Queen II, the group's second album, is the subject of a collector's edition expected in the spring, including alternative takes, BBC sessions, live versions and a full remix which reveals unprecedented clarity.
Studio curiosities and rare demos
The box set brings together alternate sessions and studio scraps recorded at Trident Studios, including curiosities like guide vocals and studio swaps. Notable tracks: Brian May's “As It Began,” a 1969 recording that later became “White Queen,” and two Roger Taylor demos for “Loser in the End.” The disc also contains “Not for Sale (Polar Bear)”, a song the band had worked on during the sessions for Queen II without ever finishing it. May had teased it around Christmas on a radio show.
The backing tracks disc presents each song without vocals, highlighting the group's instrumental virtuosity. The disc “At the BBC” includes sessions recorded with John Peel and Bob Harris in 1973 and 1974. The final disc features the entire Queen II recorded live during concerts in England in 1974 and 1975. The box set is accompanied by a 112-page book, including previously unpublished photos from the Mick Rock session, handwritten lyrics, musical notations, diary pages and letters to friends, as well as period objects.
Last fall, May and Taylor told WECB behind the scenes of the creation of another of their masterpieces, “Bohemian Rhapsody”. During the interview, they also gave a glimpse of the future of the group. “The Sphere fascinates me”May had declared. “It makes my imagination work. I was sitting there watching the Eagles thinking, “We should do this.” What we could bring there would be prodigious. » So yes, I would like to do it. We discuss it. »
Tracklist: Queen II Reimagined: Deluxe Collector's Edition
Disc 1: Queen II — Mix 2026
1. “Procession”
2. “Father to Son”
3. “White Queen (As It Began)”
4. “Some Day One Day”
5. “The Loser in the End”
6. “Ogre Battle”
7. “The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke”
8. “Nevermore”
9. “The March of the Black Queen”
10. “Funny How Love Is”
11. “Seven Seas of Rhye”
Disc 2: Queen II — Sessions
1. “Procession” (Scenic intro tape — April 1973)
2. “Father to Son” (Takes 4 & 9 — with guide vocals)
3. “As It Began” (Brian’s studio demo – October 1969)
4. “Some Day One Day” (Take 1 — with guide vocals)
5. “The Loser in the End” (Roger’s First Demo)
6. “The Loser in the End” (Roger’s second demo)
7. “Ogre Battle” (Takes 2 & 6 — with guide voice)
8. “The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke” (Takes 4 & 9)
9. “Nevermore” (Take 6)
10. “The March of the Black Queen” (First section, takes 3 & 5)
11. “The March of the Black Queen” (Second section, take 1)
12. “Funny How Love Is” (Take 4)
13. “Seven Seas of Rhye” (Takes 4, 5 & 6)
14. “I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside” (Take 4)
15. “See What a Fool I’ve Been” (B-side version — mix 2026)
16. “Not for Sale (Polar Bear)”
Disc 3: Queen II — Backing Tracks
1. “Procession”
2. “Father to Son”
3. “White Queen (As It Began)”
4. “Some Day One Day”
5. “The Loser in the End”
6. “Ogre Battle”
7. “The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke”
8. “Nevermore”
9. “The March of the Black Queen”
10. “Funny How Love Is”
11. “Seven Seas of Rhye”
Disc 4: Queen II — At The BBC
1. “See What a Fool I’ve Been” (BBC Session 2, July 1973 — mix 2011)
2. “Ogre Battle” (BBC Session 3, December 1973)
3. “Nevermore” (BBC Session 4, April 1974)
4. “White Queen (As It Began)” (BBC Session 4, April 1974)
5. “Procession — Intro Tape” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
6. “Father to Son” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
7. “Son and Daughter” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
8. “Guitar Solo” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
9. “Son and Daughter — Reprise” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
10. “Ogre Battle” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
11. “Liar” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
12. “Jailhouse Rock” (Live at Golders Green Hippodrome, September 13, 1973)
Disc 5: Queen II — Live
1. “Procession — Intro Tape” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
2. “Father to Son” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
3. “Ogre Battle” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
4. “White Queen (As It Began)” (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, December 1975)
5. “The March of the Black Queen” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
6. “The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
7. “Seven Seas of Rhye” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
8. “See What a Fool I’ve Been” (Live at the Rainbow, March 1974)
