COLLECTING QUEEN'S JAPANESE
45'S
June 1994 written by Greg Brooks
QUEEN'S JAPANESE SINGLES ARE MUCH SOUGHT-AFTER
BY COLLECTORS.
GREG BROOKS FINDS OUT WHY.
Special thanks to Jon Jemmett, whose unrivalled collection was vital
in piecing together this feature.
A complete run of Japanese singles on 7", housed
in their distinctive picture sleeves, would form an impressive cornerstone
to any Queen collection. Most, now long deleted, fetch between £25
and £50, with the earliest examples commanding up to £150 apiece,
and one incredibly rare late-comer approaching the £1,000 mark.
Like their European counterparts, these 7"'s
offer exciting picture sleeve variations, but more than that, they also
provide many unique couplings, combinations which are not available elsewhere.
Japanese editions also come with their own lyric translations, often with
unintentionally hilarious consequences.
Although exclusive combinations of songs, including
"Teo Torriatte" / "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy" and "We Will Rock You
(live) / "Let Me Entertain You (live)", are of obvious interest, it's the
rarity value of these 45s, some of which remain shrouded in rumor, even
to the band and their home record company, which makes this area of collecting
so fascinating. This is the first proper detailed account of all known
Japanese single issues.
The latest research indicates that 38 different
singles are known to exist, though it is feasible that a few others may
have also slipped out. Any additions will be gratefully received, and we'll
print details of these in a future issue.
The first Japanese 45, "Keep Yourself Alive"
/ "Son & Daughter", was in line with the band's U.K. debut, albeit
issued eight months later. Housed in a distinctive sleeve, it was quickly
deleted, and at £150, is now the most sought-after 45 in the entire
Japanese catalog.
The Far East market begged to differ as early
as the second release, when the band's label, Elektra, bypassed Brian's
enigmatic "See What A Fool I've Been" in favour of Roger Taylor's "Loser
In The End" as the flip to "Seven Seas Of Rhye". It's "Queen II" -styled
sleeve is extremely desirable, offering a stunning variant that has never
been sighted elsewhere. That partly explains its current £125 price
tag.
But Japan fell into line when it came to single
No. 3, the "Killer Queen" / Flick Of The Wrist" double A-side, which provided
a taster for the forthcoming "Sheer Heart Attack" album, released a month
later in November 1974. Likewise the follow-up pairing of Brian May's Mott
The Hoople-inspired "Now I'm Here" backed with Freddie's charming "Lily
Of The Valley", which curiously escaped the U.S. market.
ABSURD
For
the details surrounding the plethora of "Bohemian Rhapsody" releases, refer
back to RC 167. Less well-known is the controversy within the band
which the pairing provoked. Because Freddie's incomparable lead track was
backed with Roger Taylor's "I'm In Love With My Car", each was entitled
to a half share of the writing royalties for the single - a frankly absurd
situation. This caused much internal wrangling before a financial compromise
was eventually reached, yet it all could so easily have been avoided, had
someone at EMI had the foresight to couple "Bo Rhap" with another of Freddie's
songs from the "A Night At The Opera" album. The quirky "Lazing On A Sunday
Afternoon" or "Seaside Rendezvous" would have made an ideal choice. However,
"I'm In Love With My Car" was undoubtedly one of Roger's finest tracks
to date, and one which he sang himself.
Next in the Japanese sequence
came the first of three re-issues. "Now I'm Here" was timed to coincide
with a brief tour of Japan, the band's second. However, Elektra used the
opportunity to give a repeat airing to "Keep Yourself Alive", which had
frustratingly slipped through the net first time around.
This was quickly followed
by the standard "You're My Best Friend" / "'39" coupling, before two more
re-issues, "Killer Queen", newly backed with "Seven Seas Of Rhye", and
the standard "BoRhap", appeared that summer. By Christmas, one of Queen's
best loved tracks, Freddie's classic "Somebody To Love", was paired -as
elsewhere- with Brian's blistering "White Man", though this too commands
a £25 price tag. The sleeve, which curiously rewrites "They
say I got a lot of water in my brain, got no common sense" as "Let's write
all over my grave, oh and on the top it says", is well worth having. It
wasn't the last time that the language barrier was amusingly prised open!
