| John S Stuart 09.04.2005 22:22 |
One of the most common questions asked about "Queen" in the '60's is "What did these pre-Queen bands sound like?". Well for one, very little genuine material survives, and for two, most of this output consisted of "Cover Versions". So for those interested in a "flavour" of what these bands may have sounded like, below I have made up some reference lists so that you can cut your own "pre-Queen compilation albums". I accept that this may NOT be the genuine 1984 or whatever, but when completed, the following does give a fairly reflective and accurate idea of what the roots of Queen sounded like - so both entertaining and educational at the same time. Of course, you do have the right to poo-poo the idea, but I honestly suggest you give it a try as the experience is really rewarding. Brian May: Reference Reel 1964 – 1966 All material performed live by Brian May/1984 between 1964 – 1966. Wonderful Land - Shadows Apache’ - Shadows FBI - Shadows Flingel Blunt - Shadows Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard Windy And Warm - Ventures Ram Bunk Shush - Ventures Bo Diddley - Buddy Holly Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas Eight Days A Week - Beatles My Generation - Who Oh Yeah - Others I’m Taking Her Home - Others I'm A Loser - Beatles Help - Beatles Jack O’ Diamonds - Lonnie Donegan I Wish You Would - Yardbirds I Feel Fine - Beatles Little Egypt - Downliners Sect Lucille - Little Richard Monkey Business - Yardbirds Mojo Working - B.B.King Walking The Dog - Dennisons Heart Full Of Soul - Yardbirds Bright Lights Big City - Rolling Stones Chains - Beatles Little Rendezvous - Chuck Berry I’m A Man - Spencer Davis Group Bye Bye Bird - Moody Blues Yesterday - Beatles Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty Brian May: Reference Reel 1964 – 1966 (B) All material performed live by Brian May/1984 between 1964 – 1966. Windy And Warm - Chet Atkins Monkey Business - Chuck Berry Mojo Working - Muddy Waters Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas Bright Lights Big City - Jimmy Reed Bright Lights Big City - Animals Chains - Cookies Jack Of Diamonds - Blind Lemon Jefferson I’m A Man - Bo Diddley Bye Bye Bird - Sunny Boy Williamson Route 66 Theme - Nelson Riddle & Orchestra Keep On Running - Spencer Davis Group High Heel Sneakers - Tommy Tucker I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles I Should Have Known Better - Beatles Jump Back - Rufus Thomas Crazy House - Chuck Berry Heatwave - Martha & Vandellas Something's Got A Hold On Me - Beatles Tired Of Waiting - Kinks Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly Does Your Chewing Gum… - Lonnie Donegan Reaction: Reference Reel Ghost Riders in the Sky - Shadows Just A Little Bit - Rosco Gordon I Go Crazy - James Brown Apache - Shadows FBI - Shadows Muddy Waters’ Blues - Muddy Waters What I Say - Ray Charles Painter Man - Creation Mr Pitiful - Otis Reading Shake - Sam Cooke Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyde Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles My Girl - Otis Reading Down In The Valley - Otis Reading Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran Satisfaction - Rolling Stones Long Tall Sally - Smokestack Lightning - Howlin' Wolf She Belongs To Me - Bob Dylan Desolation Row - Bob Dylan Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan Ballad Of A Thin Man - Bob Dylan Slow Down - Larry Williams My Generation - Who Sunshine of Your Love - Cream Fire - Jimi Hendrix Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Can You See Me - Jimi Hendrix Opposition: Reference Reel Classical Gas - Gloria - Them She’s Not There - Zombies Heart Full Of Soul - Graham Gouldman Brian May: Reference Reel March – Dec 1967 All material performed live by Brian May/1984 March – December 1967. Cool Jerk - Capitols Respect - Otis Reading My Girl - Otis Reading Shake - Sam Cooke (I’m Not Your) Stepp |
| egret 10.04.2005 11:38 |
I love this idea. Thanks for posting all the songs! --Egret |
| My Melancholy Blues 10.04.2005 12:14 |
