Queen |
|
QUEEN - BRIEF OVERVIEW: |
|
Queen was formed in 1970 when the band 'Smile' broke up, leaving Brian May and Roger Taylor to create their own band. They invited a friend of theirs, Farrokh Bulsara, to join them and called it Queen. In 1971, John Deacon (Or, Deacon John as the others called him at the time) replaced Mike Grose as the bassist, and the lineup for Queen was complete.
Their first album was self-titled, and featured Bulsara (now calling himself Freddie Mercury) on lead vocals/piano, Brian May on backup vocals/guitar/piano, Roger Taylor on backup vocals/drums, and John Deacon on bass. The album, released in 1973, failed to gain much recognition at all, and the group moved quickly to try and place themselves in the music greats. This rushed-ness resulted in two albums for 1974, 'Queen II' and 'Sheer Heart Attack'. 'Queen II' gave them recognition on Britain with the top ten single 'Seven Seas of Rhye', and 'Sheer Heart Attack' gave them worldwide recognition with their smash hit, 'Killer Queen'.
It was in 1975, however, that Queen would reach stardom. This year saw the release of 'A Night at the Opera', regarded by many as their most formidable album, and often listed as one of the greatest albums ever released. This astounding rock opera featured songs such as 'You're My Best Friend', a gentle ballad by John Deacon (who the others referred to by his real name at this point), 'The Prophet's Song', May's eight-minute epic, and Mercury's famous 'Bohemian Rhapsody', which became a number one on five continents. Queen's next big single was 'We Are the Champions', which, along with its B-side, 'We Will Rock You', became extremely popular with sportsfans.
In 1980, Queen finalized their position as world-class musicians with 'The Game', which featured songs such as Deacon's 'Another One Bites the Dust', and Mercury's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', both of which reached number one on the US billboard chart. Their reputation in the USA was ruined, however, with 1982's 'Hot Space', largely considered their worst album, with the exception of 'Under Pressure', Mercury's magical duet with David Bowie. Queen managed to save their reputation in Europe, however, thanks to 'The Works' and 'A Kind of Magic', the first of which featured Taylor's powerful 'Radio Ga Ga' and the latter containing Taylor's epic 'A Kind of Magic'.
It was in 1989 that Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS, and, on November 24, 1991, he passed away, right after the release of their popular album 'Innuendo'. In 1995, Queen's last studio album, 'Made in Heaven', was released. It became an instantaneous worldwide phenomenon, reaching number 1 in no less than 10 countries worldwide, and achieving a staggering 7,000,000 sales. It was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest bands to ever play musical instruments.
|
|
QUEEN ARE:
|
|
Freddie Mercury: Lead Vocals, Piano
Brian May: Guitar, Backup Vocals
Roger Taylor: Drums, Backup Vocals
John Deacon: Bass
|
|
ALBUMS (ranked in order of greatness):
|
|
1. A Night at the Opera (1975)
|
1. Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...)
2. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon
3. I'm In Love With My Car
4. You're My Best Friend
5. '39
6. Sweet Lady
|
7. Seaside Rendezvous
8. The Prophet's Song
9. Love Of My Life
10. Good Company
11. Bohemian Rhapsody
12. God Save The Queen
|
|
 |
2. The Game (1980)
|
1. Play The Game
2. Dragon Attack
3. Another One Bites The Dust
4. Need Your Loving Tonight
5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
|
6. Rock It (Prime Jive)
7. Don't Try Suicide
8. Sail Away Sweet Sister
9. Coming Soon
10. Save Me
|
|
 |
3. Sheer Heart Attack 1974)
|
1. Brighton Rock
2. Killer Queen
3. Tenement Funster
4. Flick Of The Wrist
5. Lilly Of The Valley
6. Now I'm Here
7. In The Lap Of The Gods
|
8. Stone Cold Crazy
9. Dear Friends
10. Misfire
11. Bring Back Leroy Brown
12. She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stiletos)
13. In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited
|
|
|
4.Queen II (1974)
