Almost any Queen fan will undoubtedly list Innuendo amongst their favourite of the band’s albums. It was their final studio album recorded together before the untimely death of Freddie Mercury in 1991. Its release, earlier that year, preceded his death by only a few months. Although several Queen albums have been released since, namely “Made In Heaven”, an album containing new material, most of which, however, was cobbled together from Freddie’s vocals gained from various sources, and “Queen Rocks”, a compilation of their more rock orientated tracks, I will always regard “Innuendo” as their ‘final’ album, and it is certainly a dramatic finale to their 20-year career.

Recorded whilst Freddie was seriously ill with an AIDS related illness, the album gives this away only through the strength of emotion contained within the songs – all of which became even more poignant after his death. His ill health is not revealed in any way through the quality of his voice – which many would agree is stronger than ever before on this album, demonstrating an even greater range and versatility than in the past.

The album contains twelve tracks, all of which are credited to the band as a whole. Earlier albums credited tracks to individual band members, but on their 1989 album, “The Miracle”, they took a decision that all future recordings would have a shared credit, to avoid the inevitable arguments about ownership when a song came about from a session in the studio together. For the trained ear of a Queen fan, however, it is quite possible to identify which band member was the originator of many of the tracks, as they each have their own individual style.

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1. INNUENDO

The album opens with the title track, a 6 minute long opus comparable in its scale with Bohemian Rhapsody. The track has distinct sections: majestic, thought provoking verses, leading into a Spanish guitar section, then repeated by Brian May’s electric guitar, followed by a heavier rock section. Queen’s distinctive multi-layer vocal harmonies are present throughout the song. This track is a classic, and entered the charts at number one when released as a single (in the days when this was still a noteworthy feat) but sadly does not seem to receive as much airplay as some of their other tracks, perhaps having been over-shadowed by Freddie’s death, and the subsequent dusting-off by radio stations of Queen’s back catalogue.

2. I’M GOING SLIGHTLY MAD

This is my least favourite song on the album, but it is full of Queen’s typical quirkiness and humour. Freddie sings in a slightly distorted voice (presumably to represent madness!) and the backing music is full of weird noises and strangeness! Another single, this song will probably be remembered more for its video, and is rarely played nowadays.

3. HEADLONG

A classic Queen rocker! From the moment it opens with Roger Taylor’s pounding drums, this song rocks! Heavy guitars and a powerful vocal produce a track that just makes you want to start head-banging! It is one of my favourites on the album was also released as a single.

4 I CAN’T LIVE WITH YOU

More vocal harmonies, Freddie’s soaring vocal solos and a lot of guitars make this another classic sounding Queen track. It is a very commercial track and easily could have made a single, and would have been my preference over “I’m Going Slightly Mad” had I been responsible for choosing the single releases.

5. DON’T TRY SO HARD

A haunting ballad, starting off with soft, delicate vocals, but moving into a soaring, piercing falsetto. It still manages to incorporate a heavier section with some guitars and harmonies as it builds to a crescendo before a quiet finish. It isn’t a favourite of mine, but it will appeal to many people who like ballads.

6. RIDE THE WILD WIND

Another favourite track for me, this track has a fairly repetitive vocal, and a persistent bass line and rhythm. It’s about living life on the edge, and the mood of the song encompasses this perfectly.

7. ALL GOD’S PEOPLE

The religious-sounding title of this track is quite appropriate, as the song has a definite gospel feel, and at times you feel that a full gospel choir has joined in – despite it being just the clever production and vocal harmonies that Queen perfected over their career.

8. THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

This is one of the most moving songs on the album, a pleasant, melodic track, written through the eyes of someone looking back over their life, what has gone before, and what they have to enjoy now. It is accompanied by haunting guitars and a soft drum track, and can easily send shivers down your spine with its poignancy to almost anyone’s situation. It was the double A-side when Bohemian Rhapsody was re-released as a single shortly after Freddie’s death, and it is a shame it was not given the chance to be a single in its own right. It was also the last video Queen ever made together, with a painfully thin, pale Freddie making his final appearance on our screens with the words “I still love you.” A beautiful song.

9. DELILAH

This track was written about one of Freddie’s beloved cats and is somewhat tongue in cheek, lifting the mood somewhat after the previous track. Initially it sounds like a typical love song, but then the lyrics reveal that all is not quite what it seems. Just in case anyone still fails to recognise its feline subject, we are treated to a chorus of “Miaow! Miaow!” Not a favourite for me, but it raises a smile!

10. THE HITMAN

Another heavy rock track, dominated by Brian May’s guitar. Tracks like this, contrasting so starkly with ballads and gospel songs, demonstrate the versatility and range which make Freddie Mercury one of the most highly-rated vocalists of our time.

11. BIJOU

Almost entirely instrumental, a haunting, soaring guitar solo leads into a short vocal section. Fascinating in its simplicity, this is one of the cleverest songs on the album in the way that it somehow clears the way from what has gone before to prepare us for the final track.

12. THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Another single, and a definite favourite for me. This song epitomises Freddie’s attitude to life and performance in the way that he recorded in the studio, on his good days, in between bouts of serious illness, until very close to his death. A beautiful, perfectly crafted song, anthemic and inspirational, it contains one of my favourite vocals ever: “My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies. Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die. I can fly my friend.” As the song fades out with the line “Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on…” repeated over and over again, it is a sad moment for many Queen fans as we realise we will never again be treated to such a classic album from one of the greatest bands ever to have recorded.

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For me, this album is a classic. It has not dated and is as musically impressive now as it was on its release some 12 years ago – if not more so, now we have become so used to the disposable, manufactured pop that has become commonplace in recent years. All four members of the band are accomplished musicians and song-writers, and their relationship developed over the years, making this, their final collaboration, one of their best ever.

There was a view that Queen somehow lost their way a little in the 1980s. 1980 saw their first use of a synthesiser on an album, and by 1989s “The Miracle”, their musical style was barely recognisable from that of their 1970s roots. With “Innuendo”, however, they manage to recapture some of that style, and I feel that this album would appeal not only to fans of Queen’s 80s releases, as it has that “big”, skilfully produced sound, but also fans of their 70s recordings, as it is musically and lyrically so clever.

The album is full of emotion as it undoubtedly reflects on Freddie’s life and the band’s life together. Although Freddie never actually articulated to the band that he was dying, I feel sure that it was an unspoken understanding amongst them, as it comes through so strongly in this album. Despite the high emotion, it is never depressing, as there is plenty of Queen’s characteristic humour interspersed amongst the more serious tracks.

Despite the fact that there are several tracks on there which are not favourites for me, I rarely skip over any tracks when I listen to the album, as I feel that it is best listened to as a whole. In these days of CD players, equipped with skip buttons, it is rare to find an album that sits together so well, with many releases being simply a collection of tracks which would make as much sense in any order. With “Innuendo”, however, I feel that a lot of thought was put into it, and the album was very much a single project. I think this is a testimony to Queen’s musical history, as many of their earlier albums were almost verging on “concept albums”, with a running theme, and tracks segueing into each other. So, although I would not necessarily rate every track as highly, this is a case of an album which is definitely more than the sum of its parts and it will always remain amongst my all-time favourite recordings.

QUEEN are: -

Freddie Mercury (Lead vocals, keyboards)
Brian May (Guitar, keyboards, vocals)
Roger Taylor (Drums, keyboards, vocals)
John Deacon (Bass, keyboards)