Queen Demos Of Released Tracks (R-Z)
This page includes full details of all Queen
demos and early versions of tracks that have subsequently been
released on Queen or Solo projects. It includes genuine demos and
early versions (as far as can be determined), other tracks which
are often claimed to be demos, and also a guide to 'faked demos'
which are known to exist. Details of other demo tracks can be
found on page 1 and page 2.
The links at the top of this page are grouped according to the
type of recording, whilst the actual details are listed
alphabetically. A brief guide to the various types of recording
is given below.
These pages were generated by collating a number of other
sources, and from my own collection of recordings. Not much
information is known about many of the tracks, so if you can
provide further information or believe there to be any errors or
omissions, please email me.
Rain Must Fall
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Miracle' album
page.
This is a simple demo of the track which only features cymbals
from Roger, and multiple vocal overlays from Freddie. Obviously
the music is much more stripped down compared to normal, but
lyrically it is fairly similar to the album version. The track
has a 20 second cymbal intro, and ends abruptly mid verse. It was
recorded in the same week as the 'Khashoggi's Ship' and 'Face It
Alone' demos, in November 1988. Length 1:13.
Apparently as many as eight different vocal takes also exist,
although how complete these are, and how much they differ from
the album version or above demo is unknown.
I can see it in your stars
Life is so exciting
Acting so bizarre
Your world is so inviting
Playing really cool
And looking so mysterious, honey
Your every day is full of sunshine
But into every life a little rain must fall
Uh huh
Be cool
Anyone who imagines
They can blind you with science
Bully you all over
Property and finance
But you have position
To call the shots
And name the price, honey (honey)
Ride The Wild
Wind
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Innuendo' album page.
This track was played at the fan club convention in 2001, and as
the name implies features heavy drums throughout, and a different
beat. Roger sings lead vocals, although how far developed the
lyrics are is unknown.
This version has a rougher feel, with additional heavy drums, a
different guitar solo, and Roger on lead vocals. The lyrics are
very similar to the finished version, but some of the verses are
swapped, and some lyrics are missing. Altogether it is an
excellent track, superior to the album version. It is available
on the 'Innuendo' 2011 double disc reissue. Length 4:13.
Get your head down baby, we're gonna ride tonight
Your angel eyes are shining bright
I wanna take your hand, lead you from this place
Gonna leave it all behind, come join the human race
Ride the wild wind
Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence - hey, hey, hey, hey
Ride the wild wind
Live life on the razors edge - hey, hey, hey, hey
Gonna ride the wild wind
It ain't dangerous enough for me
We're gonna get down baby, we're gonna ride tonight
We got freaks to the left
We got jerks to the right
Sometimes I get so low
I just have to ride
Gonna take your hand
Gonna be your guide
Ride the wild wind
Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence - hey, hey, hey, hey
Ride the wild wind
Live life on the razors edge - hey, hey, hey, hey
Gonna ride the wild wind
It ain't dangerous enough for me
Ride the wild wind
Push the envelope, don't sit on the fence - hey, hey, hey, hey
Ride the wild wind
Live life on the razors edge - hey, hey, hey, hey
We're gonna ride the wild wind
It ain't dangerous enough for me
Enough for me
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ahhhh
Rock It
(Prime Jive)
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Game' album
page.
There are believed to be at least three different demos of the
track in the vaults. The first two are different demos, one
featuring Freddie on vocals, and the other featuring Roger on
vocals. While the album version features two verses sung by
Freddie and the rest by Roger, it is likely that each demo
features them singing the entire song, rather than just parts.
The third demo is a rumoured 'live rehearsal' of the track,
although nothing else about it is known.
Sail
Away Sweet Sister
(To The Sister I Never Had)
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The
Game' album page.
This is an instrumental take of the song, and was apparently one
of the first takes of the track, believed to be recorded in 1979.
The music is very similar to the finished album version, but the
drums are quite heavy in comparison. The track ends abruptly in
this take, rather than having the slow outro. Length 3:30.
This is a 16 second instrumental excerpt of an take, which is
musically similar to the album version, but more improvised. It
is included on 'The Game' 2011 double disc reissue, before the
Guide Vocal, so presumably comes from the same recording session.
Length 0:16.
This track, which is also available on 'The Game' 2011 double
disc reissue, is musically similar to the album version, but the
lyrics, sung by Brian, are very undeveloped, improvised, and
sometimes ad-libbed. It includes the above instrumental excerpt
at the start, followed by some short dialogue from Freddie and
Brian, then ends with some more dialogue from Freddie. Length
2:06.
