Queen II is the second studio album by the British rock band, Queen. The album was released on March 8, 1974 by EMI Records at midnight in the UK and by Elektra Records in the US. It was recorded at Trident Studios and Langham 1 Studios, London from February to August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and was engineered by Mike Stone. The album is best known for its combination of heavy rock sound with rock art sensibility. It has been called "rough rock hard pillar," by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Queen II is not a concept album but a collection of songs with loose themes scattered all over. Both sides of the original LP are labeled "White Side" and "Black Side" (not the conventional side "A" and "B"), with appropriate photos of bands dressed in white or black on either side of the face of the record label. The white side has a song with a more emotional theme and the black side is almost entirely about fantasy, often with a pretty dark theme. Mick Rock album cover photos are often reused by the band throughout his career, including music videos for the song "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975), and "One Vision" (1985).
Released at the critical reception that was originally mixed, Queen II remained one of the band's lesser-known albums. Nevertheless, the album has maintained the following cult since its release, has garnered praise from other musicians such as Axl Rose, Steve Vai and Billy Corgan, and significant in being the first album to contain elements of multi-layered sound signature band overdubs, vocal harmonies , and a variety of musical styles.
Video Queen II
Background and recording
After their self-titled debut album Queen was recorded and mixed at the end of November 1972, the Queen began touring and promoting it. Management issues forced the album to be released on an independent Trident label, but only after eight months have passed since it was completed. During that time, Queen was writing new material and eager to record it. Some new songs are written immediately after the first album, and some date from earlier. "See What a Fool I've Been" left over from the days of Smile. "Ogre Battle" was written during the debut album sessions, such as "Father To Son", but the band decided to wait for their recordings until they had more freedom in the studio.
August 1973 found the band back at Trident Studios, now allowed to order the right watch there, with the album under their belt. For what is generally regarded as a complex album (with layered vocals, harmony and instruments), it took a very short time - just one month - to record Queen II . The full version of "Seven Seas of Rhye" is set, recorded with the special purpose of being the lead single of the album. After the commercial failure of "Keep Yourself Alive", taken from the first album, Queen decided that she needed one song that did not take "too long to happen" (without a long guitar intro). So, Queen and Baker ensure that "Rhye" begins in a way that will attract people. Mythology and art are the passions of Mercury, and Richard Dadd's The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke (currently hanging in the Tate Gallery) triggers his creativity. The scene from Dadd's imagination is inspired by the character of the fairy myth, which in the painting was collected around the Feller of Trees to see him break the walnut for the new Queen of Mab.
Rock photographer Mick Rock was hired to do photography for album artwork. This one Queen image, used on the album cover of Queen I , will be one of the band's most iconic images, revisited and revived for promotional film "Bohemian Rhapsody". Robin Cable, with whom Mercury has worked during the "I Can Hear Music" session, was recruited to reproduce the production sound of Spector for "Funny How Love Is".
The "White" side is very diverse: four out of five numbers are composed by Brian May, where one instrumental, one sung by Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor (with May on the piano), the next song sung by Mercury, and the last one in May. The closing song The "White" Side is the only composition of Taylor on the album, which he also sang. John Deacon plays an acoustic guitar on "Father to Son" in addition to the normal task on the bass guitar.
The lead singer Freddie Mercury composed the entire "Black" side, donating piano pieces and harpsichords and a variety of distinctive vocal performances.
Maps Queen II
Composition
White Side
"Procession"
The "procession" is a short instrumental part (funeral parade) performed by Brian May on a multi-track guitar. He recorded it by playing an overlapping part in Special Red through a John Deacon (Deacy Amp) amplifier. Roger Taylor also contributed to this instrumental, using only drum drums.