Perhaps the most exciting, and certainly one
of the most sought-after, of the Japanese sleeves, is the one which accompanied
the "Day At The Races" pairing of "Teo Torriate" / "Good Old Fashioned
Lover Boy". Released in March 1977, and exclusive to Japan, the lead track
was not issued on 45 elsewhere, while the flipside materialised only as
one of the four songs on Queen's first and only U.K. EP. Expect to pay
£40 for a copy.
The first May/Taylor coupling appeared in Japan
during the summer of 1977 in the form of "Tie Your Mother Down" / "Drowse".
Back home, John Deacon's "You And I" was selected for the B-side, though
the single disappointingly stalled at No. 31.
A turly memorable sleeve accompanied "We Are
The Champions" / "We Will Rock You" that November. In common with most
singles lifted from "News Of The World", Frank Kelly Freas' album artwork
was modified for the 45, this time depicting the bemused expressioned robot
amidst a predominately black design. Next up came an edit of Brian's six-and-a-half-minute
epic, "It's Late", coupled with the Roger Taylor-penned title track of
the "Sheer Heart Attack" LP. Many collectors assume the lead track to be
the album version, particularly as the sleeve notes suggest - incorrectly
- a six minute running time.
Butchered
Unlike
the butchered edit of "Liar" which appeared in the States, and must rank
as the most dire Queen product to have appeared during their career (albeit
without the band's consent), the abbreviated "It's Late" does not unduly
suffer from having two minutes of its middle section excised.
The first single from
the "Jazz" album arrived in October 1978 in the U.K. and U.S., and a month
later in Japan. "Bicycle Race" / "Fat Bottomed Girls" (the third double
A-side) was a universal pairing which faired rather better at home than
it did elsewhere - perhaps due partly due to the absurd sexist connotations
of "Fat Bots". For reasons of censorship/good taste, worldwide issues incorporated
the last-minute addition of a pair of ladies' briefs to cover up the naked
cyclist.
For the next release,
Elektra opted for a different B-side to European editions, coupling "Don't
Stop Me Now" with Roger's percussive "More Of That Jazz". This pairing
was repeated in North America, with the added attraction of limited edition
green and red vinyl discs (James here, I truly don't think these exist!).
The chances of locating these coloured discs now are virtually non-existent
- they are rarely offered for sale. (James here, I've NEVER seen these
for sale!)
Unique
Queen's debut live album,
"Live Killers", appeared in June 1979. It generated two Japanese singles
- "Love Of My Life" / "Now I'm Here" and "We Will Rock You" / "Let Me Entertain
You" - both now highly-prized items, because each remains exclusive to
Japan and offers a unique sleeve.
Younger collectors may
not be aware of the beautifully packaged Japanese variation of "Live Killers"
- a green/red double album, complete with English/Japanese lyrics (P-5567E
1/4), which even includes a transcript of Freddie's between-song banter.
Although it's unique to Japan, copies are still readily available.
1980 was the most prolific
year for Queen Japanese singles. "The Game" spawned no fewer than five
45s - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" / "Spread Your Wings (Live)", "Save
Me" / "Sheer Heart Attack (Live)", "Play The Game" / "A Human Body", Another
One Bites The Dust" / "Dont Try Suicide" and "Need Your Loving Tonight"
/ Rock It (Prime Jive)". The last of these has the edge in collecting terms,
as it features a coupling released only in Japan and the States. And Roger
Taylor's "A Human Body" was a non-album track.
Barely two months seperated
"Need Your Loving Tonight" from the next single. "Flash" / "Football Fight",
was released in January 1981, was the standard coupling, proving to be
the only songs lifted from the "Flash Gordon" soundtrack. Amazingly, Brian
May's wonderful "The Hero" was overlooked.
"Under Pressure" / "Soul
Brother", released in October 1981, came in a rather unimaginative black
sleeve, while Elektra's counterpart in Japan offered a pleasing alternative
- a variation on the "Greatest Hits I" cover, and a definite must for collectors.
Ballad
The band made a significant
change in musical direction in 1982, assisted by producer Mack. However,
the 12th album, "Hot Space", proved to be too much for some fans, and as
a consequence, the "Body Language" single struggled to a meagre No. 25,
Brian's vastly underrated "Las Palabras De Amor" ballad stalled at 17 and
John Deacon's "Back Chat" could fare no better than 40. Relatively poor
sales means that this trio of 45s is slightly rarer than several of the
singles which preceded them, despite some slight variations on offer :
"Staying Power" featured Roger's "Calling All Girls" as it's flipside,
while "Back Chat" was coupled with "Las Palabras De Amor". All came in
striking sleeves.
