What if Freddie Mercury had been a member of Smile from the get-go? Of course, that's only possible in the Strawberry Peppers universe had the Beatles continued as a group into 1976 before taking a hiatus until 1980. This post was originally completed back in April, and having gotten up to 1980 in the main story, I can finally post this.
Don't Forget to Smile (December 1972)
Side A (22:29)
1. Keep Yourself Alive - 3:46 (May)
2. Doing All Right - 3:45 (May/Staffell; Ghost of a Smile)
3. Mad the Swine - 3:22 (Mercury)
4. Great King Rat - 5:41 (Mercury)
5. Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll - 1:48 (Taylor)
6. My Fairy King - 4:07 (Mercury)
Side B (21:58)
7. Liar - 6:26 (Mercury)
8. The Night Comes Down - 4:24 (May)
9. Earth - 3:59 (Staffell; Ghost of a Smile)
10. Son and Daughter - 3:24 (May)
11. Jesus - 3:45 (Mercury)
All tracks are taken from Queen's eponymous debut album except where noted. For each album, the main songwriter(s) is/are listed. Don't Forget to Smile is essentially Queen's debut album minus the "Seven Seas of Rhye" instrumental and the inclusion of "Mad the Swine" and two Smile recordings - "Doing All Right" and "Earth". Think of this as a transitional album from the lesser-known Tim Staffell era to the well-known Freddie Mercury era.
All tracks are taken from Queen's eponymous debut album except where noted. For each album, the main songwriter(s) is/are listed. Don't Forget to Smile is essentially Queen's debut album minus the "Seven Seas of Rhye" instrumental and the inclusion of "Mad the Swine" and two Smile recordings - "Doing All Right" and "Earth". Think of this as a transitional album from the lesser-known Tim Staffell era to the well-known Freddie Mercury era.
Side A (24:56)
1. Procession/Father to Son/White Queen (As It Began) - 12:00 (May)
2. See What a Fool I've Been - 4:31 (May)
3. Some Day One Day/The Loser in the End - 8:25 (May/Taylor)
Side B (23:32)
4. Ogre Battle/The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke/Nevermore - 9:07 (Mercury; preceded by "Seven Seas Prologue", unlisted, from Queen)
5. Stone Cold Crazy - 2:12 (Mercury; Sheer Heart Attack)
6. The March of the Black Queen/Funny How Love Is - 9:23 (Mercury)
7. Seven Seas of Rhye - 2:50 (Mercury)
All tracks from Queen II are utilized. Side B begins with the "Seven Seas Prologue" from Queen to give the side a nice bookend feel, and there's the inclusion of "Stone Cold Crazy" from Sheer Heart Attack (it has origins tracing back to the late 1960s) and the non-album B-side "See What a Fool I've Been". Tracks that crossfade into one another are each formed into singular tracks. From this album onward, John Deacon is the bassist.
All tracks from Queen II are utilized. Side B begins with the "Seven Seas Prologue" from Queen to give the side a nice bookend feel, and there's the inclusion of "Stone Cold Crazy" from Sheer Heart Attack (it has origins tracing back to the late 1960s) and the non-album B-side "See What a Fool I've Been". Tracks that crossfade into one another are each formed into singular tracks. From this album onward, John Deacon is the bassist.
Side A (20:18)
1. In the Lap of the Gods - 3:20 (Mercury)
2. Now I'm Here - 4:10 (May)
3. Bring Back That Leroy Brown - 2:13 (Mercury)
4. She Makes Me (Stormtrooper in Stilettos) - 4:08 (May)
5. Killer Queen - 3:01 (Mercury)
6. Sheer Heart Attack - 3:26 (Taylor; News of the World)
Side B (19:37)
7. Brighton Rock - 5:08 (May)
8. Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley - 7:50 (Taylor/Mercury)
9. Dear Friends - 1:07 (May)
10. Misfire - 1:50 (Deacon)
11. In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited - 3:42 (Mercury)
All tracks from Sheer Heart Attack are utilized, barring "Stone Cold Crazy", already featured on The Kingdom of Rhye. The intended title track for the former is brought forward from News of the World to fill that void, and some rearranging was done so the album starts and closes with two tracks called "In the Lap of the Gods". I really love the way "Sheer Heart Attack" closes out side A; think of it as the album's equivalent to "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" on Abbey Road.
