The Doors

---

The Doors logo 1967
from their first album

Band: "The Doors"

FIRST SIX-SONGS DEMO

Tracks:
--- 1) "Moonlight Drive" (2:31)
--- 2) "Hello, I Love You" (2:28)
--- 3) "Summer's Almost Gone" (2:17)
--- 4) "My Eyes Have Seen You" (2:01)
--- 5) "End of the Night" (2:59)
--- 6) "Insane" (2:30)

Writer: Jim Morrison

Musicians:
--- Jim Morrison - vocals
--- Ray Manzarek - piano and vocals
--- John Densmore - drums
--- Rick Manzarek - guitar
--- Jim Manzarek - harmonica
--- Patricia Hansen (née Sullivan) - bass guitar

Genre: Psychedelic rock

Recorded: September 2, 1965

Producer: Richard Bock

Studio: World Pacific Studios, 8715 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Format: One-sided acetate, 10", 33rpm.

The Doors, first ever six-songs demo, original audio (recorded September 2, 1965)

The Doors, first ever six-songs demo, one-sided acetate (recorded September 2, 1965)

FIRST SINGLE

Tracks:
--- A-Side: "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" (2:24)
--- B-Side: "End of the Night" (2:49)

Writers / Musicians:
--- Jim Morrison – vocals
--- Ray Manzarek - organ, piano bass
--- Robby Krieger - electric guitar
--- John Densmore – drums

Genre: Psychedelic rock

Recorded: August 1966

Released: January 1, 1967

Producer: Paul A. Rothchild

Studio: Elektra Records, 51 West 51 Street, New York City, USA

Label: Elektra Records

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45rpm.

The Doors, first single (January 1, 1967)

The Doors, "Break On Through" promo video (1967 by director and producer Mark Abramson)

FIRST ALBUM

Title: "The Doors"

A-Side Tracks:
--- 1) "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" (2:25)
--- 2) "Soul Kitchen" (3:30)
--- 3) "The Crystal Ship" (2:30)
--- 4) "Twentieth Century Fox" (2:30)
--- 5) "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)" (3:15)
--- 6) "Light My Fire" (6:30)
B-Side Tracks:
--- 7) "Back Door Man" (3:30)
--- 8) "I Looked at You" (2:18)
--- 9) "End of the Night" (2:49)
--- 10) "Take It as It Comes" (2:13)
--- 11) "The End" (11:35)

Writers: All tracks written by The Doors (Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore), except No.5 "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)" by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, and No.7 "Back Door Man" by Willie Dixon and Chester Burnett.

Musicians:
--- Jim Morrison – lead vocals
--- Ray Manzarek - organ, piano, keyboard bass, marxophone, backing vocals
--- Robby Krieger - lead guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
--- John Densmore – drums, percussion, backing vocals
--- Larry Knechtel (uncredited) - bass guitar

Genre: Psychedelic rock

Recorded: August 1966

Released: January 4, 1967

Producer: Paul A. Rothchild

Studio: Sunset Sound Recorders, 6650 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California, USA

Label: Elektra Records

Format: Vinyl, 12", 33rpm.

The Doors, first album (January 4, 1967)

The Doors, their Sunset Strip billboard (January 1967)

Overview: The Doors was formed in the summer of 1965. In July, two fellow graduates at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek, met in Venice Beach, California, and decided to try playing together. Jim sang his "Moonlight Drive", and Ray - who played the keyboard in a band called "Rick & the Ravens" with his brothers Rick and Jim - began to accompany him. They called the band "The Doors", from the title of Aldous Huxley's book "The Doors of Perception", itself derived from a line in William Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell": «If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite».
In August, Ray invited John Densmore - who was playing with the "Psychedelic Rangers" and knew Manzarek from meditation classes - to join the band as drummer.
On September 2, Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, and John Densmore, with Ray's brothers Rick (guitar) and Jim (harmonica), and Patty Sullivan (bass guitar) from the band "Patty And The Esquires", recorded their first six-songs demo at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles. In late September, after Manzarek's two brothers left, the group recruited another member of the "Psychedelic Rangers", guitarist Robby Krieger: the lineup – Morrison, Manzarek, Densmore and Krieger – was complete.
At the end of 1965, The Doors began auditioning in various small clubs, and in early 1966 the group was playing the Los Angeles club "London Fog". From May to August 1966 they graduated to the more esteemed "Whisky a Go Go", where they were the house band.
On August 18, after Elektra Records president Jac Holzman and producer Paul A. Rothchild saw two sets of the band playing at the Whisky a Go Go, they signed them to the label. In less than one month, The Doors recorded their first album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios in Hollywood.
On January 1, the first single containing "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" on A-side, and "End of the Night" on B-side, was released, accompanied by a promo clip made by Elextra Records producer Mark Abramson, and their first live television appearance lip-synching the song "Break on Through", aired on Shebang, KTLA-TV Channel 5, Los Angeles.
On January 4, The Doors' self-titled first album was released. A billboard with the album cover was put up at 8171 Sunset Blvd.: it was the first billboard on the Sunset Strip to advertise a rock band.

