Recorded August 1973 at Trident Studios
UK release: Friday 8th March 1974
Highest Chart Position: 5 (29 weeks on chart)
Award status: Gold
USA release: 9th April 1974
Highest Chart Position: 49 (13 weeks on chart)
Award status: Gold
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Robin Geoffrey Cable and Queen
Engineered by Mike Stone
Cover Concept by Mick Rock and Queen

There are a lot of enigmas of why Queen II wasn't a commercial sucess. Roger Taylor recalls that he didn't know what happened because they worked very hard trying to make a great album, which is indeed great, but still it had bad reviews from the press. There are still lots of Queen fans who don't know how great this album is... since it wasn't as successful as the others. This albums contains lots of amazing epic tracks, which show really what Queen was able to do. It has a 'White Side' which feature songs from Brian and Roger, and a 'Black Side' which are songs written by Freddie. Don't trust those reviews from idiots like those who write on 'Rolling Stone' magazine, because to tell you the truth those assholes don't know anthing about music.

ALBUM AVERAGE RATING: 8.7

Procession
Words and music by Brian May

A very nice melody which I consider is the best start for a great album.

Rating: 8.6

Father To Son
Words and music by Brian May

Seems like this song was dedicated from Brian to his father, who helped him to build his 'Red Special' guitar. Brian considers his father as a role model, and it was very hard for him to overcome his death in the early 90's. Brian's father disagred with him about following a musical career but later he realized that brian made the right choice.

Rating: 8.4
A word in your ear, from father to son
Hear the word that I say, I fought with you
Fought on your side, long before you were born

Joyful the sound, the word goes around
From father to son to son...

and the voice is so clear
Time after time it keeps, calling you, calling you on
Don't destroy what you see, your country to be
Just keep building on the ground, that's been won

Kings will be crowned, the word goes around
From father to son to son...

Won't you hear us sing
Our family song? Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba
Now we hand it on, but I've heard it all before

Take this letter that I give you, take it sonny hold it high
You won't understand a word that's in it
But you'll write it all again before you die

A word in your ear, from father to son
Funny you don't hear, a single word that I say
But my letter to you, will stay by your side
Thru' the years, till the loneliness is gone
Sing if you will, but the air you breathe, I live to give you
Father to son father to son, father to son father to son

Joyful the sound, Word goes around
Father to son, to son
Kings will be crowned, Earth goes around
Father to son to son

White Queen(as it began)
Words and music by Brian May

This is a very nice ballad. It shows that Freddie wasn't the only one who could compose these kind of soft songs, and that Brian wasn't just the composer of heavy songs. The first Queen song to feature Brian on the leading vocals.

Rating: 9.2
So sad her eyes, smiling dark eyes
So sad her eyes, as it began

On such a breathless night as this, upon my brow the lightest kiss
I walked alone...
And all around the air did sway, my lady soon will stir this way
In sorrow known, the white queen walks
And the night grows pale, stars of lovingness in her hair

Heeding, unheard, pleading one word
So sad, my eyes, she cannot see

How did thee fare what have thee seen
The mother of the willow green, I call her name
And 'neath her window have I stayed, I loved the footsteps that she made
And when she came, white queen how my heart did ache
And dry my lips no word would make, so still I wait

My goddess hear my darkest fear, I speak too late
It's for evermore that I wait

Dear friend goodbye, no tears in my eyes
So sad, it ends as it began

Some Day, One Day
Words and music by Brian May

Another nice ballad by Brian. Though it's not a very well known song, it has a cover from the Argentinian band 'Soda Stereo' on the Latin Tribute Album... which by the way, really sucks... except from some artists like 'Aterciopelados', Fito Paez, Soraya & 'Soda Stereo'.

Rating: 8.4
You never heard my song before, the music was too loud
But now I think you hear me well, for now we both know how
No star can light our way, in this cloud of dark and fear
But someday one day...

Funny how the pages turn, and hold us in between
A misty castle waits for you, and you shall be a queen
Today the cloud it hangs, over us and all is grey
But someday one day...

