QUEEN To Release Rare Concert Recording, Live At The Rainbow '74
By
Larry Petro,
News Monkey
Tuesday, June 17, 2014 @ 8:37 AM
Multiple Package Configurations Available
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Sunday March 31, 1974 is a landmark date in the history of rock music. It is now celebrated in
the multi format release of a rare recording made at legendary London venue The Rainbow, of a
concert by a then up-and-coming band called QUEEN. Few who turned up for that iconic
performance could have predicted they would go on to become arguably the world’s best and most
successful rock group, although many more may have suspected it after this stunning show.
Among the unique material contained in this release are over a dozen tracks never previously
released on any official QUEEN live album. The release will come in CD, Vinyl and
standard DVD or SD Blu-Ray formats available as standard releases or special limited edition
sets as well as digital formats.
That concert, being heard live for the first time in the soon to be released Queen: Live
At The Rainbow ’74, marked the culmination of the band’s countrywide tour, their first
as headliners - hot on the heels of a tour supporting MOTT THE HOOPLE, late in 1973, on
which they were widely regarded as having blown the hit band off the stage. QUEEN got
rave reviews, almost unheard of for a support band, and it was obvious that in future they
would be top of the bill. The band’s momentum had been building since the release of their
eponymous album in July 1973 and, following their success on the MOTT tour, at the
beginning of 1974 they were tipped as Band of the Year in UK music paper Disc and Music
Echo.
Just before the March Rainbow gig, QUEEN performed their new single "Seven Seas
Of Rhye" on must-see UK TV music show Top Of The Pops. The highly
coveted slot was a lucky break - they filled in for an absent David Bowie, who was
unavailable - and the band made the most of it, delivering a thrilling performance that pushed
the song into the Top 10.
Although the group now had a first hit single under its belt, and second album Queen
II had just been released to critical acclaim, many felt that playing The Rainbow was
overambitious. It was the premier London venue of the time, on a par with L.A.’s Palladium and
New York’s Fillmore East. But the band had paid its dues, slugging it out in clubs and college
halls for four years, and never doubting their own potential. The band’s confidence was
vindicated when the venue quickly sold out the capacity of more than 3,000 seats – with some
fans paying as much as £1.20 for a ticket!
QUEEN’s performance was spectacular from the second that Freddie Mercury
strutted onto the stage in his soon to become trademark white “eagle suit”, a tight -fitting
number specially made for him by top fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, which featured
flowing winged sleeves. He pranced and posed, capturing the audience in seconds with his
extraordinary voice and stage presence, while Brian May provided the counterpoint with
his remarkable and ground-breaking guitar playing. The powerful “engine room” (as they liked
to call it) of drummer Roger Taylor and bass player John Deacon completed a
sound unlike anything British audiences had previously heard. Enraptured fans clapped and
cheered, and gave the band a standing ovation.
That electrifying show was recorded by Roy Thomas Baker, co-producer of QUEEN's
first four studio albums, and slated to be the band's third album (and debut live album) - a
career defining release like James Brown's Live At The Apollo or THE
WHO's Live At Leeds. Intended to be a recording that captured the magic of a
live band firing on all cylinders, Queen: Live At The Rainbow ’74 would
undoubtedly have been a big success. But QUEEN’s ferocious creative momentum produced a
stack of new songs begging to be recorded and instead of releasing the live album the band
went into the studio to record what was to become 1974's breakthrough album, Sheer Heart
Attack. As a result the already completed Rainbow live album was shelved and consigned
to the archives.
Later in 1974, QUEEN had their first chart-topping single, "Killer
Queen", which encapsulated their brand of driving rock and clever lyrics. It appeared
on Sheer Heart Attack, which was released in the autumn, was a massive hit and
remains to this day many fans’ favourite QUEEN album. To celebrate this success and
crown a remarkable year, QUEEN returned to The Rainbow in November 1974 for two sell-
out gigs that were even more spectacular than the one in March. These concerts included the
typically flamboyant performance of "Now I’m Here" with which they had been
wowing audiences on the tour. It featured Freddie apparently appearing in a spotlight on
opposite sides of the stage almost simultaneously. The concerts received massive acclaim from
fans and critics alike, and won over many who had until then doubted the band’s potential. In
this year, QUEEN also undertook their first concerts in Australia, USA, Sweden,
Finland, Holland, Belgium and Spain.
Now, a remarkable 40 years later, Queen: Live At The Rainbow ’74 has finally
surfaced from the archives, providing an invaluable record of emerging superstars
demonstrating their talent.
QUEEN, Virgin Records and Eagle Rock Entertainment are proud to announce that
Queen: Live At The Rainbow ‘74 will be released on September 8th (UK on Virgin
Records) and September 9th (US through Hollywood Records) in a variety of formats all newly
mixed and mastered to the highest contemporary standard. These range from a standard two CD
package, a DVD, an SD Blu-ray, a gate-fold double vinyl (including an audio reproduction of
the aforementioned original live album), a quadruple vinyl boxed set, to a super deluxe
collector’s edition. This comprehensive and fascinating package includes two CDs, a DVD and
Blu-Ray, a 60 page hardback book containing many rare photographs, and various items of
memorabilia such as reproductions of the tickets, show souvenir programme and poster, as well
as material from the band members’ personal archives. (Full details of the various packages
which will be released can be found at the end of this release). Vinyl and super deluxe
formats are released as limited editions.
