by Georg Purvis
BILLY SQUIER: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
(Freddie Mercury)
Capitol 064 240629 1, September 1986
In 1986, while he was recording his Enough Is Enough album in London, Billy ran into Freddie and played for him an early take of ‘Love Is The Hero’, which Freddie responded to enthusiastically. The two fleshed out further ideas at Garden Lodge, and when it was recorded at Sarm East Studios, Freddie contributed prominent backing vocals; on the extended version, he provided a superbly sung introduction.
During sessions, Freddie and Billy co-wrote a song, ‘Lady With A Tenor Sax’, issued on the same album, and while that version doesn’t feature any vocals from Freddie, a work-in-progress version was issued on The Solo Collection, which is essentially a duet between the two songwriters. The song is not much to speak of, though it’s a snarling rocker with a great guitar melody and occasional synthesizer blasts.
ELTON JOHN: LEATHER JACKETS
(Roger Taylor and John Deacon)
Phonogram EJ LP 1, October 1986
See previous Elton John entry above.
MAGNUM: VIGILANTE (Roger Taylor)
Polydor POLD 5198, October 1986
Produced by Roger and David Richards, Roger also provided backing vocals on ‘Sometime Love’ and ‘When The World Comes Down’ (which was also released as a single). The other tracks were ‘Lonely Night’, ‘Need A Lot Of Love’, ‘Midnight (You Won’t Be Sleeping)’, ‘Red On The Highway’, ‘Holy Rider’, ‘Vigilante’ and ‘Back Street Kid’.
MINAKO HONDA: CANCEL
(Brian May and John Deacon)
Eastworld WTP 90433, 1986
Minako Honda’s album Cancel, released only in Japan in 1986, was produced by Brian and featured a Japanese version of John’s 1986 solo track ‘No Turning Back’, retitled ‘Roulette’, which the bassist also played on.
RAMONCIN: LA VIDA EN EL FILO (Brian May)
EMI 7 98299 2, 1986
The track in question here is ‘Como Un Susurro’.
ERROL BROWN: ‘THIS IS YOUR TIME’ (John Deacon)
Recorded in 1986, Errol Brown’s ‘This Is Your Time’ was co-written with John, who also played bass guitar, but the song remained unreleased.
MINAKO HONDA: ‘CRAZY NIGHTS’/
‘GOLDEN DAYS’ (Brian May)
Columbia DB 9153, May 1987
Brian wrote, produced and played guitars on Japanese musician Minako Honda’s ‘Crazy Nights’ and ‘Golden Days’. Minako died in 2006, and Brian expressed a plan to re-release the tracks to a wider listening public.
MEATLOAF: ‘A TIME FOR HEROES’ (Brian May)
Orpheum 060 187, July 1987
Brian provided guitar on Meat Loaf’s 1987 single, ‘A Time For Heroes’, recorded in February 1987 at West Lake Audio in Los Angeles and later becoming the Official Internation Summer Special Olympics theme that year. The song was produced and arranged by Jon Lyons.
BAD NEWS: BAD NEWS (Brian May)
EMI EMC 3535, October 1987 [69]
After appearing on stage with them in November 1986, Brian rejoined spoof heavy metal band Bad News (actually actors from the anarchic BBC comedy The Young Ones) at Sarm Studios in May 1987, there to produce an album for them. The album, Bad News, was released later that year after a controversial version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was issued as their debut single. The album appeared in the US in 1989 on CD, with additional tracks taken from Bad News’ second album (‘Bad Dreams’, ‘AGM’, ‘Double Entendre’ and the single version of ‘Cashing In On Christmas’). The original was re-released in 2004 with additional bonus tracks.
The track listing for the 1987 release was ‘Hey Hey Bad News’, “Vim Is Angry” (dialogue), ‘Warriors Of Ghengis Khan’, “Excalibur” (dialogue), ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, “Dividing Up The Spoils” (dialogue), “Introducing The Band” (dialogue), ‘Bad News’, “Hey Mr Bassman” (dialogue), “Hey Mr Drummer” (dialogue), ‘Masturbike’, “Padding” (dialogue), “Trousers” (dialogue) and ‘Drink Till I Die’. The bonus tracks on 2004 reissue were: ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Life Of Brian’, ‘Bad Dreams’, ‘AGM’, ‘O Levels’, ‘Double Entendre’, ‘Cashing In On Christmas’ (dub), ‘Cashing In On Christmas’ (single version) and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (Take 1).