When I was you and you were me, and we were very young
Together took us nearly there, the rest may not be sung
So still the cloud it hangs, over us and we're alone
But some day one day, we'll come home

The Loser In The End
Words and music by Roger Taylor

Of course there had to be a heavy song by Roger on this album. Perhaps not as good as the others.

Rating: 7.7
Mama's got a problem She don't know what to say
Her little baby boy, has just left home today
She's got to be the loser in the end
She's got to be the loser in the end
Misuse her and you'll lose her as a friend
She's ma on whom you can always depend

She washed and fed and clothed and cared
For nearly twenty years
And all she gets is 'Goodbye Ma'
And the night times for her tears
She's got to be the loser in the end
She's got to be the loser in the end
Misuse her and you'll lose her as a friend
She's ma on whom you can always depend

So listen mothers everywhere, to just one mothers son
You'll get forgotten on the way, if you don't let them have their fun
Forget regrets and just remember, it's not so long since you were young
You're bound to be the loser in the end, You're bound to be the loser in the end
They'll chose their new shoes, that's not far to bend
You're ma on whom they can always depend

Ogre Battle
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

This song is awesome. Since the beginning it has an amazing chrous followed by a guitar intro which goes backwards and then it goes forwards. Ogre Battle is one of those songs that shows what genius mind these lads had.

Rating: 9.4
Now once upon a time, an old man told me a fable
When the piper is gone, and the soup is cold on the table
And if the black crow flies, to find a new destination, That is the sign
Come tonight, Come to the ogre site, Come to the ogre battle fight

He gives a great big cry, and he can swallow up the ocean
With a mighty tongue he catches flies, and the palm of his hand incredible size
One great big eye has to focus in your direction, now the battle is on
Yeah yeah yeah! Come tonight, Come to the ogre site, Come to the ogre battle fight

The ogre men are still inside, The two way mirror mountain
You gotta keep down, right out of sight
You can't see in but they can see out, 'keep a look out'

The ogre men are coming out, from the two way mirror mountain
They're running up behind, and they're coming all about
Can't go east because you gotta go south

Ogre men are coming home, the great big fight is over
Bugle blow let trumpet cry, Ogre battle lives for ever more
You can come along, You can come along... Come to ogre battle

The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

This is a typical Freddie song with a very rare but cool rhythm.

Rating: 8.6
He's a fairy feller..
the fairy folk have gathered, round the new moon's shine
To see the feller crack a nut, at night's noon time
to swing his axe he swears, as he climbs he dares
To deliver the master stroke, ploughman wagoner will' and types
Politician with senatorial pipe, He's a dilly dally oh
Pedagogue squinting wears a frown, and a satyr peers under lady's gown
He's a dirty fellow, What a dirty laddie, oh
Tatterdemalion and the junketer, there's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter
He's my hero ah, Fairy dandy tickling the fancy
Of his lady friend, the nymph in yellow (can we see the master stroke)
What a quaere fellow

Soldier sailor tinker tailor ploughboy, waiting to hear the sound
And the arch magician presides, he is the leader
Oberon and Titania watched by a harridan
Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary man
Come to say hello, fairy dandy tickling the fancy
Of his lady friend, the nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
The ostler stares with hands on his knees, come on mister feller
Crack it open if you please

Nevermore
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

Here's where Freddie shows his soft side, and in fact this song is a good mirror of it.

Rating: 8.8
There's no living in my life anymore, the seas have gone dry
And the rain's stopped falling, please don't you cry any more
Can't you see, listen to the breeze, whisper to me please
Don't send me to the path of nevermore

Even the valley's below, where the rays of the sun
Were so warm and tender, Now haven't anything to grow
Can't you see?
Why did you have to leave me? (nevermore)
Why did you deceive me? (nevermore)
You sent me to the path of nevermore
When you say you didn't love me anymore
Ah ah nevermore nevermore

The March Of The Black Queen
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

This is an unknown master piece, and I wouldn't doubt that this song would have a great popularity if it was released as a single... maybe almost as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' because there's indeed a lot of similarities between the two of them. It's one of the reasons why Queen II is worth to buy it, and one of the best Queen songs ever in my opinion

Rating: 9.8
Do you mean it do you mean it do you mean it
Why don't you mean it why do I follow you
And where do you go?

