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Unreleased Solo Tracks
This page includes full details (where known)
of all unreleased solo tracks, listed in alphabetical order. It
only lists unreleased songs (as opposed to unreleased versions of
songs), and where possible full lyrics are given. However,
because they are unreleased (and in some cases unfinished), the
known details are very few and may be inaccurate.
Click here for details of various
unreleased pre-Queen tracks, recorded or performed by The
Reaction, Wreckage, Ibex, Smile and 1984.
Roger Taylor Tracks:
Celebration
I Can Take You Higher
I Can't Get You Out Of My Head
I'm The Drummer In A Rock 'n' Roll Band
I Wanna Take You Higher AKA I Want To Take You Higher
Keep On Running
Olympic Theme
Out Of My Life
Smile
The Price Of Love
Brian May Tracks:
C'mon Baby
Come To Your Senses
God (The Dream Is Over)
Macbeth
(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame
Moody Keyboards
Olympic Theme
Sleepy Blues
The Green Parade
Two Sisters
In addition a number of tracks have been used as the themes to TV
series, these are listed on the Brian May
Miscellaneous Songs page.
Freddie Mercury Tracks:
Africa By Night
Everybody Needs Somebody
Garden Lodge Improvisations
Had To Believe Me
In Search Of Love
Killing Me
The Music Of The Night AKA Creatures Of The Night
The Phantom Of The Opera
You Are The Only One
In addition, a number of (previously) unreleased songs were
released in the 'Solo' boxed set, and details are on the Freddie Mercury Miscellaneous Songs
page. Two other unreleased tracks, which are duets with Michael
Jackson, are State Of Shock
and Victory.
The Cross Tracks:
Let's Get Drunk
Africa By Night
This track was recorded by Freddie (possibly with Montserrat) for
the 'Barcelona' album. The track later evolved into the Queen
track 'All God's People', and it is believed that the two sound
very similar, which possibly explains why it isn't in the 'Solo'
boxed set.
Celebration
This track sounds like The Cross, however, it was recorded by
Roger for 'Strange Frontier'. Confirmation of this has come from
a collector, who owned a copy of the song before the album was
officially released. It is very good and quite funky, dominated
by drums and synthesisers, but would sound out of place on the
album. Length 5:12.
Lyrics:
Do you close your mind?
Do you hide your eyes?
Do you turn away 'cos it must be lies?
It ain't luck it's only in the hands of fate
We're happy in the world so celebrate
Celebration
Easy on me
For the chosen ones
Celebration
Look around you
See what happens
When the people get no satisfaction
Too many others got more than their need
You can have it
If you want it
Take a share and we can build an army
Hand it to your brother sold and see
Celebration
Easy on me
For the chosen ones
Celebration
Make excuses
Explanations
A million reasons for the situation
Can you stand to watch the hunger and the greed
Celebration
Easy on me
For the chosen ones
Celebration
It's a new day
Feel it calling
Now the time has come
Celebration
You start to live when you start to believe
That your heart has no colour or creed
Don't let it lie
Don't let it die
Let it bleed
Listen and you believe when it's on TV
The crime and the dying and the misery
But you should work, you should sleep
And live in your life so pure and sweet
It's no good saying 'what can I do'
There's too many people in the world like you
You gotta do it now 'cos it's getting late
Don't you want the world to celebrate
Celebration
Easy on me
For the chosen ones
Celebration
It's a new day
Feel the calling
Now your time has come
Celebration
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Don't you want the world to celebrate?
Come To Your
Senses
This track was written by Brian in around 2001 and has apparently
been played at fan club conventions, though his version is
unreleased. It has however been recorded by Troy Turner, without
Brian, and was released on his 2010 album 'Whole Lotta Blues'. As
the album's name suggests, the track has a blues feel, but
whether this also applies to Brian's version is unknown. The
lyrics below are for this version, of length 4:11.
Lyrics:
Oh, let me see you baby
Come up closer into the light
Let me see you baby
Come up closer into the light
'Cos when the chips are down
You gotta come to your senses
What you sayin' ain't right
Oh, let me hear you baby
Say you love me one more time
Oh, let me hear you baby
Say you love me just one more time
'Cos when the chips are down
You gotta come to your senses
You know you gotta be mine
Maybe you have a mind to treat me unkind
Ain't no sense in me hanging around
But I know my love will find you
Just take a look around
You know you're gonna come back to your old love hound, yeah
Let me feel you baby
Let me feel your body next to mine
Oh, let me feel you darling
Let me feel your sweet body next to mine
'Cos when the chips are down
You gotta come to your senses
It's way overtime
Oh, let me hear you baby
Let me see you baby
Let me feel you baby
Touch you, taste your sweet perfume
Come back to my white room
'Cos when the chips are down
You gotta come to your senses someday soon
'Cos when the chips are down
You gotta come to your senses someday soon
Everybody Needs
Somebody
Had To Believe Me
In Search Of Love
These three songs were apparently written by Freddie, and the
lyrics were sold off via auction. It is believed that none of the
three tracks were ever recorded, but it is entirely possible that
elements of them found their way into other Freddie or Queen
tracks.
