The Making Of 'A Night At The Opera'

Released on 20th March 2005 as a single or double DVD set.

Executive producers for Eagle Rock Entertainment: Terry Shland and Geoff Kempin
Executive producers for Isis Productions: Jamie Rugge-Price
Series Producers: Nick de Grunwald & Martin R Smith
Edited & directed by Matthew Longfellow

This is a DVD concentrating on the album 'A Night At The Opera', and features a 50 minute documentary featuring new interviews with Brian, Roger and Roy Thomas Baker, and adds a range of special features. The main program was originally broadcast on BBC 2 on 18 December 2005, at 12:30am. The double disc version contains the same disc, but adds the DVD disc that was released in the 30th Anniversary CD & DVD, and the set is housed in a card slipcase. From personal experience, in the UK at least, the single disc edition is much harder to get hold of.

The packaging featured a sticker on the front of the cellophane which advertised an acoustic performance of 'Good Company' by Brian May; unfortunately, whilst a short version appears on the disc, this is not a complete performance and the sticker should read 'Love Of My Life'.

This page includes full details of the first DVD, which was produced by Eagle Rock Entertainment. The main program lasts for 49:19, and the disc adds 48:56 in additional bonus features, making a total running time of 98:15.

The main menu features an excerpt of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', and contains four options:

• Play
• Track By Track
• Special Features
• Subtitles

When the DVD first loads, the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' excerpt is played twice, then the main program is played. On subsequent visits to the main menu, the excerpt plays repeatedly.

The 'Track By Track' menu features all twelve album tracks, spread over two menus (the two sides of the record), with an excerpt of 'You're My Best Friend'. Most of the tracks are the same as in the main program, but have been divided into seperate titles. The two exceptions to this are 'The Prophet's Song' and 'God Save The Queen', which are both the same as the 'Special Features'.

1. Death On Two Legs (3:34)
2. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon (3:31)
3. I'm In Love With My Car (3:45)
4. You're My Best Friend (6:14)
5. '39 (3:34)
6. Sweet Lady (1:09)
7. Seaside Rendezvous (3:01)
8. The Prophet's Song (11:36)
9. Love Of My Life (4:50)
10. Good Company (3:22)
11. Bohemian Rhapsody (10:12)
12. God Save The Queen (5:02)

The 'Special Features' menu features eight additional featurettes, arranged over two menus, with a live excerpt of 'I'm In Love With My Car' on both. The menu choices are:

1. Play All (plays all special features, divided into their own chapter) (48:56)
2. How The Album Got It's Name
3. 39 - Brian May
4. Half A Sonic Volcano
5. Sweet Lady - Hyde Park 1976
6. The Prophet's Song
7. Love Of My Life - Brian & Freddie
8. Bohemian Rhapsody
9. God Save The Queen

The subtitles screen allows you to select between German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese subtitles, or turn them off, and features an excerpt of '39'.

In total the DVD features 23 titles, as follows:
Title 1 : used by the menus
Title 2 : the full program
Title 3-12 : excerpts from the main program, concentrating on each song
Title 13-20 : the eight 'special features'
Title 21 : all eight 'special features' in one title ('play all' from the 'special features' menu)
Title 22-23: 'The Prophet's Song' and 'God Save The Queen (played from the 'track by track' menu, but the same as the 'special features' versions)

Main Program
Title 2, length 49:19. Originally broadcast on BBC 2 on 18 December 2005, at 12:30am.
This program covers all tracks from the album, with the exception of 'The Prophet's Song' (omitted completely) and 'God Save The Queen' (the album version is featured over the closing credits but the track is not discussed). The program only features a very short section on 'Sweet Lady' and it also swaps the positions of 'Good Company' and 'Love Of My Life'.

Interesting excerpts from tracks, demos or live performances are highlighted in red.