Freddie: OK, one, two, three, four (Brian: Turn me down a bit)
(Ad-libbed lyrics) ain't my baby
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
All that you love my baby
All that you had to stay
Love (ad-libbed lyrics)
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
Love don't you want me baby
All that you've gone away, oh
Sail away sweet sister
Gone across the sea
Gone and find nobody
(Unknown lyrics) and as hell as me
Sail away for ever
Call me when you do
Love you now sweet sister
Sail on back to me
Wooh, oh, little darling baby
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
Happiest time of all
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
(Ad-libbed lyrics) hurt you may
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
All that you had to leave
Sail away sweet sister
Take away my love
Sail across the sea
But you ain't got the heart of me
Heart makes a fool of me
Call me when you do
Sail away sweet sister
Sail on back to me
Oooh, oh, oh, oh
Freddie: Well I think I know it perfectly know
Save Me
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Game' album page.
According to an interview with Greg Brooks in 2005, there is a
piano demo of the track by Brian May in the vaults. Nothing else
is known about the track, so how complete it is, and whether it
also includes vocals, is unknown.
Scandal
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Miracle' album page.
This demo is fairly similar to normal, but it is a more basic
arrangement and the guitars are more prominent. It contains three
verses of the song, but the 'scandal' vocals are missing. The
track fades out during Brian's guitar solo. Length 1:38.
This mix is almost identical to the album version, the only
changes are that some backing vocals are slightly less prominent,
and there is a slight lyric change in the last verse, where
'scandal, yes you're breaking my heart again, scandal, yes you're
on and on and on again' becomes 'scandal, scandal, yes you're
breaking my heart again'. The track is available in excellent
condition, and the changes could be made through clever editing
and other effects, so I am not sure how authentic it is. Length
4:34.
Scandal - now you've left me there's no healing the wounds
Hey, scandal - and all the world can make us out to be fools
They'll see the heart-ache
They'll see the love break
They'll hear me pleading
I say for God's sakes
Over and over and over again
So let them know when they stare
It's just a private affair
They'll have us hung in the air
And tell me what do they care
It's only a life to be twisted and broken
They'll see the heart-ache
They'll see our love break, yeah, oooh
They'll hear me pleading
I'll say for God's sakes
Over and over and over and over again
See What
A Fool I've Been
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Queen II' album
page.
This track is rumoured to have been recorded for the debut album
'Queen', which is quite likely, given the amount of original
material available to the band at the time. Lyrically, it is
likely that it would be quite different to the B-side version,
given how early live performances also differ. However, nobody
really knows for sure, or whether any of it survives.
This live track is clearly not a demo, but I have seen it
described as such, even though the audience can be clearly heard
in places. The confusion probably arose because it contains a
mixture of lyrics from the album version and the BBC
version. The track was officially released on the 'A Night
At The Odeon' album and video releases in 2015. Length 4:11.
Seven Seas Of Rhye
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Queen II' album page.
A short instrumental preview of the track appears on the debut
'Queen' album, and it is rumoured that the band recorded a full
vocal version of the track, before it was reworked for the 'Queen
II' album.
An alternate mix of the track appears on a UK 7" promotional
single, and apparently this features a different backing track.
However, the mistake was realised and the copies were destroyed,
and only a handful are believed to now exist. Naturally, this
means that the exact details of this mix are unknown.
An a-capella version of this track, which closes the 'Queen II'
version of 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' is believed to exist. While it is
likely that the track was recorded, and it may well still exist,
it is only likely to be a short version as the track was only
used to close the album, rather than being a song in it's own
right.
Sheer Heart
Attack
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News Of The World'
album page.
This track was originally planned for the 1974 album of the same
name, but wasn't finished until 'News Of The World' in 1977.
Sources suggest that the 1974 demo features Roger on vocals,
which is likely, but how complete it is and whether a copy still
exists is not known.
This is a fan-made remix which has been listed as a demo. It runs
slightly slower than the album version, and the guitars are less
prominent giving it a slightly more basic feel. Some of the
vocals also have an echo on them, which is a bit of a give away
that it's not a genuine demo. Length 3:39.
She Makes Me
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Sheer
Heart Attack' album page.
An early demo of this track is believed to exist, but if so it
has yet to be played at conventions or circulated online.
Somebody To Love
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Day At The Races'
album page.
These are instrumental takes of the start of the track, featuring
Roger, Freddie and John in the studio with no involvement from
Brian. They do not contain any lyrics, and feature in total five
attempts at recording the track. They include some dialogue from
Freddie and also presumably engineer Mike Stone. Length 3:52 in
total, the longest section recorded is 1:45.
This is an outtake of the central choir part of the track, which
features even more operatic vocals than the album version.
Freddie's vocals on the 'somebody to love' line are
multi-tracked, and the track features suprisingly prominent
hand-claps as the vocals build. Length 1:21.
This is a very short excerpt of the above vocal out-take,
containing the second and third to last lines. Length 0:08.
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love, love, love
Find me somebody to love
Find me somebody to love
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody
Somebody find me somebody find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me
Somebody to love
Anybody, anybody, anybody, anybody
Find me, find me, find me, find me
Somebody to
Freddie: Just er, start it a bit later
(A scream)
Unknown: Take 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4
Freddie: Sorry
Unknown: Five
Unknown: Take six
Freddie: Alright
Freddie: Oh shit, I'm sorry.