Quote (Jim Morrison): «We didn't start out with such big ideas. We thought we were going to be just another pop group, but then something happened when we recorded "The End". We saw that what we were doing was more important than just a hit song. We were writing serious music and performing it in a very dramatic way. The End is like going to see a movie when you already know the plot. It's a timeless piece of material... It was then that we realized we were different from other groups. We were playing music that would last for years, not weeks».

Property: Elektra Records - The Doors Property, LCC

Official website: https://www.thedoors.com

The Doors at "Whisky a Go Go" club (1966). From left: Robby Krieger (Los Angeles, Jan. 8, 1946), John Densmore (Los Angeles, Dec. 1, 1944), Jim Morrison (Melbourne, Dec. 8, 1943 - Paris, July 3, 1971) and Ray Manzarek (Chicago, Feb. 12, 1939 - Rosenheim, May 20, 2013).

Michael Jackson

---

Michael Joseph Jackson
Gary, Aug. 29, 1958 -
Los Angeles, June 25, 2009,
American singer, songwriter,
dancer, and actor
(photo: 1972, when
his solo career began)

Artist: "Michael Jackson"

Band:
--- "The Jackson Brothers" (1964)
--- "The Jackson Five" (1965)
--- "Michael Jackson" (solo since October 1971)

First song: "Big Boy"

Genre: Soul

Musicians:
--- Jackie Jackson - vocals
--- Tito Jackson - vocals, guitar
--- Marlon Jackson - vocals
--- Michael Jackson - lead vocals
--- Jermaine Jackson - lead vocals, bass guitar

Writer: Eddie Silvers

DEMO VERSION
--- Title: "I'm a Big Boy Now"
--- Recorded: July 13, 1967
--- Producer: Gordon Keith
--- Studio: Tone Studios, 1827 South Michigan, Chicago, Illinois, USA
--- Label: One-derful Records
--- Format: Audiotape
--- Lenght: 2:56

RELEASE VERSION
--- Title: "Big Boy"
--- Recorded: November 1967 - Chicago, Illinois, USA
--- Released: January 1968 - Gary, Lake, Indiana, USA
--- Producers: Ben Brown, Gordon Keith
--- Studio: Morrison Sound Studio, West 69th Street, South Chicago, Illinois, USA
--- Label: Steeltown Records
--- Format: Vinyl 7", 45 rpm. On B-side: "You've Changed", written by Jesse Reese
--- Lenght: 2:30

Overview: "Big Boy" was the first song sung by Michael Jackson, performed and recorded with his brothers as "The Jackson Five" band. They began their career performing at talent contests, which they would often win. In 1967 Gordon Keith, owner of Steeltown Records, signed the band to six-month contract with him; in November of that year, at the Sunny Sawyer's Morrison Sound Studio in South Chicago, The Jackson Five - Jackie (16), Tito (14), Jermaine (12), Marlon (10) and Michael (9) - recorded "Big Boy", a song written by saxophonist Eddie Silvers, who at the time was playing in a group called the Soul Merchants and working as music director for Chicago R&B label One-derful Records. On B-side: "You've Changed", written by Jesse Reese. In the same session, the group recorded also "We Don't Have to Be Over 21", by Sherman Nesbary, and "Some Girls Want Me for Their Lover", authorship unclear.
The very first recording of "Big Boy" dates back to July 13, 1967, under the title "I'm a Big Boy Now". The Jackson Five had cut the track for Chicago's One-derful Records, playing all of their own instruments at the label's Tone Studios. This session had been all but forgotten until 2009, when guitarist Larry Blasingaine brought it to the attention of Jake Austen, a Chicago Reader writer who was researching a story about the Steeltown release.
"Big Boy" was released in January 1968, initially hand-sold by Michael and his brothers during their performances; two months later it was picked up for national ditribution by Atco, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records: sold well locally, it failed to register on any of Billboard's charts.
Michael Jackson made his debut as solo in later 1971, with "Got to Be There", a single released on October 7 under Motown Records label; on January 24, 1972, under the same name and the same label, his first solo studio album was released. It sold about 900,000 copies in the USA and over 3.2 million copies worldwide.