"Father to Son"
"Father to Son" was written by May and featured heavy metal parts and a quiet piano section, which May played. Like the previous number, "Father to Son" has a section with May on multi-track guitar, played through Deacy Amp. It was written in the father's perspective when talking or thinking about his son. Queen added "Father to Son" to their live setlist immediately and toured extensively, but the song was dropped from the setlist in 1975 (Although it was done several times in 1976). The song covers a range of two octaves: Freddie Mercury (G3-A4), Taylor (G4-A5).
"White Queen (As It Began)"
Written by May in 1968, the song features acoustic and heavy metal parts in contrast. May explained that she had an idea for this song while reading The White Goddess by Robert Graves. The song also has a personal meaning for May; he gets inspiration from a student he respects and thinks represents the idea of ​​"perfect woman". In an interview later he said, "I remember really falling in love with this girl from biology, and I never talked to her... I [was] daring to ask this girl, and she became a lifelong friend, that is very strange... ".
"White Queen" was done regularly between 1974 and 1977, and then last done in London in 1978.
The song was also performed on BBC in April 1974. It has a similar feel to the live version of the song because the piano is removed from the album version.
This song features May playing his acoustic guitar. The guitar has been given a substitute for a hardwood bridge, carved flat, with a small piece of fret wire placed between it and its strings, placed gently on top. The strings produce a buzzing effect from the zither.
> Some Day One Day "
This is the first song sung completely by May on the main vocals. It features May on acoustic guitar and electric guitar and the last guitar solo (during fade-out) featuring three guitar solos. The intricate guitar arrangement of this kind is typical of May; However, usually the guitar is harmonious, but in this case, all guitars play a different part.
"The Loser in the End"
"The Loser in the End" is Roger Taylor's only contribution to this album as both a songwriter and main vocalist. The original handwritten lyrics of the song almost disappeared in 2004 when they were almost shredded, and now is the oldest example of handwritten lyrics in the Queen archive.
Black Side
"Ogre Battle"
Freddie Mercury wrote "Ogre Battle" on guitar (as confirmed by May in several interviews) in 1971 and it was one of the earliest songs in the Queen's setlist though not recorded until the Queen II session. The band did not want to record it for their first album, but waited until they could have more studio freedom to do it right.
An ogre-like scream in the middle is Mercury, and the high harmony at the end of the choir hook is sung by Taylor. As the title suggests, it tells the story of the battle between ogre, and guitar solo features in May and sound effects to simulate the sound of battle. The beginning of the song is the end of the song in reverse including the last gong, which when played backwards at the beginning of the song, creates the sound of the wave of the building.
This song is one of Queen's toughest works. The guitar riff along with the drummer Taylor gave it a "thrash" sound. It's a long live favorite. The song was last played on the 1977 American World News Tour and was held at every concert until the tour.
Different versions of the "Battle of Ogre" existed, recorded in December 1973 for the BBC Radio 1 program "Sound of the 70s". This version soon begins with its riff (without the old intro), does not have any effect that the "Queen II" version has and it sounds much more subtle. The BBC version of "Ogre Battle" originally had a long intro featuring a grand guitar build up; it's not used for this release, allegedly because the original record is broken.
The ending gong mengalir ke track berikutnya, dengan tick clock tambahan.
"The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke"
Mercury was inspired to write "The Master-Stroke of The Fairy Feller's" after seeing Richard Dadd's painting of The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke. For an elaborate studio recording, Mercury plays harpsichords and pianos, and Roy Thomas Baker plays musical instruments. Taylor calls this song "Queen's greatest stereo experiment", referring to the intricate use of panning in the mix.
The song, like most of the songs on the album, features medieval fantasy-based lyrics, and makes direct reference to the painting characters as described in Dadd's poetry, such as Queen Mab, Wagoner Will, Tatterdemalion, and others. Apparently every time the Queen has time to spare, Mercury will drag them to the Tate Gallery in London, where the painting is, and still exists today.
The complex settings are based on piano backing tracks, bass and drum guitars, but also include harpsichords, double vocal overdubs and too many guitar parts. The lyrics follow the claustrophobic atmosphere of the painting, and each scene is depicted. The use of the word "quaere" in the lyrics (in repeated phrases "What a quaere fellow") has no reference to Mercury sexuality, according to Taylor.