Unknown: Take Seven
(Unknown dialogue follows)
Staying Power
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Hot Space' album page.
This version is very similar to normal, but does not have any
horns or saxophone. As a result, the horn solo at 1:41 is
replaced by a new guitar solo, and the horns at 3:05 around
'power, power' are missing, leaving only the vocals, bass and
drums. Lyrically the track is very similar to normal, with no
significant lyric changes, the main addition is that Freddie
sings 'let's make contact' before the first verse. As well as the
full 4:12 version, there is also an edited version in very bad
quality which trims off the first second and cuts off abruptly at
about 2:59. Length 4:12.
Ha
Let me show it to you
Yeah
Oh
Ha, yeah
Let's make contact
See what I got
I gotta hell of a lot, yeah
Tell me what you feel
Is it real
Is it real, huh
You know I got what it takes
And I can take a lot
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah
You and me we've got, huh, staying power
Staying power, I got, I got it
Ha
I wonder when we're gonna make it
I wonder when we're gonna shake it, tell me
Rock me baby rock me
Come on you can shock me
Let's catch on to the groove
Make it move, make it move, yeah
You know how to shake that thing
We'll work it, work it, work it
You and I can play ball baby
You and me got staying power, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You and me we've got staying power
Oooohhh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ha
I wonder when we're gonna make it, tell me
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
I've got fire down below
I'm just a regular dynamo
Want some smooth company
Don't lose control just hang on out with me
Got to get to know each other
But we got plenty of time
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah
Huh, you and me we've got staying power
Ha, yeah, yeah
Power, power, power, power
Power, power, power, staying power
I wonder when we're gonna stick it
I wonder when we're gonna trick it
Blow baby blow
Let's get down and go, go
Get yourself in the mood
Got to give a little bit of attitude
Baby don't you crash
Let's just trash, trash, trash
Did you hear the last call baby
You and me got staying power, yeah, huh, huh
You and me we got staying power, I like it
Staying power, yeah, yeah, gotcha
Stealin'
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Miracle' album page.
This demo is obviously much longer than the normal version, and
is extended by more verses and choruses and some additional
instrumental sections. In places, the music and vocals are so
similar that it seems that the single version is possibly an edit
of this track. The only part of the normal version that isn't
present here is the fast finale, so that possibly comes from
another song. This demo features vocal overdubs by Freddie, which
are in response to his normal vocals, but in some places these
are hard to decipher. This track is also in stereo, with many
vocals coming through the left channel only, so by removing
either stereo channel gives a different version. The track ends
with an acoustic/bass guitar solo. Length 11:40.
Freddie: OK, so we're going, start it off anywhere you want, and
I'll, I'll bring
That's the way I am (uh)
Does anybody want to know (no way)
Ha, this is the way I lead my life, you know (big deal babe)
Wheelin' and dealin' (so what) and a little bit of stealin' (ha,
ha, ha, ha)
You know, that's the way I grew up
That's the only life I know (so do I)
That's the way my mother told me (so what)
And they go stealin'
Hey
Stealin'
Hey, yeah
Stealin' (tell me another thing)
I gave you the key to my home (and what)
I left you alone (so what)
In charge of my heart (tell me another thing honey)
Hey, stealin' (is that what you're doing)
You got me wheelin' and dealin' (yeah)
Playin' with my feelings (yeah)
Right from the start (OK boy, know you're trip)
Because stealin', stealin' (huh)
I gave you the key to my home (ooh, hey, hey, hey, hey)
I left you alone (ha, ha, ha)
In charge of my heart
Stealin', stealin' (that's what they call it)
Yeah, you got me wheelin' and dealin' (wheelin' and dealin')
Played with my feelings (that's what they call it)
Right from the start, uh, uh, uh, uh (OK you ain't from Harlem I
know that)
Listen
Can't afford to pay my rent (so what)
I had to use my common sense (big deal)
To get you some lovin' I owe, oooh, oooh (I owe a lot of money to
the bank and the rear's having a heart attack, straight)
This guy said look in my head (yeah)
Make some easy bread (look in my head), so
Stealin' is the only way that I know (tell me something else,
babe)
Because stealin', stealin', hey
Stealin', stealin', ha, ha, ha, ha
That's the only life
I'm not bleedin'
Stealin'
My real cards I'm dealing
Stealin'
Stealin' (you keep that, Buster)
Only way that I know (is that all you can tell me honey)
Stealin'
There's a lot of things that I know about (I know) so what
Can't afford to play my cool (oh big deal)
I had the world in my living room, ha, ha, ha (give it a)
I owe my money too (over and over, ha)
This sad and lonely man (yeah)
The pain that I left (yeah)
Lovin' is the only way that I know (say, everybody knows that),
hey
Stealin' (tell me somethin' else, hey)
Stealin' (is that what you know about)
I gave you the key to my home (big deal)
Left you alone (so what) right from the start, ha, ha, ha, ha
Stealin' (I can get a better job than that - are you telling me?)