1. Introduction (6:06)
   • 'Classic Albums' introductory titles
   • Short interview with Brian, excerpt from the promo video of 'Bohemian Rhapsody', archive Freddie interview, footage of 'You're My Best Friend', and interview with Roy Thomas Baker
   • Audio excerpt of '39' with footage from Earl's Court, interview with Jac Holzman (founder of Elektra), and audio excerpt of 'I'm In Love With My Car' with footage of cars and live footage from 1981
   • Short interview with Roger then more footage of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
   • Interviews with Nicky Horne (DJ), and Bob Harris (presenter) about the impact of the album
   • Footage from the promo video for 'Keep Yourself Alive' and interview with Bob Harris about the track on 'Old Grey Whistle Test'
   • Interviews with Jac Holzman (founder of Elektra Records), Brian and Bob Harris about Queen's debut album, and Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) about Queen's live shows
   • Audio exceprt of 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' with footage of Queen in Japan in 1974, and interview with Mick Rock about Queen's attitude and ambition, with some early photographs
   • Interview with Freddie from 1985, and footage of 'Killer Queen' from the Rainbow 1974, and further interviews with Mick Rock and Jac Holzman
2. Death On Two Legs (3:35)
   • Interview with Roger explaining Queen's position before the album's release, and interviews with Bob Mercer (Managing Director of EMI), Brian and Roger about the background of the song
   • Excerpts from the album version, with photos from the recording sessions and some live footage from Houston 1977
   • Short interview with Brian about the guitar riff, and him playing it, before cutting back to the album version and more live photos
   • Interview with Brian about the lyrics of the track, archive Freddie interview from 1985, a-capella excerpts of the track, and then an excerpt of a live performance from Earl's Court 1977
   • Interview with Brian about changing management to John Reid, and interview with Roger about Beatles' influences
3. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon (3:31)
   • Footage from the new promo video of the track, and interviews with Gary Lyons and Roy Thomas Baker about the recording techniques used for the track, with excerpts from a-capella vocals and guitar solo
   • Interview with Nicky Horne about recording techniques, and interview with Brian about engineer Mike Stone, with photos from the recording sessions
   • Interview with Joe Perry (Aerosmith guitarist) about the album's impact, further interview with Brian about pushing boundaries, and interview with Rosie Horide (journalist) about the recording sessions
4. I'm In Love With My Car (3:45)
   • Live footage of the track from the 1978 Jazz tour (focusing on Roger) and interviews with Joe Smith (chairman of Elektra records) and John Ingham (journalist) about the style of tracks on the album
   • Interview with Roger about 'I'm In Love With My Car', and a short excerpt of Roger playing the track on the drums in the studio, with further live footage of the track, and interview with Roger about playing a demo of the track to Brian
   • Interview with Brian about the track, with shots of the Blue Vinyl Bohemian Rhapsody, then short excerpt of Roger performing an acoustic version, which then cuts to the album version with footage of cars, mixed with some footage of Roger drumming
   • Interview with John Ingham about Roy Thomas Baker and the album's production and excesses, and interview with Roy Thomas Baker about the Queen sound
5. You're My Best Friend (6:15)
   • Excerpt of the promo video for the track, and interviews with Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme guitarist), Joe Smith, Brian May and Anthony DeCurtis (journalist) about the track and it's popularity
   • Interviews with Brian and Mick Rock about John Deacon, with some early photographs, and archive interview with Freddie from 1985
   • Interview with Brian about the origins of the song, and interview with Roger about John's retirement
   • Interview with Anthony DeCurtis about the band's harmonies and Queen sound, and interviews with Brian and Roger about vocals and multi-tracking
   • Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about backing vocals, including a-capella backing vocals from the track, an interview with John Ingham about harmonies, and interviews with Roger and Brian about single selections
6. '39 (3:34)
   • Footage of Brian performing an acoustic version of the track
   • Interviews with Roger and Brian about the song's space origins and the meaning of the track, with excerpts from the album version with space footage, various live photogaphs, and footage (not audio) from Hyde Park, with a second short interview with Brian
7. Sweet Lady (1:09)
   • Interviews with Roger and DJ Nicky Horne about Brian, with some period photogaphs, then footage of the track from Hyde Park 1976
8. Seaside Rendezvous (3:01)
   • Interviews with Anthony DeCurtis and Mick Rock about Freddie's influences, and footage from the new promo video for the track
   • Archive interview with Freddie from 1985 about songwriting, interview with Roger about sound effects from the song, further footage from the video, and further interview with Anthony DeCurtis
9. Good Company (3:22)
   • Interview with Brian about the ukulele banjo, and him playing the track on the ukulele banjo, before cutting to the album track with early photographs of the band
   • Further interview with Brian about jazz bands and the recording of the track, with shots of the original track sheets, and interview with Nuno Bettencourt about the style of the track
   • Interview with Brian and standalone excerpt of the 'guitar jazz band'
10. Love Of My Life (4:50)
    • Interview with Bob Harris about Freddie's voice, and archive interview with Freddie about songwriting, with early photographs of him
    • Interviews with Rosie Horide and Mick Rock, followed by excerpts from the album track, with photographs of Freddie and Mary Austin
    • Interview with Brian about Freddie's multi-tracking, and interview with Roy Thomas Baker, with excerpts of stand-alone backing vocals
    • Interview with Brian about the recording of the track and Freddie's piano playing, with some live photographs of Freddie at the piano
    • Interview with Brian about singing the track live, an excerpt of him performing an acoustic version in the studio, and more photographs of Freddie.
11. Bohemian Rhapsody (10:12)
    • Interview with Roger about Freddie's songwriting and musical ability, with early photos of Freddie, and audio excerpt of the album track with photographs from the era
    • Interview with Brian about the track, with excerpts from the promo video, and interview with Roger about the single
    • Footage of the track from Hammersmith 1975
    • Interviews with Jac Holzman, Ian Hunter, Mick Rock, Bob Mercer (managing director of EMI) and Joe Smith about the length, style and complexity of the track
    • Further footage from the promo video, and interviews with Joe Perry and Brian about the guitar solo
    • Footage from the promo video, which cuts to Brian performing it in the studio, before cutting back to the video
    • Interview with Bob Harris about the album's impact, with newspaper extracts, and interviews with Nicky Horne and Brian about the success that it brought
    • Interview with Brian, Bob Mercer and John Ingham about the Hyde Park concert, and general footage from the concert, edited to fit the rock section of the album track
    • Interview with Joe Perry about why the album became a classic, interviews with Ian Hunter and Jac Holzman about the album's style, and interviews with Brian and Roger about the impact of the album
    • Album version of 'God Save The Queen' and closing titles