Thanks for all your writing! I've known Freddie's and now I feel pleased to know other stuffs I've known little about...very interesting! Probably, at gigs they played some numbers from those you referred to, in early days before their debut when they had few original songs. |
| Flashman 10.04.2005 12:25 |
Bachelor Boy? Are you absolutely sure about this? Bachelor Boy? |
| John S Stuart 10.04.2005 15:12 |
I know, I know. But what can one do? Mind you "Move It" is seen as the first ever great UK Rock'n Roll single. |
| M. 10.04.2005 19:54 |
"Racing In The Street - Bruce Springsteen" As far as I know this song was first released in 1978 (on Springsteen's album 'Darkness on the Edge of Town'). |
| John S Stuart 10.04.2005 20:00 |
Wasn't that version a cover also? |
| John S Stuart 10.04.2005 20:01 |
Well spotted. Those last few are present day covers I added to the list. |
| Lester Burnham 10.04.2005 21:00 |
Also, I believe 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It' was popularized by The Small Faces in 1965. |
| iGSM 10.04.2005 23:24 |
Yeah, well Whatcha Gonna Do About It? |
| Flashman 11.04.2005 02:57 |
Bachelor Boy? |
| My Melancholy Blues 11.04.2005 03:22 |
In that list, besides some songs we can hear in their live albums, I've found some big names Queen was considered to cover before and after their debut. I wish I could hear their earlier gigs...well... I like to hear Queen cover other artists numbers especially, blues number like Muddy Water's "Mannish Boy". |
| Benn 11.04.2005 04:46 |
Zeppelin's Rock & Roll didn't appear until '71 .......... |
| John S Stuart 11.04.2005 11:08 |
John S Stuart: Well spotted. Those last few are present day covers I added to the list. |
| Negative Creep 11.04.2005 13:38 |
What are these reference reels youre referring to? |
| The Fonz 13.04.2005 16:42 |
This would keep Mojo going for years! Sorry to ask, but how have you come across this information? That's a damn lot of songs that BM/1984/etc would have played...setlists from the period? Expert testimonial? |
| John S Stuart 13.04.2005 17:30 |
Negative Creep: "What are these reference reels youre referring to?" Nothing exciting I'm afraid. Just a posh term for a compilation of recorded tracks. The Fonz: "...how have you come across this information? That's a damn lot of songs that BM/1984/etc would have played...setlists from the period? Expert testimonial?" The short answer is all three! |
| The Fonz 13.04.2005 23:52 |
Great. So is there anything surviving (apart from the stuff we already know about) from that time period? For example the drummer from 1984 recording their practises on 32-bit digital tape from the time or something? ;-) |
| gnomo 14.04.2005 04:23 |
Hello John S. Stuart; I suddenly remembered where I heard your name before: are you actually the one who wrote a series of articles "Queen before Queen - the 1960's recordings" for Record Collector or another magazine of that kind, a few years ago? They were very informative and interesting, particularly for the youngest or the foreigners or anyone who does not know about the music scene in Britain in the 60'-70'. I really liked them, and I even translated them all into Italian for some friends who were not very familiar with English. Thank you very much for your work! -- Gnomo (Rome, Italy) |
| Benn 14.04.2005 04:49 |
And compare those areticles to those compiled by the "loveable" Mr. Brooks....... An astounding lack of detail / NEW information from Greg who is supposed to be all things to all men on the official front. |
| Chaka 16.04.2005 17:28 |
there is also an "Opposition" setlist in the book Queen: The Early Years for those interested in John Deacon's pre-Queen career: You Don't Know Going To A Go-Go Meeting Over Yonder Midnight Hour Heat Wave Knock On Wood Hold On I'm Coming Something You Got See Saw Something About You I'll Be Doggone Can't Help Myself Dancing In The Street Headline News Emergency 999 It's Growing Ride Your Pony Land of 1000 Dances Key To Love |
| nibznik 17.04.2005 16:20 |
freddie never did any aretha songs for fun? |
| FriedChicken 19.04.2005 04:44 |
"Of course, you do have the right to poo-poo the idea" Don't you mean pee pee? |