Queen Queen II (HQ remaster 180g vinyl LP )

Release date: 25-09-2015(originally released in 1974)

2015 EU reissue pressed HQ 180g vinyl Half-Speed remaster - Queen II is now acknowledged as a landmark in the band’s development and while it is hardly obscure, in America it is considered to be a cult artifact revered by the likes of Billy Corgan, Steve Vai and Axl Rose, and remains an obvious influence on everyone from U2 to Muse. Even Bowie sat up and took notice, no doubt allowing himself a wry smile at Queen’s arrival due to his no-show and probably basking in some of their limelight. 

Sourced from the Original Master Tapes, Mastered By Bob Ludwig, Cut at Half-Speed at Abbey Road Studios, and Pressed at Optimal in Germany

Tracks:
Side White
A1 Procession
A2 Father To Son
A3 White Queen (As It Began)
A4 Some Day One Day
A5 The Loser In The End
Side Black
B1 Ogre Battle
B2 The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke
B3 Nevermore
B4 The March Of The Black Queen
B5 Funny How Love Is
B6 The Seven Seas Of Rhye

May makes his debut as sole lead vocalist on "Some Day One Day" and also contributes startling guitar overdubbing, with the outro section featuring three instruments playing different parts rather than meshing together in synch. Drummer Roger’s "The Loser In The End’ closes out the ‘White’ side with a variation on the Mother to Son theme, albeit with a slightly tongue in cheek or ambiguous humor in the verses and some lovely marimba work.

If Freddie’s contributions thus far were sporadic he took over for the ‘Black’ side. "Ogre Battle" was carried over from the first album and given a proper arrangement, a damn heavy one with chilling vocal screaming and a taut thrash of guitars and drums, a classic gong and plenty of sound effects to herald a suite that is Queen at their most progressive. "The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke" was inspired by frequent visits to the Tate Gallery, taken by Freddie and the others to admire Richard Dadd’s nightmarish painting of the same name. "Feller" flows in segue form with Mercury at the piano picking up the closing three-part harmony to introduce "Nevermore." The octave bending, polyrhythmic "The March Of The Black Queen" was written by Mercury at the piano and developed as an electric and acoustic guitar extravaganza with May adding symphonic tubular bells. As such it was virtually impossible to replicate live but remains an album highlight.

Another segue leads the listener into "Funny How Love Is," a Mercury song blessed with one of his most poignant and lovely lyrics. And so to the finale – "The Seven Seas Of Rhye" – a song first heard by many when Queen snapped up David Bowie’s cancellation of a Top of the Pops engagement to debut "Rebel Rebel." The song was released as a single two days later. Noted for it’s panning and arpeggios and a cross-fade that leads into a brief rendition of "I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside," this is a magnificent piece of work on every level. A classic glam rock item of the era, one that recalls the brutal intensity of The Move, it peaked at #10 in the UK and drove the album to #5 while also boosting sales of the debut.

Queen II is now acknowledged as a landmark in the band’s development and while it is hardly obscure, in America it is considered to be a cult artifact revered by the likes of Billy Corgan, Steve Vai and Axl Rose, and remains an obvious influence on everyone from U2 to Muse. Even Bowie sat up and took notice, no doubt allowing himself a wry smile at Queen’s arrival due to his no-show and probably basking in some of their limelight.

Albums:
Queen (1973)
Queen II (1974)
Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
A Night at the Opera (1975)
A Day at the Races (1976)
News of the World (1977)
Jazz (1978)
The Game (1980)
Flash Gordon (1980)
Hot Space (1982)
The Works (1984)
A Kind of Magic (1986)
The Miracle (1989)
Innuendo (1991)
Made in Heaven (1995)

Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl (2004)
Return of the Champions (with Paul Rodgers; 2005)
Queen Rock Montreal (2007)
The Cosmos Rocks (with Paul Rodgers; 2008)
Live in Ukraine (Mwith Paul Rodgers; 2009)