Sheer Heart Attack (Limited Edition Replica Vinyl) [Remastered] - Queen

I first heard "Sheer Heart Attack" back in 1977, before I was starting to get into Queen big time. My then best friend had bought it the day before and popped it round. I only had an hour to check it out and...totally dismissed it! The only memorable thing for me at the time was the intro to "Brighton Rock" which sounded like a fairground.

An that's the way it stayed for another six months..

Now the ...
...library- a brand new pressing which had come it that very day. So I borrowed it, took it home listened to it again, then again,and again. How stupid I felt. I was blown away-there was no going back. since then I've owned it on Vinyl, Japanese Viynl and then as a Japanese CD as a replica of the Vinyl release c/w lyrics and Japanese text. Now released again in Japan as part of a general re-release of all the Queen albums featuring ART (Abbey Road Technology) ... more

I first heard "Sheer Heart Attack" back in 1977, before I was starting to get into Queen big time. My then best friend had bought it the day before and popped it round. I only had an hour to check it out and...totally dismissed it! The only memorable thing for me at the time was the intro to "Brighton Rock" which sounded like a fairground.

An that's the way it stayed for another six months..

Now the story continues when I saw it available at my local library- a brand new pressing which had come it that very day. So I borrowed it, took it home listened to it again, then again,and again. How stupid I felt. I was blown away-there was no going back. since then I've owned it on Vinyl, Japanese Viynl and then as a Japanese CD as a replica of the Vinyl release c/w lyrics and Japanese text. Now released again in Japan as part of a general re-release of all the Queen albums featuring ART (Abbey Road Technology) as another remastering exercise. From my experience with "Live Killers" this certainly improves matters with a crisper, clearer sound. Available from HMV at £16.99 for a limited time in this format or £15.99 as a standard release ( a dog's life...).I've stuck to my Vinyl replica of 1997 though...

Anyway back to the music.

"Sheer Heart Attack" was released in 1974-a good deal of which was recorded because of an enforced cancellation of a tour c/o their legendary guitarist, Brian May, suffering a bout of Hepatitis. So with some free time to get some ideas down left over from the previous "Queen II" album, it all began to take shape.Apparently though the master tapes begin to wear out with so much overdubbing being done-but I don't think anybody will notice that..

And take shape it did...

BRIGHTON ROCK-A Brian May composition which was originally intended to go onto "Queen II" entitled "Happy little F***( years ahead of Hip Hop with Parental Advisory lyrics!)
with that dreaded fairground sound introduction but don't be fooled. For those rockers amongst you this is Queen's crowning acheivement. Fantasic multilayerd guitar technique from Brian and some equally fantastic falsetto singing from Freddie.A very popular number live with Brian extending it into a marathon guitar solo with some truly terrifying sounds...check it out also on "Live Killers"

KILLER QUEEN-The song written by Freddie which put Queen well and truly on the map. No2 in the charts back in 1974 released as a Double A side with 'Flick of the Wrist' About a high class call girl (oh no..!) very cleverly put together with only a short instance of Queen's trademark gospel style vocals included.

TENEMENT FUNSTER-A Roger Taylor composition, raw, rocky and rough. The way he liked it and featuring Roger on vocals.

FLICK OF THE WRIST-The other side to "Killer Queen" and another Freddie composition about a deal going wrong " A dig in the ribs then a kick in the head. He's taken an arm and taken a leg. All this time money...Baby you've been had!" More Queen
rock style here and all the better for it.

LILY OF THE VALLEY-A slow moving piano/vocal number composed by Freddie at just under two mins long one of the shortest Queen tracks. Formed the B side to "Now I'm here" relased as the followup to "Killer Queen"

NOW I'M HERE-A Brian May compostion which peaked at Number 10 in the singles charts-raw and heavy with little of the characterisics Queen were famed for. A very popular number number live which stayed in their repetoire right up until their final concerts in Wembley/ Knebworth . Multi layered guitar and echo's on vocals, this number's got the lot!

IN THE LAP OF THE GODS-A Freddie composition, Queen at the peak of excess. A Banshee wail which will scare you to death and may even blow your HiFI if you've left it up loud soraing melodies and going from the peak of treble to the depths of bass. Awesome!

STONE COLD CRAZY-One of the very few compositions done by more than one band member ( in this case all of them) fast, heavy with blistering guitar work from Brian-Love it..

DEAR FRIENDS-Total contrast. Written and sung by Brian is only
1'08" secounds long. Slow ballad type with only the piano being played relaxes you after all the excitement

MISFIRE-Up the tempo a bit. A John Deacon composition about love and risk of losing. Excellent-which shows John's true writing talents off well.

BRING BACK THAT LEROY BROWN-A Freddie composition which is eccentric in it's own way. Fabulous falsetto vocals, choral work and there's even a stint of Brian of the Ukelele
George Formby style (he' s bloody good as well...). Thirties revisited.

SHE MAKES ME (STORMTROOPER IN STILLETOES) - Composed and sung by Brian, mostly on an acoustic set which sounds almost orchestral . A love song which always hits home in a part where it says "I'm warm and terrified, She makes so.."
Another excellent track.

And finally..

IN THE LAP OF THE GODS...revisited- the finish of the other similarly named track by Freddie. This introduces solo vocals,piano then crunching guitar, gospel vocals,football chants the lot! A number which was reintroduced on Queen's final concerts in the UK and Europe and was part of a medley during those concerts.

So there you have it. The album which put Queen permamently on the map and rhe road to deserved superstardom. Of course it took Bo-Rap before the dam finally burst but looking back at it, I just think about how I'd missed out for so long on some of the greatest ever music.

My only gripes are that it isn't available on the Hybrid SACD format (even better sound) or that it doesn't feature CD TEXT (immensly useful when being played in my car) but sadly that goes for 99% of Cd's in my collection and on general release.

If you want the perfect antidote to Rap, Hip-Hop and all other talking dysentry-then it's sonic antibiotics.

BUY IT!! 

...less