These recordings capture QUEEN at that time in all their glory: the dramatic stage
presence, the highly original self-penned repertoire of songs, high-energy performances
coupled with stunning melodic and harmonic content, and the uncompromising perfectionist
approach to every aspect of their performance which is still maintained to this day.
QUEEN dazzled their audiences in 1974 with an unforgettable show delivered with a skill
and confidence which belied their youth. The tape machines were rolling, capturing the highly
electric performances. Now, to mark the 40th anniversary of these legendary shows, here,
finally, is Queen: Live At The Rainbow ’74 - lovingly restored, edited, mixed
and digitally mastered, and including much footage never previously seen. It is a collection
every QUEEN fan will want to possess.
Package details:
Package One
One CD featuring the November show
Package Two
Two CD digi-pack, with one CD featuring the March show and the second CD featuring the
November show
Package Three
DVD or SD Blu-Ray of the November show with four “bonus” tracks from March
Package Four (released in North America only)
SD Blu-Ray & CD combo box
Package Five
2 Vinyl - Limited edition gate-fold double vinyl package, with one LP featuring an audio
reproduction of the original March show live album and the other LP featuring highlights from
the November show.
Package Six
4 Vinyl - Limited edition four vinyl LP boxed set, two LPs featuring the March show and
two featuring the November show
Package Seven
Super Deluxe Box - Limited edition Super Deluxe lidded boxed set package containing:
Two CDs, one CD featuring the March show and the second CD featuring the November show
A DVD and SD Blu-Ray of the November show with four “bonus” tracks from March
A 60 page hardback book containing lots of previously unseen photographs, and (among other
items), reproductions of two reviews, one from The Times and one from Disc and Music Echo. A
series of four articles from the latter publication is also included.
Reproductions of two tickets from the March concert (those actually used by Brian’s
parents)
A reproduction of the tour itinerary folder for the March concert from promoter Mel
Bush, including a letter instructing the band not to trash the hotel room or there will be
dire consequences!
A reproduction of the 8 page show souvenir brochure
Two button badges – reproductions of items available at the concert
A reproduction of the purple and gold March concert poster
A reproduction of a fashion shoot in The Telegraph Magazine, featuring the band with
fashion models.
A reproduction of the sticker stage pass from the March concert
Queen Live At The Rainbow will also be available as one disc and two disc
eAlbum.
Queen: Live at the Rainbow ’74 - tracklistings:
One CD:
Sheer Heart Attack Tour - Live at the Rainbow, November ’74
"Procession"
"Now I’m Here"
"Ogre Battle"
"Father To Son"
"White Queen (As It Began)"
"Flick Of The Wrist"
"In The Lap Of The Gods"
"Killer Queen"
"The March Of The Black Queen"
"Bring Back That Leroy Brown"
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"Keep Yourself Alive"
Drum Solo
"Keep Yourself Alive" (Reprise)
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
"Stone Cold Crazy"
"Liar"
"In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited"
"Big Spender"
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
"Jailhouse Rock"
"God Save The Queen"
Two CD digi-pack & four vinyl LP boxed set:
CD 1 - Queen II Tour - Live at the Rainbow, March ’74
"Procession"
"Father To Son"
"Ogre Battle"
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"White Queen (As It Began)"
"Great King Rat"
"The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke"
"Keep Yourself Alive"
Drum Solo
"Keep Yourself Alive" (Reprise)
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
"Jailhouse Rock" (Medley)
"Stupid Cupid" (Medley)
"Be Bop A Lula" (Medley)
"Liar"
"See What A Fool I’ve Been"
CD 2 - Sheer Heart Attack Tour - Live at the Rainbow, November ’74
"Procession"
"Now I’m Here"
"Ogre Battle"
"Father To Son"
"White Queen (As It Began)"
"Flick Of The Wrist"
"In The Lap Of The Gods"
"Killer Queen"
"The March Of The Black Queen"
"Bring Back That Leroy Brown"
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"Keep Yourself Alive"
Drum Solo
"Keep Yourself Alive" (Reprise)
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
"Stone Cold Crazy"
"Liar"
"In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited"
"Big Spender"
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
"Jailhouse Rock"
"God Save The Queen"
Standard DVD and SD Blu-Ray: Sheer Heart Attack Tour- Live at the Rainbow, November
’74
"Procession"
"Now I’m Here"
"Ogre Battle"
"Father To Son"
"White Queen (As It Began)"
"Flick Of The Wrist"
"In The Lap Of The Gods"
"Killer Queen"
"The March Of The Black Queen"
"Bring Back That Leroy Brown"
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"Keep Yourself Alive"
Drum Solo
"Keep Yourself Alive" (Reprise)
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
"Stone Cold Crazy"
"Liar"
"In The Lap Of The Gods… Revisited"
"Big Spender"
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
"Jailhouse Rock"
"God Save The Queen"
Bonus Tracks - Queen II Tour - Live at the Rainbow, March ’74
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
Double Vinyl LP Package:
Queen II Tour - Live at the Rainbow, March ’74
"Procession"
"Father To Son"
"Ogre Battle"
"Son And Daughter"
Guitar Solo
"Son And Daughter" (Reprise)
"Keep Yourself Alive"
Drum Solo
"Keep Yourself Alive" (Reprise)
"Seven Seas Of Rhye"
"Modern Times Rock ’n’ Roll"
"Liar"
Sheer Heart Attack Tour - Live at the Rainbow, November ’74