Jazz (album)
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| Jazz | ||
| Image:Queen Jazz.png | ||
| Studio album by Queen | ||
| Released | November 10, 1978; November 14, 1978 (U.S.) | |
| Recorded | July-October 1978 at Mountain Studios, Montreux, and Super Bear, Nice | |
| Genre | Rock Progressive rock Hard rock | |
| Length | 44:43 | |
| Label | EMI, Parlophone (Europe) Elektra, Hollywood Records (US) | |
| Producer(s) | Queen and Roy Thomas Baker | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Queen chronology | ||
| Image:Queen News Of The World.png News of the World (1977) | Image:Queen Jazz.png Jazz (1978) | Image:Queen The Game.png The Game (1980)
|
Jazz is a 1978 album by English rock band Queen. It was the band's seventh studio album, and consisted of a mix of very different styles of music, from disco-funk ("Fun It") to vaudeville ("Dreamer's Ball") to rock and roll ("Dead On Time") to country-flavored stomp ("Fat Bottomed Girls"). Curiously, it contains nothing recognizable as jazz, except perhaps the music-hall swing of "Dreamer's Ball." The album's eclecticism was alternately praised and criticised; it was at the time victim to a viciously scathing Rolling Stone review by Dave Marsh which included the line, "Indeed, Queen may be the first truly fascist rock band." Nevertheless, the album made it to #6 on the American Billboard 200.
The band had intended to sell the album with a poster depicting the all-female nude bicycle race staged to promote "Fat Bottomed Girls," but in the USA it was only available through mail-order so as not to upset retailers. A small version of the poster comes with the Crown Jewels box set.
Amongst other attributions in the liner notes, in reference to the crash of thunder heard at the end of the song "Dead On Time," one may find the line "Thunderbolt courtesy of God."
The album artwork was suggested by Roger Taylor, who previously saw a similar design painted on the Berlin Wall.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- Side One
- "Mustapha" (Mercury) - 3:01
- "Fat Bottomed Girls" (May) - 4:16
- "Jealousy" (Mercury) - 3:13
- "Bicycle Race" (Mercury) - 3:01
- "If You Can't Beat Them" (Deacon) - 4:15
- "Let Me Entertain You" (Mercury) - 3:01
- Side Two
- "Dead On Time" (May) - 3:23
- "In Only Seven Days" (Deacon) - 2:30
- "Dreamer's Ball" (May) - 3:30
- "Fun It" (Taylor) - 3:29
- "Leaving Home Ain't Easy" (May) - 3:15
- "Don't Stop Me Now" (Mercury) - 3:29
- "More of that Jazz" (Taylor) - 4:16
Hollywood Records bonus tracks
- "Fat Bottomed Girls (1991 Bonus Remix by Brian Malouf)" (May) – 4:22
- "Bicycle Race (1991 Bonus Remix by Junior Vasquez)" (Mercury) – 4:59
[edit] Mustapha
[edit] Fat Bottomed Girls
"Fat Bottomed Girls" was written by May with lead vocals shared by May and Mercury in the album version. On stage Mercury sang the entire song, with Taylor and May doing harmonies.
[edit] Jealousy
"Jealousy" was penned by Mercury and features May playing his Hairfred acoustic guitar placing small pieces of piano wire under the frets to produce the "buzzing" effect of a sitar. Deacon made some mistakes on the bass but the band kept them since they wanted to conserve the feeling of the overall take (piano, bass and drums were recorded simultaneously). All vocals were recorded by Mercury. It was released as a single in 1979.
[edit] Bicycle Race
"Bicycle Race" is a complex composition by Mercury. It features several modulations, unusual chord functions, a metre change (4/4 to 3/4 and back) and a programatic section (a race of guitars emulating the bicycle race).
[edit] If You Can't Beat Them
"If You Can't Beat Them" was composed by John Deacon and a was live favourite for the band in late '70s. It is one of the few songs by Deacon where May plays all the guitars.
[edit] Let Me Entertain You
"Let Me Entertain You" was written by Mercury, directed towards the audience. The line "we'll sing to you in Japanese" is a reference to May's Teo Torriatte, from A Day at the Races. The idea of a guitar riff in parallel sixths was re-used later in the Innuendo track, "The Hitman".
[edit] Dead On Time
"Dead On Time" was written by May in Switzerland[citation needed]. The song was never played live, although May included some snippets of it in his guitar solo during the Jazz tour. It also includes a sound of thunder. On the jacket it says "Thunderbolt courtesy of God".
[edit] In Only Seven Days
"In Only Seven Days" resembles Deacon's previous song, "Spread Your Wings". Deacon also played acoustic guitar.
[edit] Dreamer's Ball
"Dreamer's Ball" is May's tribute to Elvis Presley, who had died one year before. The arrangement for the concert version was completely different, with May and Taylor doing vocal brasses.
