Frogtoon Music

The Game (Album) by Queen

Artist Biography For Queen

Queen Is An English Rock Band Originally Consisting Of Four Members Vocalist And Pianist Freddie Mercury Guitarist Brian May Bass Guitarist John Deacon And Drummer Roger Taylor. The Band Formed In London In 1970 After May And Taylor's Former Band Smile Split After Having Released An Album And Single. Freddie Replaced Lead Vocalist Tim Staffell After The Latter's Departure From The Original Trio. There Was Much Deliberation As To What The Band's Name Would Be. May And Taylor Had Settled Upon The Grand Dance Derived From A C.S. Lewis Trilogy Of Books Out Of The Silent Planet. Ultimately The Band Went With Queen A Name That Was Entirely Freddie's. Originally Roger And Especially Brian Did Not Like The Name Though Mercury Would Eventually Persuade Them Both That It Was "right" For The Band. "Years Ago I Thought Up The Name Queen... It's Just A Name But It's Very Regal And It Sounds Splendid. It's A Strong Name Very Universal And Immediate. It Had A Lot Of Visual Potential And Was Open To All Sorts Of Interpretations. I Was Certainly Aware Of The Gay Connotations But That Was Just One Facet Of It. "
- Freddie Mercury. Queen Went Through Several Bass Players Before A Young Electronics Major By The Name Of John Deacon Arrived On The Scene In January Of 1971. "Until John It Had Been Exploding Bass Player Syndrome. If They Musically Worked They'd Look All Wrong And If They Felt All Right They Couldn't Play. - Brian May. This Quite Shy Guy Turned Up With His Immaculate Rickenbacker Bass And Immaculate Amplifier Plugged In And As Soon As He Started Playing We Realized It Was Right." - Brian May. Later That Year The Band Was Secured Recording Time At The Newly Built De Lane Lea Studio And Used The Opportunity To Record Several Songs That Would Later Appear On Their Debut Album - Liar Keep Yourself Alive Jesus And The Night Comes Down. The Demo Reel Was Passed Around From Producer To Producer With Little Success Until A Staff Member Of Trident Records By The Name Of Roy Thomas Baker Was Introduced To The Band By Fellow Trident Producer John Anthony. Baker Dropped In To Watch The Band At Work And Clearly Liking What He Heard Recommended Queen To His Superiors. It Was Eventually Agreed Upon That The Fledgling Band Could Record At Trident Studios Though After Already-Established Artists Had Finished Their Work Such As The Likes Of Elton John And David Bowie. Relegated To The Wee Hours Of The Morning To Record The Remaining Tracks Of Their First Album The Band Nonetheless Stuck It Out Until They Reached Their Ultimate Goal Of "perfection". Queen's Self-Titled Debut Album Was Released In 1973 And Received Little Attention From The General Public. They Quickly Followed It A Year Later With A Second Album "Queen II" Which Also Failed To Generate Much Interest From Music Fans In Britain Despite The Success Of The Album's Single Seven Seas Of Rhye Which Would Reach #10 On The Charts After The Band's Mimed Appearance On Top Of The Pops. The Band's Second Album Was Recorded With A Higher Budget Than The First And The Band Threw Everything They Had Into Recording It. Queen II Was Somewhat Of A "concept Album" Split Into "White Side" Vs. "Black Side". As Was In Their Nature The Band Pressed Onward After The Mediocre Success Of Their First Two Albums Immersing Themselves In A World-Wide Tour To Promote Queen II. Queen Played In America For The First Time As A Support Act For Mott The Hoople. Sheer Heart Attack Would Be Released Later That Year Focusing More On Being Accessible To Listeners Than The Grand And Complex Ideas Of The Previous Two Albums. The Recording Of Their Third Album Was Met With Some Hardships As May Fell Victim To A Series Of Illnesses Brought On By An Infected Inoculation Required For The Band's Rigorous Touring Schedule. Sheer Heart Attack Brought Even More Success For The Band With May's Now I'm Here And The Song That Would Be The Band's "turning Point" The Mercury-Penned Killer Queen The Latter Of Which Would Reach #2 On The UK Charts. During This Time The Band Began Developing A Huge Following In Japan And Witnessed Their Popularity For Themselves When They Visited The Country Mainly