TALON'S TAKE
White ManWritten by: Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Originally titled
Simple Man- A very politically charged song, something Queen really hadn't done up to that point. They would start writing more in that direction (Roger especially) although Freddie never really did. He was always about love and relationships.
-Played live usually in a medley with
The Prophets Song through 1978 and then dropped.
- The B-Side to
Somebody To LoveQUOTES:
- "
White Man is the B-side. It’s Brian’s song, a very bluesy track. Gave me the opportunity to do some raucous vocals. I think it’ll be a great stage number.” – Freddie Mercury – Circus - 1977
- Kenny Everett: "Cor! How did you manage to get such a loud noise on one record?"
Freddie Mercury: "I don't know, it's down to Mike Stone, our engineer. We're very bad in the studio for that actually, the poor engineer has to really suffer because we really want as much level as possible. We keep pushing the phasers up and he keeps looking at the meters and going, 'Oh it'll never cut.' Then we give him the added task of going over to New York or wherever and saying, 'Make sure that cuts as loud as possible.'"
UNRELEASED LIVE PERFORMANCE
LIVE IN HOUSTON- It cuts off a little abruptly as it's about to go into
The Prophets SongPERSONAL NOTES:
- I love the heaviness of this track. Queen could rock as hard as any of the heavy metal bands when they wanted to. The fact that they did it less to me made those heavier songs just pound. I also love that last line. Just an amazing sentiment. A man who learned how to teach, then forgot how to learn...
CHANCES
White Man.....0% in full,95% as a snippet to start Fat Bottomed Girls -- Just like it says. I don't see any reason they'd bring this out on this tour but Brian just seems love sneaking the riff in, usually before FBG.
SUPPLEMENTAL
HeadlongWritten by: Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals, piano, keyboards, drum programming
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- Issued as a single backed with ‘Under Pressure’ in January 1991 in the US (where it did not chart although it did hit #3 on the US Rock charts). It was issued as a single backed with ‘All God’s People’ and ‘Mad The Swine’ in May 1991 in the UK (where it hit #14). Issued as a single backed with ‘All God’s People’ and ‘Mad The Swine’ in May 1991 in Germany. Issued as a single backed with ‘All God’s People’ in May 1991 Australia (where it hit #20), Canada, Germany, The Netherlands (where it did not chart), and Philippines. Issued as a single backed with ‘The Hitman’ in May 1991 in France. Also issued as a single backed with ‘The Hitman’ and ‘Lost Opportunity’ in May 1991 in The Netherlands (separate from above The Netherlands release). Issued as a single backed with ‘Mad The Swine’ and ‘Lost Opportunity’ in May 1991 in Japan (where it did not chart).
- Brian played it on his solo tours and a live version was released on Live At The Brixton Academy.
- Used to great success in the We Will Rock You musical.
QUOTES
"I was in the studio for a couple of days to get some things out of my system. I thought that maybe I'd be left with a solo album, maybe with a Queen album, I just didn't know and I came up with 'Headlong' and 'I Can't Live With You' - the guys liked them." - Brian May - 1991
"'Headlong' came from me, at our studio in Montreux, a home recording studio for us that's very state-of-the-art, lovely for creating. The ideas came in a couple of days. At first I thought about it as a song for my solo album (Back to the Light) but, as always, the band is the best vehicle. As soon as I heard Freddie sing it, I said, 'That's it!' Sometimes it's painful to give the baby away, but what you gain is much more. It became a Queen song." - Brian May - 1991
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS
RADIO EDIT- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Edits some of the instrumental bits out
GREATEST HITS II EDIT- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Slight edit at the end of the track
VIDEO VERSION- NOT ESSENTIAL
- A bit of extra guitar
CHR EDIT- NOT ESSENTIAL
- Released in Canada aimed to some of the softer rock channel, this edit takes out a lot of Brian's guitar work.
EMBRYO WITH GUIDE VOCAL- ESSENTIAL
- Officially released on the 2011 remaster bonus EP, this is a nice demo with Brian on lead vocals to show Freddie where it's heading. Great version. Nice alternative.
OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSION
BRIAN MAY LIVE AT BRIXTON ACADEMY 1993- ESSENTIAL
- Brian does an awesome job on his solo tour!
UNRELEASED VERSIONS
DEMO- ESSENTIAL
- Demo with Brian and Freddie sharing vocals. It's close to the Embryo Version but with Freddie singing on top.
DEMO #2NO YT VID
- NOT ESSENTIAL - Pretty close to Embryo.
UNRELEASED LIVE VERSIONS
BRIAN MAY - LIVE IN BARCELONA 1993- This one contains the end of one of Brian's solo songs,
Love TokenPERSONAL NOTES:
A LOT of Queen fans love this track. To be honest, I do like it, but I'm always bewildered at how beloved it is. To me it's a fun rock song though so I don't question it too much! I know my wife loves it so that always helps
CHANCES
Headlong.....15% -- It would be a bit surprising, but it is a Brian song that he pulled out for his own tours and it works in the musical...maybe this tour would be the time? I think Adam could have a lot of fun with this one....maybe as part of a medley?