You got me wheelin' and dealin' (so)
Played with my feelings (big) right from the start (you fool
around)
Yeah, but I'm stealin', baby, stealin'
Stealin', stealin'
I gave you (ha) both my heart and my home (yeah)
Left you alone (yeah) now you're breaking me apart
So what about this, ha, I can't stand you talking about all this
all night
Stealin' (big deal)
Uh
Alright
You know there's been a lot of stealin' (uh huh, huh, huh, huh)
I only make my living stealin' (I'm gonna go home and get my
chicken feed, big deal)
Make my livin' only stealin'
Stealin' (so what), stealin' (that's your problem honey)
Of my heart (goodbye)
You're my baby's heart
(Only, only) OK, kill it
(Ad-libbed lyrics) stealin'
Uh, uh, uh
Uh, uh, uh
Stea-eeeee -
Oooooh - eeeee
(Ad-libbed vocals)
(Ad-libbed vocals)
You've got me wheelin' and dealin'
And playin' with my feelings
Right from the start
You got me rollin' and a rollin'
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
You're in charge of my heart
I gave you the key
Charge
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge
You are in charge
You are in charge of my heart
Da, da, ba, da, da, dap
Ba, ba, ba, da, da, dap
Ba, ba, da, da, da, dap
Because you are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
You are in charge of my heart
I gave you the key
And turned on the bed
I gave you the key
(Ad-libbed lyric) I said my baby
You are in charge of my heart
And you are in charge of my heart, yeah
You are in charge of my heart, babe
You are in charge of my heart
I gave you the key my home and left you alone
I left you with my lovin' and made it my heart
And all my pleadin', and dealin' and pleadin' with my heart
I gave you wheelin' and dealin' right from the start
I left you in charge, in charge of my heart
I left you, babe, in charge of my heart
I left you in charge of my heart
I said I left you in charge of my heart, yeah
Stealin'
Bleedin'
Dealin'
Real in my heart, hey
Right from the start
In charge of my heart
Baby let 'em bleed
You know I gotta getta bit of dealin'
You know I've been pleadin'
You got me wheelin' and dealin'
Everywhere I go
Playing with my feelings right from the start
Can't afford to pay my rent
I can use my common sense
Get some money love my babe
Get my strength my lover babe
I can't afford to pay my rent
I had to use my common sense
To get some money I, I owe
The guy said look and (unknown lyric)
I got kneelin'
I got stealin'
I got bleedin'
I got wheelin'
Can't afford to pay my rent
I had to use my common sense
To get back some of my money I owe
For God's sake go
For God's sake break
God's sake money, money I know, oooh
Got to move my stealin', the only way I know
Got the way to my stealin', yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, hah
Now
I gave you the key to my home
I left you alone in charge of my heart
Gotta do my wheelin' and dealin'
I played with my feelings right, right from the start
Can't afford to pay my rent
I had to use my common sense
To get the money I let 'em owe
You said that my love had gone
And I'm stealin'
Got me dealin'
Wee dah, hey, ah
Hey, ah, dee de dah, bop, ba
Make some easy bread
Ain't no other way
That's the only life I know
That's the only way I wanna go
I'm stealin'
Dealin'
Only way I know
My baby loves me
She knows that I love me
(Ad-libbed vocals, then dialogue from Roger which sounds like
'let it strip', followed by coughing)
Stone Cold Crazy
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Sheer Heart Attack'
album page.
'Stone Cold Crazy' is believed to originate from Freddie's time
in Wreckage, and was a live favourite in Queen concerts in their
early shows. It is rumoured, and quite likely, that they
attempted to record the track for the debut album 'Queen' in
1973, but there has been no confirmation of this.
Tear It Up
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Works' album page.
Apparently an early demo exists from 1983, which has Brian
singing vocals, presumably intended as a guide for Freddie.
Tenement Funster
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Sheer Heart Attack'
album page.
An early demo of the track is believed to exist, which was known
as 'Tin Dreams' at the time it was recorded.
This is an early instrumental take, featuring Roger, Freddie and
John, which is very similar to the album version, with only minor
differences. The track begins with a short cymbal intro, and ends
with most of the piano segue into 'Flick Of The Wrist'. It has
some minor disturbance at around 2:22, when somebody appears to
move the microphone. An edited version is also available, which
contains the section from around 1:05 to 2:54, giving a length of
1:48. Length 3:05.
The Dark
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Back
To The Light' album page.
This track, which was released on Brian's 1992 album 'Back To The
Light', features orchestral music recorded during the 'Flash
Gordon' sessions in 1980. As such, it is rumoured that a full
Queen version of the track exists, though how much is just
orchestral music and how much genuinely features the other
members of the band is unknown.
The Hero
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Flash Gordon' album page.
Like all the tracks from the album, the film features a slightly
different version, with a much rawer and under developed feel,
with a couple of lyric changes. Rather predictably this has hence
been claimed to be a demo. Length 3:36.
The Hitman
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Innuendo' album page.