All tracks from Sheer Heart Attack are utilized, barring "Stone Cold Crazy", already featured on The Kingdom of Rhye. The intended title track for the former is brought forward from News of the World to fill that void, and some rearranging was done so the album starts and closes with two tracks called "In the Lap of the Gods". I really love the way "Sheer Heart Attack" closes out side A; think of it as the album's equivalent to "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" on Abbey Road.
Side A (20:30)
1. Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...) - 3:43 (Mercury)
2. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon - 1:08 (Mercury)
3. I'm in Love with My Car - 3:05 (Taylor)
4. You're My Best Friend - 2:50 (Deacon)
5. '39 - 3:30 (May)
6. Sweet Lady - 4:01 (May)
7. Seaside Rendezvous - 2:13 (Mercury)
Side B (22:33)
8. The Prophet's Song - 8:21 (May)
9. Love of My Life - 3:38 (Mercury)
10. Good Company - 3:26 (May)
11. Bohemian Rhapsody - 5:57 (Mercury)
12. God Save the Queen - 1:11 (Traditional/arr. May)
All tracks from A Night at the Opera are utilized in that exact same order. It's a perfect album track for track, so I see no reason to edit it.
1. Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...) - 3:43 (Mercury)
2. Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon - 1:08 (Mercury)
3. I'm in Love with My Car - 3:05 (Taylor)
4. You're My Best Friend - 2:50 (Deacon)
5. '39 - 3:30 (May)
6. Sweet Lady - 4:01 (May)
7. Seaside Rendezvous - 2:13 (Mercury)
Side B (22:33)
8. The Prophet's Song - 8:21 (May)
9. Love of My Life - 3:38 (Mercury)
10. Good Company - 3:26 (May)
11. Bohemian Rhapsody - 5:57 (Mercury)
12. God Save the Queen - 1:11 (Traditional/arr. May)
All tracks from A Night at the Opera are utilized in that exact same order. It's a perfect album track for track, so I see no reason to edit it.
Side A (21:50)
1. Tie Your Mother Down - 4:48 (May)
2. You Take My Breath Away - 5:09 (Mercury)
3. Long Away - 3:34 (May)
4. The Millionaire Waltz - 4:54 (Mercury)
5. You and I - 3:25 (Deacon)
Side B (22:24)
6. Somebody to Love - 4:56 (Mercury)
7. White Man - 4:59 (May)
8. Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - 2:54 (Mercury)
9. Drowse - 3:45 (Taylor)
10. Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) - 5:50 (May)
All tracks from A Day at the Races are utilized. Same situation as Bohemian Rhapsody; unaltered track listing, but a different title and cover.
1. Tie Your Mother Down - 4:48 (May)
2. You Take My Breath Away - 5:09 (Mercury)
3. Long Away - 3:34 (May)
4. The Millionaire Waltz - 4:54 (Mercury)
5. You and I - 3:25 (Deacon)
Side B (22:24)
6. Somebody to Love - 4:56 (Mercury)
7. White Man - 4:59 (May)
8. Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy - 2:54 (Mercury)
9. Drowse - 3:45 (Taylor)
10. Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) - 5:50 (May)
All tracks from A Day at the Races are utilized. Same situation as Bohemian Rhapsody; unaltered track listing, but a different title and cover.
