Roger Taylor and The Cross Unreleased Songs and Demos

This page includes full details (where known) of all unreleased songs, demos of released tracks, and other tracks which are often claimed to be demos.

This page was 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.

As well as the tracks on this page, Roger also composed the soundtrack to the 2015 film 'Solitary', but so far neither the film, nor any of the tracks, have been officially released.
According to a 2017 podcast, he also wrote and performed the music for a track called 'Christmas In Love', which features a Canadian vocalist and appears in a remake of the 'A Christmas Carol' film, but again this is currently unreleased.

 

Roger Taylor Unreleased Songs:
I Wanna Take You Higher AKA I Want To Take You Higher
Keep On Running
Olympic Theme
Out Of My Life
The Price Of Love
When We Were Young


Roger Taylor Early and Original Versions:
I Am The Drummer (In A Rock 'n' Roll Band)
Is It Me?
Surrender


Roger Taylor Live-Only Tracks:
Soul (on separate page)

The Cross Genuine Demos:
Celebration (on separate page; officially released)
Dear Mr Murdoch
I Can Take You Higher (on separate page; officially released)
I Can't Get You Out Of My Head (on separate page; officially released)
Passion For Trash (on separate page; officially released)

The Cross Live-Only Tracks:
Let's Get Drunk (on separate page)


Dear Mr Murdoch


Details of the released version can be found on the 'Happiness?' album page.
The Cross Demo
This Roger solo track was originally recorded by The Cross, before turning up on 'Happiness?' a few years later. Presumably it was recorded for the follow up album to 'Blue Rock', but nobody knows how similar it is to Roger's version.

I Am The Drummer

(In A Rock 'n' Roll Band)


Details of the released version can be found on the 'Fun On Earth' album page.
Early Version
This track is believed to have been recorded in 2009, and starts with crowd noise, and as is to be expected with an early version, it has a much rawer and under produced feel. Roger's vocals are similar to the album version, with an alternate verse, and more 'hey' vocals. The guitars also have a slightly different sound, and the track has some different percussion, with handclaps throughout. Length 2:45.
Lyrics:
Two, three, four

I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band
I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band
I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band
I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band

I am the drummer
In a rock 'n' roll band
I'm the heart
The soul, yeah
I'm the man

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band

I am the engine train
The unsung hero
The things I get
Amount to messy zero

I like cars that go fast and shiny things
I like girls that go faster on tiny wings
I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band
I am the rock that rocks the bandstand
I am the St Peter, the rock on which we stand
I am the butt of a thousand jokes
From far less talented folks

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band

I'm the pulse
I'm the beat
That gets your toes tappin'
I fill the empty spaces
When the singer stops yackin'
I sit way at the back
But I lead the attack
It's a sweaty affair
Going whack, whack, whack

I am the drummer in a rock 'n' roll band

Is It Me?


Details of the released version can be found on the 'Electric Fire' album page.
Original Version
This is a longer version of the track, featuring two additional verses and choruses, with alternate lyrics, which add over a minute to the running time. This version is available on an Acetate CD of the 'Electric Fire', so full lyrics are available on the album page. Length 4:28.

I Wanna Take You Higher


This track, also known as 'I Want To Take You Higher', is a very good, fairly fast paced 'Strange Frontier' out-take, which has some distorted vocals. It would have fitted well on the album alongside the likes of 'I Cry For You (Love, Hope And Confusion)'. Length 3:19.
The track later became 'I Can Take You Higher', and was recorded by The Cross in 1988 or 1989. Although it was never completed, a demo version was released on the 'Singles 2' album and 'The Lot' boxed set, and full details can be found on the Miscellaneous Songs page.

