Live Killers
Encyclopedia
Live Killers is a double vinyl
and compact disc
live album
by English
rock
band Queen
. It was released on June 22, 1979.
It was recorded live during the European leg of Queen's Jazz world tour between January and March 1979. The album was self-produced by the band and was their first album to be mixed at their own studios, Mountain Studios
in Montreux, Switzerland.
Guitarist Brian May
and drummer Roger Taylor
revealed on the US radio show In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted the making of 1980's The Game
) that the band was not happy with the album's final mix as the band mixed the album themselves.
Despite May and Taylor's unhappiness with the album, Live Killers hit number 3 on the UK Album Chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200
in the United States, and is certified double platinum
in the US.
In the territories outside of the United States
, Europe
and Canada
, Elektra Records
re-released a shorter, edited version of the album in 1985 titled "Queen Live".
The 1994 issue that was released as part of the Digital Master Series by EMI
was not improved as the quality was bad. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by Peter Mew
in 2001.
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. It was released on June 22, 1979.
It was recorded live during the European leg of Queen's Jazz world tour between January and March 1979. The album was self-produced by the band and was their first album to be mixed at their own studios, Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios is a recording studio previously located in Montreux, now located in Attalens, Switzerland. It was owned by the rock band Queen from 1979 until 1993...
in Montreux, Switzerland.
Guitarist Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
and drummer Roger Taylor
Roger Meddows-Taylor
Roger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
revealed on the US radio show In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted the making of 1980's The Game
The Game (Queen album)
The Game is the eighth studio album by British rock band Queen released on 30 June 1980. It was the only Queen album to reach #1 in the US and became Queen's best selling studio album in the US with four million copies sold to date, tying News of the Worlds US sales tally. The album received very...
) that the band was not happy with the album's final mix as the band mixed the album themselves.
Despite May and Taylor's unhappiness with the album, Live Killers hit number 3 on the UK Album Chart, and number 16 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States, and is certified double platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
in the US.
In the territories outside of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
re-released a shorter, edited version of the album in 1985 titled "Queen Live".
The 1994 issue that was released as part of the Digital Master Series by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
was not improved as the quality was bad. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by Peter Mew
Peter Mew
Peter Mew is a British music audio engineer at Abbey Road Studios where he is now senior mastering engineer. He came to Abbey Road in 1965 as a tape operator and has since worked with many artists at the studio...
in 2001.
Side one
- "We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" [fast version] (Brian MayBrian MayBrian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
) – 3:18 - "Let Me Entertain You" (Freddie MercuryFreddie MercuryFreddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
) – 3:15 - "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To...)Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)"Death on Two Legs " is a song by British rock group Queen, the opening track on their fourth studio album A Night at the Opera...
" (Mercury) – 3:31 - "Killer QueenKiller Queen (song)"Killer Queen" is a song by British rock band Queen. Written by pianist and lead singer Freddie Mercury, it featured on their 1974 album Sheer Heart Attack, and also appears on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits. When released as a single, "Killer Queen" was Queen's breakthrough hit,...
" (Mercury) – 1:59 - "Bicycle RaceBicycle Race"Bicycle Race" is a single by the English rock band Queen. It was released on their 1978 album Jazz and written by Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury. It was released as a double A-side single together with the song "Fat Bottomed Girls". The song is notable for its video featuring a bicycle race with...
" (Mercury) – 1:28 - "I'm in Love with My Car" (Roger TaylorRoger Meddows-TaylorRoger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
) – 2:08 - "Get Down, Make Love" (Mercury) – 4:31
- "You're My Best Friend" (John DeaconJohn DeaconJohn Richard Deacon is a retired English multi-instrumentalist and song writer, best known as the bassist for the rock band Queen. Of the four members of the band, he was the last to join and also the youngest, being only 19 years old when he was recruited by the other members of the band...
) – 2:08
Side two
- "Now I'm HereNow I'm Here"Now I'm Here" is a song by the English rock band Queen. The sixth song on their third album, Sheer Heart Attack, it was written by lead guitarist Brian May while he was in hospital with hepatitis. The song is noted for its hard riff and vocal harmonies. In the UK, the song hit #11 on the charts...
" (May) – 8:42 - "Dreamer's Ball" (May) – 3:44
- "Love of My Life" (Mercury) – 4:57
- "'39" (May) – 3:26
- "Keep Yourself AliveKeep Yourself Alive"Keep Yourself Alive" is a song by English rock group Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, it is the opening track on the band's debut album Queen . It was released as Queen's first single along with "Son and Daughter" as the B-side...
" (May) – 4:02
Side three
- "Don't Stop Me NowDon't Stop Me Now"Don't Stop Me Now" is a song by English rock group Queen, featured on their 1978 album Jazz. Written by vocalist Freddie Mercury, it was recorded in August/September 1978 at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les-Alpes , France, and is the twelfth track on the album.Musically, the song is based around...
" (Mercury) – 4:28 - "Spread Your WingsSpread Your Wings"Spread Your Wings" is a rock ballad by Queen, from their 1977 album News of the World. Written by bassist John Deacon, it was released as the A side of the single Spread Your Wings/Sheer Heart Attack in 1978. It features Deacon on guitar and bass, Freddie Mercury on piano and vocals, Brian May on...
" (Deacon) – 5:17 - "Brighton Rock" (May) – 12:13
Side four
- "Bohemian RhapsodyBohemian Rhapsody"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
" [intro: "Mustapha"] (Mercury) – 6:02 - "Tie Your Mother DownTie Your Mother Down"Tie Your Mother Down" is a song by the English rock group Queen, written by guitarist Brian May. It is the opening track and the second single from their 1976 album A Day at the Races...
" (May) – 3:40 - "Sheer Heart Attack" (Taylor) – 3:35
- "We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" (May) – 2:48 - "We Are the ChampionsWe Are the Champions"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
" (Mercury) – 3:27 - "God Save the Queen" (Trad.; arr. May) – 1:31
Omitted Tracks
- It's LateIt's Late"It's Late" is a song written by Queen guitarist Brian May and performed by the band for their 1977 album News of the World. The song was May's idea of treating a song as a three-act theatrical play, and the verses are called "acts" in the lyrics sheet. It makes use of the tapping technique one...
(May) - If You Can't Beat Them (Deacon)
- Somebody to LoveSomebody to Love (Queen song)"Somebody to Love" is a song by British rock band Queen. Written by lead vocalist and pianist Freddie Mercury, the track featured on their 1976 album A Day at the Races, and also appears on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits...
(Mercury) - Fat Bottomed GirlsFat Bottomed Girls"Fat Bottomed Girls" is a song by the English rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the track featured on their 1978 album Jazz, and also appears on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits...
(May)
Singles
- "Love of My Life" (Live)/"Now I'm Here" (Live)
- "We Will Rock You (Fast Version) (Live)"/"Let Me Entertain You (Live)" – Elektra E46532; released August, 1979
Charts
| Country | |Sales | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | Certification | Sales | |
| Austria | 3 | 12 | Gold | 40.000 |
| United Kingdom | 3 | 27 | Gold | 380,000 |
| Germany | 4 | Gold | 450.000 | |
| Japan | 9 | 250.000 | ||
| Netherlands | 10 | 80.000 | ||
| Norway | 10 | 7 | 100.000 | |
| Sweden | 15 | 4 | 50.000 | |
| United States | 16 | 14 | Platinum (2x) | 2,500,000 |
| Switzerland | 34 | 2 | Gold | 10.000 |
| Canada | 150.000 |
External links
- Queenlive.ca: "Live Killers" Analysis – an analysis of the edits and overdubs on the album