Maps of Music

Queen II (1974)

Where the lyrics of Queen II take you, and where it was really made.

The album is called Queen II, yet its two sides are named 'Side White' and 'Side Black' instead of Side 1 and Side 2.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (1974)

Recording site Trident Studios — Queen II was recorded at Trident Studios and Langham 1 Studios in London in August 1973. The album's backing tracks and overdubs were built in these sessions. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Queen II: second studio album by the British rock band Queen
• Released 8 March 1974 by EMI Records in the UK; 9 April 1974 by Elektra Records in the US
• Not a concept album but a collection of songs with a loose theme running throughout
• The two sides are labelled 'Side White' and 'Side Black' instead of Side 1 and Side 2
• Mixes heavy rock with art rock and progressive rock elements
• Considered one of the first albums to carry many traits of the band's multi-layered overdubs and vocal harmonies

Background

• Queen's first gig was on 27 June 1970; the debut album Queen was not finished until November 1972
• Several songs predate the album: 'Seven Seas of Rhye' dates to 1969, 'Ogre Battle' was written in 1971
• 'Stone Cold Crazy' was held back and reworked for Sheer Heart Attack
• The band approached David Bowie to produce but he declined
• The collaboration with John Anthony, co-producer of the first album, ended after clashes with Mercury
• Sessions were preceded by a commercial failure of the single 'Keep Yourself Alive'

Recording

• Recorded at Trident Studios and Langham 1 Studios, London, in August 1973
• Co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Geoffrey Cable; engineered by Mike Stone
• Principal overdubbing began on 28 August 1973
• The working title 'Over The Top' referred to the heavy overdubbing
• Rough mixing began on 17 December 1973; the last pressings were made on 20 February 1974

Cover

• Cover photo by Mick Rock, built around a black and white theme
• Image inspired by a Marlene Dietrich photograph from the 1932 film Shanghai Express
• The same photo was reused in the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1975) and 'One Vision' (1985) music videos

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals).
• John Deacon (bass) joined in February 1971, completing the classic line-up.
• Mercury suggested the name "Queen".
• Early works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, later expanding into arena rock and pop rock.

Members

• Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano, 1970–1991, died 1991).
• Brian May (guitar, vocals, 1970–present).
• Roger Taylor (drums, vocals, 1970–present).
• John Deacon (bass, 1971–1997, retired).
• Paul Rodgers (vocals, 2004–2009) and Adam Lambert (vocals, 2011–present) toured as "Queen +".

Career

• First UK chart hit with Queen II (1974); international success with A Night at the Opera (1975) and "Bohemian Rhapsody", which topped the UK chart for nine weeks.
• News of the World (1977) contained "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions", now sports anthems.
• Greatest Hits (1981) is the best-selling album in UK chart history.
• Live Aid performance (1985) is ranked among the greatest in rock history.
• Estimated record sales of 250–300 million, one of the world's best-selling music artists.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001; received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and the Polar Music Prize in 2025.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Disc wrote that the material, performance, recording and even artwork standards were very high
• NME said the record showcased all their power, drive and writing talents
• Sounds described it as capturing them in their finest hours
• Rolling Stone gave the album two-and-a-half stars out of five, praising Side White but showing little enthusiasm for Side Black
• Melody Maker doubted the band would break through in the UK and found no depth of sound or feeling
• Record Mirror called the album the dregs of glam rock, weak and over-produced
• The press criticised the band for being excessive and self indulgent despite heavy promotion

Reappraisal

• AllMusic awarded 4 out of 5 stars
• Pitchfork gave 8 out of 10, calling it a die-hard fan favourite and arguably the band's most underrated record
• Classic Rock's Malcolm Dome ranked it the band's sixth greatest album
• IGN named it one of its 10 Classic Glam Rock Albums in 2008
• The album has since gathered a cult following among fans and musicians

Records

• Peaked at number 5 on the UK album chart
• Peaked at number 49 in the US, above the debut album's number 83
• 1994 edition of The Guinness All Time Top 1000 Albums: number 202
• Kerrang! readers voted it the 72nd greatest British rock album in 2005
• Mojo ranked it 60th greatest album released on the Elektra label in 2010

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The working title 'Over The Top' was chosen in reference to the heavy overdubbing used in the sessions.
• The album's cover photo by Mick Rock was later brought to life in the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' music video.
• 'Seven Seas of Rhye' was released as a single sooner than planned after David Bowie could not appear on Top of the Pops in February 1974.
• The band replaced Bowie on the show and lip-synched 'Seven Seas of Rhye', which became their first hit single, peaking at number 10 in the UK.
• The album was originally delayed by energy conservation measures during the 1973 oil crisis, which postponed manufacturing by several months.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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