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I loved Queen so much when I was 13-14 years old. And I loved this album so much, perhaps even more than the celebrated "A Night At The Opera" which made me dream and learn so much in my early adolescence. Then came the discovery of hip hop, great English pop, alternative rock, metal, psychedelia, and the great classics of post-war music, but that's another story. My first approach to music was at 8 years old with the Beatles: then, shortly after, came Queen.
"Sheer Heart Attack" was the last of the CDs I bought from their catalog in the years (1993/1994) when I listened EXCLUSIVELY to them, but for unknown reasons, it is also one of the few that has stayed in my heart, despite the discovery of "Monster" by R.E.M. completely redefined my musical growth and my way of understanding rock.
"Sheer Heart Attack" takes me back to my 14 years, entering high school, my first awkward attempts with girls, the first youthful identity crises. The November rain. It's an album I would only listen to now if it were raining, although I already know I'd have to turn off the stereo halfway. Too many memories of that kid I was and of whom I still have a certain nostalgia. And then I can't even listen to Queen now, I find them ridiculous and gaudy, despite Mercury. But the riff of "Brighton Rock" is always in my head when I improvise with the guitar, "Killer Queen" will always be a classic in my compilations to listen to in the car stereo, the arpeggio of "Tenement Funster" will almost always be the first thing I play as soon as I pick up the acoustic guitar, "Lily Of The Valley" is the piano ballad I wish I had written.
And then "Flick Of The Wrist" is one of those songs that seems to be familiar even if you've never heard it before: because if there's an example to best describe what rock'n'roll was in 1974 and what was happening in London in those years, nothing works better than "Sheer Heart Attack". The album is pervaded by a wrenching sense of decadence, bitter sarcasm, genius madness, and bursts of heat that lead to a heated erotic tension ("Now I'm Here", the ironic "Misfire").
The lyrics, for the first time in Queen's career, are "life-sized": beyond the exotic mercurial visions of never-ending wars, lilies of the valley, and the seven seas of Rhye, there are glimpses of suburban solitude (Roger Taylor's ghosts of the past), of whores and pimps (the latter most likely representing the Trident executives), of fragility and inner submission (Brian May's lament in the troubled "She Makes Me").
And then, so much glam: almost as if wanting to take up the baton from Bowie, who in the meantime had discovered America and white soul. Schizophrenic as only the '70s albums could be, the album ranges from the lyrical tragedy of "In The Lap Of The Gods" to the heavy metal rattling of "Stone Cold Crazy" (a true cornerstone of the genre) to culminate in the 1920s farce of "Bring Back That Leroy Brown".
The stunning, and venomous, ballad "In The Lap Of The Gods...Reprise" is abruptly interrupted by a thunderous bolt of lightning cast by Zeus, incinerating any sound to leave only silence and a sense of emptiness.
With that thunder, the humble and genuine Queen come to an end, who would become something else after the success of "Bohemian Rhapsody", an album rightfully considered the best of the royal quartet's vast discography ends, and I... stop listening to them and start growing up.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 Killer Queen (03:01)
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…
My Goddess, hear my darkest fear
I speak too late
It's for evermore that I wait
Dear friend goodbye
No tears in my eyes
So sad it ends
As it began
03 Tenement Funster (02:47)
My new purple shoes
Bein' amazin' the people next door
And my rock'n'roll forty fives
Bein' enragin' the folks on the lower floor
I got a way with the girls on my block
Try my best to be a real individual
And when we go down to smokies and rock
They line up like it's some kind of ritual
Oh give me a good guitar
And you can say that my hair's a disgrace
Or just find me an open car
I'll make the speed of light outa this place
I like the good things in life
But most of the best things ain't free
It's the same situation just cuts like a knife
When you're young and you're poor and you're crazy
Young and you're crazy...
