Back chat - Queen

At the beginning of the Eighties, Queen wasn't as popular as they would be later on in their career. This is proved by the single I bought recently: 'Back chat'. I'd never even heard of this single, but it was released in 1982 and taken from the album Hot Space, the album that spawned the hits 'Under pressure' and 'Body language', plus the lesser-known hit 'Las palabras de amor'. 'Back chat' only charted in the UK (peaking at number 40), Ireland (number 19) and Germany (number 69), so it's no wonder that this release didn't catch my attention at all back then. 

Not that it's a bad song. I heard it for the first time when I played this single and I felt it was a very funky, catchy track. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7393
Found: Flashback Records, London, 21 October 2024
Tracks: 'Back chat' / 'Staying power'

Spread your wings - Queen

One of the biggest news stories in the Netherlands today was the fact that 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen didn't make number 1 in the annual Top 2000, the chart that is compiled by Radio 2 listeners who vote on a website during a couple of weeks near the end of the year. The chart is broadcast every year in the last week, the period between Christmas and New Year's Eve. This year, The Eagles' 'Hotel California' surpassed the classic Queen song for the first time in many years.Well, at least the Rhapsody is still number 2.

By contrast, many Queen singles have been long forgotten. Who remembers, for instance, 'Spread your wings'? This single was released in February 1978 and only managed to reach number 34 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. The previous single from the album 'News of the World', 'We are the champions' is remembered by many more people - despite the fact that this single is far more interesting.

My collection: 7" single no. 5441
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Spread your wings' / 'Sheer heart attack'

Who wants to live forever - Queen

'Who wants to live forever' was a track on Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic', and was written by guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander. The song is used to frame the scenes in the film where Connor MacLeod must endure his beloved wife Heather MacLeod growing old and dying while he, as an Immortal, remains forever young. The song's title is taken from a line in another movie scored by Brian May and Queen, Flash Gordon (the line can be heard on "Battle Theme" from the Flash Gordon soundtrack album) and is based on May's personal troubles (the death of May's father and failing first marriage).

Released as a single, the song peaked at number 24 in the UK singles chart. It did better in France and the Netherlands, peaking at number 5 and 6 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 5461
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Who wants to live forever' / 'Killer Queen'

The show must go on - Queen

'The show must go on' was released as the third single from Queen's 1991 album 'Innuendo'. It was written mainly by Brian May. It chronicles the effort of Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life; he was dying from complications due to AIDS, although his illness had not yet been made public in spite of ongoing media speculation claiming that he was seriously ill. Mercury was so ill, and could barely walk, when the band recorded the song in 1990, that May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. Recalling Mercury's performance, May states; "he went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal".

It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991 in promotion for the Greatest Hits II album, just six weeks before Mercury died. Following Mercury's death on 24 November 1991, the song re-entered the British charts and spent as many weeks in the top 75 (five) as it did upon its original release, initially reaching a peak of 16. By now, it is truly obvious that 'the show must go on', as Queen have just released another greatest hits album featuring a few 'new' tracks, recorded before Mercury's death, including a duet with another dead legend, Michael Jackson.

My collection:  7" single no. 5443
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'The show must go on' / 'Keep yourself alive'

I'm going slightly mad - Queen

This song seems very appropriate for a night like tonight. Over in London, Kate Bush is premiering her first live show in 35 years. Yes, 'it finally happened'. Meanwhile 'I'm going slightly mad' at the thought that I will have to wait two weeks to see the show myself. Two UK newspaper are running a live blog with details of the show, and the press are sure to go mad with reports tomorrow.

But, back to Queen. They released 'I'm going slightly mad' as the second single from their album 'Innuendo' - the last Queen album to be released while frontman Freddie Mercury was alive. The video showed a pale, thin Mercury who was just months away from his passing. The band went on to release a greatest hits album, a pathetic single without Mercury and of course the lengthy 'Made in heaven' album, using vocals hastily recorded in Mercury's last year alive. There are rumours that a new album using old vocals is being made as we speak. Personally, I prefer music from artists who are still alive... and playing live. Even if the world had to wait 35 years for it.

My collection: 7" single no. 5442
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'I'm going slightly mad' / 'The hitman'

Somebody to love - Queen

Although it lacks the innovation and intricacy of 'Bohemian rhapsody', I've always loved 'Somebody to love' more. It's a beautiful melody and the lyric is very simple: the search for someone to love can be quite desperate.

