Post Description

Artist: Queen
Album: Queen (I)
Release Date: Sep 4, 1973
Format:
1974    LP  Elektra  EKS7-5082
1973  LP  Elektra  75064
2000  CD  EMI   65101
2004  CD  Toshiba  67341
Bonus Tracks:
1991  CD  Hollywood  61064-2 (this release)

Tracks:
01 Keep Yourself Alive
02 Doing All Right
03 Great King Rat
04 My Fairy King
05 Liar
06 The Night Comes Down
07 Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll
08 Son & Daughter
09 Jesus
10 Seven Seas of Rhye
11 Mad the Swine (bonus track)
12 Keep Yourself Alive [Long Lost Re-take] (bonus track)
13 Liar [1991 Bonus Remix by John Luongo and Gary Hellman] (bonus track)

Review by Greg Prato

Although it may not be up to par with such future classics as A Night at the Opera and The Game, Queen's 1973 self-titled debut is one of the most underrated hard rock debuts of all time. Chances are that many will only be familiar with one song (the classic rock radio staple "Keep Yourself Alive"), but it is a very consistent and solid album; even the more uncommon compositions are impressive and memorable. Unlike other notable hard rock debuts of the '60s/'70s (Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Kiss, etc.), Queen's first album was not recorded quickly, but over the course of a year or two, since the band had to record during the studio's off hours to minimize costs. Even so, the album does retain continuity, a perfect balance of anthems (the aforementioned "Keep Yourself Alive"), gorgeous ballads ("The Night Comes Down," "Doing All Right"), and raging heavy metal ("Liar," "Great King Rat," "Son & Daughter"). All of the band's future musical trademarks can be detected here as well -- Brian May's sweeping guitar orchestras (several different guitars overdubbed to create harmonies), Freddie Mercury's vocal acrobatics, and the solid rhythm section of drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon (listed as Deacon John in the credits here). At the time, many critics dismissed the band and the debut (unfairly classifying Queen as "disposable glam"), but in hindsight, Queen laid down the groundwork for this legendary band's future triumphs.