Quote (Michael Jackson): «A star can never die. It just turns into a smile and melts back into the cosmic music, the dance of life».

Property: One-derful Records - Steeltown Records

Artist website: http://www.michaeljackson.com

The Jackson Five, announcement (1965). On Michael's 7th birthday, Aug. 29, 1965, the brothers perform "Doin' the Jerk" (by The Larks) at a fashion show in Gary, Indiana's Big Top Department Store: Tiny Tots' Back-to-School "Jamboree". This is the first time they have played under the name "The Jackson Five".

The Jackson Five, article on Gary Post Tribune (1966). The Jackson Five won the Annual Talent Search at the Gilroy Stadium in Gary. During this performance Michael impressed the audience and his brothers by his dance improvisation for the song Barefootin’, a hit of Robert Parker, on which Michael sang lead.

The Jackson Five with Johnny on drums (1967). Marlon, Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Michael, with Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums.

"I'm a Big Boy Now" (July 13, 1967), reel and studio worksheet of the earliest known studio recording, from One-derful Records.

"Big Boy" (November 1967), master reel of the Steeltown Records demo version.

"Big Boy" (January 1968), Steeltown Records first release (Steeltown 681). On B-side: "You've Changed", written by Jesse Reese. The single will be distributed locally and the Jackson brothers will sell during their performances.

"Big Boy" (March 5, 1968), Steeltown Records second release, distributed nationally by Atco, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, about 10,000 copies.

"Big Boy" original audio from the single (1968)

BIG BOY

Fairy tales, fairy tales
I don't enjoy
Fairy tales and wishful dreams
Are broken toys

'Cause I'm a big boy now (Big boy)
That's looking for (Big boy)
Someone to love, oh yeah
Someone, someone to share my dreams,
oh yeah

Mother goose, oh mother goose
Oh, won't you join
All I need is an ol' lovely girl
Holding my arm

'Cause I'm a big boy now (Big boy)
That's looking for (Big boy)
Someone to love, oh yeah
Someone, someone to share my dreams,
oh yeah

Skating boards
And kiddie cars
Have had their day
Dating at the picture show with you
Is here to stay

'Cause I'm a big boy now (Big boy)
That's looking for (Big boy)
Someone to love, oh yeah
Someone, someone to share my dreams,
oh yeah

Come on, baby
Come on, baby, ooh

"Big Boy" lyrics

"Got to Be There" single (October 7, 1971). Written by Elliot Willensky and released as Michael Jackson's first solo single. On B-side: "Maria (You Were the Only One)", written and composed by Larry Brown, Shadee, George Gordy and Linda Glover. Producer Hal Davison, label Motown Records.

"Got to Be There" album (January 24, 1972). Michael Jackson's debut studio album which includes the song of the same name, fifth track of ten, debut solo single. Producers: Hal Davis, The Corporation, Willie Hutch; label Motown Records. It sold about 900,000 copies in the United States and over 3.2 million copies worldwide.

