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Rating: Everyone, knowing my name, thought I had reviewed for the first time a Pink Floyd record, perhaps a masterpiece from the Waters era (or the debut album). Instead, I decided to start, as my first review, with one of the most underrated and least known albums of the musical scene of the early 70s, like the eponymous album by Queen.
Historical context
It was the late 60s, and while great bands like Led Zeppelin and Genesis were establishing themselves in the international rock scene, Freddie Mercury (real name Farrokh Bulsara), singer and pianist of a group called Sour Milk Sea, met Brian May and Roger Taylor's Smile, to whom he joined after the departure of singer and bassist Tim Staffel in 1970. In 1971, after changing several bass players, the band decided to permanently take on John Deacon.
The album
The release of the album was preceded by the first single and first track of the album, Keep Yourself Alive: one of the best hits of this period, Brian May's guitar intro is something indefinable, one of my favorite riffs. It is immediately followed by Doing All Right, originally a Smile song, it's a track that, over its duration, changes tempo several times, moving from a simple ballad to a mix of hard rock and heavy metal. The third track of the album, perhaps the one that comes closest to the so-called "heavy metal", is Great King Rat: in the middle part of the lyrics there are some verses that could be interpreted as anti-religious, but I absolutely do not think these are subliminal messages, as all bands have had accusations for this reason over the years. My Fairy King is the first song where we have Freddie on the piano; the lyrics speak of an imaginary place, anticipating central themes of what will then be the masterpiece "Queen II." Now let's get to the heart of it, the most important piece of the album: Liar. It is indeed considered the worthy precursor to Bohemian Rhapsody. Its pace, like Doing All Right, is varied (here we already notice Mercury's great genius) and culminates with Led Zeppelin-style guitars, after a rather complex central part. Following are The Night Comes Down, a delicate ballad, and Modern Times Rock N' Roll, a very fast rock with Roger Taylor on vocals. One of the tracks that will remain in the Queen's setlist until 1975 is Son & Daughter, which highlights the band's initial sound. The song lyrics cover various themes, including religion (Jesus) and myth (Seven Seas of Rhye...), which here is presented only in an instrumental and embryonic version and is different from that of the next album, more complete and with slightly more sophisticated arrangements.
Conclusions
I believe that this album, among all the London band's LPs, should be placed at least among the top 3 or 4, not for historical value, but for the experimental vision that the group adopted as soon as they began their musical career. Progressive influences are also widely noted, especially from groups like Yes and ELP. For those who truly love Queen, it’s a must-buy.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
05 Liar (06:28)
I have sinned dear Father
Father I have sinned
Try and help me Father
Won't you let me in?
Liar
Oh nobody believes me
Liar
Why don't they leave me alone?
Sire I have stolen
Stolen many times
Raised my voice in anger
When I know I never should
Liar
Oh ev'rybody deceives me
Liar
Why don't you leave me alone?
Liar I have sailed the seas
Liar from Mars to Mercury
Liar I have drunk the wine
Liar time after time
Liar you're lying to me
Liar you're lying to me
Father please forgive me
You know you'll never leave me
Please will you direct me in the right way
Liar liar liar liar
Liar that's what they keep calling me
Liar liar liar
Listen are you gonna listen
Mama I'm gonna be your slave
All day long
Mama I'm gonna try behave
All day long
Mama I'm gonna be your slave
All day long
I'm gonna serve you till your dying day
All day long
I'm gonna keep you till your dying day
All day long
I'm gonna kneel down by your side and pray
All day long and pray
All day long and pray
All day long and pray
All day long all day long all day long
All day long all day long all day long
All day long all day long all day long
Liar liar they never ever let you win
Liar liar everything you do is sin
Liar nobody believes you
Liar they bring you down before you begin
Now let me tell you this
Now you know you could be dead before they let you
07 Son and Daughter (03:22)
I want you
to be a woman
Tried to be a son and daughter rolled into one
You said you'd equal any man for having your fun
Now didn't you feel surprised to find
The cap just didn't fit
The world expects a man
To buckle down and to shovel shit
What'll you do for loving
When it's only just begun?
I want you to be a woman
Tried to be a teacher and a fisher of men
An equal people preacher
Will you lead us all the same?
Well I travelled all round the world
A brand new word for day
Watching the time mustn't linger behind
Pardon me I have to get away
What'll you think of heaven
If it's back from where you came?
