THE FAIRY-FELLER'S MASTER STROKE

2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the super sonic British rock band QUEEN.  To mark the occasion each album from their discography is being re-released as a 2-disc, remastered CD (or download if you prefer).  This is being done sequentially, in groups of five.  The month of May saw the U.S. debut of the first batch: QUEEN, QUEEN II, SHEER HEART ATTACK, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, and A DAY AT THE RACES.

I decided to start purchasing these re-releases with one of my favorite Queen albums 1974's QUEEN II.  QUEEN II is Queen's second album.   I know... crazy right?  QUEEN II is a concept album filled with Kings, Queens of various shades, Ogres, Witches, Fairies and all kinds of Dungeons and Dragons/Lord of the Rings type shenanigans. 

QUEEN II is probably their least accessible album, meaning as far stand-out singles - there really isn't one.  Sure, "Seven Seas of Rhye" shows up on many of their greatest hits collections.  But I find it highly unlikley one would want to just sit back and rock out to say... "The March of the Black Queen" (track 9).  I really think that QUEEN II should be listened to as a whole. 

TRACK LIST:  1. Procession, 2. Father To Son, 3. White Queen (As It Began), 4. Some Day One day, 5. The Loser in the End, 6. Ogre Battle, 7. The Fairy-Feller's Master Stroke, 8. Nevermore, 9. March of the Black Queen, 10. Funny How Love Is, 11. Seven Seas of Rhye

You may be more familiar with the QUEEN II album cover image as it was later famously recreated in the band's 1975 video for "Bohemian Rhapsody".  I would like to pick up each of these remasters, however I will have to do so sporadically.  I may just purchase my absolute favorites on CD, and buy downloads of the rest as they tend to be $6 or $7 cheaper.  I haven't decided for certain yet.

The bonus disc includes 5 rare tracks: 1. See What A Fool I've Been (1973 BBC Session); 2. White Queen (Hammersmith Odeon 1975); 3. Seven Seas of Rhye (Instrumental); 4. Nevermore (BBC Sessions 1974) and 5. See What a Fool I've Been (B-Side version, February 1974). 

I was recently listening to a podcast that shall go unnamed, in which one of the hosts commented that he always thought of Queen as a "novelty band".   Seriously?  Freddie Mercury's vocals, Brian May on guitar, Roger Taylor's drumming, and John Deacon on bass = NOVELTY ACT?

Each of QUEEN's album sounded different than the last, but you could always tell that it was QUEEN.   You want to refer to that kind of artistry, creativity and innovation as a "novelty act"?!  For shame sir,  for shame!
______________________________________