Queen II [2011 Remaster]

Great album

A classic album from the early years of the rock legends QUEEN.

I have returned to vinyl and I don't really want to do a review of the delivery and packaging (lol) - but it all arrived quickly and safely and the heavy duty vinyl plays a dream. Actually the sound quality of this is bang on. As an album this contains (bar perhaps from Seven Seas of Rhye) a collection of lesser known Queen track and for anyone more aware of the latter Queen funk this would be a surprise. This is a young band playing with glam rock and guitar driven sound. On two sides - side white and side black, the loose concept of fairy land (Now once upon a time - an old man told me a fable...when the piper is gone and the food is cold on the table)and white/black queens. Mercury compositions are on side black and May (with one contribution from Taylor) are to be found on side white.Mercury provides some very fine moments on Side Black from the rocking Ogre Battle to the fantastical Fairy Fellers Master Stroke this album shows a real drive and hunger. My own favorite on the side is the sublime Nevermore, a beautiful track - and there is also the beautiful 'Funny How Love is.' Side White I played less (I recall) as a teenager, but White Queen and Some Day, One Day remain favourites. There is not a filler anywhere on this album. So there we are! I am so happy to place the needle on the record again, and this album really should feature right at the top of any Queen fans choices as (to me anyway) it is everything Queen should be.

You could spend a very long time arguing and debating the case for Queen's greatest album, but for me this is probably the one. OK, at times I'll admit to gravitating towards "Sheer Heart Attack" as a slightly more rounded collection of songs, but the scope and concept of this album is pretty breathtaking.What never ceases to amaze me is the fact that they were all so young when they produced this, only in their early 20's, and most of the material was recorded in studio "Down-time" (ie late at night when nobody else was booked in) the songs having been largely cobbled together at soundchecks. Queen were a hard working, touring act back then, permanently broke, and unable to afford weeks in rehearsal, much less weeks or months faffing about in a recording studio. It's ironic that in their later years, when they were able to do this, actually owning their own studio, that the results would deliver frustratingly diminishing returns.Queen II is a very assured successor from their debut album, containing some of the best songs they ever crafted, equalled; certainly, but never bettered. For me this is arguably the keystone to the body of work that comprised the first four albums, a collection of music many other establish acts would probably sell their souls to have created.Beyond that Queen would intermittently flex their creative muscles to let the world know there was life in the old dog still, but in the short period from Queen I in '73 to A Night At The Opera in '75, few bands have ever shone so very brightly.

As a fan of Queen over the years I found this recording most enjoyable, it reminder of one of this country’s greatest groups.

Must have album

Great cd

I bought all of the 1970s Queen studio albums ('The magnificent Seven') but I play this album significantly less than the others - I needed to find out why.Lying on my bed just now, eyes closed, I listened to the album in its entirety ('White Side' & 'Black Side') and it was a wonderful experience. It contains all the 1970s Queen eclectic trade-marks of heavy riffs ('Father to Son', 'Ogre Battle'), vocal harmonies '('Nevermore') & musical innovation ('Fairy-teller's master-stroke'). Queen were pioneers in Hard & Progressive rock and this album epitomizes their musical gifts perfectly. A Musical Masterpiece that is appreciated best by lying quietly, with eyes closed, and letting the Majesty just flow over your body & soul.