David Bowie

---

David Bowie logo 1967
from his first album

Artist:
--- "David Robert Jones" (born 1947)
--- "Davie Jones" (debut 1964)
--- "David Bowie" (since 1965)

Band: "Davie Jones with The King Bees"

First song: "Liza Jane"

Genre: Rock, Beat, Rock 'n' roll

Musicians:
--- David Jones - vocals, alto sax
--- George Underwood - rhythm guitar, harmonica, vocals
--- Roger Bluck - lead guitar
--- Francis Howard - bass
--- Bob Allen - drums

Writer: Leslie Conn

Recorded: May 1964

Released: June 5, 1964 - UK

Producer: Leslie Conn

Studio: Decca Studios, 165 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London

Label: Vocalion Pop (catalogue No. V.9221)

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 rpm, A-side. On B-side: Davie Jones with The King Bees perform a cover of "Louie, Louie Go Home", by Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Lenght: 2:18

Overview: "Liza Jane" was the first recording to be released as a single by David Bowie, and credited to Davie Jones with The King Bees. The song was an arrangement of the old standard "Li'l Liza Jane", but Leslie Conn was controversially credited as the songwriter. On B-side, Davie Jones with The King Bees perform a cover of "Louie, Louie Go Home", by Paul Revere and the Raiders. Both songs on the single were recorded in a seven-hour session at Decca Studios in London, 165 Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, under the label Vocalion Pop, May 1964, and released on June 5, 1964.
In 1962 David Bowie formed his first band at the age of 15, while at Bromley Technical College. In the spring of the same year, Bowie got into a fight over a girl, with his school pal - and, later, lifetime artistic partner - George Underwood; George punched him in the left eye. His doctors determined that the damage could not be fully repaired and Bowie was left with faulty depth perception and a permanently dilated pupil, which gave a false impression of a change in the iris' colour. Playing guitar-based rock and roll at local youth gatherings and weddings, The Kon-rads had a varying line-up of between four and eight members, Underwood among them. In 1964, frustrated by his band-mates' limited aspirations, Bowie left The Kon-rads and joined another band, The King Bees. He wrote to the newly successful washing-machine entrepreneur John Bloom inviting him to "do for us what Brian Epstein has done for the Beatles - and make another million". Bloom did not respond to the offer, but his referral to Dick James's partner Leslie Conn led to Bowie's first personal management contract. Conn signs a deal with Decca for a single, "Liza Jane", with "Louie, Louie Go Home" on the B-side, released on June 5, 1964. Conn quickly began to promote Bowie, and since than, he becomes a fully fledged professional musician. Music weeklies NME, Record Mirror and Record Retailer each ran encouraging reviews of the disc, it was aired by DJs on Radio Luxembourg, and the band got to appear on TV shows such as Juke Box Jury (June 6), Ready! Steady! Go! (June 19), and The Beat Room (July 27). Despite promoting, the single sold poorly. Bowie quit the band less than a month later to join the Manish Boys, another blues outfit, who incorporated folk and soul. "I Pity the Fool" was no more successful than "Liza Jane", and Bowie soon moved on again to join the Lower Third, a blues trio strongly influenced by the Who. "You've Got a Habit of Leaving" fared no better, signalling the end of Conn's contract. His new manager, Ralph Horton, later instrumental in his transition to solo artist, soon witnessed Bowie's move to yet another group, the Buzz, yielding the singer's fifth unsuccessful single release, "Do Anything You Say". While with the Buzz, Bowie also joined the Riot Squad; their recordings, which included a Bowie number and The Velvet Underground material, went unreleased. Ken Pitt, introduced by Horton, took over as Bowie's manager. In late 1965, dissatisfied with his stage name as Davy (and Davie) Jones, Bowie renamed himself after the 19th-century American frontiersman Jim Bowie and the knife he had popularised. His April 1967 solo single, "The Laughing Gnome", failed to chart. Released six weeks later, his album debut, David Bowie, an amalgam of pop, psychedelia, and music hall, met the same fate. It was not until 1969 that the splash onto the charts would begin, with the legendary "Space Oddity", which peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.

Quote: David Bowie, during the live at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, USA, 5 June 2004, sang the first verse and chorus of his debut single "Liza Jane" to honor its 40th anniversary, and prefaced it by calling the song «absolutely dreadful» and «excruciating», which isn't a bad description of the sludgy blues fragment he offered that night.

Property: Decca Records

Artist website: http://www.davidbowie.com

David Bowie formed his first band "The Kon-rads" in 1962 (15 years old). A guitar-based rock and roll group with a varying line-up of between four and eight members.

David Bowie in 1964 (17 years old, then Davie Jones). David Robert Jones, known as David Bowie (Brixton, Jan. 8, 1947 - Manhattan, Jan. 10, 2016), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, actor, record producer and arranger.