ANITA DOBSON: TALKING OF LOVE (Brian May)
Odeon ODN 1007, December 1987
While Queen were on tour in Holland, Brian booked time in a local studio to record two demos: one for Minako Honda (which later became ‘Golden Days’) and another for actress Anita Dobson. The latter had already had a single – ‘Anyone Can Fall In Love’ – released in 1986, reaching No. 4 in the UK, so it was inevitable that a full album would follow. Anita asked Brian to produce the sessions (along with playing guitar and keyboards), which took place throughout 1986 and 1987 and included a selection of covers and songs written by Brian specifically for the album.
Two of Brian’s songs – ‘Let Me In (Your Heart Again)’ and ‘I Dream Of Christmas’ – had been recorded during Queen sessions, the former during The Works and the latter in July 1984 at the same session that yielded ‘Thank God It’s Christmas’, while the title track was written by Brian for Anita in June 1986. Two other original songs – ‘Funny Old Life, Ain’t It’ (written by Brian and Anita) and ‘Don’t Fall In Love With Anybody Else’ (written by Chris Thompson and Anne Dudley) – and three covers – ‘The Last Time I Made Love’, ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him’ and ‘You Can’t Stay The Night’ – rounded out the album, with ‘Anyone Can Fall In Love’ added to ensure sales.
The first single was the title track, backed with ‘Sweet Talkin” (a variation of the A-side written by Brian and Anita), and reached No. 43 upon its release in July 1987. ‘I Dream Of Christmas’ and its B-side ‘Silly Christmas’ (like ‘Sweet Talkin”, a variation of the A-side, again written by Brian and Anita) were released in December 1987, while a third single – ‘To Know Him Is To Love Him’ backed with the abysmal rap, ‘Funny Old Life, Ain’t It’ – was released in October 1988, both failing to chart. A final single, recorded in 1988, was a cover of ‘In One Of My Weaker Moments’ with several instrumental remixes of the song serving as the B-side. Like the previous singles, ‘In One Of My Weaker Moments’ failed to chart, and Anita, realizing that her career as a pop star was coming to a close, focused on her acting instead.
HOLLY JOHNSON: BLAST (Brian May)
MCA DMCG 6042, January 1989 [4]
Brian is on ‘Love Train’.
LIVING IN A BOX: GATECRASHING (Brian May)
Chrysalis DCDL 1676, February 1989
The Brian track here is ‘Blow The House Down’.
SIGUE SIGUE SPUTNIK: ‘DANCERAMA’ /
‘BARBARANDROID’ (Roger Taylor)
EMI SSS 6, March 1989
Roger remixed the two tracks that made up Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s 1989 single, which peaked at No. 50 in the UK.
BLACK SABBATH: HEADLESS CROSS (Brian May)
EIRSA 1002, April 1989 [31]
Brian contributed guitar to ‘When Death Calls’, which featured Cozy Powell on drums, leading to the two recording ‘Ride To Win’ and ‘Somewhere In Time’ in 1992 (released on Back To The Light as ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Nothin’ But Blue’, respectively). The Black Sabbath song was recorded between August and November 1988 at Soundmill Studios in Woodcray.
FUZZBOX: BIG BANG (Brian May)
Geffen PRO CD 3688, August 1989 [2]
Brian contributed guitar to Fuzzbox’s hit 1989 single ‘Self’, which was also released on Big Bang in August of that year. Recorded during February 1989 at Unit 3 Studios in North West London, the single also featured a re-recording of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as the B-side, but featured no involvement from Brian or anyone from Queen.
MORRIS MAJOR AND THE MINORS: ‘STUTTER
RAP’ AND ‘THIS IS THE CHORUS’ (John Deacon)
Unusually, John agreed to don a blue wig and appear in the videos to these songs – unusual because he didn’t contribute anything to the orig
inal recordings, which were released in 1989.
ARTISTS UNITED FOR NATURE: ‘YES WE CAN’
(Brian May)
Virgin 662 764, 1989
Released under the name Artists United For Nature, this charity single in aid of preserving rain forests was recorded at Sarm Studios between July and August 1989, with Brian joining Ian Anderson, Joe Cocker, Carol Decker, Harold Faltermeyer, Herbie Hancock, Tommy Johnson, Chaka Khan, Stevie Lange, Michael McDonald, Richard Page, Maggie Reilly, Jennifer Rush, Sandra, Chris Thompson and Stefan Zauner.
ROCK AID ARMENIA: ‘SMOKE ON THE WATER’
(Brian May and Roger Taylor)
Armen T 001, December 1989 [39]
Released under the name Rock Aid Armenia, this charty single in aid of the December 1988 Armenian earthquake was a re-recording of Deep Purple’s classic ‘Smoke On The Water’. Brian contributed guitars and Roger provided drums, while other musicians included: Bryan Adams, Bruce Dickson, Ian Gillan and Paul Rodgers (the first time Brian and Roger would work with Paul) on vocals; Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi and Alex Lifeson on guitars; Geoff Beauchamp on rhythm guitar, and Keith Emerson and Geoff Downes on keyboards.