The single became the band's second number 1 hit in the Netherlands and peaked at number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4948
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Somebody to love' / 'White man'

Who wants to live forever / Friends will be friends - Queen

After the death of Freddie Mercury, 'Who wants to live forever' was re-released by EMI in March 1992. Originally, the track was released as a single from Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic'. The song was written by Brian May for the soundtrack of the movie 'Highlander'. The double A-side 'Friends will be friends' was from the same album, and originally released as the single that preceded 'Who wants to live forever' in 1986.

As far as I know, this double A-side single was only released in the Netherlands. It reached number 7 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1617
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, April 4, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Who wants to live forever' / 'Friends will be friends'

Bohemian rhapsody / These are the days of our lives - Queen

Two weeks after the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury, this double A-side single by Queen was released on December 9, 1991. It brought together the band's seminal track 'Bohemian rhapsody' from 1975 and a track from their most recent album, 'Innuendo', 'These are the days of our lives'. The song had very poignant lyrics that seemed almost too appropriate for the occasion.

The single reached number 1 in the UK singles chart immediately after release, and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40 a month later.

My collection: 7" single no. 1613
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 28, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Bohemian rhapsody' / 'These are the days of our lives'

Innuendo - Queen

The track 'Innuendo' was pieced together 'like a jigsaw puzzle'. The recurring theme started off as a jam session between Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. Freddie Mercury then added the melody and some of the lyrics, which were then completed by Taylor. At six and a half minutes, it is one of Queen's longest songs, and their longest ever released as a single, exceeding 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by 35 seconds.

Like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', it was released as the first single from its parent album, despite its length and complexity, going straight to number 1 in the UK singles chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single reached number 4.

My collection: 7" single no. 1379
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 9, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Innuendo' / 'Bijou'

It's a hard life - Queen

'It's a hard life' was written by Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury. A track on their 1984 album 'The works', it was released as the third single from that album. It reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.

The song is a continuation of the theme presented in earlier single 'Play the game': Mercury writes from the same lover's perspective at a later stage in their search for true love. The opening lyric of 'It's a hard life' is based on the line 'Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto!' ('Laugh, Pagliaccio, at your broken love!') from 'Vesti la giubba', an aria from Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci.

My collection: 7" single no. 585
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, February 6, 1988
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'It's a hard life' / 'Is this the world we created?'

Radio gaga - Queen

'Radio gaga' was released in 1984, two years after their last single release. It was unusual for a popular band like Queen to be away from the scene for such a long time back then, and so 'Radio gaga' was some kind of comeback single. The song was a commentary on television overtaking radio's popularity and how one would listen to radio for a favorite comedy, drama, or sci-fi program. It also pertained to the advent of the music video and MTV.

The single was a big success worldwide, reaching number 1 all over Europe and becoming a number 3 hit in Australia. In the UK, the single reached number 2 and in the USA, the single peaked at number 16.

My collection: 7" single no. 1393
Found: All that music, Leiden, February 22, 1991
Cost: 3,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Radio gaga' / 'I go crazy'

I want to break free - Queen

The song 'I want to break free' is more famous for its music video than for its music. Directed by David Mallet, the video was a parody of the northern British soap opera 'Coronation Street'. In it, the band members of Queen dressed in drag, as mildly similar characters found in the soap at the time. The video also featured a ballet piece with the Royal Ballet.

The single reached number 1 in Austria, Belgium, New Zealand, Finland and the Netherlands and peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart. In the USA, the single only reached number 45. Again, this is explained by the music video, as many people in the USA failed to see the soap-opera connection and interpreted the video as an open declaration of transvestitism and Mercury’s homosexuality. The narrowmindedness of these people prevented all of Queen's singles to reach the top 40 in the USA until 'The show must go on' reached number 2 in 1991.

My collection: 7" single no. 4737
Found: Record fair, Rijswijk, April 5, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I want to break free' / 'Machines (or 'Back to humans')'

One vision - Queen

'One vision' was released as the first single from Queen's 1986 album 'A kind of magic', released in 1985. Queen were inspired to write and record this song because of the euphoric feeling that came from their performance at Live Aid. The track contains mysterious and distorted beginning vocals, most prominently the vocals retained in the single version. The reversed vocals at the start of the song relay new lyrics when played forwards—they say, 'God works in mysterious ways... mysterious ways...'.

