I got the original vinyl 1981 Elektra Greatest Hits today and the notes clearly say that this single reached number one here. "Queen's first No. 1 in America" I've also heard it was number two same as it was in the UK, and the old Queen discography lists it as being number four. (link
So what's the deal with that?
Also interesting that it says for Keep Yourself Alive:
"At least three different studio versions exist in addition to many live recordings, but this was the one eventually selected for release approximately two year's after the song's conception."
Remember, in the U.S. we got this 3:30 edit in 1975. So I wonder are they referring to the full length version, maybe the BBC version, that 'long lost' version Hollywood released?
Well I've just finished recording side two. Noticed a couple of odd things:
1. There wasn't the familiar instant start of You're My Best Friend after Somebody To Love
2. Keep Yourself Alive is full-length
Just realized it's a Columbia House version. So they used a totally different master I guess. Interesting. Now I've gotta buy another copy. Oh well.
I'd imagine the 3 different studio versions of KYA referred to are the album version, the 'long lost' version and the De Lane Lea version.
Obviously there's also the BBC versions, as you said.
Keep Yourself Alive
(8 different Takes/Versions: Brian May/Alexis Korner BBC Radio One 03rd April 1983)
Album Version Queen: EMI CDP 7 462 04 2
US 7" 3:25 Edit Elektra E-45106-B (…Bites The Dust)
Long Lost Re-take 4:05 Queen: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61064-2
De Lane Lea Original Demo 3:40 In The Beginning: Miko QCD 01
Karaoke Instrumental Edit Japan Toshiba EMI TOLW - 3249.50
BBC 05.02.1973 (3:51) Queen At The Beeb: BOJCD 001
BBC 25.07.1973 (3:40) Freddie's Boys At The Beeb: Bulsara Records
Intro Edit: 33” Total Guitar CD Magazine
Starlicks Video Edit Starlicks Video
Karaoke/CD Full Instrumental (3:38) Unreleased: Home Mini-Disc
BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Best Of The Test: Windsong OGWT CD 1
Exposed Fake Mono Demo Exposed MC
Alternative Trident Takes/Mixes Unreleased: Brian May Interview
BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Reconstructed Video Unreleased: Home Video
Promotional Video Greatest Flix I & II: Pioneer PLMPD 01171
Promotional Video (Brian's Mother's Coat) Version Unreleased
BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Original Video Erased
Quite disappointing I must say, though it was cheap and the cover is in excellent shape, so it's worth having. But there were two things I distinctly remembered about this album from my childhood. There was virtually no gap between STL & YMBF, and the volume level of Under Pressure was much lower than the rest of the album.
This one has longer gaps between tracks including those two, the volume of UP is normal and it has the full length KYA which isn't proper for this album. I have all of these songs anyway.. the idea was to experience it exactly as I used to, but so much for that.
I bought the cassette for the original U.S. Greatest Hits released in 1981 at a used tape store in 1990 for $2.00 (what a bargain!...lol)...and you're right -- I distinctly remember the cassette has basically no space between Somebody To Love & You're My Best Friend, and not sure about the LP, but the cassette goes right into We Are The Champions after We Will Rock You with not even a second between each track....and the insert for the cassette mentions "We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You" being Queen's 1st U.S. #1 (which I always thought went to #4....maybe they were going by Cashbox's charts???)...it also has the full length version of Keep Yourself Alive on it