The song was performed only a few times during the Queen II Tour. Some are considered not to record the song live until 2014, when it was released on Live at the Rainbow '74 .
"Nevermore"
The previous track ended in three-part vocal harmony from May, Mercury and Taylor that flowed into Mercury playing the piano. The piano went on to open this song making "The Battle of Ogre," "Master-Stroke The Fairy Feller's" and the current song, into a medley. All vocal parts are performed by Mercury, which adds some contemporary "piano" ring effects as well. This effect is widely suspected to be synthesized; However, they were created by someone who plucked the piano strings while Mercury played the notes. "Nevermore" is a short ballad written by Mercury about feelings after a broken heart.
"The March of the Black Queen"
Mercury composed this song on the piano in 1973, and the song is one of two Queen songs (the other is Bohemian Rhapsody) containing polyrhythm/polymeter (two different time signals simultaneously 8/8 and 12/8) and polarity which is simpler around the end uptempo section, which is very rare for popular music. The main vowel includes two and a half octaves (G2 - C5).
The full piece is too complicated to do right by the band; However, the uptempo section that contains the phrase "My life is in your hands, I will fight and I will...... etc. Sometimes put in a live medley, with vocals by Mercury and Taylor, during the 1970s. the opening was only known to have been played live once, at the Providence Civic Center on November 14, 1978 (possibly in response to fans shouting for the song near the beginning of the concert.) The intro of the song is all that is played, as they quickly switch to Bohemian Rhapsody This is also the last time the Queen II track will be played live until the upsurge of "Seven Seas of Rhye" in 1984 for The Works Tour.
Although never released as a single, it remains a favorite among Queen's fans, with May regarding it as the precursor of Bohemian Rhapsody.
The song shifts to the next song, "Funny How Love Is". The song ends with the development of a rising tone, which reaches climax in the first second of the following song.
"Funny How Love Is"
"Funny How Love Is" was created in the studio. Mercury wrote it and played the piano while Robin Cable was produced. It was produced using the technique of "sound walls". The song is written in key C, where it rises from a minor E chord (in "The March of the Black Queen") to the C chord in this song. The song was never shown directly, largely because it demanded a high-register vocal from Mercury throughout the song.
"Seven Seas of Rhye"
Mercury has half-written "Seven Seas of Rhye" on recording for Queen's first album, so a short clip is included there. However, when the Queen completed the song, it became much different from what they first imagined. It was the band's first hit single, peaking at number 10 on the UK charts.
Songs, like many songs on the album, and on Queen and Sheer Heart Attack , are about a fantasy world called Rhye. This song became a direct favorite throughout the Queen's existence. It features a typical arpeggiated piano recognition - on the recording of Queen II , arpeggios are played with both right and left hand, a separate octave, while on the Queen's recordings, and most of the live performances, Mercury plays a simpler one-handed arpeggio version. This theme also appears at the end of "It's a Beautiful Day (reprise)" on the Made in Heaven album. This version ends with cross fade, an instrument that combines the song "Singsong" -style "I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside".
The Seven Seas of Rhye is also mentioned in another Queen song, "Lily of the Valley" from Sheer Heart Attack ; in the lyrics "Messenger from Seven Seas has flown/To tell king Rhye he lost his throne".
Artwork and packaging
Cover album Queen II shows photos taken by Mick Rock, according to VH1, "Queen stood in diamond formation, head tilted back like Easter Island statue" with black background. The band hired Rock because they wanted, in the words of Rock, to "transplant some" glam 'glamness' sensibilities' of his works with artists such as David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed.Furthermore, the brief received by photographers from Queen was to have a black and white theme for the artwork of Queen II.According to Rock, the group is looking to attract people's attention by cover, especially since their first album failed to do so: "They realize that if you can catch people's eyes, You can get them interested in music. "Describing it as" a kind of replica of an old Marlene Dietrich shot ", the photographer takes inspiration for the cover of an actress still from the 1932 Shanghai Express film. And of course there is no which is more 'glam' than Ms Dietrich the divine, "continued Rock.