In 1975 To Promote Their Fourth And Most Famous Album "A Night At The Opera" Featuring The Epic "Bohemian Rhapsody". Queen's Popularity Grew Steadily Through The Latter Half Of The 70s As They Released Hit Album After Hit Album Reaching Its Peak In The Mid-80s After Their "Live Aid" Appearance And Continuing Into The Early 90s Before Mercury's Untimely Death On 24th November 1991. The Official Cause Of Death Was Bronchial Pneumonia Resulting From AIDS. Over The Course Of Their 30 Year Career The Band Did Sound Tracks For Two Films "Flash Gordon" And "Highlander" Released A String Of Live And Studio Albums And Had Many Many Fans Across The World. In 1995 4 Years After Mercury's Death The Band Released The Album "Made In Heaven". This Album Saw The Surviving Band Members In The Studio Completing Or Reworking Unused Vocals Unreleased Variations Of Freddie Solo Material A Queen Version Of "I Was Born To Love You" For Example And Tracks Where Brian And Roger Added Lyrics To Flesh Out A Song "Mother Love" . Queen Have Been On Indefinite Hiatus Since 1997 When John Deacon Decided To Retire. Several "Queen ..." Projects Have Been Developed In The Following Years A Few Of Them Mere Remixes With No Artistic Involvement From The Band. In 1999 A "Greatest Hits III" Album Was Released. This Featured Among Others "Queen Wyclef Jean" On A Rap Version Of "Another One Bites The Dust" A Live Version Of "Somebody To Love" Performed By George Michael And A Live Version Of "The Show Must Go On" Performed Live In 1997 With Elton John. Brian May And Roger Taylor Have Performed Together As Queen On Several Occasions Award Ceremonies Charity Concerts And The Like Sharing Vocals With Various Guest Singers. They Have Also Recorded Several Covers Of Queen's Hits With Guest Vocalists Including "We Will Rock You" First With Five And Later Britney Spears Beyonce John Farnham And P!nk And "We Are The Champions" With Robbie Williams . On The 14th Of May 2002 The Queen Musical 'We Will Rock You' Opened In The Dominion Theatre In London's 'West End'. A Musical About Young People In The Distant Future Who Aren't Allowed To Listen To Music Not Generated By Computers. Various Queen Songs Are Used In The Story Played By A Live Band. This Live Band Was Supported By Brian May And Roger Taylor On The Premiere Evening. At The End Of 2004 May And Taylor Announced That They Would Reunite And Return To Touring In 2005 With Paul Rodgers Founder And Former Lead Singer Of Free And Bad Company . Brian May's Website Also Stated That Rodgers Would Be 'featured With' Queen As 'Queen Paul Rodgers' Not Replacing Mercury. The Retired John Deacon Would Not Be Participating. Between 2005 And 2006 Queen Paul Rodgers Embarked On A World Tour The First Leg In Europe And The Second Japan And Then The US In 2006. On 15 August 2006 Brian May Confirmed Through His Website And Fan Club That Queen Paul Rodgers Would Begin Producing Their First Studio Album Beginning In October To Be Recorded At A "secret Location". The Album Titled The Cosmos Rocks Was Released In Europe On 12 September 2008 And In The United States On 28 October 2008. Following The Album The Band Again Embarked On A Tour Through Europe Opening On Kharkiv's Freedom Square In Front Of 350 000 Ukrainian Fans. The Show In Ukraine Was Later Released On DVD. Queen And Paul Rodgers Officially Split Up Without Animosity On 12 May 2009. Rodgers Did Not Rule Out The Possibility Of Working Together Again. Since 2012 Queen Has Been Touring With Adam Lambert As The Frontman. More Information About Queen Paul Rodgers Can Be Found On Their Last.Fm Page. Official Website Www.Queenonline.Com Discography 1.- Queen 1973 2.- Queen II 1974 3.- Sheer Heart Attack 1974 4.- A Night At The Opera 1975 5.- A Day At The Races 1976 6.- News Of The World 1977 7.- Jazz 1978 8.- The Game 1980 9.- Flash Gordon 1980 10.- Hot Space 1982 11.- The Works 1984 12.- A Kind Of Magic 1986 13.- The Miracle 1989 14.- Innuendo 1991 15.- Made In Heaven 1995

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Frogtoon Music Album Info: The Game

