Pre-Queen Tracks

This page features details of all tracks which have been released, which were recorded before any Queen material was released. Further details of the different groups can be found in the Other Groups biography page.

This material is ordered by artist, according to the date of their first recording, then alphabetically.

Smile
(Tim Staffell, Brian May, Roger Taylor)
April Lady | Blag | Doing Alright | Earth | Polar Bear | Step On Me
(Smile are also believed to have recorded the 'Queen II' track 'White Queen')

Ibex
(Freddie Mercury, Mike Bersin, John Taylor, Mick Smith)
Rain

Wreckage
(Freddie Mercury, Mike Bersin, John Taylor, Richard Thompson)
Green

Larry Lurex
(Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor)
I Can Hear Music | Going Back

 

Singles

Albums

April Lady
Written by Stanley Lucas. Length 2:42
Recorded in September 1969 at De Lane Lea, London. Produced by Fritz Freyer
Lyrics:
She won our hearts, the arts she loved
Was painting pictures for free
When she was done she hung them up
For all the children to see

Goodbye april lady
It's been good to have you around
Goodbye april lady
You've done a lot for the folks in this town

The children learned to read
She strung their beads
It's sorry she was the one
As you can see isn't she good
She don't leave nothing undone

Goodbye april lady
It's been good to have you around
Goodbye april lady
You've done a lot for the folks in this town

She taught them all to love
She was their cream
And we don't want her to go
But we know too well
She fell in love
And there's no stopping her so

Goodbye april lady
It's been good to have you around
Goodbye april lady
You've done a lot for the folks in this town

Goodbye april lady
Goodbye april lady
Goodbye

Blag
Written by Roger Taylor or Brian May. Length 3:11
In 'Ghost Of A Smile' Tim Staffell credits this track to Roger, but the 'Brighton Rock' style suggests that Brian May was also involved.
Recorded in September 1969 at De Lane Lea, London. Produced by Fritz Freyer
Lyrics:
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do

Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do

Take away my sunshine
You take away my rain
I can see it in your eye

There must be an answer somewhere (there must be a way)
You can find a way
I can see it in your eye

Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do
Do, do, do

Doing Alright
Written by Tim Staffell and Brian May. Length 3:45
Features Roger Taylor on some vocals
This track was later re-recorded by Queen and as a duet by Tim Staffell and Brian May.
This is the only Smile track recorded in Stereo.
Recorded in June 1969 at Trident Studios in London. Produced by John Anthony.
Lyrics: (Lyrics in Red are sung by Roger Taylor)
Yesterday my life was in ruin
Now today I know what I'm doing
Gotta feeling, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Where will I be this time tomorrow
Jumped in joy or sinking in sorrow
Anyway, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Should be waiting for the sun
Anyway I've got to hide
Going back to where the skies are blue (skies are blue)
Going home to find the world

Should be waiting for the sun
Anyway I've got to hide

Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, oooh
Yesterday my life was in ruin
Now today I know what I'm doing
Gotta feeling, I should be doing alright
Doing alright

Doing alright

Earth
Written by Tim Staffell. Length 3:59
This track features additional keyboards by an unknown session musician
Recorded in June 1969 at Trident Studios in London. Produced by John Anthony.
This track was later re-recorded as a duet by Tim Staffell and Brian May.
Lyrics:
I might be at a table
And suddenly I'll catch
A fleeting vision of her crystal seas
Or I might be standing in a crowded dockyard faraway
Underneath the sun I've never seen

'Cos I have seen many worlds
For what it's worth
But I'll never see again the planet earth, my earth

I might be chasing waves of light
Out towards the rim
Where stars are sparse
And the cold of space seeps in
Or I might be in a bar room
Drinking methylated gin
And thinking of the places I have been

Yes, I have seen many worlds
For what it's worth
But I'll never see again the planet earth, my earth

I have seen many worlds
For what it's worth
But I'll never see again the planet earth, my earth

Cast adrift amongst the stars
I float from sun to sun
Dreaming of the world that gave me birth
All the places I have been
Remind me there is none
To match the cool green rolling hills of earth

'Cos I have seen many worlds
For what it's worth
But I'll never see again the planet earth, my earth

Polar Bear
Written by Brian May. Length 3:54
Recorded in September 1969 at De Lane Lea, London. Produced by Fritz Freyer
This track was later re-recorded by Queen, but it is unreleased.
Lyrics:
In the bright shop window sits the polar bear
Makes the children's eyes light up to see him there
Oooh, amongst the tinsel he gives everyone a smile
Too see him as you'd see a star
Love him from where you are
He's not for, not for, not for sale

Past an open window walks the pretty girl
Does she see me at her feet it's hard to tell
Oooh, but if I ask her she might turn her smile away
I see her as I'd see a star
Love her from where you are
He's not for, not for, not for sale

I guess I'll learn to look
Oooh, without a grasping hand
Minor contentment wears a smile
I love her from where I lie
He's not for, not for, not for sale
Not for sale

Step On Me
Written by Tim Staffell and Brian May. Length 3:09
This track features Brian May on Piano
Recorded in June 1969 at Trident Studios in London. Produced by John Anthony.
Lyrics:
Know what I said when I saw you crying
Hang on that's for me
I was weak in the head, I believed your lying
You're just a bad memory
My life is going to be better, oooh
My why could I never ever see she'd step on me

