Mr. Bad Guy
Encyclopedia
Mr. Bad Guy is the first solo album from Queen
singer Freddie Mercury
. Released in 1985, during a period in which Queen were on hiatus from recordings, the album contains eleven songs, all written by Mercury.
The song "Living on My Own
" was re-released in 1993 in a remixed form by No More Brothers, while "I Was Born to Love You
" and "Made in Heaven" were later re-worked by the surviving three Queen members and included in the 1995 curtain-call Made in Heaven
. The album was originally planned to be called Made in Heaven.
Side 1
Side 2
reaches in the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody
) and played the bassline using a synthesizer. The bass riff was recycled later and slightly modified for the coda of Queen's 1989 song "The Miracle
", also composed by Mercury.
"Made in Heaven" was the working title of the album, and a song Mercury had a particular fondness of. He recorded his piano parts on 31 May 1984 and added vocals shortly afterwards. After Mercury's death, Roger Taylor, John Deacon
and Brian May
took Mercury's piano and vocals and added their own instrumentation to form the title track of Queen's final studio album
.
"I Was Born to Love You" was composed in New York City
. Mercury recorded his piano and vocals on 25 May 1984. He wasn't entirely pleased with it but the record company pressured him to release it as a dance song. Years later Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon re-worked it adding their instruments and re-mixing it as a Queen number on Made in Heaven
.
"Foolin' Around" originated at the same sessions as "Made in Heaven", but was re-worked several times later until the final version was completed in January 1985.
"Your Kind Of Lover" was begun in March 1984 and features some very low vocals by Mercury.
"Mr. Bad Guy" was recorded in May 1984 and is the only track on the album featuring an orchestra, which is something Mercury had been meaning to do for a long time.
"Man Made Paradise" was supposed to close Queen's album The Works
, but was dropped when Mercury and May composed "Is This The World We Created?".
"There Must Be More to Life Than This" began in 1981 as part of the Hot Space
sessions. It is an anti-war and anti-racism song and was also to be recorded by Michael Jackson
. A demo version of Jackson singing and Mercury playing the piano exists, as well as a fanmade duet remix combining both Jackson and Mercury's version into a duet. It is unknown if the two ever recorded the song as a duet.
"Living on My Own" was recorded between April and May 1984, and was re-mixed and re-released in 1993 earning Mercury his only solo #1 single. To this day, he's the only Queen member who has released a solo #1 hit and won a solo Ivor Novello award. Fred Mandel
, who has also worked with Supertramp
, Elton John
and Queen, plays piano on this track.
"My Love Is Dangerous" comes from a session on 29 May 1984 (the same as "Living on My Own" and the first version of "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow").
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...
singer Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie 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...
. Released in 1985, during a period in which Queen were on hiatus from recordings, the album contains eleven songs, all written by Mercury.
The song "Living on My Own
Living on My Own
"Living on My Own" is a song by Freddie Mercury, originally included in his first solo album Mr. Bad Guy.It was released as a single in September 1985 in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 50...
" was re-released in 1993 in a remixed form by No More Brothers, while "I Was Born to Love You
I Was Born to Love You (song)
"I Was Born to Love You" is a 1985 song by Freddie Mercury, and was released as a single and on the Mr. Bad Guy album. After Mercury's death, Queen remixed this song for their album Made in Heaven in 1995, by having the other members play their instrumental parts over the original track.The song...
" and "Made in Heaven" were later re-worked by the surviving three Queen members and included in the 1995 curtain-call Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven is the fifteenth studio album by British rock group Queen and the final one to feature lead singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, released on 6 November 1995...
. The album was originally planned to be called Made in Heaven.
Track listing
All songs by Freddie Mercury.Side 1
- "Let's Turn It On" – 3:42
- "Made in HeavenMade in Heaven (song)Made in Heaven is the third single recorded by Freddie Mercury, and his fourth release as a solo artist.Originally featured in Mercury's debut album, the song was slightly edited and published as a 45rpm paired with "She Blows Hot and Cold", described on the record sleeve as 'A Brand New Track'...
" – 4:05 - "I Was Born to Love YouI Was Born to Love You (song)"I Was Born to Love You" is a 1985 song by Freddie Mercury, and was released as a single and on the Mr. Bad Guy album. After Mercury's death, Queen remixed this song for their album Made in Heaven in 1995, by having the other members play their instrumental parts over the original track.The song...
" – 3:38 - "Foolin' Around" – 3:29
- "Your Kind Of Lover" – 3:32
Side 2
- "Mr. Bad Guy" – 4:09
- "Man Made Paradise" – 4:08
- "There Must Be More to Life Than This" – 3:00
- "Living on My OwnLiving on My Own"Living on My Own" is a song by Freddie Mercury, originally included in his first solo album Mr. Bad Guy.It was released as a single in September 1985 in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 50...
