Queen
Queen in Nuce

Perhaps an unknown work by a now legendary band, which left us masterpieces in the first four albums.
Before joining and forming Queen, Freddie, Roger, and Brian had already tried the path to success with other groups. The former was part of Wreckage (a blues band) and even before that of Ibex. Roger and Brian had, among other things, played in a band called 'Smile' together with Tim Staffel. The only ones to sketch a small and unlucky recording career were precisely the latter. In 1969 a single, 'Earth', was released, which had no follow-up and was published only in the United States. Meanwhile, other songs were recorded which saw the light only in 1982 on a Japanese bootleg, "Getting Smile," and later in "Ghost Of A Smile" and "Queen In Nuce." In 1970 the group disbanded, and Tim disappeared into anonymity...

The album presents decidedly superb pieces like "Earth" or "April Lady"... yes, maybe they're a bit psychedelic (but who the Queen? Yes, precisely them). Earth is a song written by Tim Staffel with a typical 60s sound. Even Tim's voice seems to be the perfect mold of the Beatles-style band-boy. The song is very charming. A ballad full of taste and played gently.
Certainly Tim had some "visible" potential in some melodic passages of this track. 4'01" on the bootleg "Ghost Of a Smile" with Brian May on vocals, Roger and Tim on backing vocals. The only cover by Smile, April Lady is a great piece, gentle and melodic. It's worth savoring Roger's performance in the chorus.
"Polar Bear" is a slow and very intense track written by Brian May. A song with some thrilling passages, especially in the version sung by Freddie (see the Queen review). Here, Tim does his best, and in the high notes, he doesn't hold back... at a certain point, he almost "strains" himself! Of course, Freddie's version is another thing, but this one isn't bad either. It's all on the piano with Freddie's high voice sweetly accompanying the melody of the song. Nostalgic, intense, moving, and profound... The newborn Queen recorded this song, reaching peaks of elegance and perfection that no one has ever reached again. Perhaps unattainable, probably unreachable! Divine... Nothing to do with the original. Freddie Mercury's voice comes directly from heaven...
"Goin' Back"... ahh, I get chills even pronouncing this title: pure melody and emotion!!! The young Mercury plays with harmonies in an absolutely exquisite way; his slender fingers on the piano create a truly unique sound, disarmingly sweet yet, at the same time, powerful and vibrant. Our Freddie, here at the beginning, displays a cherub-like vocal timbre... clear, almost feminine, that gives intense and utterly contrasting sensations: I cried listening to this song... I smiled... it made me melancholic and then incredibly serene... Roger and Brian embellish the piece with a precise and well-structured rhythmic contribution... in short: unmissable!!!... Ah, if only it weren't a cover!!! "Blag" features an introduction all for Roger's drums and a final part in "Brighton Rock" style. Blag is perhaps the only blatantly Rock track by Smile. The Red Special is finally heard and covers the sweet sound typical of Smile. Here too, Tim tries to hit all the high notes and therefore deserves praise. However, Freddie would have done better! :) The track, as already mentioned, would be plagiarized by Brian in "Brighton Rock." 3'13". Like all the studio tracks by Smile, available on "Ghost Of A Smile."