Although the band almost rejected the photo because they felt too pretentious, Rock assured them otherwise; "It makes them look much bigger than it was then, but it's a real reflection of their music." The picture was reused by Queen for a promotional video of their 1975 single "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "One Vision" (1985).
Release and acceptance
After the album was completed in late August 1973, Ratu added "Battle of Ogre", "Procession" and "Father to Child" to their live setlist and toured extensively. Again, however, Trident has postponed the recording since Queen's first album has just been released in the UK and has not yet been released in the United States. Another issue overwent the release of the album: energy conservation measures enacted during the 1973 oil crisis delayed its manufacture by several months, then, when released, John Deacon was credited as "Deacon John", and the band insisted it should be fixed.
Queen II receives mixed critical reactions from the press of contemporary music. Disc writes, "Material, performance, recording and even artwork standard are very high." NME is of the opinion that the notes show off "all their strength and encouragement, their writing talent, and every quality that makes them unique," while Sounds writes, "Just titled Queen II , this album captures them in their best time. " Rolling Stone , which highly praised the band's first LP, awarded the album two and a half stars out of five. While the magazine had a bit of enthusiasm for "Side Black", they clapped "Side White", writing that it featured "a timely and well chosen grace salvage salvage salvation and some rather nice songs."
Melody Maker has a bit of praise for the recording, writes, "It's reputable that the Queen has enjoyed some success in America, right now in the balance of whether they will actually break in. If they do, then I'm" I have to eat a hat or something. Perhaps the Queen is trying too hard, no depth of voice or feeling. " Record Mirror also unhappy, wrote," Here it is, glam rock remnants. Weak and overproduced, if the band is our most brilliant hope for the future, then we commit rock and roll suicide. "Robert Christgau, writing in Creem magazine, taunted him as" wimpoid royaloid heavyoid android void. "
Queen II entered the British store on March 8, 1974. The album enjoyed a successful chart in the UK, peaking at number 5. It reached number 49 in the US, rising on their debut album Queen , which reached number 83. The only one taken from Queen I , "Seven Seas of Rhye" (released in February 1974) reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their first hit chart.
Legacy
As 1974 approached, the public reaction against the Queen II was very enthusiastic. This album is also rated by Disc as the 5th best of the year. Although the album remains one of the lesser-known works of the band, it has since remained a sectarian and has in recent years been cited by a number of music publications, fellow artists and fans as one of Ratu's best works. In 1987, the Post-Tribune ranked Queen I <9 i in an article that includes "an album that should be in everybody's recording collection, but it's not." In the 1994 Guinness All Time Top 1000 album, Queen II was voted number 202 in the biggest rock and pop album of all time. In 2003, Q magazine included Queen I in the fifty-plus list of famedly recommended magazines to complement the "Best 50 British Albums Ever" poll. In 2005, Kerrang! The reader chose Queen II the 72nd largest British rock album ever. In 2006, the album was featured on Classic Rock and Metal Hammer ' s "The Biggest 200 Albums of the 70s," listed alongside < i> Sheer Heart Attack as one of the top 20 albums of 1974. In 2008, IGN Music named Queen II as one of their 10 Classic Glam Rock Albums, "The Queen gives a bigger glam, a more anthemic sound with this sparkling work.Combined with the underrated Freddie Mercury keyboard, leading Brian May and pure riffs create a backdrop for songs that are alternately ferocious and elegant." In 2010 , Mojo ranked Queen I as the 60th largest album ever released on Elektra Records label. Along with the album Queen Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at the Opera Queen I is featured in the book 1001 Album You Must Listen Before You Die , in which he was portrayed as a "very dark album" that "featured his diversity," and contrasted with "his long and fun anthems in the stadium."
