Many of the 'Queen' versions actually contain the exact tracks from the BBC sessions. "My Fairy King" is virtually identical except for some overdubs and possibly stuff taken out. The guitar solo in "Keep Yourself Alive" is the same one exactly, you can hear the exact same whistle-sounding guitar squeek on "Liar".
I'm wondering why more hasn't been made of this. I've never read anything about it and it would seem proper credit was never given to folks like Bernie Andrews.
And if anyone's going to argue that Queen were so good as to be able to duplicate the performances exactly, hogwash. :)
I would have thought this was pretty much common knowledge, hence the fact that it's not really discussed much.
The best BBC sessions in terms of being truly new recordings, were the NOTW sessions, where every song was entirely re-recorded from scratch (with the exception of the sampled stamp-stamp-clap in WWRY).
You can't say the same for any of the other sessions.
Well, common knowledge things seem to get discussed fairly regularly. I was just beginning to think "Am I the only one who realizes this?". It's not mentioned beyond saying 'similar' or 'not much different than the album version' on various sites that try to be in-depth about different versions of stuff. Just suddenly seemed odd to me :)
It's only the first session/first half of course. The rest was recorded after the album was out.
To be fair, I don't know the exact recording dates for 'Queen' so it could be that those are the originals and it's the other way around.. perhaps they brought some already finished stuff with them to the BBC and made some changes for those.. I dunno.
The following was shamelessly stolen from a post by John S Stuart many moons ago:
Queen Complete BBC Sessions. All tracks have been digitally re-mastered for inclusion
in the forthcoming Anthology Boxset.
1973
BBC Radio One Session, 5th February 1973: Queen At The Beeb
Recorded 5th February 1973, Studio Langham 1. Produced by Bernie Andrews, Engineered by John
Etchells. Broadcast 15th February 1973, John Peel Sounds Of The Seventies. Officially released
14th Dec 1989 Queen At The Beeb, Band Of Joy BOJCD 001. Keep Yourself Alive, also features on
21 Years Of Alternative Radio One, Strange Fruit SFRCD 2000.
My Fairy King, Keep Yourself Alive, Doin’ Alright, Liar
BBC Radio One Session, 25th July 1973: Freddie’s Boys At The Beeb
Freddie’s Boys At The Beeb Bootleg LP
From The Beeb To Tokyo Bootleg CD
Recorded 25th July 1973, Studio Langham 1. Produced by Jeff Griffin, Engineered by Chris Lycett
& John Etchells. Broadcast 13th August 1973, Bob Harris Sounds Of The Seventies. Originally aired
as three-track session (Keep Yourself Alive omitted). Repeated 24th September 1973 (Keep
Yourself Alive included). All pre 1980 BBC radio sessions officially erased.
See What A Fool I’ve Been, Liar, Son And Daughter, (Keep Yourself Alive)
BBC Radio One In Concert, 13th September 1973:
Live In Concert: Golder's Green Hippodrome, London. Broadcast live 13th September 1973 BBC
Radio One "In Concert" series. Produced by Jeff Griffin. Sound balance by John Etchells. Leaping
about Paul Deley. Officially unavailable. Pop Spectacular BBC Transcription Services LP 135600 - S.
(Rock 'n Roll medley NOT broadcast, and NOT on LP).
Procession, Father To Son, Son And Daughter, See What A Fool I've Been, Ogre Battle, Liar
Jailhouse Rock, Stupid Cupid, Bebopa Lula, Big Spender, Bamalama Lamaloo
BBC Radio One Session, 3rd December 1973: Queen At The Beeb
Recorded 3rd December 1973, Studio Langham 1. Produced by Bernie Andrews. Engineered by
Mike Franks & Nick Griffiths. Broadcast 6th December 1973, John Peel Sounds Of The Seventies.
Officially released 14th Dec 1989 as Queen At The Beeb, Band Of Joy BOJCD 001.
Great King Rat, Modern Times Rock ‘n Roll, Son And Daughter, Ogre Battle
1974
BBC Radio One Session, 3rd April 1974: Queen II
Recorded 3rd April 1974, Studio Langham 1. Produced by Pete Ritzema, Engineer unknown.
Broadcast 15th April 1974, Bob Harris Sounds Of The Seventies. Officially erased by the BBC. A
copy of the original off-air broadcast has been donated to the Queen archive.
Modern Times Rock ‘n Roll, March Of The Black Queen, Nevermore, White Queen
BBC Radio One Session, 16th October 1974: Sheer Heart Attack
Recorded 16th October 1974, Studio Maida Vale 4. Produced by Jeff Griffin, Engineer unknown.
Broadcast 4th November 1974. Bob Harris Sounds Of The Seventies.
Now I’m Here, Flick Of The Wrist, Stone Cold Crazy, Tenement Funster
1975
BBC Radio One In Concert, 24th December 1975
Live In Concert: Hammersmith Odeon, London. Broadcast live 24th December 1975. BBC Radio
One "In Concert" and BBC 2 "Old Grey Whistle Test” television simulcast. Repeated 28th