Record Store Day Exclusive vinyl featuring all five of Queen’s early demos, recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in December 1971 and January 1972. Queen began life in early summer 1970, but took their first steps in the studio after vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor recruited a nineteen-year-old bass guitarist, John Deacon, in March 1971. In 1971, De Lane Lea opened a new studio complex in Wembley, and needed a band to help them test the mixing desks and the acoustic qualities of the different rooms. Brian and Roger’s pre-Queen group, Smile, had recorded at De Lane Lea’s previous location in London’s Kingsway and volunteered their ‘new’ band Queen for the job. The band spent time helping at the studio on various occasions between late August to early December 1971 – “a massive thrill” Brian recalls. They were repaid with a five-song demo, recorded between Dec 16th 1971 - Jan 7th 1972 by De Lane Lea engineer Louie Austin, and containing “Keep Yourself Alive”, “The Night Comes Down”, “Jesus”, “Liar”, and “Great King Rat”. Although these demos were intended to be hawked around to procure a recording contract, the band, says Brian, always felt the performances had more spontaneity and sparkle, as well as the benefit of more natural sounds compared with the final album versions.
This title is an RSD Exclusive and will be available in store at 8am Saturday April 12th on a first come first serve basis. Any and all remaining stock will be available online from 8pm on Monday April 14th.