Just wondering why it only got to number 34 in the UK, i think its a great song that shoudl of got much higher than that
John didnt write many songs but the ones he did were usually great
"Spread your wings - anybody like this song?"
No, everybody hates it. In fact, everyone on this forum hates every Queen-song. That is why we are fans. What's your next question going to be? "Does anybody here breathe air sometimes?"
Totally agree with you Pittrek, especially the master tape version that was so kindly shared by John Stuart (With some help from you of course).
When I play that track it's like the band are right there in the room.
Spread Your Wings is the ultimate proof that Queen is one of the greatest Rock-bands on the planet.
The mere fact that without any layered effects or backing vocals they STILL can deliver a powerful song like this is utterly mezmerising..
The BBC version only adds to the genious as it includes the power of 'Playing live together'..
glorious
Spread Your Wings is totally indicative of Queen.
That any member of the band could write wonderful songs and also be cabable of writing hit singles too.John proved that by writing this song that writing You're My Best Friend was no fluke.
I agree with others that the faster BBC version is better than the album version which for me was under produced. Great track by John and a real live crowd pleaser!
It's excellent -- John at his best and some nice touches by Brian. This thread gave me the incentive to dig out Livekillers again, after a long time in the cupboard, and the live version is awesome. I'm sorry they dropped it from later shows, even the QPR ones. Like Keep Yoursef Alive, Paul Rodgers could've given this one a good airing, but they decided to do the hits instead.
And on the subject of Livekillers, I also listened to Brighton Rock and feck is that one awesome song. SOmeone was moaning about Bran playing the same solo for 30 years, well so he should: it's a monolith. Changing it too much would be like drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa -- like adding a banjo to Coast to Coast, or bagpipes to Stairway to Heaven.
This is a great song!
Why it didn't chart as a hit? All I can guess at is maybe the timing of the release and that the single didn't have anything new that fans didn't already have on the album (like a non-album b-side). The movie Saturday Night Fever pretty much dominated the first half of 1978 (being released twice, in a R and PG version) and a quick glance shows disco pretty much leading the charts.
The video was okay, but it wasn't particularly exciting, so that probably didn't help get non-fans' attention.
That's my theory, anyway.
The BBC and Live Killers versions are awesome, and certainly an example of how a song can evolve to even greater power beyond that of the already-moving original version.
i remember when i first heard it, i had bought a Queen greatest video hits and i was cleaning my room and listening to it, and i had bought it last year in the january sales, and it was snowing outside when i was watching it and i remember being off school and the music video reminded me of what was going on outside with the snow and it was lovely :)