Lyrics:
Got my baby in overdrive
My foot's on the floor and I feel alive
Put her in second and leaving cold
Eat my dust never live to be slow

Sitting alone in your favourite chair
Counting the reasons you should not be there
This is the truth

I wanna take you higher
I wanna take you higher
Wanna take you higher than before
Wanna take you higher, said
I wanna take you higher than before

She screams like a kid when I'm making the turns
She holds in the skids when the rubber burns
Watch for the cops and watch for the signs
Life in the fast line you look into the lines

Feeling alone on some everyday street
These are the moments you really don't need
This is no truth

Wanna take you higher, I said
I wanna take you higher
Wanna take you higher than before
You know I wanna take you higher
I wanna take you higher than before

So if you feel like a buzz, I feel I can fly
Just hold your breath, and step inside
Keep hold of your hat, enjoy the show
Eat my dust, never live to be slow

Who really knows what's in store in the end?
Who really knows what's around the very next bend?
Why should we care?

I said I wanna take you higher
Wanna take you higher, you know I
Wanna take you higher than before
Wanna take you higher
Wanna take you higher than before
I wanna take you higher
I wanna take you higher than before
Woo

Hey
You got your problems, take my advice
Do what you can get a kick out of life, oh, yeah
Wanna take you higher, woh, yeah
Wanna take you higher
Alright
Alright

Keep On Running


This 'Strange Frontier' track is a great cover version, but was probably omitted because there are already two covers on the album, or because of legal complications.
It was originally recorded by the Spencer Davis Group, and reached no 1 in 1965. Length 2:57.

Lyrics:
Keep on running
Keep on hiding
One fine day I'm gonna be the one
To make you understand, oh yeah
I'm gonna be your man

Keep on running
Running from my arms
One fine day I'm gonna be the one
To make you understand, oh yeah
I'm gonna be your man

Hey, hey, hey
Everyone is talking about me
Make me feel so bad
Hey, hey, hey
Everyone is laughing at me
Make me feel so sad
So keep on running
Baby
Alright

Hey
Keep on running
Keep on hiding
One fine day I'm gonna be the one
To make you understand, oh yeah
I'm gonna be your man

Keep on running
Running from my arms
One fine day I'm gonna be the one
To make you understand, oh yeah
I'm gonna be your man
Hey

Hey, hey, hey
Everyone is talking about me
Make me feel so sad
Hey, hey, hey
Everyone is laughing at me
Make me feel so bad
So keep on running
Hey, hey
Running from my arms

I wanna be your man
Make me feel so good
Make me feel so good (I wanna be your man), alright
I wanna be your man, wooh-ooh
I wanna be your man
I wanna be your man

Olympic Theme


Both Brian and Roger were approached individually by Thames Television to produce the theme music for coverage of the 1988 Olympic Games, but both tracks were rejected in favour of one by Eric Clapton.
Roger's track is dominated by drums as you would expect, and sounds like elements from the introduction to the extended version of 'Strange Frontier'. It's a very strong track and features John on bass. The track is unreleased, however a 2:06 excerpt is available on YouTube and highly recommended. Full length 4:30.

Out Of My Life


This track was apparently recorded by Roger for 'Strange Frontier', although reading other sources it seems that it may just be an alternative title for 'I Can't Get You Out Of My Head'. Nothing else is known about the track.

Surrender


Details of the released version can be found on the 'Electric Fire' album page.
Original Version
Available on an acetate CD of the 'Electric Fire' album, this version is similar to the album version, but features Jonathan Perkins singing lead vocals on the verses, with Treanna Morris on the choruses, and Roger just singing 'I surrender' and 'you can't reach me now'. It also has a slightly longer intro, more heavy breathing in the outro, and some other minor changes. Length 3:37.

The Price Of Love


This is a cover of The Everly Brothers 1965 hit which reached no 2 and was apparently recorded by Roger for the 1998 'Electric Fire' album. No recordings have been circulated yet though, so nobody really knows for sure.

When We Were Young


Early promotion for Roger's 2013 'Fun On Earth' album listed this song, but it was omitted from the final tracklisting. No recordings have been circulated, so it is unknown what the track is like, or whether it was just an early title for a different song.