AllMusic gave the 4/5 star award and said, "The Queen is rolled up, tense, and ferocious here, giving a taste attached to their drama, and it gives Queen II real power as music, as well as a true cohesion ". This review observes the severity of the album and states "it never feels as fantastic as Genesis or Uriah Heep", concluding " Queen II is one of their hardcore fan favorites". Pitchfork rewarded the album 7.8/10, writing, "Disappointing, too soft, and unyielding, Queen II is a fan favorite, and arguably the most underrated band record." In 2009, The Quietus published an article highlighting the Queen's "lesser-known brilliance" to coincide with the release of Absolute Greatest compilation that year, describing the Queen II > i> as the "absolute scorcher album" featuring two of the band's best tracks: "Ogre Battle" and "Father to Son".
Support from younger recording artists has introduced this album to a new generation of fans. In a 1989 Rolling Stone interview, Guns N 'Roses vocalist Axl Rose said of the album, "With Queen, I have my favorite: Queen II . Whenever their latest recording will appear and have all the other types of music on it, at first I just love this song or the song. But after some time listening to it, it will open my mind up to many different styles. really appreciate them for that. That's something I've always wanted to accomplish. "Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan spoke to Melody Maker in August 1993 about" life changing notes, "stating," I work in this record store where we has many old records, and I found Queen II , probably their most unpopular album. It's so over the top, so many vocal songs and guitar overdubs - the queen's total excess. I like it. I like cool, weird, ambiguous songs about Freddie's sexuality and the way it shifts from a heavy ballad to a beautiful ballad. "
Rating band
(On the Side White and Side Black concepts) Well... that is a concept we developed at the time... it has no special meaning. But we were fascinated by these things... the cabinets we used at the time described them very well...
The most important thing for me is the album Queen II go into the charts - especially satisfying it, because the first one did not do well. It's nice to see some recognition for your work even though I'm usually not too worried. Roger tends to be more worried about what's going on that side.
That's when we first actually got into production, and really surpassed the peak.
I hate the title of the second album, Queen II , it's very unimaginative.
When Queen II came out it was not connected with everyone. Many people thought we had left rock music behind. They said: "Why do not you play things like Wild and Keep Yourself Alive." All we can say is, give the others listen, it's there, but it's all layered, it's a new approach. Nowadays people say: "Why do not you play like Queen II?" Many of our close fans think so, and I still really like the album. It's not perfect, it has a youth lack and youth excess, but I think that's the biggest step we've ever had.
2011 republish
On November 8, 2010, record company Universal Music announced remake and extended album publishing for release in May 2011. It is part of a new recording contract between Queen and Universal Music, which means the Queen's relationship with EMI Records will come to an end after nearly 40 year. All of Queen's studio albums are put together and re-published in 2011.
Tour
Track list
All the main vocals by Freddie Mercury except mentioned.
Personnel
Queen
- Freddie Mercury - main vocal (2, 3, 6-11) , backing vocals (2-4, 6-11) , piano (2, 7-11) , harpsichord (7)
- Brian May - electric guitar (all except 8) , backing vocals (2, 4, 6-11) , acoustic guitar (2-5, 10) , main vocal (4) , bell (9) , piano (2)
- Roger Taylor (credited as Roger Meddows-Taylor) - drums (all except 8) , backing vowels (2, 4-11) , main vowels (5) , marimba (5) , percussion (9)
- John Deacon - bass (all but 1) , acoustic guitar (2)
Additional personnel
- Roy Thomas Baker - production, musical instrument (7) , stylophone (11) .
- Robin Cable - production
Diagram
Certification
References
External links
- Queen II at Queen Online, the band's official website. Includes lyrics of all the non-bonus tracks except "Seven Seas of Rhye" (but see the lyrics for the "Seven Seas of Rhye" version of Queen's debut album).
- Tate Gallery: "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" Richard Dadd "
- Queen II in Queenpedia
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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