This is apparently a full length demo of the track, which is
similar to the album version, but features Brian on lead vocals.
This is an edit of the full version, featuring the first two
verses, with a number of lyric changes; the most notable is that
the line 'I'm just it man, you might get fried' is changed to
'don't gimme no shit man, you might get fried'. It is officially
available on the promo only 'Hints Of Innuendo' cassette. Length
0:54.
Yeah, I'm the hitman, stand aside
I'm the hitman and I want your life
Ain't no escaping
Don't run and hide
There goes the neighbourhood
I'm gonna kill for your love
I'm the hitman, now don't you cry
Don't gimme no shit man, you might get fried
Gun in my pocket
Don't get me wrong
No, I'm the hitman
I'm a fool for your love
Bite the bullet babe
The Invisible
Man
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Miracle' album
page.
This early version features Roger on vocals, and has heavier
drums, rawer guitars, and a new verse by Freddie which is
dominated by bass and features completely different lyrics to the
album version. The track also features most of Brian's guitar
solo and some of Freddie's vocals, both of which either made it
through to the album version or, more likely, were added to this
mix to make it more complete. The track ends with a lengthy
instrumental outro. Altogether this is a superb take and vastly
improves on the album version. It is available on 'The Miracle'
2011 double-disc reissue. Length 5:01.
This demo is a more basic version of the album track, but it is
restructured and adds the additional verse. Length 1:19.
This message was played from tape at the 1989 Fan Club
convention, and begins with Brian's guitar solo, then has a long
instrumental section (obviously derived from the album track) and
fades out in a similar way to the album version. The track has no
lyrics as such, but retains Freddie's introductions of 'Brian
May, Brian May' and 'Roger Taylor' from the album version, and
features messages from Brian, John, Freddie (mostly sung) and
Roger in turn. It was released on a 7" flexidisc called 'A
Message From Queen', which was given away at the convention.
Length 2:04.
Mm, mm, hmm, mm
When you hear a sound
That you just can't place
Feel something move
That you just can't trace
And then something sits
On the end of your bed
Don't turn around
When you hear me tread
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
And I'm in your room
And I'm in your bed
And I'm in your life
And I'm in your head
Like a CIA
Or the FBI
You'll never get close
Never take me alive
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
Was it the shinings of my soul
That made me lonely just like you
No-one noticed I was there
When I walked into the room
Never had a real good friend - not a boy or a girl
No-one knows what I've been through - let my flag unfurl
Swore I'd make my mark
From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world
Edge of the world
Now I'm on your track
And I'm in your mind
And I'm on your back
But don't look behind
I'm your meanest thought
I'm your darkest fear
But I'll never get caught
You can't shake me dear
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how I can
See right through you
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you, you
I can
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
When you hear a sound
That you just can't place
Feel something move
That you just can't trace
When something sits
On the end of your bed
Don't turn around
When you hear me tread
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can
See right through you
Was it the shinings of my soul
That made me lonely just like you
No-one noticed I was there
When I walked into the room
Never had a real good friend - not a boy or a girl
No-one knows what I've been through - let my flag unfurl
Swore I'd make my mark
From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world (edge of the world)
I'm the invisible man
I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can
See right through me
Brian May, Brian May
Brian: Hello this is Brian here, hello, this is for the fan club,
how are you all doing folks? I hope you're having a lovely,
lovely time this is Brian here and I'm with Roger and John here
and Freddie's around somewhere. Where are you? Oh he's down
there. Right, and I just hope you have a wonderful, wonderful,
wonderful time at the convention and we hope to see you very,
very soon, with lots of la musica
John: Hello this is John Deacon, hope you're enjoying the er,
convention, having a nice time, having a few drinks, and we've
been working hard all year making the album, and we hope you
enjoy it.
Roger: We're going off skiing now
Freddie: Hello, it's Freddie here. I hope each and every one of
you at the convention is having a swell, humdinger of a time,
yeah, yeah
Roger Taylor
Roger: Hello, this is Roger here, we hope you have a wonderful
fan club convention, and er, we hope you enjoy the new album as
well. Bye everybody.
The
Kiss
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Flash
Gordon' album page.
This is a slow piano and vocal version, by Freddie alone, with
vocals very close to the final album version. Freddie's piano
continues after the vocals end, eventually briefly becoming the
main theme from 'Football Fight'. It is available on the 'Flash
Gordon' 2011 double disc reissue only. Length 1:10.
The
March Of The Black Queen
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Queen II'
album page.
An early version of the 'Queen II' album features standalone
versions of both 'The March Of The Black Queen' and 'Funny How
Love Is'. However, nobody seems to have heard of it for some time
so exactly how the two tracks differ is unknown.
These are three instrumental takes of the start of the track,
which generally appear together on the same MP3, which also
contains an intro by Greg Brooks and some studio noise between
takes. The demos feature Freddie, Roger and John, there are no
lyrics (other than a few ad-libs), and the dialogue that you can
hear is minimal. Musically, the takes are very similar to the
album version but there are subtle differences, mainly in tempo.