How The Album Got It's Name
Title 13, length 2:03.

• An interview with Roger about watching the Marx Brother's film during the recording of the album, and how Freddie, Brian and Roger met Groucho Marx, including still photographs of the album, the Marx Brothers and Queen with Groucho Marx

'39 - Brian May
Title 14, length 2:50 (performance length 2:47).
This is a new acoustic performance of the track by Brian.
Click here for the original song details
Lyrics:
In the year of '39 assembled here the volunteers
In the days when lands were few
And the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The sweetest sight ever seen

And the night followed day
And the story tellers say
That the score brave souls inside
For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas
Never looked back, never feared, never cried

Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew

In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The volunteers came home that day
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
Though their hearts so heavily weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darling went away
But my love this cannot be
So many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mothers eyes from your eyes cry to me

Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew

Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
All your letters in the sand
Cannot heal me like your hand
For my life still ahead - pity me

Half A Sonic Volcano
Title 15, length 4:34

• Interview with Brian about the 'Sonic Volcano' partnership of John and Roger as backing track musicians, both together and individually
• Interview with Roger sitting at a drum kit, explaining and playing some of his trademarks, including backbeats with a hi-hat and snare drum, cymbals, roto-toms and tom-toms, and he plays parts of 'I'm In Love With My Car' and 'Let There Be Drums' to demonstrate
• Continued interview with Brian about playing alongside Roger

Sweet Lady - Hyde Park 1976
Title 16, length 5:48 (song length 3:45)
This featurette begins with an interview with Brian about the origins of the track, the riff, playing it on the guitar to demonstrate, and the meaning of the track, and is then followed by Queen's performance of the track from Hyde Park 1976.
Click here for the original song details
Dialogue & Lyrics (Live footage only):
Freddie: Thank you very much, good evening everybody, welcome to our pinic by the Serpentine. You all look very beautiful, I must say. We should like to carry on now with a song called Sweet Lady

Ooh, I like it

You call me up and treat me like a dog
You call me up and tear me up inside
You've got me on a lead
Ooh, you bring me down
You shout around
You tell me things when I'm alone
No, you don't believe me