Side A (19:06)
1. We Will Rock You - 2:01 (May)
2. Silver Salmon - 2:27 (Staffell; 1977 outtake)
3. Get Down, Make Love - 3:51 (Mercury)
4. All Dead, All Dead - 3:10 (May)
5. Spread Your Wings - 4:34 (Deacon)
6. Fight from the Inside - 3:03 (Taylor)
Side B (20:59)
7. Feelings Feelings - 1:54 (May)
8. My Melancholy Blues - 3:29 (Mercury)
9. Sleeping on the Sidewalk - 3:06 (May)
10. Who Needs You - 3:05 (Deacon)
11. It's Late - 6:26 (May)
12. We Are the Champions - 2:59 (Mercury)
All tracks from News of the World are utilized barring "Sheer Heart Attack", already featured on In the Lap of the Gods. "Feelings Feelings" is an outtake from the era, and "Silver Salmon" is a similarly unreleased Tim Staffell track being worked on for possible inclusion as late as 1977. It's pretty amazing as to how few unreleased/unfinished songs Queen had in Freddie's lifetime. Like In the Lap of the Gods, Champions of the World has a bookend feel with "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions".
All tracks from News of the World are utilized barring "Sheer Heart Attack", already featured on In the Lap of the Gods. "Feelings Feelings" is an outtake from the era, and "Silver Salmon" is a similarly unreleased Tim Staffell track being worked on for possible inclusion as late as 1977. It's pretty amazing as to how few unreleased/unfinished songs Queen had in Freddie's lifetime. Like In the Lap of the Gods, Champions of the World has a bookend feel with "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions".
Side A (22:51)
1. Mustapha - 3:03 (Mercury)
2. Fat Bottomed Girls - 4:14 (May)
3. Fun It - 3:29 (Taylor)
4. Bicycle Race - 3:04 (Mercury)
5. In Only Seven Days - 2:30 (Deacon)
6. Dreamer's Ball - 3:30 (May)
7. Let Me Entertain You - 3:01 (Mercury)
Side B (21:48)
8. Dead on Time - 3:23 (May)
9. Jealousy - 3:14 (Mercury)
10. If You Can't Beat Them - 4:15 (Deacon)
11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy - 3:15 (May)
12. Don't Stop Me Now - 3:29 (Mercury)
13. More of That Jazz - 4:12 (Taylor)
All tracks from Jazz are utilized. Something that bothered me was how unbalanced the sides were; side B was longer by about three minutes, and Side A was largely Freddie dominant. I had to do some rearrangement so that John and Roger each had one track per side, and that Brian and Freddie each had a minimum of two tracks per side. I also had to make sure both sides were within a minute being shorter or longer than the other, and I think that it worked out in the end.
1. Mustapha - 3:03 (Mercury)
2. Fat Bottomed Girls - 4:14 (May)
3. Fun It - 3:29 (Taylor)
4. Bicycle Race - 3:04 (Mercury)
5. In Only Seven Days - 2:30 (Deacon)
6. Dreamer's Ball - 3:30 (May)
7. Let Me Entertain You - 3:01 (Mercury)
Side B (21:48)
8. Dead on Time - 3:23 (May)
9. Jealousy - 3:14 (Mercury)
10. If You Can't Beat Them - 4:15 (Deacon)
11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy - 3:15 (May)
12. Don't Stop Me Now - 3:29 (Mercury)
13. More of That Jazz - 4:12 (Taylor)
All tracks from Jazz are utilized. Something that bothered me was how unbalanced the sides were; side B was longer by about three minutes, and Side A was largely Freddie dominant. I had to do some rearrangement so that John and Roger each had one track per side, and that Brian and Freddie each had a minimum of two tracks per side. I also had to make sure both sides were within a minute being shorter or longer than the other, and I think that it worked out in the end.