Davie Jones with The King Bees (1964). Standing in the middle: Bowie (then David Jones); from left: George Underwood, Dave Howard, Robert Allen, and Roger Bluck.

"Liza Jane" original audio from the single (June 5, 1964)

LIZA JANE

Well, I got a girl that's so good to me
(Oh, little Liza)
Well, now she ain't more than five foot three
(Oh, little Liza)

Well, this little girl is so good to me
(Oh, little Liza)
Yeah, this little girl's nearly half of me
(Oh, little Liza)

Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane

I got a girl, duh-duh-goo-to-duh
(Oh, little Liza)
Yeah, this little girl turn me upside down
(Oh, little Liza)

Well, I like all little girl had
(Oh, little Liza)
You know this little girl drive me to despair
(Oh, little Liza)

Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane

Yeah, I got a girl who loves me true
(Oh, little Liza)
Now she ain't more than five foot two, yeah
(Oh, little Liza)

You know this little girl is so good for me, yeah
(Oh, little Liza)
You know this little girl's is half of me
(Oh, little Liza)

Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane
Little Liza Jane

Oh yeah, I love her
Little Liza Jane
Well, I'm coming back to me love
'Cause she's driving insane

"Liza Jane" lyrics

David Bowie, his first song ever: "Liza Jane", credited to Davie Jones with The King Bees and released on June 5, 1964, in 7" vinyl single format, A-side. On B-side, their version (cover) of the song "Louie, Louie Go Home", by Paul Revere and the Raiders.

Liza Jane, advertisement on the Record Mirror (June 6, 1964)

Davie Jones with The King Bees, review on the Record Mirror (June 20, 1964)

Liza Jane, sheet music cover (1964, Dick James Music Ltd.)

Davie Jones with The King Bees: Liza Jane on BBC TV's "The Beat Room" (July 27, 1964)

David Bowie, cover for the eponymous debut studio album (June 1, 1967)

Madonna

---

Madonna Louise Ciccone
known as Madonna
August 16, 1958
Bay City, Michigan, USA,
American singer and songwriter
(ph: Peter Cunningham, 1982)

Artist: "Madonna"

First song: "Everybody"

Genre: Dance-pop

Musicians:
--- Madonna - vocals
--- Butch Jones - synthesizer
--- Reggie Lucas - guitars, drum programming
--- Fred Zarr - synth, electric and acoustic piano
--- Dean Gant - electric and acoustic piano
--- Bobby Malach - tenor saxophone
--- Ed Walsh - synthesizer
--- Gwen Guthrie - background vocals
--- Brenda White - background vocals
--- Chrissy Faith - background vocals

Writer: Madonna

Recorded: Summer 1982

Released: October 6, 1982 - USA

Producer: Mark Kamins

Studio: Blank Tapes Studios, New York City

Label: Sire Records

Distributor: Warner Bros Records Inc.

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 rpm, A-side. On B-side: "Everybody" (Dub Version), 9:23

Lenght: 5:56

Overview: "Everybody", commercially released as Madonna's first single on October 6, 1982, starts with a heavily synthesized and spoken introduction with Madonna taking a loud intake of breath. "Everybody" incorporated R&B infused beats. For the cover of the single, Sire Records portrayed a hip-hop collage of downtown New York. "Everybody" was also released as track no. 8 (last song) in the debut studio album "Madonna" by Sire Records, July 27, 1983.
In 1982, the 24-year-old Madonna was living in New York and trying to set up her music career. She was joined by her boyfriend from Detroit, Steve Bray, who became the drummer of her band, The Breakfast Club, which generally played hard-rock music. After that, Madonna wrote and developed some songs on her own. She carried rough tapes of three of the songs, namely "Everybody", "Ain't No Big Deal" and "Burning Up". At that time, she frequented the Danceteria nightclub in New York. It was there that Madonna convinced the DJ Mark Kamins to play "Everybody" for the crowd, and the song received a positive reaction. At Sire Records, Madonna was signed for two 12 inch singles by the President, Seymour Stein, who was impressed by her singing, after listening to "Everybody". The 12 inch version of "Everybody" was produced by Mark Kamins at Bob Blank's Blank Tapes Studio in NYC. Kamins was romantically involved with Madonna at that time. He took over the production work from Steve Bray. The new recording ran 5:56 on one side and 9:23 for the dub version on the flipside. Madonna and Kamins had to record the single at their own cost. Because of the ambiguous nature of the record sleeve and the R&B groove of the song, Madonna was widely believed to be a black artist when the single was released. Sire Records marketed the soulful nature of the dance song for the black audience and Madonna was promoted as an African-American artist, thereby fitting the record into a radio playlist where the song might chart. In New York, the song was played on 92 KTU which had an African-American audience.