ROCK AGAINST REPATRIATION: ‘SAILING’
(Brian May)
IRS EIRS CD 139, 1990
Released under the name Rock Against Repatriation, this charity single in aid of Vietnamese boat people, who had settled in Hong Kong but were being forced back to Vietnam, featured Brian on guitar and was recorded on 1 January 1990. Other musicians included Bonnie Tyler, Paul Carrack, Curt Smith, Mark King, Judie Tzuke, Steve Hogarth, Kevin Godley, Fish, Ian Sutherland, Jim Diamond and Justin Hayward on vocals; Tom Conti, Marillion, Steve Hackett, Paul Muggleton and Judie Tzuke on backing vocals; Steve Hackett, Phil Manzanera and Steve Rothery on guitars; Pino Palladino on bass; Howard Jones on piano; Simon Phillips on drums, and Nick Magnus on percussion.
HALE & PACE AND THE STONKERS: ‘THE STONK’
(Brian May and Roger Taylor)
London 869 863 2, March 1991
While Queen were busy recording their post-Innuendo songs, Brian was approached by British comedy duo Hale and Pace, who asked him to produce a charity single for Comic Relief. Sessions for the resulting song – called ‘The Stonk’ – started in January 1991 at Metropolis Studios and featured a host of musicians: Tony Iommi and David Gilmour (guitars), Neil Murray (bass guitar), Roger Taylor, Cozy Powell and Rowan Atkinson (drums – who knew that Atkinson, television’s Mr Bean, could play drums?), Joe Griffiths and Mike Moran (keyboards), and Chris Thompson, Judie Tzuke, Mike Moran, Maggie Ryder, Miriam Stockley and Suzie O’List (backing vocals). In addition to production duties, Brian also played guitar and keyboards. The single was released in March 1991 and quickly rose to No. 1 in the UK, helping raise thousands of pounds and awareness for Comic Relief. A video was also made, with all the musicians, as well as several comedians, appearing.
D.ROK: OBLIVION (Brian May)
Warhammer 0874 6, August 1991
Brian guests on ‘Red Planet Blues’ and ‘Get Out Of My Way’.
EXTREME: ‘LOVE OF MY LIFE’ (Brian May)
A&M AMCD 698, May 1992 [12]
Extreme’s version of ‘Love Of My Life’ from the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was released as the B-side of their ‘Song For Love’ single in May 1992, and featured additional guitar from Brian. Royalties were donated to the Terence Higgins Trust.
COZY POWELL: THE DRUMS ARE BACK
(Brian May and John Deacon)
Electrola CDODN 1008, August 1992
For more information on ‘Ride To Win’ and ‘Somewhere In Time’, to which both Brian and John contributed, see ‘Resurrection’ and ‘Nothin’ But Blue’ in Part Three.
JUDY TZUKE: WONDERLAND (Brian May)
Castle Communications ESS CD 184, September 1992
Brian appears on ‘I Can Read Books’.
SHAKY: ‘RADIO’ (Roger Taylor)
Epic 658 436 2, October 1992
Roger played drums on this single, which reached No. 37 in the UK. An acoustic version was also recorded and released on the CD single.
HANK MARVIN: INTO THE LIGHT (Brian May)
Polydor 517 148 2, October 1992
Perhaps one of the strangest Queen-related collaborations featured Brian on guitar backing former Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin on a twanged-up version of ‘We Are The Champions’. The song was released as a single in October 1992 and reached No. 66 in the UK.
TONY MARTIN: BACK WHERE I BELONG
(Brian May)
Polydor 5135 182, 1992
Brian is on ‘If There Is A Heaven’.
PHENOMENA: PHENOMENA III: INNER VISION
(Brian May)
Parachute CD PAR 002, 1992
Brian contributed guitar to ‘A Whole Lot Of Love’ and ‘What About Love’ by Phenomena, which were recorded in 1988 but remained unreleased until 1992.
THE LEFT HANDED MARRIAGE: CRAZY CHAIN
(Brian May)
LHM1, February 1993
Bill Richards, former guitarist of 1984 and good friend of Brian May’s, formed a folk-rock band called The Left Handed Marriage in the summer of 1965. Eighteen months later, in January 1967, they released their first album, the privately pressed On The Right Side Of The Left Handed Marriage, and when the band were to enter AMC Sound in March to record their follow-up, Bill called upon Brian and asked him to help create a fuller sound by providing guitar and backing vocals on some songs. On 4 April, Brian contributed to four of the songs: ‘Give Me Time’ (which later became ‘I Need Time’ and was co-written by Brian and Bill), ‘She Was Once My Friend’, ‘Sugar Lump Girl’ and ‘Yours Sincerely’.