Side A (20:40)
1. Play the Game - 3:30 (Mercury)
2. Coming Soon - 2:51 (Taylor)
3. Dragon Attack - 4:18 (May)
4. Another One Bites the Dust - 3:35 (Deacon)
5. A Human Body - 3:44 (Taylor)
6. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - 2:42 (Mercury)
Side B (20:07)
7. Rock It (Prime Jive) - 4:33 (Taylor)
8. Don't Try Suicide - 3:52 (Mercury)
9. Sail Away Sweet Sister - 3:33 (May)
10. Need Your Loving Tonight - 2:50 (Deacon)
11. It's a Beautiful Day (Link) - 1:31 (Mercury)
12. Save Me - 3:48 (May)
All tracks from The Game are utilized. "A Human Body" is a non-album B-side and "It's a Beautiful Day" is the original spontaneous idea that went unreleased for fifteen years. Both tracks were included to flesh out the album a bit more so that it ran for at least forty minutes total, and the latter track transitions into "Save Me". Like I did with Take Us Home Tonight, I made sure both sides of Crazy Little Things had at least one songwriting contribution from each member per side; Freddie had four tracks, John had two and Brian and Roger each had three. That's surprisingly equal.
All tracks from The Game are utilized. "A Human Body" is a non-album B-side and "It's a Beautiful Day" is the original spontaneous idea that went unreleased for fifteen years. Both tracks were included to flesh out the album a bit more so that it ran for at least forty minutes total, and the latter track transitions into "Save Me". Like I did with Take Us Home Tonight, I made sure both sides of Crazy Little Things had at least one songwriting contribution from each member per side; Freddie had four tracks, John had two and Brian and Roger each had three. That's surprisingly equal.
Side A (16:30)
1. Flash's Theme - 3:30 (May)
2. In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme) - 2:21 (Taylor)
3. Ming's Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless) - 2:53 (Mercury)
4. The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale) - 0:58 (Mercury)
5. Football Fight - 1:29 (Mercury)
6. In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise) - 2:26 (Taylor)
7. Execution of Flash - 1:06 (Deacon)
8. The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash) - 1:47 (Mercury/Blake)
Side B (18:58)
9. Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men) - 1:41 (Deacon)
10. Escape from the Swamp - 1:44 (Taylor)
11. Flash to the Rescue - 2:47 (May)
12. Vultan's Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men) - 1:15 (Mercury)
13. Battle Theme - 2:20 (May)
14. The Wedding March - 0:56 (Wagner/arr. May)
15. Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching) - 2:04 (May/Taylor)
16. Crash Dive on Mingo City - 1:01
17. Flash's Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations) - 1:39
18. The Hero - 3:31 (May/Blake)
As it is a soundtrack album rather than a studio album, Flash Gordon will go unedited, save for the band name change.
From that point onward, things carry on as they do in the story, with their next album being 1982's Fun in Space (this universe's Hot Space) and then putting out Radio Ga Ga (OTL's The Works) in 1984 before their iconic Live Aid performance.
1. Flash's Theme - 3:30 (May)
2. In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme) - 2:21 (Taylor)
3. Ming's Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless) - 2:53 (Mercury)
4. The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale) - 0:58 (Mercury)
5. Football Fight - 1:29 (Mercury)
6. In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise) - 2:26 (Taylor)
7. Execution of Flash - 1:06 (Deacon)
8. The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash) - 1:47 (Mercury/Blake)
Side B (18:58)
9. Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men) - 1:41 (Deacon)
10. Escape from the Swamp - 1:44 (Taylor)
11. Flash to the Rescue - 2:47 (May)
12. Vultan's Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men) - 1:15 (Mercury)
13. Battle Theme - 2:20 (May)
14. The Wedding March - 0:56 (Wagner/arr. May)
15. Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching) - 2:04 (May/Taylor)
16. Crash Dive on Mingo City - 1:01
17. Flash's Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations) - 1:39
18. The Hero - 3:31 (May/Blake)
As it is a soundtrack album rather than a studio album, Flash Gordon will go unedited, save for the band name change.
From that point onward, things carry on as they do in the story, with their next album being 1982's Fun in Space (this universe's Hot Space) and then putting out Radio Ga Ga (OTL's The Works) in 1984 before their iconic Live Aid performance.
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