28 Years ago yesterday , the music industry and the world lost one of rock and roll's most charismatic fromtan and vocalist to have ever pick up the microphone . That man was Freddie Mercury . As we know, we lost Mercury to AIDS, after years of constant struggle . Mercury , along with band mates Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor gave us Queen; a band that was never afraid to push musical limits and gave us some of rock's best anthems . Today , to celebrate Freddie's legacy we are going to dive into Queen's diverse catalog and pick 10 songs that need more attention . So if your looking for "Bohemian Rhapsody" "We Will Rock You", and "Another One Bites The Dust", sorry Fandango, your in the wrong place.
10. "If you Can't Beat Them" Jazz (1978)
When Jazz hit record shops in November of 1978, it was met with mixed reviews from critics . While it's considered Queen's weakest work, it did spawn a few hits. "If You Can't Beat them" is a fun , playful song that is musically a throwback to 1974's Sheer Heart Attack with punchy , hook like guitar playing from Brian May and the rest of the band . Mercury's vocals are flamboyant and fun as always and the chorus is a romper of earlier Queen songs with May, Taylor and Deacon's backing vocals sounding tight and opera influenced .
9. "Love of My Life" A Night At the Opera (1975)
This hidden beautiful gem off of the bands 1975 multi-platinum monster is Mercury at his most sensual vocal range and tone. The song stands out because it was written, sung and played entirely by Freddie (acoustic guitar arrangements were added by May later on) . It became a fan favorite at Queen's live shows and was immensely popular in South Africa . Subject wise , its about a man who has been ditched by his lover (which the listener can interpret as either male or female , given our social economics now ) The stand out of this track though is not only May's exceptional guitar playing, but his chops on the orchestral harp.
8. "The Millionaire Waltz" A Day At The Races (1976)
Yet another hidden classic from the album is always second fiddle to its predecessor , the song is based on the bands manager John Reid, who is openly homosexual . Musically , Queen is all over the map with the intro drawing influence from Vaudeville with Freddie's staccato piano to the thundering chorus with thunderous distorted guitar and pounding drums. An epic no doubt.
7. " Hammer to Fall" The Works (1984)
The Works is easily one of the best Queen albums to have come out during the 1980's. Aside from hits like "Radio Ga Ga" and "I want to Break Free" , Hammer to Fall is easily the best track. The song kicks off with May's killer guitar groove in A which has a very Rolling Stones vibe to it .Lyrically , the song was speculated to be about the Cold War, but in fact the song is about life and death. It quickly became a fan favorite for the bands live shows and is still a fan favorite.
6. "Its Late" News Of The World (1977)
The real champion if you will (and I'm right) off the bands 1977 release. An all out rocker, Brian May wrote the song with the mindset of treating the song structure as if it was a three-act theatrical play which explains why the song is at a staggering 6 minutes and 33 seconds . It's quite possibly the best rhythm guitar playing May has ever put on wax and the best late 70's Queen song to date .
5. "Keep Yourself Alive" Queen (1973)
Queen's debut album is a force to be reckoned with and a fan favorite for many die hard listeners because of it's influences of heavy metal and progressive rock and tips the hat to fellow contemporary bands of the time like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and even Jethro Tull. Right out of the gate , you knew Queen was special . This opening track is a guitar lovers dream. May's tone , feel , and playing are so punchy and pocketed. Add Mercury's ferocious take on the mic, and the drum solo from Roger Taylor in the bridge/turn around , and you have the makings of a great band .
4. "Stone Cold Crazy" Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
Sheer Heart Attack is the album that Queen became Queen and they finally developed their signature sound . Stone Cold Crazy is Queen at their most heaviest post Queen II and it's one hell of a musical achievement. Known for it's fast tempo and heavy distorted guitar, it put the term "speed metal" in perspective before it was commonplace almost a decade later . Mercury's vocals are almost stuttering and it just works perfectly . This song was so influential on heavy metal, that it inspired Metallica and future bands to follow. If you can inspire Metallica , you have to be doing it right .
3. 'Good Old Fashion Lover Boy" A Day At the Races (1976)
This is Mercury at his cheekiest , and one of the most catchiest songs in Queen's catalog . Written entirely by Freddie , it was heavily influenced on Ragtime because of the tempo , vocal delivery , and quirkiness. A great song for no matter where you stand as a Queen fan.
2. "Now I'm Here" Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
The closing track to side 1 of the bands bobby dazzler of an album . Written while Brian May was recovering from a severe case of Hepatitis , the song is a reflection of the bands good times, bad times, and the hard and fast times of touring . It's a common favorite among fans and critics and features one of Brian May's greatest guitar riffs he ever recorded with the band . The riff is gritty , distorted , and just funky as hell with both ascending and descending scale progressions , palm mutes , and killer vibrato .
1. "Tie Your Mother Down" A Day At The Races (1976)
This song brings all the components of what makes Queen such a unique force, and it shines from beginning to end . The opening to their 1976 follow up coming hot of the heels of their previous masterpiece (both albums taking names from classic Marx Brothers films) Tie Your Mother Down is just Queen at their best , and I stand by that fact .All the elements come together here. Mercury's thunderous and explosive vocal attack, May's fantastic distorted galloping riff in A (and great slide playing) alongside a galloping drumming feel from Roger Taylor, and you have Queen at their shining moment.