|
1. Procession
2. Father To Son
3. White Queen (As It Began)
4. Some Day One Day
5. The Loser In The End
6. Ogre Battle
|
7. Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke
8. Nevermore
9. The March Of The Black Queen
10. Funny How Love Is
11. Seven Seas Of Rhye
|
|
 |
5. Innuendo (1991)
|
1. Innuendo
2. I'm Going Slightly Mad
3. Headlong
4. I Can't Live With You
5. Don't Try So Hard
6. Ride The Wild Wind
|
7. All God's People
8. These Are The Days Of Our Lives
9. Delilah
10. Hitman, The
11. Bijou
12. Show Must Go On, The
|
|
 |
6. The Works (1984)
|
1. Radio Ga Ga
2. Tear It Up
3. It's A Hard Life
4. Man On The Prowl
5. Machines (Back To Humans)
|
6. I Want To Break Free
7. Keep Passing The Open Windows
8. Hammer To Fall
9. Is This The World We Created
|
|
 |
7. A Day At The Races (1976)
|
1. Tie Your Mother Down
2. You Take My Breath Away
3. Long Away
4. The Millionaire Waltz
5. You And I
|
6. Somebody To Love
7. White Man
8. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
9. Drowse
10. Teo Torriatte :: Let Us Cling Together
|
|
|
8. A Kind of Magic (1986)
|
1. One Vision
2. A Kind Of Magic
3. One Year Of Love
4. Pain Is So Close To Pleasure
5. Friends Will Be Friends
|
6. Who Wants To Live Forever?
7. Gimme The Prize (Kurgan's Theme)
8. Don't Lose Your Head
9. Princes Of The Universe
10. Forever
|
|
 |
9. Made in Heaven (1995)
|
1. It's A Beautiful Day
2. Made In Heaven
3. Let Me Live
4. Mother Love
5. My Life Has Been Saved
6. I Was Born To Love You
|
7. Heaven For Everyone
8. Too Much Love Will Kill You
9. You Don't Fool Me
10. A Winter's Tale
11. It's A Beautiful Day (Reprise)
|
|
 |
10. News of the World (1977)
|
1. We Will Rock You
2. We Are The Champions
3. Sheer Heart Attack
4. All Dead, All Dead
5. Spread Your Wings
6. Fight From The Inside
|
7. Get Down, Make Love
8. Sleeping On The Sidewalk
9. Who Needs You
10. It's Late
11. My Melancholy Blues
|
|
|
11. The Miracle (1989)
|
1. Party
2. Khashoggi's Ship
3. The Miracle
4. I Want It All
5. The Invisible Man
6. Breakthru
|
7. Rain Must Fall
8. Scandal
9. My Baby Does Me
10. Was It All Worth It
11. Hang On In There
12. Chinese Torture
|
|
|
12. Queen (1973)
|
1. Keep Yourself Alive
2. Doing All Right
3. Great King Rat
4. My Fairy King
5. Liar
|
6. Night Comes Down, The
7. Modern Times Rock & Roll
8. Son & Daughter
9. Jesus
10. Seven Seas Of Rhye
|
|
|
13. Jazz (1978)
|
1. Mustapha
2. Fat Bottomed Girls
3. Jealousy
4. Bicycle Race
5. If You Can't Beat Them
6. Let Me Entertain You
7. Dead On Time
|
8. In Only Seven Days
9. Dreamers Ball
10. Fun It
11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy
12. Don't Stop Me Now
13. More Of That Jazz
|
|
 |
14. Flash Gordon (1981)
|
1. Flash's Theme
2. In The Space Capsule (Love Theme)
3. Ming's Theme
4. Ring, The (Hypnotic Seduction Of Dale)
5. Football Fight
6. In The Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)
7. Execution Of Flash
8. The Kiss
9. Arboria
|
10. Escape From The Swamp
11. Flash To The Rescue
12. Vultan's Theme
13. Battle Theme
14. The Wedding March
15. Marriage Of Dale And Ming
16. Crash Dive On Mingo City
17. Flash's Theme (Reprise)
18. The Hero
|
|
 |
15. Hot Space (1982)
|
1. Staying Power
2. Dancer
3. Back Chat
4. Body Language
5. Action This Day
6. Put Out The Fire
|
7. Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)
8. Calling All Girls
9. Los Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love)
10. Cool Cat
11. Under Pressure
|
|
|
|
LIVE ALBUMS - by Year:
|
Live Killers (Released June, 1979) (Recorded Jan. - Mar. 1979)
|
DISC 1:
1. We Will Rock You
2. Let Me Entertain You
3. Death On Two Legs
4. Killer Queen
5. Bicycle Race
6. I'm In Love With My Car
7. Get Down, Make Love
8. You're My Best Friend
9. Now I'm Here
10. Dreamer's Ball
11. Love Of My Life
12. 39
13. Keep Yourself Alive
|
DISC 2:
1. Don't Stop Me Now
2. Spread Your Wings
3. Brighton Rock
4. Bohemian Rhapsody
5. Tie Your Mother Down
6. Sheer Heart Attack
7. We Will Rock You
8. We Are The Champions
9. God Save The Queen
|
|
|
Live Magic
(Released Dec., 1986) (Recorded July - Aug. 1986)
