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Queen At The Beeb
From Queenpedia.com
| Queen At The Beeb / Queen At The BBC |
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| Queen At The Beeb, 1989 /
Queen At The BBC, 1995 |
| Released |
4 December 1989 (UK) |
| Recorded |
5 February 1973 (tracks 1 - 4), 3 December 1973 (tracks 5 - 8) at Langham 1 Studios, London |
| Length |
37:47 |
| Label |
Band Of Joy (UK), Hollywood Records (1995) |
| Producer(s) |
Bernie Andrews |
| Queen chronology |
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History of this album.
Tracklists
Credits
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- Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano
- John Deacon - bass guitar
- Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, vocals
- Brian May - guitars, piano, vocals
Charts
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Liner notes
- THIS is an event. Not merely the release of more "product", but a major milestone in the annals of Rock. What you hold here are eight songs recorded in 1973 by Queen, one of the great names of post-war international music. Moreover, these are versions of well-known numbers that you will never have heard before!
- FACT. February 1973. Queen have been on the live circuit for barely two years. But they've yet to sign a major recording deal. However, the enterprising folk at Radio One book vocalist / pianist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon, and drummer Roger Taylor for a session with producer Bernie Andrews. It is to be broadcast on Sounds Of The '70s, and four tracks are laid down on February 5th, viz My Fairy King, Keep Yourself Alive, Doin' Alright, and Liar. All of these songs were eventually to turn up on the band's self-titled debut album for EMI (released in July of that year), but these versions have never been heard before... not even in bootleg form!
- COMMENT. It's amazing to hear the stunning renditions the band explore herein. Liar's dramatic, thundering Metal extravagance. My Fairy King's lushness and orchestral bravura. Keep Yourself Alive's responsive, momentous Metal-Pop ebullience. Doin' Alright's combination attack of blazing riffs and delicate tinctures of melody.
- FACT. On December 3rd 1973, Queen recorded a second session for Sounds Of The '70s, performing the songs Ogre Battle, Great King Rat, Modern Times Rock'n'Roll, and Son And Daughter. With the exception of Ogre..., all the songs here were featured on the Queen LP. Ogre Battle is to emerge on the Queen II LP, released in March 1974.
- COMMENT. Once again the quality of performance and recording are breathtaking. Ogre Battle is a panorama of virulent grandeur and broadsword clashing mania. Great King Rat has a seismic bite and flaring, cascading incandescence. Modern Times Rock'n'Roll boasts rousing, glinting rhythms. Son And Daughter is suffused with individual Blues and dramatic cloisters. Magnificent.
- As I said earlier, this isn't a release, but an event. Captured here is the essence of early Queen. The style that would help shape two generations of Rock 'N' Roll. The sound that would conquer the world. This is vital, valuable, inexorable. An historical affair that still maintains a contemporary resonance. Rare indeed.
- - Malcolm Dome, RAW magazine
Additional info
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Reviews
- The Times, December 1989
- All eight of the tracks here, including "Keep Yourself Alive" and " Liar", subsequently turned up on Queen's first two albums, but were first recorded at the BBC and broadcast on the Radio One show Sounds of the 70s. The under-resourced production is barely able to cope with the group's wildly ambitious, progressive rock arrangements. The sleeve notes, which are almost as far over the top as Freddie Mercury's grand designs, declare this to be "a major milestone in the annals of rock." It is in fact an amusing curiosity, likely to be of some interest to dedicated fans of an archivist bent.
Sleeves
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 USA Picture Disc Promo LP, 1995 |  USA Picture Disc Promo LP (back), 1995 |
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|  USA Cassette (back), 1995 |
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|  USA Promo Cassette (back), 1995 |
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