Tracks 1, 2 & 3 from their second album released in 1974 copyright Elektra Records. It was recorded at Trident Studios in London. When I first heard this album shortly after its release, I was completely blown away and still consider it their finest work. The production is excellent and revolutionary, as they continued to experiment with multi-tracking and numerous vocal overdubs to create a unique sound, using miles of recording tape in the process. Some of the effects they were able to create solely from guitar and voice led listeners to assume that synthesizers were involved but the album's liner notes stated "and nobody played synthesizers...again." The whole band shone on this one but Freddie Mercury stood out as a major talent, both as a writer and performer. It was written as hard rock with a significant progressive rock feel, even containing references to Middle Earth, as was the prog rock tradition. Mercury played a harpsichord on "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke." The instrument was invented in the late Middle Ages and brought the sound of Baroque classical music to the mix. The song was inspired by Richard Dadd's 1864 painting of the same name that hangs in the Tate Gallery in London. Dadd painted it over nine years while incarcerated at the State Criminal Lunatic Asylum where he was confined after murdering his father in 1843. Brian May plays a Hairfred acoustic guitar on "White Queen (As It Began)." The Hairfred guitar's bridge is constructed to produce a buzzing sound, similar to that of a sitar. The album initially received mixed reviews but as critics became more familiar with it, they rated it above average to excellent. Because of a lack of hit songs, "Seven Seas of Rhye" being the only one, it's one of their lesser-known releases and has developed a cult following among diehard fans. It reached No. 79 in Australia, No. 49 in the U.S., No. 40 in Canada, No. 26 in Japan, No. 19 in Norway and No. 5 in the U.K. It was certified Gold in Japan and the U.K. and Platinum in Poland. Written by Brian May and produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Robin Geoffrey Cable & Queen. RIP Freddie Mercury. Featuring:
Freddie Mercury - Lead vocals, piano & background vocals, harpsichord on "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke"
Brian May - Lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars, bells & background vocals, lead vocal on "Some Day One Day" & piano on "Father to Son"
John Deacon - Bass, acoustic guitar on "Father to Son"
Roger Taylor - Drums, gong, tambourine, marimba, percussion & background vocals, lead vocal on "The Loser in the End"
Special Guest:
Roy Thomas Baker - Castanets on "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" & stylophone on "Seven Seas of Rhye"
A word in your ear from father to son
Hear the word that I say
I fought with you, fought on your side
Long before you were born
(Joyful the sound, the word goes around)
From (father to son to son)
And the voice is so clear, time after time
It keeps on calling you, drawing you on
Don't destroy what you see, your country to be
Just keep building on the ground that's been won
(Kings will be crowned) and the (word goes around)
From (father to son, to son)
Won't you hear us sing
Our family song?
Ooh, yeah
Now we handed it on
But you heard it all before
Take this letter that I give you
Take it, Sonny, hold it high
You won't understand a word that's in it
But you'll write it out again before you die, yeah, yeah
A word in your ear from father to son
Funny, you don't hear a single word I say
But my letter to you would stay by your side
Through the years till the loneliness is gone
(Sing if you will)
But the air you breathe I live to give you
Father to son (father to, father to, father to son)
(Joyful the sound, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Kings will be crowned, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Joyful the sound, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Kings will be crowned, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Joyful the sound, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Kings will be crowned, word goes around)
(From father to son to son)
(Joyful the sound, word goes around)
So sad her eyes
Smiling dark eyes
So sad her eyes
As it began
On such a breathless night as this
Upon my brow the lightest kiss
I walked alone
And all around the air did say
My lady soon will stir this way
In sorrow known
The White Queen walks and the night grows pale
Stars of lovingness in her hair
Needing, unheard
Pleading one word
So sad my eyes
She cannot see
How did thee fare, what have thee seen?
The mother of the willow green?
I call her name
And 'neath her window have I stayed
I loved the footsteps that she made
And when she came
White Queen, how my heart did ache
And dried my lips, no word would make
So still I wait
My goddess, hear my darkest fear, I speak too late
It's forevermore that I wait
Dear friend, goodbye
No tears in my eyes
So sad it ends
As it began
20 май 2023