Well I talked to your friend just the other day
I was lonely, couldn't raise a smile
She hid a smile and she ain't like you
Gonna stay for more than just a little while
My life is going to be better, oooh
My why could I never ever see she'd step on me
Step on me, step on me, step on me

Now it's so good I won't waste my time
On a two year old picture of you
Oh now that you're gone everything's fine
But your pride won't admit that we're through
My life is going to be better, oooh
My why could I never ever see she'd step on me
Step on me, step on me, step on me

Now it's so good I won't waste my time
On a two year old picture of you
Now that you're gone everything's fine
But your pride won't admit that we're through
My life is going to be better, oooh
My why could I never ever see she'd step on me
Never ever see she'd step on me

Rain
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Length 3:50
Recorded at The Sink Club, Liverpool, 9 September 1969.
This track was recorded live with Ibex.
Only available in the 'Freddie Mercury - Solo' Boxed Set
Originally recorded by The Beatles, as a B-side only, in 1966.
The lyrics below were generated using the original Beatle's version.
Lyrics:
If the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes

When the sun shines
They slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade
When the sun shines
When the sun shines

Rain
I don't mind

Shine
Weather's fine

If the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
Oooh, they might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes

Rain
I don't mind

Shine
Weather's fine

Rain
Oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh
Oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh
Oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh
Oooh, oooh, oooh-oooh
Rain
Rain
Rain

Rain
Rain

Green
Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:13 (2:50 excluding the dialogue).
Recorded at Freddie's flat in Ferry Road, Barnes, London, in October 1969
Only available in the 'Freddie Mercury - Solo' Boxed Set
This track was recorded at a rehearsal with Wreckage, and was edited down from a 10 minute tape. Other excerpts of the track are available as MP3's, and full details can be found on the Solo Demos page.
The lyrics to the song are quite difficult to make out, so the lyrics here are probably inaccurate.
Lyrics:
Unknown voice: No, we'll pick it up
Freddie: Yeah, so don't, listen, don't forget, when, when you, after the, after the two verses, if you're doing the same thing like you did, like you'll be going de dum de dum de dum de dum. Then you'll be going
Unknown voice: OK, look, let's get on with it 'cos I want to sing, right?

Then she started changing me
My enemy bursting inside of me
Tomorrow, I'm going to see
The last of the blue skies above me

And I'm ready
And I'm going away
There's nothing you can do to stop me
Myself a life is at an end
I'm going to start again
Wonderful voice screaming me on now

I believe my time has come
Any moment
I'll be drifting to the sun
And I'm waiting for the tide to turn me on
To the flower that is beckoning me on

And I'm ready
I know I'm going away
Nothing you can do to stop me
Myself a license up to heaven
I'm going again
Wonderful voice leaving the earth now

Green
Turning green
Rapidly changing to a place I've never seen
Green
Turning green
Contaminated soul breathing fire to a boy

Green
Turning green
Soles of my feet are expanding due to heat 'cos I
I'm losing sense of rhythm
Losing sense of rhythm
I completely change into a brand new system

Unknown voice: Ow
Ahh
Unknown voice: Very, very good

Freddie: No
Unknown voice: It's not that fast is it, well (????)

I Can Hear Music
Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Length 3:27
Available in the Freddie Mercury Solo boxed set, in the 3CD set (on the Bonus CD), on 'Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs', or on the original 7"
Originally recorded by The Beach Boys, reached no 10 in February 1969
Produced by Robin Cable, recorded at Trident Studios, London, Summer 1972.
Features Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May
Lyrics:
This is the way
I only dreamed it could be
The way that it is
Oh, no, when you are holding me
I never had a love of my own
Maybe that's why when we're alone

I can hear music
I can hear music
Sounds of the city, baby
Seems to disappear
Oh well, I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

Loving you - it keeps me satisfied
And I can't explain, oh no
The way I'm feeling inside
You look at me we kiss and then
I close my eyes and here it comes again

I can hear music
I can hear music
Sounds of the city, baby
Seems to disappear
Oh well, I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near
I can hear music
Sweet, sweet music
Whenever you touch me, baby
Whenever you're near

Going Back
Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Length 3:31
Available in the Freddie Mercury: Solo Boxed Set, on 'Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs', or the original 7"
Originally recorded by Dusty Springfield, reached no 10 in July 1966
Produced by Robin Cable.
Excerpts of this track appear in 'Machines (Instrumental)' and 'Mother Love'
Features Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May (and John Deacon?)
Lyrics:
I think I'm going back
To the things I learnt so well in my youth
I think I'm returning to
Those days when I was young enough to know the truth

Now there are no games
To only pass the time
No more colouring books
No Christmas bells to chime
But thinking young and growing older
Is a sin
And I can play the game of life to win

I can recall a time
When I wasn't ashamed to reach out
To old friends
And now I think I've got
A lot more than just my toys to lend

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboard glide
And everyday can be
My magic carpet ride
And I can play hide and seek with my fears
And live my days instead of counting my years

And everyone debates
The true reality
I'd rather see the world
The way it used to be
A little bit of freedom's all we lack
So catch me if you can
I'm going back