Garden Lodge
Improvisations:
Fuck Off And Die You Fag
Girl From Ipanema
Rock A Bye Dixie
These are three recordings, presumably made on the same night, of
improvised singalongs, featuring Freddie, Mike Moran and Peter
Straker, with only piano accompaniment. Sources suggest they were
recorded at Christmas, 1987, although I do not know how accurate
this is. The tracks are 'Rock A Bye Dixie' (1:29), Girl From
Ipanema (3:36) and Fuck Off And Die You Fag (3:11), although they
may also be known by other names. As they are improvised, the
lyrics are very difficult to make out.
I Can Take You Higher
This is a very short excerpt of the track, and is basically the
last 40 seconds of the song. It was intended for 'Strange
Frontier', and is a fast paced song, which sounds as if it would
have fitted well on the album. Obviously it's only a very short
taster of the full track, but it sounds very good all the same.
Length 0:40.
Lyrics:
What you got to lose
'Cos loves a score of nothing
And we ain't never coming down
Baby I can take you higher
Lift your two feet off the ground
What you got to lose
'Cos loves a score of nothing
And we ain't never coming down
I Can't Get You Out Of My
Head
This track was recorded during the 'Strange Frontier' sessions,
although some sources list it as a track by The Cross for the
'Mad Bad & Dangerous To Know' album. However, it is more
likely to be from 'Strange Frontier', given how productive Roger
was around this time, how diverse some of the tracks recorded for
the album were, and how few out-takes from The Cross are known or
even rumoured to exist. The track has a country mood, and would
have sounded rather odd against the other album tracks, but like
'Two Sharp Pencils', it would have been a good B-side track. It
seems as though this track may also be known as 'Out Of My Life'.
Length 3:37.
Lyrics:
I can't get you out of my head
No I can't get you out of my head
Sometimes it don't seem right
Can't seem to sleep at night
No I can't get you out of my heart
No I can't get you out of my heart
Maybe I'm out of touch
Sometimes I feel too much
Where are we going?
What are we going to?
Times are changing
But I don't want to
I can't get you out of my life
No I can't get you out of my life
Sometimes it don't seem fair
Feels like I'm going nowhere
I can't get you out of my life
We had a feeling
You know we were going strong
I thought it would last forever
Turns out I'm wrong
Where are we going?
What are we going to?
Times are changing
But I don't want to
I'm out of my head
I'm out of my head
I'm out of my head
Where are we going?
What are we going to?
Times are changing
But I don't want to
We had a feeling
She knew we were going strong
I thought it would last forever
Turns out I'm wrong
I'm out of my head
I can't get you out of my head
'Cos I can't get you out of my head
I can't get you out of my head
I'm The Drummer In A Rock 'n' Roll
Band
Smile
These are two tracks by Roger played at the 2010 fan club
convention, and are two new tracks which will presumably be
included on a solo album at some point in the future.
I Wanna Take Your
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'. Length 3:19.
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
Killing Me
Very little is known about this track, other than it being an
out-take from one of Freddie's solo projects. There is
speculation that it may be linked to the Roger Taylor track
'Killing Time', which featured Freddie, although this is
presumably just based on the similarity of the titles and nothing
else.
Macbeth
Brian recorded the soundtrack for a theatre production of
'Macbeth' on a computer in 1991. Parts of the track had already
been written by someone else, but Brian added sections to
complete it. The music was copied onto a cassette to play in the
theatre, and so three versions are available - from the floppy
disc, the cassette, or recordings from the theatre itself (which
also include dialogue and audience noise).
There are at least two tracks in circulation which include music,
lasting 9:24 and 17:13, and both were recorded among the
audience. They feature a number of distinct synthesiser pieces,
rather than one long track, which are probably best described as
'mood music', and unusually for Brian, none of the excerpts
appear to include any guitar. Against the dialogue from the play,
the music is quite effective, but the pieces which are
'standalone' are rather odd taken out of context. As well as
these two genuine pieces, and no doubt edited versions, there is
at least one MP3 download available which claims to be Macbeth,
but is actually 'Moody Keyboards' which is
listed below.
(Marie's The Name) His
Latest Flame
This track was recorded by Brian with Cozy Powell, most likely in
1997 or 1998, for an abandoned covers album titled 'Heroes',
which later became 'Another World'.
Length 2:58.
The track is a cover version and was originally recorded by Elvis
Presley in 1961, reaching no 1.