" – 3:23 - "My Love Is Dangerous" – 3:42
- "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" – 3:46
Songs
"Let's Turn It On" was recorded in April 1984. Mercury sang a high B (the same note Roger TaylorRoger 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...
reaches in the operatic section of Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian 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...
) and played the bassline using a synthesizer. The bass riff was recycled later and slightly modified for the coda of Queen's 1989 song "The Miracle
The Miracle (song)
"The Miracle" is the fifth and last single from Queen's 1989 album The Miracle. It was composed by the entire band, though Freddie Mercury was the main driving force. It was released as a single in late November 1989, some six months after the album...
", also composed by Mercury.
"Made in Heaven" was the working title of the album, and a song Mercury had a particular fondness of. He recorded his piano parts on 31 May 1984 and added vocals shortly afterwards. After Mercury's death, Roger Taylor, John Deacon
John Deacon
John 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...
and 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...
took Mercury's piano and vocals and added their own instrumentation to form the title track of Queen's final studio album
Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven is the fifteenth studio album by British rock group Queen and the final one to feature lead singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, released on 6 November 1995...
.
"I Was Born to Love You" was composed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Mercury recorded his piano and vocals on 25 May 1984. He wasn't entirely pleased with it but the record company pressured him to release it as a dance song. Years later Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon re-worked it adding their instruments and re-mixing it as a Queen number on Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven is the fifteenth studio album by British rock group Queen and the final one to feature lead singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, released on 6 November 1995...
.
"Foolin' Around" originated at the same sessions as "Made in Heaven", but was re-worked several times later until the final version was completed in January 1985.
"Your Kind Of Lover" was begun in March 1984 and features some very low vocals by Mercury.
"Mr. Bad Guy" was recorded in May 1984 and is the only track on the album featuring an orchestra, which is something Mercury had been meaning to do for a long time.
"Man Made Paradise" was supposed to close Queen's album The Works
The Works (Queen album)
-Radio Ga Ga:"Radio Ga Ga" was composed on keyboards, after Roger Taylor heard his son Felix saying "radio ca ca". He wrote it in Los Angeles and locked himself in the studio with a Roland Jupiter 8 and a drum machine. Afterwards John Deacon came up with a suitable bass line. Mercury reconstructed...
, but was dropped when Mercury and May composed "Is This The World We Created?".
"There Must Be More to Life Than This" began in 1981 as part of the Hot Space
Hot Space
Hot Space is the tenth studio album by British rock band Queen, released in May 1982. Marking a notable shift in direction from their earlier work, Queen employed many elements of disco, pop music, R&B and dance music on Hot Space, being partially influenced by the success of their 1980 hit...
sessions. It is an anti-war and anti-racism song and was also to be recorded by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
. A demo version of Jackson singing and Mercury playing the piano exists, as well as a fanmade duet remix combining both Jackson and Mercury's version into a duet. It is unknown if the two ever recorded the song as a duet.
"Living on My Own" was recorded between April and May 1984, and was re-mixed and re-released in 1993 earning Mercury his only solo #1 single. To this day, he's the only Queen member who has released a solo #1 hit and won a solo Ivor Novello award. Fred Mandel
Fred Mandel
Fred Mandel is a keyboard player and guitarist.Mandel became involved in music from an early age. He started playing the piano and age 4 and picked up the guitar aged 8...
, who has also worked with Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Queen, plays piano on this track.
"My Love Is Dangerous" comes from a session on 29 May 1984 (the same as "Living on My Own" and the first version of "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow").
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury – vocals, piano, synthesizer
- Fred MandelFred MandelFred Mandel is a keyboard player and guitarist.Mandel became involved in music from an early age. He started playing the piano and age 4 and picked up the guitar aged 8...
– additional piano, synthesizer, guitar - Paul Vincent – lead guitar
- Curt Cress – drums
- Stephan Wissnet – bass guitar
- Jo BurtJo BurtJo Burt is an English Rock and heavy metal bassist, guitar player, songwriter and vocalist.Burt is known for being the bassist for Black Sabbath during their 1987 tour in support of the album The Eternal Idol...
– fretless bass on "Man Made Paradise" - Rainer Pietsch – arrangement for "Mr. Bad Guy"
- MackReinhold MackReinhold Mack is a German record producer and sound engineer, mostly known for his collaborations with rock bands Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. Most of this work took place at Giorgio Moroder's Musicland Studios in Munich...
and Stephan Wissnet – Fairlight CMIFairlight CMIThe Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
, drum programmes - Mack, assisted by Stephan Wissnet – engineering
- The Artful Dodger – artwork
- A. Sawa – photographs
Chart performance
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