Second Albums…3.16.14 by Q3
On March 6, 2014, Queen and Adam Lambert announced they were going to tour North American. In the commotion that followed, March 8th passed without much notice give to the fact that it was the 40th anniversary of the release of Queen’s second album.
A lot has been written about second albums. A lot has been writing on this forum about one particular second album, “Trespassing”. But with all I have read, all I have said, about “Trespassing”, I just came to really start to understand the importance of this album.
It all started with me thinking a bit about two of my favorite Queen songs, both which were released on one of the most underrated Queen albums, their second studio album, “Queen II” which was released on March 8, 1974. This album had two sides: "Side White" dominated by Brian May tracks and "Side Black" entirely composed by Freddie Mercury.
“Queen II” holds a special place in my memories. It was my first Queen album. After two days of listen to it endlessly, I bought a copy of “Queen” and then started to alternate the two. But to this day, no other Queen album will ever match that moment of wonder when I first listened to “Queen II” -- this genre bending, mind blowing collection of songs.
“Queen II” received mixed reviews when it was released including this famous miss by Rolling Stone.
But as time passed, the album started to gain the acclaim that it deserved. On November 8, 2011, Universal re-released “Queen II” which led to a new round of reviews. Here is a review of Queen II by Dominique Leone which appeared in Pitchfork on March 24, 2011 -- 37 years after the original release.
Although Queen II is a favorite among avid Queen fans and continues to be influential to musicians, the impact of Queen’s third album, “Sheer Heart Attack” also released in 1974, exactly 8 months later on November 8, 1974, eclipsed "Queen II." “Sheer Heart Attack” built on Queen’s first two albums, and is considered by many to be Queen’s finest album. The tracks were massive:"Killer Queen", "In the Lap of the Gods" and "Bring Back That Leroy Brown" featured dozens of overdubs and edits that were almost unheard of at the time. And the quintessential Brian May guitar track, "Brighton Rock". Throw in “Flick of the Wrist”, Freddies’ “Lily of the Valley” and Brian’s “Now I’m Here” and the wake of this monster rolled right over Queen II. And after “Killer Queen” broke through, there was no looking back. And, Queen II fell by the wayside a bit.
Looking back now, Queen II makes sense in the evolution of Queen. It was a part of a continuous path. Without “Nevermore”, would we have “Bohemian Rhapsody”? Without “The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" would we have “Killer Queen”? Queen fans have speculated for years. And without “Seven Seas of Rhye” (Queen’s first hit) would there have even been a third album?
“Queen II” tracksThere are 11 tracks on “Queen II”
White Side 1 | Procession | Brian May |
2 | Father to Son | Brian May |
3 | White Queen (As It Began) | Brian May |
4 | Some Day One Day | Brian May |
5 | The Loser In the End | Roger Taylor |
Black Side 1 | Ogre Battle | Freddie Mercury |
2 | The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke | Freddie Mercury |
3 | Nevermore | Freddie Mercury |
4 | The March of the Black Queen | Freddie Mercury |
5 | Funny How Love Is | Freddie Mercury |
6 | Seven Seas of Rhye | Freddie Mercury |
Five of these songs have never been performed by Queen in concert: “Some Day One Day”, “The Loser In The End”, “The Fairy Feller’s Master Stroke”, “Nevermore”, and “Funny How Love Is.”
Two tracks were performed by Queen regularly from 1974 through 1986 or 1987 “Seven Seas of Rhye” and “The March of the Black Queen.” (The later often as part of a medley and significantly altered.)
The remaining tracks haven’t been performed by Queen since 1977 or 1978, including one of my favorite Queen songs: White Queen (As It Began)
White Side/Black SidePlease allow me to wander off a bit....
There are two songs that were amazing live 40 years ago – two songs I think Queen should dust off and bring back for the upcoming Queen + Adam Lambert Tour. Both are from the somewhat forgotten, “Queen II”. Both are brilliant gems waiting for rediscovery.
Brian May: White Queen (As It Began)Here is “ White Queen (As It Began) from Live at the Rainbow 1974
Give it a listen. It is a duet between Freddie and Brian’s guitar. I am certain that you will enjoy it, and I am equally certain that Brian and Adam and the rest of the band could do something wonderful with this song.
The album track…on YouTube.
Freddie Mercury: The March of the Black QueenEven the lyrics suit Adam....
Do you mean it ?
Do you mean it ?
Do you mean it ?
Why don't you mean it ?
Why do I follow you and where do you go
Aah aah aah aah aah aah
You've never seen nothing like it no never in your life
Like going up to heaven and then coming back alive
Let me tell you all about it
And the world will so allow it
Ooh give me a little time to choose
Water babies singing in a lily-pool delight
Blue powder monkeys praying in the dead of night....
Aah ah aah
La la la la laa
Ah ah ah ah aah
Ah la la la laa
I reign with my left hand, I rule with my right
I'm lord of all darkness, I'm Queen of the night
I've got the power - now do the march of the Black Queen
My life is in your hands, I'll fo and I'll fie
I'll be what you make me, I'll do what you like
I'll be a bad boy - I'll be your bad boy - I'll do the march of the Black QueenHere is most of the Rainbow Theatre 1974 Night 2. “The March of the Black Queen” starts at 22:07.
Note: This whole concert is worth a listen but I also recommend you check out the guitar solo at 27:50.The album track and the live version of this song are quite different. Listen to the end of this song. Yes, it is small part of what would become “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Getting back to Second Albums….Queen’s second album was filled with sparks that would grow into the flaming, monster hits that we know so well. But much of it was there on “Queen II”. Most people missed this album, even some very knowledgeable reviewers did not appreciate it. Yes, there were a bit too many ideas in some of the songs, there is a bit too much sonic complexity and some lack of clarity. (OK some of it is down-right excessive.)
Looking back it makes sense. But at the time, it was a bit harder to appreciate and comprehend -- it was part of the path but not the destination.
Similarly, I think “Trespassing” is a second album that is filled with so many ideas that will make sense as they are developed in the future. Yes, there is a bit too much sonic complexity and some lack of clarity. (OK some of it is down-right excessive.)
And like “Queen II”, I expect that “Trespassing” will be somewhat forgotten in the wake of A3 but without being creatively resolved in a future album, it will not be completed. So, while “Trespassing” will remain a fan favorite for years to come, and I predict that in 40 years, someone will look back at Trespassing and think it would be great to see one or two of those songs performed live again. I hope that it too has to fight to be seen in the shadow cast from great future Adam Lambert albums.