Lengths 1:10 (take 3), 0:53 (take 4), 3:15 (take 5) and 6:44
(combined).
Greg Brooks: Somewhere on this [recording cuts out] two days
before they find the masters, so let's try and find that
Unknown voice: Take 3
Greg Brooks: By the way, before we hear it, if you really listen
carefully, if you're allowed to in this room, erm, you hear, you
hear erm, at some point in this take, Brian says something to
Freddie, and Freddie ponders it, and he says "yeah, you're
absolutely right. You're dead right, actually" he says, and
erm, then they carry on. We don't know what he says, but whatever
it was, it was dead right. You can't, this isn't really the ideal
place to hear those little details, but you, when you get this on
the box set, you'll hear that Brian is probably in the control
room, Freddie will be on the piano, and John will be there and
Roger, and he's directing tempo, and erm, there's, there's
interaction between them. And then when they get the rhythm
track, he'll go in the next day and do the guitar. So this, let's
hear this.
Freddie: Ohhh, (unknown dialogue), take 4. It was me. Oh shit.
That was good, just, not too slow. Alright then. Two, three, four
Unknown voice: Take 5
Freddie: Two, three, four
The
Millionaire Waltz
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Day At The
Races' album page.
This version runs faster than the album version (4:53), and the
main differences are that the lead vocals are much quieter than
normal (but still audible), some of Brian's guitar parts are
either missing or quieter, and it is also missing the first
couple of seconds of the track. Length 4:36.
The Miracle
Details of the released version can be found on the 'The Miracle' album page.
This message was played from tape at the 1990 Fan Club
convention, and is simply the first 49 seconds of the album
version, with John Deacon's spoken message over the top. A full
transcription can be found on the Miscellaneous
Songs page. Length 0:49.
This is basically an early version of the start of the track,
just until the 'if every leaf on every tree' verse would normally
begin. Again this is a more basic performance of the album
version, and it loses the backing vocals but adds a single
additional lyric (Freddie sings 'the miracle' just before 'we're
all waiting for'). The track is missing guitar from some places,
whilst there is additional guitar in others. Length 1:38.
Every drop of rain that falls in Sahara Desert says it all
It's a miracle
All God's creations great and small, the Golden Gate and the Taj
Mahal
That's a miracle
Test tube babies being born, mothers, fathers, dead and gone
It's a miracle
We're having a miracle on earth
Mother nature does it all for us
The wonders of this world go on, the hanging gardens of Babylon
Captain Cook and Cain and Able, Jimi Hendrix to the tower of
Babel
It's a miracle
It's a miracle
It's a miracle
It's a miracle
The one thing
We're all waiting for is peace on earth an end to war
It's a miracle we need - the miracle
The miracle (the miracle) we're all waiting for
Today
The Miracle Demos
Medley
This is a track which contains five different demos, for six
different tracks, one after the other. The only tracks which
segue into each other are 'I Want It All' and 'Chinese Torture',
for the remaining tracks there is a definite start and end. Full
details of each song can be found on the relevant demo pages.
Length 14:10.
The tracks are:
My Baby Loves Me (fake
version, 3:36)
I Guess
We're Falling Out (2:36)
Hang On
In There (AKA A Fiddley Jam) (2:59)
A New Life Is
Born (1:22)
I Want It All / Chinese
Torture (instrumental demo, 3:37)
The Night
Comes Down
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Queen' album page.
This demo actually appears on the debut album 'Queen'. The band
were unhappy with their own subsequent performances, and with Roy
Thomas Baker's production of the track, so they resorted to using
the demo version for the album. However, of course, this means
that there are a number of subsequent recordings and mixes which
remain unreleased.
These 'demos' are just the familiar 4:23 album (demo) version,
running slightly faster or slower. The 4:32 version seems to be
unchanged, and presumably this also applies to the 4:17 version.
Lengths 4:17 and 4:32.
The Prophet's
Song
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Night At The
Opera' album page.
This track is rumoured to have been recorded for the 'Queen II'
album in 1973 or 1974. Given how complex the final album track
is, it is probable that this early version is quite different.
On 'The Making Of 'A Night At The Opera'', interviews with Roger
and Roy Thomas Baker reveal that the track was still being mixed
at the time of a press conference, and so a 'cobbled together'
version was used, and subsequently played on radio by Kenny
Everett. Apart from this, nothing else is known about this
version.
There Must Be More To Life Than This
Details of Freddie's released version can be found on the 'Mr
Bad Guy' album page, while the original demo with Michael
Jackson can be found on the Freddie
Mercury Collaborations page.
This Freddie solo track was initially developed for 'Hot Space',
and then intended to end 'The Works', before 'Is This The World
We Created...?' replaced it. Some sources suggest that the Queen
version backing track is actually on 'Mr Bad Guy', although this
seems unlikely. The Queen demo and Freddie and Michael Jackson's
demo were combined to create a Queen + Michael Jackson version of
the track, which was released on the 'Forever'
compilation in 2014.
