Originally published by L.S. Media. March 20th 2011.
1974 saw the release of Queen’s second album Queen II, whereas the first album had seen the emergence of the band into the nations consciousness, Queen II saw the band experiment with the medium they would come to dominate over the next two decades.
From the album cover with its now iconic picture of the four band members faces staring out from a black background to its idea of a Side Black and Side White as opposed to sides one and two, this blurring of the idea of a rock band and the art of Progressive music became a distinct possibility as listeners were treated to the idea of an emotional (white side) theme running through the tracks and a darker, fantasy driven side that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Tolkien novel.
Although the album shifts perfectly in its look at these two states of minds it can be seen by some critics as one of the least important albums that the band produced and whilst it might not have the urgency and drive of the debut album or the style and sense of the theatrical which was to appear over the next few albums, it nevertheless showed the band off in a newer, more overtly sexual light especially as Side Black was written completely by Freddie Mercury.
His vocal pitch being a highlight on the track The March of the Black Queen and it is a marvel of musical composition, true to the nature of the band it become too hard and complex to perform at gigs and it is a shame that the remastered version doesn’t have a live version or studio demo of this classic Queen track.
Queen II finishes in some style with a song that was half completed by the time the self titled debut album was ready to roll. Seven Seas of Rhye had humble origins as an instrumental piece, it gained legs and grew momentum to become one of Queen’s signature tunes at concerts and it is fitting that the song became the bands first hit single. It has since become a firm favourite of those attending the musical We Will Rock You.
Although it doesn’t hit the heights of its predecessor, it nevertheless is an important album for Queen fans to get into their collection, as a one off venture into the Progressive Rock mode that was fashionable at the time, it shows the band’s versatility off brilliantly.
Ian D. Hall