In November 1982, the
band issued their first live video, 'Live In Japan' (taped in Tokyo, November
3rd, 1982). It was only issued to the Japanese market, and is suprisingly
difficult to locate now, although since then, Dutch bootleg copies have
appeared occasionally.
1984 proved to be an expensive
year for Queen collectors. From the "Works" album came a torrent of variations,
including remixes, extended cuts, non-album material, instrumental versions,
a 'headbanger's mix', a flexidisc, a picture disc and a whole series of
differing picture sleeves - six of which accompanied the "Break Free" single
alone.
Japan's first taste of
the new material came via the Taylor-credited, Mercury-flavoured "Radio
GaGa", coupled with the classy non-album track, "I Go Crazy", the band's
first in the wake of the new deal with EMI in Japan, and Capitol in the
States. This didn't stop some rather odd translations appearing on the
sleeve, particularly those for Brian's B-side. One line from "Radio GaGa"
reads: "Through wars and wows remade my Mars" instead of "Wars of worlds
invaded by Mars". Memories of past references to "The Seven Seas Of Rhyde",
"March Of The Black", "Boheman Rapsody" and "Freddy Mercury" came flooding
back. And on one occasion, even the record company was credited as 'Elektla'
(on "Under Pressure").
Instrumental
"I Want To Break Free"
followed, in April 1984, coupled with the Taylor/May composition, "Machines".
Collectors generally prefer the U.S. edition, containing an instrumental
version of the B-side which made a more recent appearance on the 1992 "Box
Of Tricks" compilation CD (CDQTEL 0001).
There was nothing unique in the
third "Works" coupling - "It's A Hard Life" / "Is This The World We Created"
- and the Japanese edition commands a similar price to the domestic 12"
picture disc (£40).
After a 16-month absence from the Japanese charts,
the band returned in November 1985 with "One Vision" / "Blurred Vision",
which fared well universally, assisted by an imaginative promo video filmed
during the recording session. What they didn't get in the Far East, though,
was "Hammer To Fall".
Two similar sleeves accompanied the next two
singles, "A Kind Of Magic" and "Princes Of The Universe", suggesting that
the latter was an afterthought. They depicted an identical scene from the
'Highlander' film, featuring the fearful Kurgan character. Curiously, the
latter wasn't issued here, despite its accompanying Russell Mulcahy-directed
promo video, which boasted a cameo from Christopher Lambert. Had it been
released here, the song would probably have made more impact than Brian's
sombre "Live Forever" ballad.
The first and apparently only release from 1989's
"The Miracle" album was the arrogant "I Want It All". Released in May,
this is without doubt the rarest of all Japanese 7" singles, and may indeed
be the rarest in the world. It certainly rivals the £1,000-rated
blue vinyl "Bo Rhap" editions, and given that only 30 are apparently in
circulation, it may eventually pass its more famous predecessor.
An extremely rare Japanese 3" CD single featuring
the same pairing also exists, sporting an identical sleeve to its Austrian
counterpart (506-20 33603). (James here, this is INCORRECT! the Austrian
"I Want It All" 3" CD has a very unique sleeve. Compare the Japan issue
which is pictured on my Japanese 3" CD page to the Austrian 3" CD which
is pictured on my Miracle singles page.)
As on the "Miracle", Queen's last studio album,
"Innuendo", featured writing credits attributed to all four band members.
"Headlong", issued in July 1991, bore obvious Brian May trademarks, and
could easily have found its way onto his 1992 solo album had the rest of
the group not heard it first. Brian's bluesy, non-album "Lost Opportunity",
which featured his lead vocals, backed the single, which is rarer on 45
than it is on CD. (James here, Headlong was never released on 45 in Japan.
It was definately planned but according to Jon Jemmett it was cancelled
and the CD boasts the same catalog number that the 45 was supposed to bear.)
The latter boasts Freddie's previously unissued 1973 Biblical gem, "Mad
The Swine", plus the customary Japanese/English lyric sheet. At home, "Headlong"
was coupled with the exquisite "All God's People", while in America, an
edited version was inexplicably accompanied by "Under Pressure".
It now seems likely that the "Innuendo" title
track also appeared in Japan, although perhaps only as a promotional item.
EMI in Japan were unable to confirm or dismiss the possibility.
