QUEEN – B-Sides (2025) *HQ*
Especially curated and overseen by Brian May & Roger Taylor, here’s the new QUEEN album of thematic series compilations made in association with UMG Recordings – ”QUEEN – B-Sides” – this time not grouping tracks in the same musical style from the band’s 3-decade career catalog but songs unheard by most people – and very good ones in its own right.
Queen’s B-sides offer an immersion into the band’s lesser-known material, with many tracks considered highly regarded by fans. Some of these include “I Go Crazy,” “A Human Body,” “See What A Fool I’ve Been,” “Hijack My Heart,” and “My Life Has Been Saved”.
These tracks, often appearing on the flip side of singles, showcase different musical styles and vocal performances, sometimes featuring May or Taylor on lead vocals.
The start of Queen’s B-side discography begins with their first UK top ten hit, The Seven Seas Of Rhye (UK 10). See What A Fool I’ve Been got its roots from Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry’s song The Way I Feel. Brian had heard the song from a television performance. He remembered the chord sequence and some of the lines, but not in their entirety. From the bits he could remember, Brian worked out a version of the song for his pre-Queen band Smile. The track was used sporadically as a live Queen track during early concerts and was finally released as a proper studio recording in February of 1974.
Six years later, Queen were looking for their follow-up to their smash hit, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Play The Game was released in mid-1980 and became a modest hit (UK 14, US 42). The B-side was the Roger Taylor penned track, A Human Body. Roger provides lead vocals, drums, and guitar; Brian and Freddie assist Roger with backing vocals. It has been rumoured that the song fell out of favor with Roger. As a result, it did not appear on subsequent CD remaster catalogue campaigns for Hollywood Records’ 1991 releases or the 1994 Digital Master Series from EMI.
Soul Brother is the B-side to the 1981 smash hit Under Pressure (UK 1, US 29). Credited to the entire band, Soul Brother seems to be Queen spoofing themselves to a degree. Freddie’s vocals are mostly in falsetto, singing lyrics made up of other Queen tracks. The band are obviously having fun with this track and the energy translates well to the listener. This track is available on multiple singles compilations and made a surprise appearance on the US CD single of Heaven For Everyone (although the stereo channels were reversed).
I Go Crazy is the B-side to Radio Ga Ga (UK 2, US 16); the lead single to 1984’s The Works. Usually considered the favorite B-side among Queen fans, I Go Crazy began life three years earlier during the Under Pressure sessions. This Brian May track is a rock song through and through. The band puts on a great performance with a really good live feel to it.
After taking three years off, Queen returned in 1989 with their album The Miracle. This period was extremely productive for Queen in the studio. The Miracle generated 5 top 25 UK singles, all of which had an exclusive B-side track. I Want It All (UK 3, US 50) showed Queen was back in full force.
Stealin’ was the B-side of the second single from this period, Breakthru (UK 7). Stealin’ is a laid back song that builds to a rip-roaring jam session at the end. The track took many different forms during its creation, starting as a 12-minute demo.
Both The Invisible Man (UK 12) and its flipside, Hijack My Heart were the creation of Roger Taylor. Roger sings lead vocals on Hijack My Heart and provides most of the instrumentation. This would be the final time that Roger would appear singing lead vocals on a Queen track until 1995’s Let Me Live.
My Life Has Been Saved, the B-side to Scandal (UK 25), was penned by John Deacon. The song was later revisited for inclusion on 1995’s Made In Heaven.
The end of Queen’s studio career provided a final few B-side surprises. I’m Going Slightly Mad (UK 22) included Lost Opportunity on the 12” and CD single. This Brian May written track was recorded in a single take at the beginning of 1991. This is the last Queen track to feature Brian on lead vocals until 1995’s Let Me Live.
Made In Heaven was the final chapter to Queen’s album releases. Appearing on the CD single to A Winter’s Tale (UK 6), Rock In Rio Blues was the last proper B-side of the Queen catalogue. Recorded live in Rio on January 19, 1985, this track is the genesis of the Impromptu live jam that appeared during the following year’s Magic Tour. The US saw a slightly different version of this track on the CD single release of Too Much Love Will Kill You.
As a Queen fan, I remember the excitement of looking outside of the albums for these tracks. Like many of you, I spent hours in record shops thumbing through stacks 45s to find that hidden gem.
Luckily for all of us, now we have all these together. Whether it is flipping a piece of vinyl, or hitting play on your touch screen, put on your headphones, turn the volume up and enjoy the B-sides!
01 – Hang On In There (B-Side)
02 – See What A Fool I’ve Been (B-Side Version / Remastered 2011)
03 – A Human Body (B-Side)
04 – Hijack My Heart (B-Side)
05 – Soul Brother (B-Side)
06 – Rock In Rio Blues (Live / B-Side / Remastered 2011)
07 – My Life Has Been Saved (1989 B-Side Version / Remastered 2011)
08 – I Go Crazy (B-Side)
09 – Stealin’ (B-Side)
10 – Forever (2011 Remaster)
11 – Lost Opportunity (B-Side)
12 – It’s A Beautiful Day (B-Side Version / Remastered 2011)
Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano
Brian May – electric guitar, lead and backing vocals
Roger Taylor – drums, lead and backing vocals
John Deacon – bass
Pre order:
music.apple.com/us/artist/queen/3296287