|
1. One Vision - (from the film "Iron Eagle")
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. Seven Seas Of Rhye
4. A Kind Of Magic - (full live version)
5. Under Pressure
6. Another One Bites The Dust - (full live version)
7. mI Want To Break Free
8. Is This The World We Created?
|
9. Bohemian Rhapsody
10. Hammer To Fall - (full live version)
11. Radio Ga-Ga
12. We Will Rock You
13. Friends Will Be Friends
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen
|
|
|
Live At Wembley Stadium
(Released May, 1992) (Recorded July, 1986)
|
DISC 1:
1. One Vision
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. In The Lap Of The Gods
4. Seven Seas Of Rhye
5. Tear It Up
6. A Kind Of Magic
7. Under Pressure
8. Another One Bites The Dust
9. Who Wants To Live Forever
10. I Want To Break Free
11. Impromptu
12. Brighton Rock Solo
13. Now I'm Here
|
DISC 2:
1. Love Of My Life
2. Is This The World We Created
3. Baby I Don't Care, (You're So Square)
4. Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)
5. Tutti Frutti
6. Gimme Some Lovin'
7. Bohemian Rhapsody
8. Hammer To Fall
9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
10. Big Spender
11. Radio Ga Ga
12. We Will Rock You
13. Friends Will Be Friends
14. We Are The Champions
15. God Save The Queen
|
|
|
Queen At The BBC
(Released 1995) (Recorded 1973)
|
1. My Fairy King
2. Keep Yourself Alive
3. Doing All Right
4. Liar
|
5. Ogre Battle
6. Great King Rat
7. Modern Times Rock'n'Roll
8. Son And Daughter
|
|
|
Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl
(Released Oct. 2004) (Recorded June 5, 1982)
|
DISC 1:
1. Flash
2. The Hero
3. We Will Rock You (Fast)
4. Action This Day
5. Play The Game
6. Staying Power
7. Somebody To Love
8. Now I'm Here
9. Dragon Attack
10. Now I'm Here (Reprise)
11. Love Of My Life
12. Save Me
13. Back Chat
|
DISC 2:
1. Get Down, Make Love
2. Guitar Solo
3. Under Pressure (Queen/Bowie)
4. Fat Bottomed Girls
5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
7. Tie Your Mother Down
8. Another One Bites The Dust
9. Sheer Heart Attack
10. We Will Rock You
11. We Are The Champions
12. God Save The Queen
|
|
|
Return of the Champions (Queen + Paul Rodgers)
(Released Sept. 2005) (Recorded May 9, 2005)
|
DISC 1:
1. Reaching Out
2. Tie Your Mother Down
3. I Want to Break Free
4. Fat Bottomed Girls
5. Wishing Well
6. Another One Bites the Dust
7. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
8. Say It's Not True
9. '39
10. Love of My Life
11. Hammer to Fall
12. Feel Like Makin' Love
13. Let There Be Drums
14. I'm In Love With My Car
15. Guitar solo
16. Last Horizon
|
DISC 2:
1. These Are the Days of Our Lives
2. Radio Ga Ga
3. Can't Get Enough
4. A Kind of Magic
5. I Want It All
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
7. The Show Must Go On
8. All Right Now
9. We Will Rock You
10. We Are the Champions
11. God Save the Queen
12. It's A Beautiful Day (Remix) (from DVD)
13. Imagine (from DVD)
|
|
|
TOP 10 GREATEST QUEEN SONGS:
- - - Song Title (Songwriter) Album - - -
|
|
1. Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury) A Night at the Opera
2. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions (Mercury/May) News of the World
3. Another One Bites the Dust (Deacon) The Game
4. Under Pressure (Queen and David Bowie) Hot Space
5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury) The Game
6. Killer Queen (Mercury) Sheer Heart Attack
7. I Want to Break Free (Deacon) The Works
8. Somebody to Love (Mercury) A Day at the Races
9. Innuendo (Mercury) Innuendo
10. Radio Ga Ga (Taylor) The Works
Full Top 100 Song List
|
|
|
|
|
A FEW GREAT LYRICS:
|
|
I see a little silhouette of a man!