The final line of the song is 'fried chicken', although the printed lyrics say 'one vision'. This was a result of a prank that Freddie Mercury played in the studio, as the band had fried chicken for dinner that day. Jim Hutton, Freddie Mercury's lover, says in his book, that the singer was not sure whether to include it in the final cut or not. Hutton encouraged him, saying 'You are big enough' (to get away with this).

My collection: 7" single no. 1573
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'One vision' / 'Blurred vision'

A kind of magic - Queen

'A kind of magic' was originally written by Roger Taylor before Freddie Mercury took it over, added the bassline, some connectors and re-arranged the structure. Regardless, it was still credited to Taylor. The new version was featured on the album of the same name and released as its first single. An alternate version plays during the credits of the movie 'Highlander'.

The phrase 'A kind of magic' is actually used by Christopher Lambert in the film and impressed Taylor so much that he made it into a full song. There are references to the film in the lyrics – 'one prize, one goal'; 'no mortal man' and 'here can be only one'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4709
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A kind of magic' / 'A dozen red roses for my darling'

Las palabras de amor - Queen

'Las palabras de amor' was inspired by the band's close relationship with their Latin American fans. It was released as a single from Queen's 1982 album 'Hot space' in June 1982. The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 26 in the Dutch Top 40.

The baby's face image of the single's cover would reappear on The Cross single for their song 'New dark ages'.

My collection: 7" single no. 4705
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Las palabras de amor' / 'Cool cat'

Another one bites the dust - Queen

The bass line of 'Another one bites the dust' was inspired by the song 'Good times' by Chic. Recording sesions in Munich involved John Deacon playing almost all the instruments: bass, piano, rhythm and lead guitars and handclap percussion. Roger Taylor added a drum loop and Brian May contributed some noises with his guitar and an Eventide Harmonizer. There are no synthesizers used in the song: all effects are created with pianos, guitars, and drums, with subsequent tape playback performed in reverse at various speeds. Brian May later recalled: 'Freddie sung until his throat bled on 'Another one bites the dust'. He was so into it. He wanted to make that song something special.'

The single reached number 14 in the Dutch Top 40, number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in Argentina, Canada, Guatemala, Spain and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2107
Found: Record fair, June 4, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Another one bites the dust' / 'Dragon attack'

Save me - Queen

'Save me' was released as a single in January 1980, six months before the album 'The game' was released, on which the track appeared. Brian May wrote the song about a friend whose relationship had ended.

The single reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart, while it was also a top 10 hit in Ireland, Italy and Norway.

My collection: 7" single no. 1575
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Save me' / 'Let me entertain you'

Crazy little thing called love - Queen

Freddie Mercury composed 'Crazy little thing called love' on the guitar in just five to ten minutes. Other accounts say that he wrote it while lounging in a bubble bath in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich during one of Queen's extensive Munich recording sessions. He took it to the studio shortly after writing it and presented it to bandmates Roger Taylor and John Deacon. The three of them, with their new producer Mack, recorded it at Musicland Studios in Munich. The entire song was reportedly recorded in less than half an hour (although Mack says it was six hours).

The single was released in October 1979 and reached number 1 in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 2.

My collection: 7" single no. 1579
Found: Record fair, January 25, 1992
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Crazy little thing called love' / 'We will rock you (live)'

Body language - Queen

When Queen had a big hit with 'Another one bites the dust', Queen were inspired to abandon their rock roots and experiment with disco, funk and soul music. 'Body language', one of the singles from their album 'Hot space' was perhaps the most obvious result of this. The song featured 'suggestive' lyrics, almost no guitras and a lot of Freddie Mercury's moans and groans.

The drastic change caused the single to stall at number 25 in the UK singles chart. It peaked at number 11 in the US Billboard Hot 100 however, and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2108
Found: Record fair, June 4, 1994
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Body language' / 'Life is real'

Thank God it's Christmas - Queen

'Thank God it's Christmas' was written by Brian May and Roger Taylor and released as a single in November 1984. The track does not appear on any Queen studio album, but was included in their 'Greatest Hits III' compilation, released in 1999.

The single reached number 21 in the UK singles chart and number 8 in Ireland. In most European countries the single went by unnoticed, although it did chart in Austria and Germany in 1985, reaching number 21 and 57 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 4315
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Thank God it's Christmas' / 'Man on the prowl', 'Keep passing the open windows'