Lyrics:
(An unknown word at the very start from Brian)
(Ahh-uh)
(Ahh-uh)
A very old friend came by today
'Cos he was tellin' everyone in town
All the love that he'd just found
And Marie's the name of his latest flame
He talked and talked and I heard him say
(Oooh, ooh) That she had the longest, blackest hair
(Oooh, ooh) Prettiest green eyes anywhere
And Marie's the name of his latest flame
(Ahh-uh)
(Ooh-oh, ooh-oh) Even though I smiled, the tears inside were
burning
(Ooh-oh, oooh) I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
(Ooh-oh, ooh-oh) Oh, he was gone but still his words kept
returning
(Ooh-oh, oooh) What else was there for me to do but cry
Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my eyes she swore to me
She'd be mine eternally
And Marie's the name of his latest flame
Oh, even though I smiled, the tears inside were burning
I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
Oh, he was gone, but then his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry
Ooh-ooh-ooh-oh-oh-oh-oo-oo-oo, ma, maa
Would you believe that yesterday
(Oooh, ooh) He was tellin' everyone in town
(Oooh, ooh) All the love that he'd just found
And Marie's the name (oooh) of his latest flame
Yeah, Marie's the name of his latest flame
Oh, Marie's the name of his latest flame
His latest flame
(Oooh, oooh)
(Oooh, oooh)
(Oooh, oooh) his latest flame
(Oooh, oooh) um
(Oooh, oooh) his latest flame
(Oooh, oooh) his latest flame
(Oooh, oooooh)
Moody Keyboards
This track comes from the 'Back To The Light' sessions and is a
simple instrumental track, containing various atmospheric
keyboards, panpipes and bells, but is more experimentation than
an actual track. It is available as either one long track of
length 5:37, or three separate sections known as 'Keyboard
Sounds' at 1:47, 'Keyboard Panpipes' at 1:02 and 'Keyboard Bells'
at 2:57. There are also some MP3's circulating which claim to be Macbeth, but are actually this track. Length
5:37.
Olympic Theme
Both Brian and Roger were approached individually by Thames
Television to produce the theme music for coverage of the 1988
Olympic Games. Both tracks are instrumental, and neither of the
pieces were used, as music by Eric Clapton was chosen instead.
Roger's Theme
This 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.
Brian's Theme
This is a very good, fast paced track, which begins with
keyboards, before drums and guitar kick in. The guitar is not
very prominent, but this could be due to the bad quality of the
available recordings. As well as the full version there is a 1:37
excerpt which fades out abruptly. Length 3:30.
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.
Sleepy Blues (or Drunken
Blues)
This track is basically Brian singing an idea for a song,
intended for 'Back To The Light'. It doesn't feature any
instruments at all, instead Brian sings all parts, including the
music, and the few lyrics present are improvised. It is a blues
song, and sounds quite good but it wouldn't have fitted on the
album at all, and whether the track progressed beyond this stage
is unknown. Length 5:23.
Lyrics & Dialogue:
Right. Now this is a song, some blues, for the session upcoming,
dated the 5th of March or something, yeah. Due for some sessions
soon for my solo album (unknown dialogue). This is a blues song.
Loving you (ad-libbed lyrics)
Loving you (ad-libbed lyrics)
If you find me anymore
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
(An ad-libbed verse)
You makin' me (ad-libbed lyrics)
I've got the lovin' blues
Yeah, I've been sitting here all night long
You know you can't let go
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
It needs a bridge there. And then - harmonica solo
Yeah, and I've been rolling all night long
I've been dreaming low
And I've been weeping all night long
Since you've been gone pretty baby
Got you too long
(Ad-libbed lyrics)
Guitar solo
Been dreamin'
I've been weeping all night long
(Rest of lyrics are ad-libbed)
The Green Parade
In 2006, on his website, Brian revealed that he had written a
track called 'The Green Parade' which is a protest song, set in
the future when people have respect for the planet and animals.
He wrote it around the time he was producing 'Who Wants To Live
Forever' with Ian & Belinda for the BBMDA, and this track was
intended as the B-side. Although they recorded a few takes of it,
they ran out of time to finish the track, so it remains
unreleased. He also quoted part of the lyrics, as listed below.
Lyric Excerpt:
Ooh - does your heart beat faster
Ooh - taste the air we breathe
Ooh - in the tears and the laughter
Marching in the Green,
Marching in the Green
Parade
The Music Of The Night AKA
Creatures Of The Night
The Phantom Of The Opera
These two tracks were apparently recorded by Freddie as a test or
audition for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom Of The Opera'.
Freddie was Andrew Lloyd Webber's first choice for the leading
role and Freddie recorded at least these two tracks, and copies
are believed to still exist. The musical opened in October 1986
with Michael Crawford in the leading role, so these demos were
presumably recorded earlier in 1986 or possibly as early as 1985.
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.
Two Sisters
In 2010, Brian stated on his website that he had composed and
recorded music for the play 'Two Sisters', which featured his
wife, Anita Dobson. Nothing else is known about the track(s).
You Are The Only One
This is a very simple track, recorded in 1985 or 1986, which
features just Freddie at a piano, singing a very rough outline
for a song. The piano seems to be complete, but Freddie's vocals
are mostly ad-libbed apart from a few lyrics. It is a very basic
song, and could have been intended either as a Freddie solo or
Queen track. Length 1:59.
Lyrics:
Um, da, da, da
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da
I'm so sorry
Got my head in the clouds
Do, do, do, do, da, da, da, da
Da, de, da, da, da
You are the only one
You are the only one
Do, do, do, do
Honey our love can be
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Dee, dah
You are the only one
Do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
I'm so sorry
I'm so sorry
Do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Na, na, na, na, na
You are the only one
Da, da, dee, dah
Do, do, do, do
Honey our love can be
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do
(Freddie coughs)
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