Today is a TWO-fer :D Due to the fact that these entries are relatively short...as are the songs! (About 3 minutes between them both!) I'll give you two to listen to today...and to make up for Sunday when I probably will not be making an entry as I'll be at my brother's wedding!
Entry #1 today!
Dear FriendsWritten by: Brian May
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - piano
- The first song that really only has Freddie and Brian on it. Roger and John do not appear!
- A very short and sweet piano ballad.
- When George Michael released
Five Live which was an EP that was anchored by his performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, he chose to put this song (and this exact 1974 version) as the last track.
- It was never performed live.
QUOTES:
- "It's written by Brian. I've done the vocals on it, but Brian wrote this lovely tune. He's very versatile."
Freddie Mercury - 1976, interview with Kenny Everett
- There are no alternate or live versions.
COVER VERISONS:
- I figured that I have been putting up notable covers. I may not have put up this cover if I had any alternatives :D
DEF LEPPARD - RICK SAVAGE ON VOCALS- From a bonus CD of their 2006 covers album
Yeah! - it's a very interesting rocking cover. By far I prefer the original, but I do appreciate how much Def Leppard idolizes the band and are friends with the band...and it's definitely at least worth a listen. Rick Savage (the bassist) specifically seems very Queen influenced as his songs are VERY Queen-like.
PERSONAL NOTES:
- This is a song *I* chose to do live at a summer theater project. I chose it because I had 2 days to learn a song and fill in some extra time and figured it's very simple so just do it! It's a lovely little interlude that is really beautiful!
And that's entry ONE!
Entry #2
MisfireWritten by: John Deacon
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - electric guitar
John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic and electric guitars
Roger Taylor - drums
- First John Deacon track to be released!
- John really is in control of this track, playing almost all of the guitars and the bass on the track, leaving Brian to play some layers.
- The working title of the song was
Banana Blues!
- This was never performed live.
- There are no alternative or live versions of this song.
COVER VERSIONS:
NEKO CASE- From 1997's
The Virginian, it's a fun cover...again not something I'd highlight usually but wanted to have something for an alternative
PERSONAL NOTES:
- John has a hit with his first song. Very unlike anything the band had done thus far and adding a new dimension to the band! Very playful and poppy. Loved it.
Next up, Freddie goes Vaudeville and Ragtime with
Bring Back That Leroy Brown! FUN!
The whole scene was hilarious! Thanks for finding it.
