It was recorded during 'Queen' album sessions and later Queen and Roy Thomas Baker weren't happy about some drum sounds - that's why it wasn't released.
For Innuendo release track was mixed again by David Richards.
Also you can find this song on HR's reissue of 'Queen' album.
deleted user 22.12.2004 20:19
I've read in an official Queen book it was written in late 1971 and recorded in mid 1972.
link
Queen
Line-up: Freddie Mercury (vocals), Brian May (guitar), Roger Meddows Taylor (drums), Deacon John (bass).
Recorded June – Nov 1972. Released 13th July 1973. Produced by John Anthony, Roy Thomas Baker & Queen at Trident Studios, London, for Neptune Productions. Engineered by Roy Thomas Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe & Dave Hertschel. Night Comes Down recorded by Louie Austin.
Mad The Swine
US 1991 3:23 Remix Queen: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61064-2
Original Trident Studio Version Unreleased:
(Roger Taylor & Roy Thomas Baker argued about the strength of drums in the final mix, so eventually dropped. Originally featured between Great King Rat & My Fairy King. 1991 release NOT a remix but a remaster).
When "Mad The Swine" safety master was flown out to Dave Richards in 1991, the band knew that it could not be "remixed" but it could be "enhanced" - ie a cleaner reproduction which could be EQ'd - but not classically "remixed". So it is the "same" version.
To make maters worse, and to show that "Mad The Swine" did come from the safety master (and not from the actual master mixes) the version we know and love has actually been cut by about one or two seconds.
Right at the end of "Great King Rat", Roger ends on a final drum solo (Roll?). This solo fades out to a stop, and "My Fairy King" starts with a clean guitar intro. You can hear this still - whatever version of the disc you have. But "Mad The Swine" used to sit between both before it was removed from the final album. What should have happened is that Roger's final drum solo was ever so slightly longer and it segued into "Mad The Swine".
Obviously to start the 1991 version of "Mad The Swine" with the final (bar?) beat of a faded drumroll sounded "incorrect" - but there was no way that this final beat could be removed. (If they had the master mixes this would have been no problem - but because it was from a safety master - it could not be "un-mixed" or removed).
So to overcome this problem, they simply "cut-out", the final drumbeat and edited "Mad The Swine" to start a second or so later. You can still hear this today - if you know what you are listening for.
The track should begin "I've been here before". (notice the word "I've"). But because the "tail" of the final "Great King Rat" segue coincided with "I've" - "I've" was cut from the final edit - so the song now begins "Been here before". (I think "I've been..." is the actual official lyric).
"Great King Rat" posed no such problem, because the track was faded out a second or so earlier - the segue did not exist.
it would be nice to hear it BACK in its original spot with everything ok.... But, I guess there is a better chance of John coming out of retirement and joining Queen on a US ONLY tour.. before going back into retirement.. ;-)
#1 - are you gonna ask John to go with Brian/Roger/Paul on tour in all replies to any topics here?
JSS, thanks for info! It'd be great if you'd tell us something like that about other early songs!
No, I'm not... or at least.. I wasn't planning on it, why? do you think I should? because I think really this was the first time I actually said something close about seeing John tour.. the other ones have been in support of him NOT touring. But.. I guess I could go and do that.. I will think it over and give you my answer in the morning.
Of course you do understand HOW much work that is gonna be posting to all those threads.. hmm.. not sure if I am up to that kind of task.. although I am leaning very heavily towards posting.. then again, I could "Create" my own topic asking people to post FOR me.. no.. I guess that wouldn't work either. I really do need to think about his more..
I LOVE the song Mad The Swine, I wish it had been left on the original.. (trying to keep this post topic related)