The Game Is A Rock Album By English Band Queen Released June 30 1980. It Was The Only Queen Album To Reach The #1 Position In Both The United Kingdom And The United States And Became Queen's Best Selling Studio Album In The US With Four Million Copies Sold To Date Tying News Of The World's US Sales Tally. Notable Songs On The Album Include The Bass Driven "Another One Bites The Dust" And The Rockabilly "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Both Of Which Reached Number 1 In The United States. The Game Was The First Queen Album To Use A Synthesizer An Oberheim OB-X . The Album's Working Title Was "Play The Game" But Taylor Voiced Concern About Its Possible Overtones Of Conformity So It Was Changed To Simply "The Game". Compared To Previous Queen Albums The Song Arrangements Are Much Simpler The Album's Sound Is More "pop Rock" Rather Than The Progressive/hard Rock Hybrids Of Queen's Previous Albums But The Album Is Responsible For Propelling The Band Into Global Megastars. Although The Album Was Recorded Over An 11-Month Period At Separate Sessions The Album Is Described As Having A "slick Cohesive Feel" To It. At Approximately 35 Minutes The Game Is The Shortest Of Queen's Studio Albums. Re-Issued In May 2003 On DVD-Audio With Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound And DTS 5.1. The 5.1 Mix Of "Coming Soon" Features An Alternate Backing Track Because The Final Master Tapes Were Not Found When Mixing The Album To 5.1. The Photo On The Cover Of The EMI CD Is Different From That Originally Used On The LP And Cassette Even Though The Hollywood CD Still Has The Original Photo. The Original Photo With Taylor Having Folded Arms And May Not Having A Hand Resting Upon His Exposed Hip Is Shown In The Article. This Alternate Photo Was Also Used On Cover Of The DTS DVD-Audio Edition Of The Album Released In 2003. Track Listing Side One
"Play The Game" Mercury – 3 30 "Dragon Attack" May – 4 18 "Another One Bites The Dust" Deacon – 3 35 "Need Your Loving Tonight" Deacon – 2 50 "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Mercury – 2 44 Side Two
"Rock It Prime Jive " Taylor – 4 32 "Don't Try Suicide" Mercury – 3 53 "Sail Away Sweet Sister To The Sister I Never Had " May – 3 33 "Coming Soon" Taylor – 2 51 "Save Me" May – 3 50 Bonus Track 1991 Hollywood Records CD Reissue "Dragon Attack 1991 Remix By Jack Benson And R.A.K. " Song Information Play The Game
Main Article Play The Game Song Mercury Wrote "Play The Game" After Breaking Up With His Male Lover At The Time. Mercury Played Piano And Sang The Lead Vocals. Mercury Started Smoking Cigarettes Around This Time--Creating His Husky Tenor For The Rest Of The Decade Though He Dropped The Habit By 1990 Due To His AIDS-Related Complications . The Music Video For This Song Marked The First Time Freddie Appeared On Film With His Trademark Moustache. Dragon Attack
"Dragon Attack" Was A Jam Session By Band Members And Crew To Which May Added Lyrics And The Idea Of Alternating Solos Drums Bass Guitar And An Almost A Cappella Chorus . The Melody Is Similar To "We Will Rock You" Compare "buddy You're A Boy Make A Big Noise" With "take Me To The Room Where The Red's All Red". This Song And Another One Bites The Dust Are The Two Funk Rock Songs On The Album. This Song Was Only Performed Live In A Shorter Form Until The US Leg Of The Queen Paul Rodgers Tour Where The Entire Song Was Played. It's Also The Theme Song For WWE Legend Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Another One Bites The Dust
Main Article Another One Bites The Dust
Deacon Wrote "Another One Bites The Dust" About Cowboys But Then Changed It To Make It More Suitable To The Band. Mercury Loved It And Was Instrumental In Its Inclusion On The Album. Their Roadies Told Them It'd Be A Good Idea To Release It As A Single But They Didn't Believe Them. According To Brian May And Roger Taylor On A 1991 Interview With American DJ Redbeard On The Show In The Studio With Redbeard About Making Of The Game Michael Jackson Ultimately Convinced The Band To Release It As A Single. They Did It And It Became Their Second #1 Hit In The US. The Song Doesn't Have Any Synths The Strange Sounds Were Achieved Via Reversed Pianos And May's Red Special Guitar Through An Eventide Harmoniser. It Stayed At Number One For Three Weeks In The United States. It Is The Only Song To Ever Top The Billboard Rock Dance And R&B Charts Simultaneously Selling Over 7 Million Copies In The United States. Need Your Loving Tonight