These
Are The Days Of Our Lives
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Innuendo'
album page.
Greg Brooks has apparently confirmed that an alternate version of
the track exists and may appear in the Anthology boxed sets if or
when they are released. How the track differs from the album
version, and whether it is an early version or just an alternate
mix, is not known.
Tie Your
Mother Down
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Day At The
Races' album page.
This demo is musically very similar to normal, although there are
some minor differences, including more guitar in places. However,
it features a guide vocal from Brian, and no involvement from
Freddie. The vocals are only very faint and in places difficult
to make out, but definitely there. Some of the harmonied vocals
are probably present on the album version. Length 3:41.
This version includes the entire 'A Day At The Races' guitar
intro, and Brian adds extra guitar throughout the rest of the
song. Unlike some of the KEWB tracks, there is no dialogue
present, but there is however a nasty glitch at about 3:09.
Length 4:27.
Get your party gown
Get your pigtail down
Get your heart beating, baby
Got my timing right
I've got my act all tight
It's gotta be tonight my little schoolbabe
Mamma says you don't
And your daddy says you won't
And I'm boiling up inside
Ain't no way I'm gonna lose out this time
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Lock your daddy out of doors
I don't need him nosing around
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight
You're such a dirty louse
Go get out of my house
That's all I ever get from your
Family ties, in fact I don't think I ever heard
A single little civil word from those guys
But you know I don't give a light
I'm gonna make out all right
Got a sweetheart hand
To put a stop to all that
Fighting and sniping
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Take your little brother swimming
With a brick, (unknown lyric)
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Or you ain't no friend of mine
You ain't no friend of mine, no
Oooh, your mummy and your daddy gonna
Plague me till I die
They don't understand it
I'm just a peace loving guy
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight
All your love tonight
Too
Much Love Will Kill You
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Made In
Heaven' album page, while the Brian
May Unreleased Songs & Demos page features details of
Brian's solo demos.
This demo, originally intended for 'The Miracle', is similar to
the version that appeared on 'Made In Heaven', but features a
different vocal from Freddie. However the structure of the song
is slightly different - instead of two verses then a chorus it
has the first verse, then chorus, then the second verse and a
chorus, before fading out. However the demo seems to be edited
between the first verse and first chorus, and seems to continue
after it fades out, so the original take may well be different.
Length 2:01.
This demo was played at one of the fan club conventions, and
apparently features a much longer guitar solo, more drums, and
vocals from both Brian and Freddie, with Brian singing guide
vocals and Freddie's vocals over the top.
I'm just the pieces of the man I used to be
Too many bitter tears are raining down on me
I'm far away from home
And I've been facing this alone for much too long, ooh
Yeah, too much love will kill you
If you can't make up your mind
Torn between the lover
And the love you leave behind
You're headed for disaster
'Cos you've never read the signs
Too much love will kill you - every time
I feel like no-one ever told the truth to me
About growing up and what a struggle it would be
In my tangled state of mind
I've been looking back to find where I went wrong
Yes, too much love will kill you
Just as sure as none at all
It'll drain the power that's in you
Make you plead and scream and crawl
And the pain will make you crazy
You're the victim of your crime
Too much love will kill you - every time
Under Pressure
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Hot Space' album page.
The original version of this song was called 'Feel Like' and full
details are available on the Unreleased Songs page,
although it is different enough to be considered a separate
track. It is also believed that genuine demos of the track exist,
either with or without David Bowie.
This version contains three parts - a 1:12 guitar intro, a 1:38
edit of the album version, and a 23 second outro. So far I have
seen versions which include various edits of these, but all
include dialogue from Brian or the DJ and so they are all easily
identifiable. Brian introduces the album track with a guitar
version of the famous bassline, then the song cuts in on the
'blind man' vocals (at about 2:07), and continues to the end.
Brian's extra guitar is alongside the album version, rather than
drowning it out, and the result is a great version with a
different feel; it's just a pity that it's such a short version
and that it has dialogue in places. Length 3:13.
We Are The
Champions
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News Of The
World' album page.
Some of the recording out-take footage listed below was used to
create the 2011 promo video for the track, however, the footage
in the documentary is longer and slightly different.
This excerpt, from the 'Days Of Our Lives' documentary, features
out-takes including Freddie's vocals, some of them
double-tracked, some instrumental excerpts, and studio dialogue
from Freddie and Mike Stone. Some of the track however is
obscured by interviews with Roger and Brian. Length 1:41.
This excerpt, also from the 'Days Of Our Lives' documentary,
features an early instrumental take of the track, which features
harder and rawer guitar from Brian, though it is musically very
similar to the album version. It is a complete instrumental, with
no lyrics or dialogue. Length 1:18.
This version of the track features a few changes, including some
alternate guitar from Brian, and the crowd singing and clapping
along to the track. I seem to recall that there was some or other
ruling that bands could not just go on and mime to the single
version of tracks, and that they had to have some 'live' elements
to them, which may explain the differences.
