Queen I

Queen is the debut studio album by the British rock band Queen. Released on 13 July 1973 by EMI Records in the UK and by Elektra Records in the US, it was recorded at Trident Studios and De Lane Lea Music Centre, London, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony and the band members themselves.[4]

The album was influenced by heavy metal and progressive rock.[4] The lyrics are based on a variety of topics, including folklore ("My Fairy King") and religion ("Jesus"). Lead singer Freddie Mercury wrote five of the ten tracks, lead guitarist Brian May wrote four songs (including "Doing All Right", which he co-wrote with Tim Staffell while in the band Smile), and drummer Roger Taylor both wrote and sang "Modern Times Rock and Roll".

    Songs

    Side One

  • Keep Yourself Alive

    "Keep Yourself Alive" is the debut single by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, it is the opening track on the band's eponymous debut album (1973).

  • Doing All Right

    "Doing All Right" was written by Brian May and Tim Staffell while in Smile, however, it was never released on Smile, only on Queen. This is one of the few Queen songs to feature Brian May on the piano.

  • Great King Rat

    This song, written by Freddie Mercury, is an example of Queen's earliest sound, with lengthy, heavy compositions, long guitar solos, and sudden tempo changes.

  • This song doesn't have any cover art

    My Fairy King

    "My Fairy King", written by Freddie Mercury, deals with Rhye, a fantasy world he created with his younger sister and which features in other Queen songs, most notably "Seven Seas of Rhye".

    • Side Two

  • Liar

    Originally titled "Lover," the rudiments of this song were written by Freddie Mercury and guitarist Mike Bersin from Freddie Mercury's earlier group, Ibex. Queen reworked it, and Freddie Mercury took full credit since he had written the lyrics.

  • This song doesn't have any cover art

    The Night Comes Down

    Brian May wrote this song shortly after the band's formation in 1970, following the break-up of Smile. It was first recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in December 1971, when the band were hired to test the studio's new equipment in exchange for being allowed to record proper demos for their attempt to find a label.

  • This song doesn't have any cover art

    Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll

    Roger Taylor wrote and sang the song, which was re-recorded on two occasions for the BBC. The first dates from December 1973 and was broadcast on John Peel's show. This version was eventually released on the 1989 Queen album At The Beeb, and sounds similar to the album version.

  • Son and Daughter

    "Son and Daughter" was written by Brian May and was the B-side for the single "Keep Yourself Alive". The song was played in the very first concert under the name of Queen in 1970. It was a regular feature in Queen's live set until well into 1976. The song originally housed his famous guitar solo, but the album version does not feature the solo.

  • This song doesn't have any cover art

    Jesus

    The lyrics tell part of the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Freddie Mercury, credited with writing the song, was a Parsi Zoroastrian. The track features a two-chord rhythm section during the verses with a long instrumental break toward the end of the song.

  • Seven Seas of Rhye

    Mercury had only half-written "Seven Seas of Rhye" when they were recording the first album. They intended to use it as an outro here and start Queen II with the finished version. This idea was later abandoned, but the song would become Queen's first hit single.