Oh give me a good guitar
And you can say that my hair's a disgrace
Or just find me an open car
I'll make the speed of light outa this place
04 Flick of the Wrist (03:18)
Dislocate your spine if you don't sign
He says I'll have you seeing double
Mesmerize you when he's tongue tied
Simply with those eyes ooh
Synchronize your minds and see
The beast within him rise
Don't look back don't look back
It's a rip off
Flick of the wrist and you're dead baby
Blow him a kiss and you're mad
Flick of the wrist he'll eat your heart out
A dig in the ribs and then a kick in the head
He's taken an arm and taken a leg
All this time honey baby you've been had
Intoxicate your brain with what I'm sayin'
If not you'll lie in knee deep trouble
Prostitute yourself he says
Castrate your human pride ooh
Sacrifice your leisure days
Let me squeeze you 'till you've dried
Don't look back don't look back
It's a rip off
Work my fingers to my bones
I scream with pain I still make no impression
Seduce you with his money make machine
Cross collateralise big time money money
Reduce you to a muzak fake machine
Then the last goodbye
Flick of the wrist and you're dead baby
Blow him a kiss and you're mad
Flick of the wrist he'll eat your heart out
A dig in the ribs and then a kick in the head
He's taken an arm and taken a leg
All this time honey baby you've been had
05 Lily of the Valley (01:45)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
I am forever searching high and low
But why does everybody tell me no
Neptune of the seas an answer for me please
The lily of the valley doesn't know
I lie in wait with open eyes
I carry on thru' stormy skies
I follow ev'ry course my kingdom for a horse
But each time I grow old
Serpent of the Nile relieve me for a while
And cast me from your spell and let me go
Messenger from seven seas has flown
To tell the king of Rhye he's lost his throne
Wars will never cease
Is there time enough for peace?
The lily of the valley doesn't know
10 Misfire (01:50)
Words and music by John Deacon
Don't you misfire fill me up
With the desire to carry on
Don't you know honey that love's a game
It's always a hit or miss
So take your aim
Got to hold on tight
Shoot me out of sight
Don't you misfire fill me up
With the desire to carry on
Don't you misfire fill me up
With the desire to carry on
Your gun is loaded
And pointing my way
There's only one bullet
So don't delay
Got to time it right
Fire me through the night
Come on take a shot
Fire me higher
Don't you miss this time
Please don't misfire
Misfire
11 Bring Back That Leroy Brown (02:16)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Bring back bring back bring back that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Bring back bring back gotta ring that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Bet your bottom dollar bill you're a playboy Yeah Yeah!
Daddy cool with a ninety dollar smile (ooh Yeah)
Took my money out of gratitude
And he git right out of town
Well I gotta getty up steady up shoot him down
Gotta hit that latitude babe
Bring back bring back bring back that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Bring back bring back gotta ring that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Big bad Leroy Brown he got no common sense
No no he got no brains but he sure gotta lotta style
Can't stand no more in this here jail
I gotta rid myself of this sentence
Gotta get out of the heat step into the shade
Gotta get me there dead or alive babe
Wooh wooh big bad Leroy
Wooh wooh wooh wooh
Big bad Leroy Brown
Bring back bring back bring back that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Bring back bring back gotta bring back Leroy Brown Yeah!
Big mama Lulu Belle she had a nervous breakdown
She had a nervous breakdown
Leroy's taken her honey chile away
But she met him down at the station Oohoo
Put a shotgun to his head and unless I be mistaken
This is what she said
Big bad big boy big bad Leroy Brown
I'm gonna get that cutie pie
Bring back bring back bring back that Leroy Brown Yeah!
Big bad caused a mighty fine sensation Yeah Yeah!
Gone and got himself elected President
We want Leroy for President
Next time you gotta hit a bitty baddy weather
This time like a shimmy shammy leather
He's a big boy bad boy Leroy
I don't care where you get him from
Bring that big bad Leroy back
Want him back
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Other reviews
By Tony Montana
Queen decisively change direction with 'Sheer Heart Attack', laying the foundations of rock and the Queen style that would make the group famous worldwide!
Brian May’s solo prowess— in this case superb—offering a thrilling performance, where the Red Special seems to converse with itself.
By frank1979
This remains, in my opinion, the album marking the first real turning point for Queen towards the rock that would truly make them famous.
Sheer Heart Attack is characterized by very powerful and melodic Hard Rock tracks at the same time, allowing them to be classified as precursors of future Heavy Metal.
By Walterstarman1
"Sheer Heart Attack remains nevertheless a beautiful album that... relies on its 'team player,' that is 'Killer Queen' and its assist-man 'Now I'm Here.'"
"It's a somewhat controversial album... made of high peaks but hallucinating style slides."
By Workhorse
Live at the Rainbow ’74 is a powerful double album that collects two concerts by the early Queen at London’s Rainbow Theatre.
Fans of early Queen or seventies hard rock in general will find a treat for their ears.