The sessions went well, though further sessions were booked on 31 July at Regent Sound Studios to produce more material. ‘She Was Once My Friend’ and ‘I Need Time’ were both re-recorded, with a new song, titled ‘Appointment’, also submitted. The first title was selected as a potential single, though all was aborted later in the year when a new record deal was not forthcoming. The band dissolved, and the songs were left unreleased until 1993 when the band reformed to record an album titled Crazy Chain. The three tracks from the Regent Sound session were included as bonus tracks, and interest in the band was briefly rekindled thanks to a fantastic exposé by John S. Stuart in Record Collector around the same time.
PAUL RODGERS: MUDDY WATER BLUES
(Brian May)
Victory Music 828 414 2, 1993
Brian contributed guitar to ‘I’m Ready’, which was recorded at Powerhouse Studios in London during January 1993 and marked the second collaboration between Paul and Brian, more than a decade before the Queen + Paul Rodgers project.
GREENPEACE: ALTERNATIVE NRG (Brian May)
Hollywood 74321 18091 2, 1993
Brian contributed guitar to Soundgarden’s ‘New Damage’, which was recorded in April 1993 “using solar energy”, according to the album’s liner notes.
GORDON GILTRAP: MUSIC FOR
THE SMALL SCREEN (Brian May)
Munchkin Records MRCD 1, June 1995
Brian provided guitar on ‘Heartsong’ by Gordon Giltrap, recorded between February and July 1993 at Redditch in the Midlands. Other musicians include Midge Ure, Neil Murray, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman.
OS PARALAMAS DO SUCESSO: SEVERINO
(Brian May)
EMI 829405 2, January 1994
Brian is on the intriguingly titled ‘El Vampiro bajo el sol’.
JENNIFER RUSH: OUT OF MY HANDS (Brian May)
Electrola 724303 112623, 1994
Brian is on ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’.
IN FROM THE STORM (Brian May)
BMG Music 09026 68233 2, 1995
Here, Brian appears on ‘One Rainy Wish’.
STEFAN ZAUNER: SOME OTHER LANGUAGE
(Brian May)
Columbia 4811742, 1995
Brian is a guest on ‘Make My Dream Come True’.
CARMINE APPICE: GUITAR ZEUS
(Brian May)
No Bull Records 34336 2, 1995
Brian provided guitar on Carmine Appice’s ‘Nobody Knew’, and was also featured on two different mixes: the radio version and a ‘Black White House’ mix.
ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Brian May)
Show CD 025, 1995
Brian is heard on ‘Whatever Happened To Saturday Night’ and ‘Wild And Untamed Thing’.
STATUS QUO: DON’T STOP (Brian May)
Polygram 531 035 2, 1996
Brian provided guitar on Status Quo’s 1996 track ‘Raining In My Heart’, and it was during these sessions that Brian, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi recorded the guitar tracks for ‘FBI’ (see that song’s entry in Part Three for more information).
VARIOUS ARTISTS: TWANG! A TRIBUTE TO HANK
MARVIN AND THE SHADOWS (Brian May)
PANGAE 72438 33928 2 7, 1996
‘FBI’ (see above).
VARIOUS ARTISTS: MOTH POET HOTEL (Brian May)
COCA 13627, 1996
Brian is on the Mott cover ‘All The Way From Memphis’.
PINOCCHIO: ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Brian May)
London 452 740 2, 1996
For more information on the titles ‘Il Colosso’ and ‘What Are We Made Of’, see their respective entries in Part Three.
SAS BAND: THE SAS BAND
(Roger Taylor and John Deacon)
1997
Roger and John are on ‘That’s The Way God Planned It’.
LULLABIES WITH A DIFFERENCE (Brian May)
BMG 74321 634972, 1998
Brian is on ‘My Boy’.
NAKED SUSHI: ‘CARNIVOROUS GIRL’ (Roger Taylor)
1999
Roger sang backing vocals on Naked Sushi’s ‘Carnivorous Girl’, released on the ‘No Name’ CD single with ‘Love’ and ‘Feel My Groove’ as the other tracks.
STEVE HACKETT: FEEDBACK ’86 (Brian May) CAMCD 21, 2000
Brian contributed guitar to former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s December 1986 sessions, though the songs weren’t released until 1992’s Unauthorized Biography (Virgin CDVM 9014), and later reissued on Guitar Noir (Viceroy VIC8008 2) and Feedback ’86. Brian and Steve collaborated on words and music on ‘Slot Machine’, with Brian also featuring on ‘Casandra’ and ‘Don’t Fall Away From Me’.