Queen - London Earl's Court 14.6.74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since I have done my share of downloading some exceptional files, I would like to return the kind gesture that has been offered to me by doing the same. Please accept my meagre contribution to download for your listening pleasure.
Below are the links to seven tracks from a Queen concert that is dated June 14, 1974 at London's Earl Court. I have seen this recording on vinyl entitled as 'Sheet Kickers' and from a CD called 'The Mercury Is Rising'. My educated guess is that this was recorded from a soundboard but that the CD copy is mastered from a vinyl disc.
I have taken the liberty to recalibrate the audio since the mixing contained some annoying 'snap, crackle, pop' and the original recording had Brian May's guitar on one side with a hint of Roger Taylor's drums while the vocals, bass and the drum set were on the other. A poor man's attempt to do it in 'stereo' I suppose. Thus, I have fully mixed the tracks and boosted some of the decibels to enhance the vocals but not taking away the energy that can be felt through the band's performance.
About the tracks;
This is the best Queen performance that I have ever had the pleasure to hear. Roger, Freddie and Brian's vocals are in top form and they harmonize in a manner that I have yet to ever come across from one of their concerts. Think I'm exaggerating? Download Son & Daughter (track 3) and prepare to be blown away from the intro. Listen to Ogre Battle (track two) and shivers go down your spine. Freddie knows that they are blowing the audience away and in his swaggart manner, he asks them how they are enjoying the show so far. For those who are used to hearing Roger's lead vocals on Modern Times Rock'n'Roll, you're going to love Freddie's live rendition.
This is Queen before A Night At The Opera. The track listing pre-dates Sheer Heart Attack. This is a band that is hungry and wants to show the world that you're going to have one son of a bitch of a time at their show. I believe that this is the earliest live concert recording of Queen that can be found anywhere.
I hope you enjoy this performance as much I have for the past 20 years. It rocks the house.
Procession/Father To Son link
Ogre Battle link
Son and Daughter link
Keep Yourself Alive link
The Seven Seas Of Rhye link
Modern Times Rock'n'Roll link
Liar link