Quote (Madonna): «I went to New York. I had a dream. I wanted to be a big star. I didn't know anybody. I wanted to dance. I wanted to sing. I wanted to do all those things. I wanted to make people happy. I wanted to be famous. I wanted everybody to love me. I wanted to be a star. I worked really hard and my dream came true».

Property: Sire - Warner Bros.

Artist website: http://www.madonna.com

"Everybody" original audio from the single (1982)

EVERYBODY

[Spoken:]
I know you've been waiting, yeah
I've been watching you, yeah
I know you wanna get up, yeah
Come on

[Chorus:]
Everybody, come on, dance and sing
Everybody, get up and do your thing
Everybody, come on, dance and sing
Everybody, get up and do your thing

Let the music take control
Find a groove and let yourself go
When the room begins to sway
You know what I'm trying to say

Come on, take a chance
Get up and start the dance
Let the D.J. shake you
Let the music take you

[chorus]

Let your body take a ride
Feel the beat and step inside
Music makes the world go 'round
You can turn your troubles upside down

Gonna have to change your mind
Gonna leave your troubles behind
Your body gets the notion
When your feet can make the motion

[chorus, repeat]

Dance and sing, get up and do your thing [repeat 4 times]

[Spoken:]
I know you've been waiting, yeah, yeah
I see you sitting there, I've been watching you
Across the room, yeah, yeah
I've been watching you, I see you sitting there by yourself
Yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on

[chorus]

Let the music take control
Find a groove and let yourself go
When the room begins to sway
You know what I'm trying to say

[chorus, repeat and fade]
(Dance and sing, get up and do your thing) [in background]

"Everybody" lyrics

Madonna, first song ever: "Everybody", released on October 6, 1982, in 12" single format, A-side. On B-side, the Dub Version. The cover, depicting a hip hop-style NYC street scene, was designed by the German artist Lou Beach.

Madonna, first image on a magazine: Dance Music Report, USA (Nov. 27, 1982). "Everybody" is included in their "Breakouts" featurette.

Madonna, first ever live performance of "Everybody" at the Danceteria club in New York (Dec. 16, 1982)

Madonna, cover for the eponymous debut studio album 1983, containing "Everybody" as track no. 8, last song (1983)

Madonna, cover for the international re-release of the debut album, which was released under the title "Madonna: The First Album" (1985)

Queen

---

Queen logo 1973
by Freddy Mercury

Band:
--- "Smile" (1968)
--- "Queen" (1970)

First song: "Keep Yourself Alive"

Genre: Hard Rock

Musicians:
--- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
--- Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
--- John Deacon - bass guitar
--- Roger Taylor - drums, tambourine, backing vocals

Brian Harold May
Hampton, July 19, 1947,
founder member
of the rock group Queen,
guitarist and songwriter

Writer: Brian May

DEMO VERSION
--- Recorded: December 1971

--- Producer: Louie Austin

--- Studio: De Lane Lea Studios, 75 Dean Street, Soho, London, England, UK

--- Format: The only known original source is Brian May's own 12" acetate.

