that foreshadows Queen's future hits (1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody," 1976's "Somebody To Love," etc.) while "The Night Comes Down" is a gorgeous ballad. But make no mistake: the majority of QUEEN is raucous hard rock - see "Great King Rat" and the grand Zeppelin groove of "Son & Daughter." Also included as a bonus track is the forgotten composition "Mad The Swine," and an instrumental version of their future hit "Seven Seas Of Rhye."
Queen: Brian May (vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, keyboards); Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano); Roger Taylor (vocals, drums, percussion); John Deacon (guitar, bass guitar); Louie Austin (recorder).
Recording information: De Lane Lea Studio; De Lane Studios; Trident Studio, London, England; Trident Studios, London, England.
Audio Remasterer: Eddy Schreyer. Audio Remixers: John Luongo & Gary Hellman.
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony and Queen.
Track Listing:
1. Keep Yourself Alive - 3:47 2. Doing All Right - 4:09 3. Great King Rat - 5:43 4. My Fairy King - 4:08 5. Liar - 6:25 6. The Night Comes Down - 4:23 7. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll - 1:48 8. Son & Daughter - 3:20 9. Jesus - 3:44 10. Seven Seas of Rhye - 1:15 11. Mad the Swine (Previously Unreleased) - 3:20 (BONUS TRACK) 12. Keep Yourself Alive (Long Lost Re-Take) - 4:04 (BONUS TRACK) 13. Liar (1991 Bonus Remix John Luongo & Gary Hellman) - 6:25 (BONUS TRACK)
Queen I (1991) (RMST) (3 BONUS TRACKS)
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Album Description:
QUEEN I is the debut album by British rock group Queen, released in July 1973. It was recorded at Trident Studios and De Lane Lea Music Centre, London, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony, and Queen.
The album was influenced by the seaside rock, hard rock, and heavy metal of the day and covers subjects such as folklore ("My Fairy King") and religion ("Jesus"). Lead singer Freddie Mercury composed five of the ten tracks. Lead guitarist Brian May contributed four songs, including "Doing All Right" which was co-written by Smile band-mate Tim Staffell. Drummer Roger Taylor composed and sang "Modern Times Rock and Roll." The band included the comment 'No synthesizers' on the album sleeve, as some listeners had mistaken their elaborate multi-tracking and effects processed by guitar and vocal sounds as synthesizers. Bassist John Deacon was credited on the sleeve notes of the original vinyl release as "Deacon John", as Mercury and Taylor thought this may make him sound more interesting.
Queen's debut considered by many as their most underrated album. Although most tracks aren't as well known as the band's later material, QUEEN I proves to be an impressively consistent listen from beginning to end. It's extraordinary how many of the group's future musical trademarks were already detectable in their debut - Brian May's orchestrated guitar harmonies, multi-tracked vocal "choirs," imaginative songwriting and dynamics that could switch from head-banging heavy metal to reflective balladry in the blink of an eye.
Although QUEEN I was recorded off and on over a three-year period, the tracks still manage to be focused and unified. The rocker "Liar" contains a middle section that foreshadows Queen's future hits (1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody," 1976's "Somebody To Love," etc.) while "The Night Comes Down" is a gorgeous ballad. But make no mistake: the majority of QUEEN is raucous hard rock - see "Great King Rat" and the grand Zeppelin groove of "Son & Daughter." Also included as a bonus track is the forgotten composition "Mad The Swine," and an instrumental version of their future hit "Seven Seas Of Rhye."
Queen: Brian May (vocals, guitar, banjo, piano, keyboards); Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano); Roger Taylor (vocals, drums, percussion); John Deacon (guitar, bass guitar); Louie Austin (recorder).
Recording information: De Lane Lea Studio; De Lane Studios; Trident Studio, London, England; Trident Studios, London, England.
Audio Remasterer: Eddy Schreyer.
Audio Remixers: John Luongo & Gary Hellman.
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony and Queen.
Track Listing:
1. Keep Yourself Alive - 3:47
2. Doing All Right - 4:09
3. Great King Rat - 5:43
4. My Fairy King - 4:08
5. Liar - 6:25
6. The Night Comes Down - 4:23
7. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll - 1:48
8. Son & Daughter - 3:20
9. Jesus - 3:44
10. Seven Seas of Rhye - 1:15
11. Mad the Swine (Previously Unreleased) - 3:20 (BONUS TRACK)
12. Keep Yourself Alive (Long Lost Re-Take) - 4:04 (BONUS TRACK)
13. Liar (1991 Bonus Remix John Luongo & Gary Hellman) - 6:25 (BONUS TRACK)