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me!
Galileo! Galileo! Galileo! Galileo! Galileo Figaro!
Magnifico!
- Bohemian Rhapsody
While we live according to race, color, or creed.
While we rule by blind madness and pure greed.
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion.
Through the hours, and hours and hours.
Oh, we'll keep on trying.
Tread that fine line.
Oh, we'll keep on smiling.
Till the end of time.
Till the end of time!
- Innuendo
We watch the shows,
We watch the stars,
On videos for hours and hours.
We hardly need to use our ears,
How music changes through the years &
Radio.
- Radio Ga Ga
And two by two, my human zoo will be
Running for to come, running for to come,
Out of the rain!
Flee for your lives!
Who heed me not, let all your treasure make you.
Fear for you life!
Decieve you not, the fires of hell will take you,
Should death await you?
- The Prophet's Song
Open hearts in surgery,
Sunday mornings with a cup of tea!
Superpowers always fighting,
But the Mona Lisa just keeps on smiling,
It's a miracle!
- The Miracle
|
|
PLACEMENT ON DDD LISTS (as of 11/2006):
|
|
Greatest Rock Guitarists - #24 (Brian May)
Greatest Rock Drummers - #55 (Roger Taylor)
Greatest Rock Drum Performances - #82 (Great King Rat)
#149 (Sweet Lady)
#182 (Brighton Rock)
Greatest Rock Bassists - #32 (John Deacon)
Greatest Rock Bass Performances - #62 (Dragon Attack)
#75 (Another One Bites the Dust)
#157 (Under Pressure)
#158 (Father to Son)
Greatest Rock Basslines - #1 (Another One Bites the Dust)
#60 (Under Pressure)
Best Basslines Creators - #13 (John Deacon)
Greatest Rock Pianists - #16 (Freddie Mercury)
Greatest Rock Male Vocalists - #1 (Freddie Mercury)
Greatest Rock Vocal Performances - #4 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
#10 (Who Wants to Live Forever)
#27 (Somebody to Love)
#32 (Love of My Life)
#34 (Don't Stop Me Now)
#39 (The Show Must Go On)
#44 (Under Pressure)
#51 (We Are the Champions)
#73 (Radio Ga Ga)
#186 (Another One Bites the Dust)
Greatest Rock Music Ensembles - #55 (Queen)
Greatest Lyricists of Rock - #62 (Freddie Mercury)
Greatest Rock Songwriters - #17 (Queen)
Greatest Frontmen of Rock - #5 (Freddie Mercury)
Greatest Artists of Rock - #21 (Queen)
Greatest Live Rock Artists - #3 (Queen)
Greatest Rock/Pop Artists of the '80s - #39 (Queen)
Greatest Rock/Pop Artists of the '70s - #8 (Queen)
Most Influential Rock 'n' Roll Artists - #59 (Queen)
Greatest Rock Albums - #78 (A Night at the Opera)
Greatest Live Rock Albums - #29 (Live at Wembley 86)
#64 (Live Killers)
Greatest Rock Albums of the '80s - #108 (The Game)
#138 (The Works)
Greatest Rock Albums of the '70s - #18 (A Night at the Opera)
#102 (Queen)
Greatest Rock Debut Albums - #68 (Queen)
Greatest Rock Songs - #8 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
#76 (We Will Rock You)
Greatest Rock/Pop Ballads - #22 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
#31 (Who Wants to Live Forever)
#39 (Somebody to Love)
#78 (The Show Must Go On)
#156 (Love of My Life)
#171 (Save Me)
Greatest Rock Anthems - #3 (We Will Rock You)
#5 (We Are the Champions)
#47 (Another One Bites the Dust)
#89 (Radio Ga Ga)
Ten Best Rock Anthem Artists - #4 (Queen)
Ten Best Rock Epics - #3 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Greatest Songs of 1975 - #2 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Greatest Songs of 1977 - #3 (We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions)
Greatest Rock Songs of the '70s - #8 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
#34 (We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions)
#243 (Killer Queen)
Greatest Music Videos - #106 (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Greatest English Rock Artists - #10 (Queen)
Greatest Popular Music Artists (basically the greatest artists of all time) - #106 (Queen)
|