"Need Your Loving Tonight" Was The Other Song By Deacon. Very Beatles-Influenced In The Melody The "Oh I Need Your Loving" Chorus Is Similar To "Eight Days A Week" Although It Has A Rocking Guitar Riff Giving The Song A More Power Pop Sound. Deacon Played Both Rhythm And Acoustic Guitar As Well As Bass. On The Live Versions May Sang Backing Vocals And Mercury Played Piano Both Absent In The Studio Version . The Song Was Released As A Single In November 1980 And Peaked At #44 In The US. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Was The Band's First #1 Single In The United States. It Is The Last Rockabilly Song To Be Number One. Mercury Started It In The Bathroom In June 1979 And Then Wrote The Chords Using His Martin D18 Acoustic Guitar. He Recorded It With Taylor And Deacon After Having Some Drinks And The Entire Session Lasted About Half An Hour. Shortly Before Releasing It As A Single May Added Backing Vocals And A Guitar Solo Using Taylor's Fender Telecaster Instead Of His Red Special. There Are No Synthesizers. It Was The First Time That Mercury's Guitar Playing Made It Onto A Queen Record. Brian Played A Black Telecaster In The Video And Live Because Taylor's Guitar Was Stolen. Rock It Prime Jive "Rock It Prime Jive " Was Composed By Taylor And It Caused Controversy In The Band. Producer Mack And May Suggested It'd Sound Better With Mercury On Vocals. They Demoed Both Versions And Deacon Preferred Taylor's Version. Finally They Decided To Leave Mercury Doing The Intro And Taylor Singing The Rest. Taylor Plays Rhythm Guitar And Bass Mercury Plays Organ And Mack Plays Synth On This Track. Don't Try Suicide
"Don't Try Suicide" Is A Song By Mercury Including Some Slap-Bass Playing By John Deacon And Piano Parts By Mercury. No Synthesizers Were Used. It Is Rhythmically Based Upon 1950's Classic Rock. Sail Away Sweet Sister To The Sister I Never Had "Sail Away Sweet Sister To The Sister I Never Had " Was Composed By Brian May. May Sings The Verses And Choruses Mercury Took Over The Vocals For The Middle Eight. This Song Is Based On The Soft Vocals By Brian May It's Tenure Feeling And The Sweet Melodies On Guitar And Bass. During The Use Your Illusion Tour '91-'93 Singer Axl Rose Of Guns N' Roses Would Often Sing The Chorus Of This Song As An Intro To "Sweet Child O' Mine". Coming Soon
"Coming Soon" Is Taylor's Song Sung As Duet Between Mercury And Himself And Featuring Taylor On Rhythm Guitar. It Originated From The Jazz Album Sessions In 1978 Although Only A Glimpse Can Be Heard In The Early Demo From The Final Version. Save Me
Main Article Save Me Queen Song Brian May Wrote "Save Me" About A Friend Whose Relationship Had Ended And Played Piano Synths And Guitars Electric And Twelve-String Acoustic On It. This Song "Sail Away Sweet Sister" "Coming Soon" And "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" Were Recorded In 1979 The Rest Of The Album Was Done In 1980. Personnel
Freddie Mercury Lead Vocals Piano Backing Vocals Guitar Synthesiser Brian May Electric Acoustic & 12-String Guitars Piano Lead Vocals Backing Vocals Synthesiser Roger Taylor Drums Electronic Drums Guitar Lead Vocals Backing Vocals Synthesiser John Deacon Bass Guitar Piano Additional Synthesisers By Mack Singles
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"/"Spread Your Wings Live " – Elektra E46579 Released October 1979 "Save Me"/"Let Me Entertain You Live " – Elektra Released January 1980 "Play The Game"/"A Human Body" Non Album B-Side – Elektra E46652 Released June 1980 "Another One Bites The Dust"/"Don't Try Suicide" – Elektra E47031 Released August 1980 "Need Your Loving Tonight"/"Rock It Prime Jive " – Elektra E47086 Released November 1980 Charts
Country Charts Sales Peak Position Weeks Certification Argentina 1 Australia 1 Platinum 5x 300.000 Canada 1 Platinum 5x 600.000 Ireland 1 Portugal 1 United Kingdom 1 18 Platinum 300.000 United States 1 43 Platinum 4x 4.400.000 Germany 2 Gold 400.000 Netherlands 2 Gold 50.000 Norway 2 17 40.000 Austria 5 30 Gold 40.000 Japan 5 100.000 Sweden 7 7 50.000 Italy 9 150.000 France 17 300.000