--- Lenght: 3:51

RELEASE VERSION

--- Released: July 6, 1973 (UK) - October 9, 1973 (USA)

--- Producers: Queen, Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony

--- Studio: Trident Studios, 17 St. Anne's Court, Soho, London, England, UK

--- Labels: EMI (UK) - Elektra (USA)
--- Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 rpm, A-side. On B-side: "Son And Daughter"
--- Lenght: 3:47 (UK) - 3:29 (US edit)

Overview: In 1968, guitarist Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist Tim Staffell decided to form a band. May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a drummer; Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. The group called themselves "Smile". While attending Ealing Art College, Tim Staffell became friends with Farrokh Bulsara, a fellow student who had assumed the English name of Freddie. Bulsara felt that he and the band had the same tastes and soon became a keen fan of Smile. In late 1970, after Staffell left to join the band Humpy Bong, the remaining Smile members, encouraged by Bulsara, changed their name to "Queen" and continued working together. The band had a number of bass players, until February 1971 that they settled on John Deacon. Around this time Freddie changed his surname to "Mercury". On July 2, 1971, Queen played their first show in the classic line-up of Mercury, May, Deacon and Taylor at a Surrey college outside London.
"Keep Yourself Alive" is the first of five demos recorded by the band in December 1971 at the new De Lane Lea Studios, London, England. The sessions are arranged through contacts at the studio who agree to let the band record in exchange for the band testing the equipment and facilities for engineers. Tracks worked on are: "Keep Yourself Alive", "The Night Comes Down", "Great King Rat", "Jesus", "Liar". The De Lane Lea Demo of "Keep Yourself Alive" begins with the needle hitting the acetate; giving it an authentic and special feel. The intro is played on Brian May's Hairfred acoustic guitar, before the Red Special takes over. The fade-out ending is similar to the album version.

Quote (Brian May): «The first recording of "Keep Yourself Alive" ever was in De Lane Lea when we did it ourselves and I've still got that recording and I think it’s very good and has something which the single never had. But they pressurised us very strongly to redo all the tracks and we redid "Keep Yourself Alive" with Roy and it was pretty awful, actually. I thought it was terrible and I was very unhappy about it and I thought the De Lane Lea one was better and I eventually managed to persuade Roy that it was better as well. So, we went back in and did it again in a way that was a bit more true to the original. But there is no way that you can ever really repeat something. I have this great belief that the magic of the moment can never be recaptured and, although we ended up with something that was technically in the playing and perhaps even in the recording a bit better than the De Lane Lea thing. I still think that the De Lane Lea one had that certain sort of magic, so I was never really happy. As it turned out no one else was ever really happy either and we kept remixing it. We thought that it's the mix that's wrong, we kept remixing and there must have been, at least, seven or eight different mixes by different groups of people. Eventually we went in and did a mix with Mike Stone, our engineer, and that's the one that we were in the end happiest with. That’s the one we put out».

Property: EMI Records Ltd. - Elektra Records

Official website: http://www.queenonline.com

Flyer: before recording the demo, Queen performs "Keep Yourself Alive" on January 9, 1971 at Ewell Technical College, Ewell, Surrey, England, supporting Kevin Ayers And The Whole World. Bass player at this time: Barry Mitchell.

"Keep Yourself Alive" original audio (De Lane Lea Demo Version, Dec. 1971)

KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE

I was told a million times of all the people in my way
And how I have to keep on trying just get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, bread and butter for a smile
Well, I sold a million mirrors in a shop in alley way
But I never saw my face in any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you to be a superstar
But I tell you just be satisfied and stay right where you are

Keep yourself alive, yeah, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive

Well I loved a million women in a belladonic haze
And I ate a million dinners brought to me on silver trays
Give me everything I need to feed my body and my soul
And I'll grow a little bigger, then that can be my goal
I was told a million times of all the troubles in my way
How I had to keep on trying and get better every day
But if I crossed a million rivers, and I rode a million miles
Then I'd still be where I started, same as when I'd started

Keep yourself alive, yeah, keep yourself alive
Take you all your time and money
Honey you'll survive

Wooh-hoo

Oh

Keep yourself alive, keep yourself alive, oh
Take you all your time and money
To keep me satisfied

Do you think you're better every day
No, I just think I'm two steps nearer to my grave, yeah

Keep yourself alive, come on, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, yes you've gotta keep yourself alive
All you pretty people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, ooh, keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive
Keep yourself alive, yes, yes, yes
Keep yourself alive
All you people keep yourself alive

"Keep Yourself Alive" lyrics (De Lane Lea Demo Version, Dec. 1971)

"Keep Yourself Alive" release version on single vinyl A-side (EMI, July 6, 1973). On B-side the song "Son And Daughter".

"Keep Yourself Alive" official video

Queen in 1973. From left: Roger Taylor, Freddy Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon.