Queen are;
Freddie Mercury - Vocals, Piano
John Deacon - Bass Guitar, backing vocals
Brian May - Guitars, backing vocals
Roger Meddows Taylor - Percussion, backing vocals
(no syths were used on this album)
Here it is, the album that started one of the best bands of all time. An album that started the career of a band that just a few months ago over took 'the beatles' as the highest selling band ever. An album that started a chain reaction of no less than 14 other studio albums in a span of 18 years. The band I am talking about is Queen and the album is their self titled debut 'Queen'.
During 1972 John Deacon joined a band called Queen and completed the line up that would never change. They began recording this album in 1972 in the early hours of the morning becuase they couldnt afford a better timeslot. What they produced was an indicator of what was yet to come. Although it doesnt have the complete Queen sound we all know and love, it does have the beginnings of it. It shows Brian May experimenting with Guitar layering and Deacons home made amp 'the deaky', it shows Freddie Mercury defining his voice into one of the best rock voices ever and it also shows the incredibly tight rhythm that Taylor and Deacon could produce. Even from the beginning it was obvious this was a brilliant band, with their great musical ability and great songwriting skills.
This was the only album never to chart or have a charting single, though ironically it would make it to the top 40 when their next album Queen 2 was released. Here is the song by song review.
1.Keep Yourself Alive - Written by Brain May this was the first single ever released by Queen though it did not chart. This song has a great rock feel to it, with great guitar, bass and a brilliant drum solo. Though what really hits you is the guitar harmonies in the solo that brian produced. It has brilliant lyrics and is sung wonderfully by freddie. 5/5
2.Doing All Right - This slow piano ballad was written by May and his mate Tim Staffell. Originally it was played on guitar but when Brain discovered Freddie was a talented Pianist he asked if he would play it on piano. It is a nice slow song, though freddies high falsetto can at times be annoying. 3.5/5
3. Great King Rat - This song was written by Mercury and is one of the gems on the album. It is weird musically, having a kind of rockabilly feel to it and featuring a whaa whaa solo. I'm not to sure what its about, but the first to verses talk about an evil man whos died. But then after the solo the temp changes and he's talking about sinners and the bible. But it is a brilliant song. 5/5
4. My Fairy King - Also written by Mercury, this is without a doubt in the top two on the album. An amazing song which contains the highest falsetto yell by roger at the beggining ive ever herd. The song features brilliant bass and switches from piano ballad to rocker in the middle. This is the first of three epics freddie wrote, with the other two bwing March of the black queen on Queen 2 and Bohemion Rhapsody on A night at the opera. 5/5
5.Liar - Another song written by Mercury and this along with 'my fairy king' is one of the best on the album. The secong single off the album, but it also failed to chart. It is a 6 and a half minute long rock masterpiece with heavy guitaring, great lyrics and an awsome rythm section. The 1.30 minute hard rock opening is brilliant. First song to feature Mercury's gospel influences - the talk/response section. AA brilliant song.5/5
6. The Night Comes Down - A Brian May song. It is an unusual song with some weird guitaring at the beginning. It is slow paced and can at times drag on, so it isnt one of my favourites off the album. 3/5
7. Modern Times Rock n Roll - This is the first song Roger Taylor wrote for the band. It is his standard rock/punk kind of song and it can be seen that his song writing skills didnt advance much from this album. Though that said, it is an enjoyable 1.48 minute fast punk song, with vocals by roger. 3/5
8. Son and Daughter - A May song that is heavily influenced by Led Zepplin. The main riff is quite heavy and interesting, but as a complete song it doesnt stack up to some of the brilliance seen earlier on the album. Though it is a good heavy rocker and again shows an indication of what was to come.3/5
9. Jesus - Every album has one shocker and this is it on 'Queen'. A freddue Mercury song that basically talks about jesus. Now i havnt got anything against religious songs but it just isnt a good song. It does have a good solo in it though, but the verses are boring and annoying. 2/5
10. Seven Seas of Rhye - This is a musical piece written by Mercury. Freddie Mercury had this music but didnt have any lyrics, the complete song is herd on 'Queen 2' and was their first number 1 hit. Its a good way to end the album, just a nice short musical number. 4/5
So thats it. Queens first album, and a bloody good debut album at that. Infact in a recent poll it was named in the top 20 best debut rock albums. It is obvious from the beginning how each members would write, though John Deacon didnt pend anything for this album due to his university commitments. For anyone whos interested, loves Queen or just loves raw rock n roll this is a great album to have.
Likes ;
liar, my fairy king, keep yourself alive, great king rat
guitaring
vocals
rhythm section
dislikes -
jesus (the song)
son and daughter
The next Queen album would be released in the same year and was to contain their first top 10 hit - seven seas of rhye. The albums name 'Queen 2'
Cheers for reading.
