“KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE
Brian May / 3:47
Musicians
Freddie Mercury: lead vocals, backing vocals
Brian May: electric and acoustic guitars, lead vocals, backing vocals
John Deacon: bass
Roger Taylor: drums, tambourine, lead vocals, backing vocals
Recorded Trident Studios, London: June 1972
Producers: John Anthony, Roy Thomas Baker, Queen
Sound Engineer: Roy Thomas Baker
Single: Did Not Chart
Side A: Keep Yourself Alive / 3:47
Side B: Son and Daughter / 3:20
UK Release on EMI: July 6, 1973 (ref. EMI 2036)
US Release on Elektra: October 1973 (ref. EK-45863)
Keep Yourself Alive was released as a single in Great Britain and the rest of Europe on July 6, 1973, a few days before the album itself was released.
Promotion was handled by EMI, which sent a copy to the BBC, but the disc, presented in the traditional white sleeve used to hold copies meant for the press, bore no inscription. The label had failed to include the name of the group and the title of the song. The single landed in the hands of Mike Appleton, producer of the famous show The Old Grey Whistle Test, broadcast on BBC2, and its host, Bob Harris.
“The first version of “Keep Yourself Alive,” was recorded during the De Lane Lea sessions in 1971. The intro was played on acoustic guitar before being dubbed by May’s Red Special, which had been plugged into the wall of Marshall amps deployed for the occasion by Terry Yeadon and Geoff Calvar.
Brian, who was the composer, argued at length during the sessions at Trident Studios to have the original version appear on the album, but had to give in to opposition from producer Roy Thomas Baker, who was satisfied with the current production of the track. Queen then suggested that Mike Stone, Baker’s assistant, present his vision of the track by carrying out a new mixing to his taste. This latter version won all the votes, and so it was Stone’s version that was kept for the album. Brian May was never satisfied with this choice, and had to resign himself to the fact that the magic that had worked so well on the original demo was lost forever.
“In the introduction to “Keep Yourself Alive” the phaser effect is used on the guitar played in palm mute, accompanied by the Premier New Era bell on drums (also present in the introduction to “Liar”). The hi-hat roll is also a signature found in many Roger Taylor drum patterns.”
The filming of a promotional music video was planned at the Brewer Street Studios. Mike Mansfield was chosen for the production on August 9, 1973.
The group fired Mansfield and dumped the video. Refusing to use the images filmed by Mansfield, the band took matters into their own hands and took over production on October 1, 1973, at St. Johns Wood Studios, accompanied by Barry Sheffield, one of the bosses at Trident.
“Technician Bruce Gowers worked on the video working together again on the video for “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which Gowers directed in November 1975.
The shooting of “Keep Yourself Alive” was a great success. This film would be included in the double version of the Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD in 2002.
Info sourced from Queen : All The Songs by Benoit Clerc
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