You've never seen nothing like it, no never in your life
Like going up to heaven, and then coming back alive
Let me tell you all about it, Oooh give me a little time to choose
Water babies singing in a lily pool delight
Blue powder monkeys praying in the dead of night

Here comes the Black Queen poking in the pile
Fight for the Black Queen marching single file
Take this take that bring them down to size
The March to the Black Queen

Put them in the cellar with the naughty boys
Little nigger sugar then a rub-a-dub-a baby oil
Black on, black on, every finger nail and toe
We've only begun, begun

Make this, make that, keep making all that noise
Oooh march to the Black Queen
Now I've got a belly full
You can be my sugar baby, you can be my honey chile

A voice from behind me reminds me, spread out your wings you are an angel
Remember to deliver with the speed of light, a little bit of love and joy
Everything you do bears a will, and a why and a wherefore
A little bit of love and joy
In each and every soul lies a man, and very soon he'll deceive and discover
But even to the end of his life, he'll bring a little love

I reign with my left hand, I rule with my right
I'm lord of all darkness, I'm queen of the night
I've got the power, now do The march of the Black Queen
My life is in your hands I'll fo and I'll fire
I'll be what you make me, I'll do what you like
I'll be a bad boy, I'll be your bad boy
I'll do the march of the Black Queen

Walking true to style, she's vulgar abuse and vile
Fight for the Black Queen tattoos all her pies
She boils and she bakes, and she never dots her I's
La la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la

Forget your sing a-longs and your lullabies
Surrender to the city of the fireflies
Dance to the devil in beat with the band
To hell with all of you hand in hand
But now it's time to be gone
La la la la forever forever
Ah ah ah ah ah

Funny How Love Is
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

A nice song, with a very charming rhythm. If you sing it, you will probably get tired of saying 'funny' so many times... isn't that funny?

Rating: 8.5
Funny how love is everywhere just look and see
Funny how love is anywhere you're bound to be
Funny how love is every song in every key
Funny how love is coming home in time for tea
Funny funny funny oh
Funny how love is the end of the lies
When the truth begins tomorrow comes
Tomorrow brings tomorrow brings love
In the shape of things
That's what love is that's what love is

Funny how love can break your heart so suddenly
Funny how love came tumbling down with Adam and Eve
Funny how love is running wild feeling free
Funny how love is coming home in time for tea
Funny funny funny oh
From the earth below to the heavens above
That's how far and funny is love
At any time anywhere
If you gotta make love do it everywhere
That's what love is that's what love is

Funny how love is everywhere just look and see
Funny how love is anywhere you're bound to be
Funny how love is every song in every key
Funny how love is when you gotta hurry
Because you're late for tea
Funny funny funny oh
Tommorrow comes tomorrow brings
Tomorrow brings love in the shape of things
At any time anywhere
If you gotta make love do it everywhere
That's what love is that's what love is

Seven Seas Of Rhye

Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Released as a single in Febraury 23 1974
Highest Chart Position in the UK: 10

After listening to all those wonderful songs, I wonder why they decided to release this one as the only single... I don't mean it's bad, just that there were other better songs to choose from. 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' was the first Queen single to hit the charts, and it shows and Old English Chorus at the end.

Rating: 7.9
Fear me you lord and lady preachers, I descend upon your earth from the skies
I command your very souls you unbelievers, Bring before me what is mine
the seven seas of Rhye

Can you hear me you peers and privy councillors
I stand before you naked to the eyes
I will destroy any man who dares abuse my trust
I swear that you'll be mine, at the seven seas of Rhye

Sister I live and lie for you, mister do and I'll die
You are mine I possess you, belong to you forever

Storm the master marathon I'll fly through
By flash and thunder fire I'll survive, I'll survive I'll survive
Then I'll defy the laws of nature , and come out alive

Begone with you you shod and shady senators
Give out the good leave out the bad evil cries
I challenge the mighty titan and his troubadours
And with a smile
I'll take you to the seven seas of Rhye

(Oh I do like to be beside the seaside
Oh I do like to be beside the sea
Oh I do like to stroll along the prom prom prom)