John Deacon - Collaborations

This page features details of John Deacon's collaborations with other artists.
Click here for details of his only proper solo recording, 'No Turning Back'.

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Queen Solo Tracks:
Roger Taylor - It's An Illusion and I Cry For You (Love, Hope And Confusion)
Freddie Mercury - Love Kills and How Can I Go On?
Brian May - Nothin' But Blue

Collaborations Featuring Multiple Band Members:
Trax - Unknown
Elton John - Too Young and Angeline
Bad News - Bohemian Rhapsody (possibly, on separate page)
Anita Dobson - I Dream Of Christmas and Silly Christmas
Ian & Belinda - Who Wants To Live Forever?
Cozy Powell - Somewhere In Time
The SAS Band - That's The Way God Planned It

Other Collaborations:
Unreleased Jam Session
Man Friday & Jive Junior - Pickin' Up Sounds
Errol Brown - This Is Your Time
Minako Honda - Roulette
Morris Minor & The Majors - Stutter Rap (No Sleep Till Bedtime) and This Is The Chorus
Steve Gregory - Bushfire

Some sources suggest that John produced the self-titled debut album of the Scottish group 'Strawberry Switchblade'. While some sites suggest this is the case, they list him alongside two other producers. I have searched through interviews with the band and they discuss the recording in depth, mentioning both other producers but not John, so it seems likely that he either wasn't involved, or if he was, it was at a very early stage or his input was minimal. Some sites also list two additional collaborations - 'The Man In The Shadows' and 'Hiding In Public' - but these are simply puns on the fact that John has been very quiet away from Queen.

Unreleased Jam Session
In 1983, John played in an improvised jam session with tennis players Vitas Gerulaitis and John McEnroe (playing guitar presumably), guitarists Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) and Mick Ralphs (Mott The Hoople and Bad Company) and drummers Martin Chambers (The Pretenders) and Simon Kirke (Free and Bad Company).
No material from the jam has been released.

Pickin' Up Sounds
Man Friday & Jive Junior, 1983. Length 5:07.
John co-wrote the track (with Robert Ahwai), played bass and produced it.
This is a rap track, with prominent bass throughout. It was released as a single but failed to chart. The 12" single may also have an extended version.
Alternate Versions:
1. Radio Mix (4:46) (on both singles, this is an edit which apparently loses many of the rap vocals, but adds various sound effects and excerpts from news reports, though I haven't heard it to check)
Lyrics:
I see a child in the run down place
Cuts and bruises all over his face
Scrapping in the street, never take no jibes
Always one step ahead gotta stay alive
His momma asked why he don't give in
He's so proud you know he needs to win
Nobody can tell him when to stop
So he's just keeps on going till the day he drops

Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around
Get down

Bobbing and weaving at the sound of the bell
Will you stay on your feet, only time will tell
And if you get knocked down don't take no dive
Get up, only the strong survive
Taking time out in between rounds
And getting advice but only picking up sounds
Easy to say slow down take a rest
But you'll never be happy with second best

Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around

Born on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to grow up straight with the devil on your back
Temptation everywhere, read a book
Take a drug, mug a man, steal a car, snatch a purse
The boys in blue getting framed walk the beat
But the law of the jungle rule my street
A different matter for us to stay alive
Cos we did not deal in no nine till five

Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
Can you take it, can you make it
Can you take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around
I can take it, I can make it
I can take it this time around

Nine to five was not our scene
We were bad, we were mad, we were tough, mean
Down at the gym learning how to fight
And taking our skills onto the streets at night
You know we got more lives than a pussy cat
More street credibility than a sewer rat
Braver than Conan, tougher than Chad
We'll put the flip in your cardiac groovogram
Stay cool everywhere, even in hell
We've got a longer life than Duracell

I met a fortune teller called Gypsy Lee
She said "going on a long journey"
I thought she was bibbling babbling bull
But then we got deported to Istanbul
I don't mind travelling on a train
But it freaks me out to fly by plane
I had no choice I had to go
So we departed from Heathrow

Sitting down in the plane seat
Listening to sounds and tapping my feet
When the captain's voice came over loud and clear
"There's a technical hitch but don't you fear
We're having trouble with engine one
But don't let that spoil your fun"
Well that's all I need is another delay
I hope I get there some time today

"We've got a little problem with engine two
But please don't let that bother you"
My God, I don't believe this rap
The Captain's coming with so much crap
"Uh oh, there goes engine three
To be frank, now it worries me"
Well the plane is flying really slow
All we need now is number four to go

This Is Your Time
Errol Brown, 1986. John co-wrote the track, and played bass.
This track has never been released.

Roulette [shop]
Minako Honda, 1986. John co-wrote the track, and possibly played bass. Length 3:05.
Available on the album 'Cancel'. This is basically an instrumental version of 'No Turning Back' with new vocals, mostly Japanese. I'm not sure whether it uses the original version of 'No Turning Back' or a new recording, as there do seem to be some differences.
Lyrics:
(Japanese lyrics)

I'm a restless kind of girl
There's no turning back now
I'm a restless kind of girl
There's no turning back now

(Japanese lyrics)

I'm a restless kind of girl
There's no turning back now
I'm a restless kind of girl
There's no turning back now
There's no turning back now

I'm a restless kind of girl
There's no turning back now

Stutter Rap (No Sleep Till Bedtime)
Morris Minor & The Majors, 1987. John appears in the promo video for this track, but does not appear on the actual record.
The single reached no 4 in the UK.

This Is The Chorus
Morris Minor & The Majors, 1987. John appears in the promo video for this track, but does not appear on the actual record.
The single did not chart in the UK, but reached no. 22 in Australia.

Bushfire [shop]
Steve Gregory, 1994. John plays bass. Length 4:32.
This is a reggae-styled instrumental track by Steve Gregory (who also played saxophone on Queen's 'One Year Of Love').
Available on the album 'Bushfire'.

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