It's worth mentioning too, that if any releases
did follow "Headlong" (James here again, Headlong WAS NOT released on vinyl
in Japan!), they would have been on CD only.
The final example Japanese single, the double-A
sided "Bo Rhap" / "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", did not appear on
vinyl. Released due to public demand as a tribute to Freddie, it appeared
in the shops barely two weeks after his death. The same sleeve was used
worldwide.
Although the main purpose of this feature has
been to discuss the marvellous run of Queen singles on issued in Japan
on 45, it's worth mentioning the immaculately packaged box of 12 3" CD
singles. Although these are identical to their U.K. counterparts, they
have been remastered without all the errors which marred the originals.
Even the old translation errors on "Somebody To Love" and "Radio Ga Ga"
have been amended, though "I Go Crazy" still evidently posed some problems
for EMI's Eastern office.
Gripe
The main gripe has to be with the illogical
choice of track content, which blighted the U.K. originals. Sadly, the
material issued exclusively in Japan - including "Teo Torriate", "Princes",
"Drowse", "Don't Try Suicide", "Calling All Girls", and "More Of That Jazz"
- was ignored, and uncharacteristically, the artwork was essentially the
same as that for the U.K. releases, albeit in 3" x 6" format.
There were some differences: the "Queen CD Singles
Box" (TODP-2251/2262) was housed in a distinctly Japanese flavoured detachable
box, complete with a Japanese discography, biography and eight-page lyric
booklet. But an opportunity to offer collectors all the uniquely Japanese
tracks, sleeves and even lyrical oversights was missed, though it's impossible
to deny that the box set is perhaps one of the finest collector's items
ever to have been released - and it's sensibly priced too. Even so, it
won't stop collectors from harbouring dreams of owning a complete run of
the band's Japanese singles on 7" - with sleeves intact!
Here is a complete list of official Japanese 7"
singles.
Keep Yourself Alive / Son And Daughter - Elektra P-1290E
Seven Seas Of Rhye / The Loser In The End - Elektra P-1314E
Killer Queen / Flick Of The Wrist - Elektra P-1357E
Now I'm Here / Lily Of The Valley - Elektra P-1377E
Bohemian Rhapsody / I'm In Love With My Car - Elektra P-128E
Now I'm Here / Keep Yourself Alive - Elektra P-102E
You're My Best Friend / '39 - Elektra P-16E
Killer Queen / Seven Seas Of Rhye - Elektra P-103E
Bohemian Rhapsody / I'm In Love With My Car Elektra P-1430E
Somebody To Love / White Man - Elektra P-78E
Teo Torriate / Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy - Elektra P-157E
Tie Your Mother Down / Drowse - Elektra P-193E
We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You - Elektra P-230E
It's Late(edit) / Sheer Heart Attack - Elektra P-271E
Bicycle Race / Fat Bottomed Girls - Elektra P-350E
Don't Stop Me Now / More Of That Jazz - Elektra P-381E
Love Of My Life(live) / Now I’m Here(live) - Elektra P-423E
We Will Rock You(live) / Let Me Entertain You(live) - Elektra
P-486E
Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Spread Your Wings(live)
- Elektra P-529E
Save Me / Sheer Heart Attack - Elektra P-550E
Play The Game / A Human Body - Elektra P-603E
Another One Bites The Dust / Don't Try Suicide - Elektra
P-618E
Need Your Loving Tonight / Rock It (Prime Jive) - Elektra
P-654E
Flash / Football Fight - Elektra P-655E
Under Pressure - Special 4 artist promo w/ gatefold sleeve
Elektra PS-1015
Under Pressure / Soul Brother - Elektra P-1587E
Body Language / Life Is Real - Elektra P-1650
Staying Power / Calling All Girls - Elektra P-1678
Back Chat / Las Palabras De Amor - Elektra P-1708
Radio Ga Ga / Radio Ga Ga - EMI PRP-1125 promo only
Radio Ga Ga / I Go Crazy - EMI EMS-17425
I Want To Break Free / Machines (Back To Humans) - EMI EMS-17452
It's A Hard Life / Is This The World We Created ? - EMI EMS-17482
One Vision / Blurred Vision - EMI EMS-17594
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling - EMI
EMS-17632
Princes Of The Universe / Who Wants To Live Forever - EMI
EMS-17663
I Want It All / Hang On In There - promo only Japan EMI PRP-1397
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