I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through
And I need to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friends
La, la, la, la, la
Freddie: If I were you, we'll soon find out, let's get the sound
in there, let's get like, a, raw sound on the drums (unknown
dialogue)
We are the champions
No time for losers (ooooh, oooh)
'Cos we are the champions
Mike Stone: 'Cos here we've got three tracks of, four tracks of
vocals, one with a solo guitar, then that's got end bit solo
Freddie: Well listen to them darling, that's the only way we can
do it
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cos we are the champions
We Are
The Champions
(with Robbie Williams)
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News
Of The World' album page.
This remake was apparently presented to the record company, but
was rejected as it is too much of a departure from the original
version. Some sources suggest it contains acoustic guitar
throughout.
We Will Rock You
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News Of The World'
album page.
This was pressed onto a 7" acetate and is actually an edit
of the album track. It omits the introductory beat, starting with
Freddie's vocal, and fades out during the guitar solo, reducing
the length to 1:45. As edits go it seems fairly pointless, and
would have a big impact on the song for a not particularly big
time saving.
Not a demo in any way, but somebody has probably claimed it to
be. This is simply an instrumental version of the track without
any vocals, or even Brian's guitar. So basically it is 2 minutes
of feet stamping and hand clapping, and could hardly be less
interesting. Length 2:03.
We
Will Rock You
(fast version)
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News
Of The World' album page.
It has long been rumoured that the band recorded a studio version
of this track for the 'News Of The World' album, but apparently
the nearest we'll get is the BBC version from 1977, released on
the 'On Air' album. As the track has always been a live
favourite, it is not unreasonable to expect it to have been
attempted in the studio, but apparently this is not the case.
White
Queen
(As It Began)
Details of the released version can be found on the 'Queen II' album
page.
A home recording of the track by Brian from 1969 is rumoured to
exist, probably called 'As It Began'. Whether this is true and
whether it still exists is another matter.
In addition to the above, the track is strongly believed to have
been recorded both by Smile and by Queen for their debut album.
If so, neither version has ever materialised anywhere.
Who Needs You
Details of the released version can be found on the 'News Of The World'
album page.
There are rumours that the band may have recorded a reggae
version of the track, though how accurate this is, how complete
it is, and whether it still survives is unknown.
I haven't heard this track, but apparently it loses most of
Freddie's lead vocals, which would mean that the right stereo
channel has been removed. This would give an (almost)
instrumental version, but Freddie's vocals would be just about
audible.
Who
Wants To Live Forever
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Kind Of
Magic' album page.
Apparently upto 4 different demos of the track exist, although
very little is known about them. It is possible that these demos
are quite different to the album versions, as the track was
changed even between appearing in the film Highlander and the
release of the album.
This demo was recorded by Brian on a synthesiser, and features
the basic melody of the track, which is surprisingly close to the
album version, given how early it must have been recorded. The
track was apparently recorded in the studio and used as a guide
for the Queen version, before being thrown away, then somebody
found the tape in a skip. The demo is available in two parts;
"Skip Demo 1" contains around 37 seconds of warm-up
chords, while "Skip Demo 2" contains the main track
lasting 5:05, giving a total time of 5:47 (with a few seconds of
silence between).
You And I
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Day At The Races'
album page.
This track features Freddie, Roger and John, and is musically
very similar to the album version, minus Brian's guitar. It
retains a few backing vocals, not all, and most notably the 'do,
do' vocals are missing. Where the track normally fades out, this
version has a proper ending with a slow piano and drum
'wind-down'. Length 3:43.
This version runs slower than the album version (3:24), and seems
identical to the album version apart from one change. During the
'you know I never could foresee the future years' verse, the
right stereo channel has been removed, which means the 'do, do'
backing vocals are lost. It would actually have been more
interesting if they had removed the left channel, as this would
have removed Freddie's lead vocals. Length 3:32.
We'll go walking in the moonlight, walking in the moonlight
We'll go walking in the moonlight
Walking in the moonlight
And
I
You Don't Fool Me
Details of the full Sexy Club Mix can be found on the 'You Don't Fool
Me - The Remixes' songs page.
This track isn't a genuine demo at all, and is simply an excerpt
of the Sexy Club Mix of 'You Don't Fool Me', which begins with a
'you don't fool me' vocal from Freddie, followed by several 'laa'
vocals from Roger. The giveaway is the heavy dance beat, which
corresponds to the remix from approximately 6:55 to 7:12 (the
full version of which is truly awful). Length 0:17.
You don't fool me
Laa
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, laa
You Take
My Breath Away
Details of the released version can be found on the 'A Day At
The Races' album page.
This track was played at one of the fan club conventions and
apparently just features Freddie on piano and vocals. It is not
known how complete the track is, or how the lyrics may differ.
This version omits the intro and outro, equivalent to the album
version from 0:46 to 4:35 (approx), and runs slower than the
album version (the section should last 3:49). However, there do
not seem to be any other changes. Length 4:01.