Queen - De Lane Lea Demos (EP) (Gold Foil O-Ring, 180 Gram Vinyl) (RSD 2025)
Queen - De Lane Lea Demos (EP) (Gold Foil O-Ring, 180 Gram Vinyl) (RSD 2025)
Format: Vinyl LP
UPC: 050087571047
Release Date: 04/12/25
Condition: N
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*RSD TITLES LIMITED TO ONE PER CUSTOMER - ANY ORDERS FOR MORE THAN 1 COPY OF THIS TITLE WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED*
Event: RECORD STORE DAY 2025
Release Date: 4/12/2025
Format: 12" Vinyl
Label: Hollywood
Quantity: 5000
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
Record Store Day Exclusive vinyl featuring all five of Queen’s early demos, recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in December 1971 & January 1972.
Queen began life in early summer 1970, but took their first steps in the studio after vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor recruited a nineteen-year-old bass guitarist, John Deacon, in March 1971.
In 1971, De Lane Lea opened a new studio complex in Wembley, and needed a band to help them test the mixing desks and the acoustic qualities of the different rooms. Brian and Roger’s pre-Queen group, Smile, had recorded at De Lane Lea’s previous location in London’s Kingsway and volunteered their ‘new’ band Queen for the job. The band spent time helping at the studio on various occasions between late August to early December 1971 – “a massive thrill” Brian recalls. They were repaid with a five-song demo, recorded between Dec 16th 1971 - Jan 7th 1972
by De Lane Lea engineer Louie Austin, and containing “Keep Yourself Alive”, “The Night Comes Down”, “Jesus”, “Liar”, and “Great King Rat”.
Although these demos were intended to be hawked around to procure a recording contract, the band, says Brian, always felt the performances had more spontaneity and sparkle, as well as the benefit of more natural sounds compared with the final album versions.
“The demos we made at De Lane Lea Studios were closer to what we dreamed of,” explains Brian. “Nice open drum sounds and ambience on the guitar. That was much more the way we wanted it to go.”
“We were young and had total blind faith in what we were doing,” says Roger.
When it came time to re-record these songs for their debut album, the band insisted on using the recording of ‘The Night Comes Down’ from De Lane Lea Studios rather than attempt a new version at Trident studios. They smuggled in their demo multi-track tape in order to mix the song for the album. On the other hand, the demo version of ‘Jesus’ with a heavier, slower tempo and with extended solo sections is the most notably different as compared to the eventual album version.
As the only surviving copies of the mixes of the demos are on scratched acetates, here for the first time, these self-produced recordings have been restored and remixed from the original multi-tracks and released on 12” vinyl.
Tracklist
SIDE A:
1. Keep Yourself Alive (De Lane Lea Demo, 2024 Mix)
2. The Night Comes Down (De Lane Lea Demo, 2024 Mix)
3. Great King Rat (De Lane Lea Demo, 2024 Mix)
SIDE B:
4. Jesus (De Lane Lea Demo, 2024 Mix)
5. Liar (De Lane Lea Demo, 2024 Mix)
SHIPPING & RETURNS
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RETURNS
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GRADING
GRADING
Yellow Racket assigns condition based on the Goldmine Standard for grading records.
New (N) (Not typically included in the Goldmine Standard)
New records are purchased directly from the label, distributor, or registered wholesaler. Records are still sealed. Jackets may have slight shelf wear, but media has never been played.
Mint (M)
Still sealed. Never played. No observable flaws. Items have been purchased secondhand.
Near Mint (NM)
A Near Mint (NM) record will play perfectly, with no imperfections during playback. The record should show no obvious signs of wear.
The cover (and any additional packaging) has no creases, folds, seam splits, cut-out holes, or other noticeable defects.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
A Very Good Plus (VG+) record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
Defects should be more of a cosmetic nature, not affecting the actual playback as a whole. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches.
The disc and LP cover may have slight signs of wear, and may be gently marred by spindle marks, paper scuffs, wrinkled corners, etc.
Very Good (VG)
Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident, but will not overpower the music. Disc may have light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels, jackets, and inserts will have visible cosmetic flaws such as wrinkles, cut-outs, slight splitting, etc. However, it will usually have less than a dozen minor flaws.
Good (G)
A record in Good condition can be played through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise, scratches, and visible groove wear. A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present.
While the record will be playable without skipping, noticeable surface noise and "ticks" will almost certainly accompany the playback.
Poor (P), Fair (F)
The record may be cracked, badly warped, or won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve may be water damaged, split, or heavily marred by wear and writing.