I want you to be a woman
I want you to be a woman yeah
08 Jesus (03:46)
And then I saw Him in the crowd
A lot of people had gathered round Him
The beggars shouted the lepers called Him
The old man said nothing
He just stared about him
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
Then came a man before His feet he fell
Unclean said the leper and rang his bell
Felt the palm of a hand touch his head
Go now go now you're a new man instead
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was a leader of man
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was a leader of man
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
09 Seven Seas of Rhye (01:12)
Fear me, you lords and lady preachers
I descend upon your earth from the skies
I command your very souls, you unbelievers
Bring before me what is mine
The seven seas of Rhye
Can you hear me, you peers and privy councilors
I stand before you naked to the eyes
I will destroy any man who dares abuse my trust
I swear that you'll be mine
The seven seas of Rhye
(Sister) I live and lie for you
(Mister) do and I'll die
You are mine, I possess you
Belong to you forever (Ever, ever, ahh)
Storm the master marathon I'll fly through
By flash and thunder fire I'll survive
(I'll survive, I'll survive) Then I'll defy the laws of nature
And come out alive
(Then I'll get you)
Begone with you you shod and shady senators
Give out the good, leave out the bad evil cries
I challenge the mighty Titan and his troubadours
And with a smile
I'll take you to the seven seas of Rhye
I'd like to be beside the seaside
I'd like to be beside the sea
Where the brass drums play
I'd like to be beside the seaside
I'd like to be beside the sea
14 The Loser in the End (04:05)
Mama's got a problem
She don't know what to say
Her little baby boy
Has just left home today
She's got to be the loser in the end
She's got to be the loser in the end
Misuse her and you'll lose her as a friend
She's ma on whom you can always depend ooh
She washed and fed and clothed and cared
For nearly twenty years
And all she gets is Goodbye Ma
And the night times for her tears
She's got to be the loser in the end
She's got to be the loser in the end
Misuse her and you'll lose her as a friend
She's ma on whom you can always depend ooh
So listen mothers ev'rywhere
To just one mothers son
You'll get forgotten on the way
If you don't let them have their fun
Forget regrets and just remember
It's not so long since you were young
You're bound to be the loser in the end
You're bound to be the loser in the end
They'll chose their new shoes
That's not far to bend
You're ma on whom they can always depend ooh ooh
15 Ogre Battle (04:10)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Now once upon a time
An old man told me a fable
When the piper is gone
And the soup is cold on the table
And if the black crow flies
To find a new destination
That is the sign
Come tonight
Come to the ogre site
Come to the ogre battle fight
He gives a great big cry
And he can swallow up the ocean
With a mighty tongue he catches flies
And the palm of his hand incredible size
One great big eye has to focus in your direction
Now the battle is on
Yeah yeah yeah!
Come tonight
Come to the ogre site
Come to the ogre battle fight
Ah ah ah ah ah
The ogre men are still inside
The two way mirror mountain
You gotta keep down
Right out of sight
You can't see in but they can see out
Keep a look out
The ogre men are coming out
From the two way mirror mountain
They're running up behind
And they're coming all about
Can't go east 'cause you gotta go south
Ogre men are going home
The great big fight is over
Bugle blow let trumpet cry
Ogre battle lives for ever more
You can come along
You can come along
Come to ogre battle
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Other reviews
By Stefano Potenza
The album already displays 'in embryo' all the peculiarities of the 'Queen-sound': grandiose arrangements, a taste for melody, and an extraordinary ability to churn out immediate and catchy tunes.
Brian May, often relegated to the limbo of gaudy and excessive artists, is certainly worth reassessing.
By Old King Cole
Queen’s debut is an excellent record, which every lover of the band should own.
The album showcases a band already mature and capable of composing good songs, sufficiently intricate and with ample space dedicated to solo parts.
By Walterstarman1
"Keep Yourself Alive" is a true anthem of glamorous joy being shaped at that time.
"My Fairy Queen" is the most beautiful piece of the album. Art=Music.
By YC
"Queen is a young and somewhat immature album, much like Freddie, Roger, Brian, and John, but it doesn’t lack rock and it doesn’t bore."
"The opening riff of 'Keep Yourself Alive' presents a Brian May already impressive and a Roger Taylor at the start of his charge as a drummer..."
By Roto96
This group... is destined to leave a huge mark on rock music.
'Liar' shows Queen’s very personal way of making hard rock, packed with choruses—a brilliant novelty.