When you say
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Come on
Come on
Stay sweet

You call me up and feed me all the lines
You call me sweet like ah, I'm some kind of cheese
You're waiting on the shelf
Ooh, you eat me up
You hold me down
I'm just a fool to make you a home
Ooh, you really, really, really do me

When you say
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Come on, stay sweet

My sweet lady, seems like we wait forever
Stay sweet baby
Believe and we've got everything we need
Ooooh
We've got
Everything we need

Yeah, yeah

Oooh, do it
My
Stay sweet
Ooh, you're my sweet lady
You're my sweet lady
Come on

Yeah, come on

Sweet, ooh, my
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Stay sweet

The Prophet's Song
Titles 17 and 22, length 11:35
This featurette appears twice on the disc, title 17 is played from the special features menu and title 22 is played from the track by track menu; both titles are identical.

• Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about the recording of the track, with shots of the original track sheets, and interview with Roger about the length of time it took to record
• Interview with Brian about the guitar on the track, playing the riff to demonstrate, and about choruses in Queen songs
• Continued interview with Roy Thomas Baker and interview with Brian about the Toy Koto, and Japanese influences
• Audio excerpt of the track, with footage of Queen in Japan from 1974/5, interview with Brian about the origins of the song, which then cuts to the album track with footage of Queen in Hyde Park
• Interview with Brian about delays
• Interview with Roy Thomas Baker, whilst playing the album track's 'now I know' section, about how the track was recorded
• Excerpt from the Hyde Park vocal improvisation of the song, with continued interviews with Roy Thomas Baker and Brian about Freddie's live improvisations
• Interview with Brian about the backing track, and excerpt from the album track with live photographs from the era
• Interview with Roy Thomas Baker about some of the effects used on the track, interview with Anthony De Curtis about the album as a whole, and final short interview with Brian

Love Of My Life - Brian & Freddie
Title 18, length 3:55 (performance length 3:53)
This is a new acoustic performance of the track by Brian, which then cuts to footage of Brian and Freddie performing the track, taken from Wembley in 1986, before cutting back to Brian for the final verse.
Click here for the original song details
Lyrics: (Brian sings the lyrics in red, and Freddie sings the lyrics in black)
Love of my life - you've hurt me
You've broken my heart and now you leave me
Love of my life, can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
What it means to me

Love of my life - don't leave me
You've stolen my love, you now desert me
Love of my life, can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me, because you don't know
What it means to me

You will remember
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you
How I still love you
(Audience: I still love) you
I still love you

Ohh hurry back, hurry back
Don't take it away from me
Because you don't know what it means to me
Love of my life
Love of my life
Oooh
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Bohemian Rhapsody
Title 19, length 13:08

• Archive interview with Kenny Everett about first hearing the track, with archive photographs and footage of him in a radio studio
• Footage from the promo video of the track, and interview with Brian about the origins of the track in earlier albums, with and excerpt from 'The March Of The Black Queen' and early photographs
• Interview with Brian about influences in Queen music, and how engineer Mike Stone recorded vocals to get a 'bell' effect, with further excerpt from 'The March Of The Black Queen'
• Interview with Roy Thomas Baker, with a-capella excerpts of the track
• Interview with Roger about the backing track, and further footage from the promo video
• Interview with Brian about the guitar solo, live excerpt from Hyde Park 1976, and interview with Roy Thomas Baker about the solo, with standalone excerpts of it
• Interview with Brian about the rock section guitar riff, and he plays it to demonstrate
• Interview with Roger about recording with Freddie, and interview with Roy Thomas Baker with excerpts from the piano and drum backing track of the song
• Further interview with Roger about the backing tracks on the album, and interview with Anthony DeCurtis about the meaning of the song

God Save The Queen
Titles 20 and 23, length 5:02
This featurette appears twice on the disc, title 20 is played from the special features menu and title 23 is played from the track by track menu; both titles are identical.

• Interview with Brian in the studio, with demo version of the track played on the piano (0:57) with shots of the original track sheet, and further interview about the production techniques and the recording of the song.
• Brian then plays the full album version, adjusting the volumes of some elements, then a further short interview about the track