[edit] Fun It
"Fun It" was a funk track by Taylor, where both Mercury and himself shared the lead vocals. Taylor was the lead vocals, while Mercury was backup. Taylor used a Syndrum pad and played most of the instruments.
[edit] Leaving Home Ain't Easy
"Leaving Home Ain't Easy" was a ballad by May, who also sang all the vocals (lead and harmony). HIs voice was sped up for the bridge.
[edit] Don't Stop Me Now
"Don't Stop Me Now" is Mercury's top 10 single in the UK. May's only input is a short guitar solo.
[edit] More of that Jazz
"More of that Jazz" is yet another one of Taylor's bitter comments about current society and the way rock and roll is disrespected[citation needed]. It is loop based and Taylor plays most intruments and sings all vocals, reaching some very high notes (peaking on a high-E) without falsetto. The outro also contains short clips from many songs on the album, including "Mustapha", "Fun It", "If You Can't Beat Them", "Dead On Time", "Bicycle Race", and "Fat Bottomed Girls".
[edit] Credits
- All lead vocals by Freddie Mercury except:
- Fat Bottomed Girls: Mercury & May
- Fun It: Mercury & Taylor
- Leaving Home Ain't Easy: May
- More Of That Jazz: Taylor
- All backing vocals by Queen except:
- Jealousy: Mercury
- Let Me Entertain You: Mercury
- Dreamer's Ball: Mercury
- Leaving Home Ain't Easy: May
- More Of That Jazz: Taylor
- All drums by Taylor
- Glockenspiel in 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Taylor
- Syndrum in 'Fun It' by Taylor
- All instruments (drums, bass, guitars, maracas) & vocals in 'More Of That Jazz' by Taylor
- All other bass guitars by Deacon
- Rhythm guitars by May & Deacon
- All lead guitars by May
- All acoustic guitars by May except 'Seven Days' (Deacon)
- All pianos by Mercury
[edit] Singles
Image:Queen Bicycle Race1.png Four singles were released from the album:
- "Bicycle Race"/"Fat Bottomed Girls (edit)" - Elektra E45541; released October, 1978
- "Bicycle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls" were released in 1978 as a double A-side; the band staged a famous nude, all-female bicycle race to promote the single. The bicycle race took place on 17th September 1978 at Wimbledon Stadium in London. The picture sleeve showed a rear view of one of the ladies on her bicycle, but in the U.S. a pair of red panties were painted on to avoid public outcry. Legend has it that the band borrowed the bicycles from a store ("Halfords," according to the liner notes), but upon returning them were informed that they would have to purchase all the seats, as they had been used in an improper manner (i.e. without clothing). Fat Bottomed Girls also contains one of Roger Taylor's most memorable drum fills at about 2:16.
- "Mustapha" was released in 1978 in only Bolivia, Spain, Yugoslavia and Germany. Its B-side was "Dead On Time," except in Yugoslavia, where it was either "In Only Seven Days" or "Dreamer's Ball."
- "Don't Stop Me Now"/"More Of That Jazz" - Elektra E46008; released February, 1979
- "Don't Stop Me Now" was released in 1979; its B-side, depending on where one purchased it, was either "In Only Seven Days" or "More Of That Jazz."
- "Jealousy"/"Fun It" - Elektra E46039; released April, 1979
- "Jealousy" was released in 1979 in the United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Russia, and Canada; its B-side was "Fun It," "Don't Stop Me Now," or a mono version of the same song.
[edit] Charts
| Country | Charts | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak position | Weeks | Certification | ||
| Portugal | 1 | |||
| United Kingdom | 2 | 27 | Platinum | 450.000 |
| Netherlands | 4 | Platinum | 70.000 | |
| Germany | 5 | Gold | 250.000 | |
| Japan | 5 | Gold | 110.000 | |
| Norway | 6 | |||
| Sweden | 6 | |||
| United States | 6 | 17 | Platinum | 1.400.000 |
| Austria | 8 | Gold | 25.000 | |
| Italy | 36 | |||
| Queen |
| John Deacon | Brian May | Freddie Mercury | Roger Taylor History | Live performances | Songs |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Queen | Queen II | Sheer Heart Attack | A Night at the Opera | A Day at the Races | News of the World | Jazz | The Game | Flash Gordon | Hot Space | The Works | A Kind of Magic | The Miracle | Innuendo | Made in Heaven |
| Live albums: Live Killers | Live Magic | Live at Wembley '86 | Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl | Return of the Champions |
| Compilation albums: Greatest Hits | At the Beeb | Greatest Hits II | Classic Queen | Queen Rocks | Greatest Hits III | Stone Cold Classics |
| DVDs: We Will Rock You | The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert | Greatest Video Hits 1 | Live at Wembley Stadium | Greatest Video Hits 2 | Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl | Return of the Champions | Super Live in Japan |
| Related Articles |
| Queen + Paul Rodgers | Smile | The Cross |
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