Silver Salmon Thread

But what about the timbales? Don't you know that the universe would implode if Rog ever used them before or after NOTW?

I'm one that's still in the early 70's camp for 'Silver Salmon.'  'Feelings, Feelings,' though, does sound like it could be a NOTW track, and the two tracks do sound like they were recorded at the same time...so that's confusing. In terms of the fantasy aspect, though, and the sound of Brian's guitar jamming with Roger, it sounds like an early track to me.

I first heard about the track on Halloween, 1992, when Brian was giving the keynote address at the CMJ (College Music Journalists) convention in NYC.  Escorting him that day was one of the women in charge of handling Queen's affairs for Hollywood Records (blond lady - can't recall her name) and I got to speak with her briefly. I asked about unreleased tracks and she said there was 'an early track called 'Silver Salmon.'  She didn't say the year or from what album, but the feeling I got was that she meant it was from a song early in their career.  She also said there were tapes of them jamming on Beatles songs, as well as 'X-rated stuff that will probably never see the light of day.'

Hopefully we'll at least get a definitive answer in the not too distant future about 'Silver Salmon.'

Kamenliter wrote:

She also said there were tapes of them jamming on Beatles songs

================

If true, a clear example of unimaginable stuff we could discover in the "Anthologies", if ever released in a not too distant century.

btw, regarding the Silver Salmon discussion ... maybe someone has said something similar but anyway:
why on earth it is always a "Mission: impossible" to get simple official INFORMATION about such stuff?

We´re not asking for that much !! why can´t someone like GT come here and tell us: "guys, Silver Salmon was recorded in  1971, end of discussion". Is it that difficult ? could this affect potential future sales?

Of course I rely on GT, as I´m sure he won´t be addressing to us with childish and disrespectful posts.

>>Escorting him that day was one of the women in charge of handling Queen's affairs for Hollywood Records (blond lady - can't recall her name) and I got to speak with her briefly. I asked about unreleased tracks and she said there was 'an early track called 'Silver Salmon.'

That's good enough for me son and would fall in line with the emergence of "Mad The Swine" as well as the fact that it just sounds like early Freddie.

As for the timbales, given that Roger had no "established" kit of his own at that point - after all, sessions for Queen were on borrowed time, and they were hardly playing their socks off on stage, whose to say that he didn't just sit down at whatever kit had been set up at the time in order to save time and to just get something down on tape?  Brian and John could plug in to anything they liked and Freddie just needed a mic...........

The fact is that this information and much more besides exists and is readily available to GB and GT, but it's stuff like this that purports the myth and whets the appetities of people not simply interested in the GH stuff and singles collections.  Does anyone REALLY believe that GB BELIEVED that there had never been a studio take of "Hangman"?  Isn't it better to curry favour with certain circles in order to generate witty exchanges and banter with the masses than come up with a straight answer? 

Whilst they're not prepared to issue the material to us, the history will stay shrouded in mystery in order to keep the interest levels up whilst the band as a going concern dies slowly in the water.

Who's GT?

Gary Taylor

Cheers.

Now, who the hell is Gary Taylor?

Long-time fan and collector from the UK.  A good guy with a great recollection of facts.

Hi All

I'm enjoying this thread so much I thought I would add my own thoughts for what they are worth ! At the beginning of the recording Freddie clearly says "try and put a bit of Silver Salmon.... I know he doesn't know it. best if I just play on........just for Dea.....just the rhythm see if"?  Maybe this was when John was fairly new in the band and he did not know the song that well. 

Cheers Dave

Thanks for transcribing that , Dave.  Listening again, with headphones, I believe Freddie says 'But he just might play on', after 'I know he doesn't know it', instead of 'best if I just play on.'  Good catch on the 'just for Dea..' Sounds like there's a couple of  cuts there, as well, before it launches into the song proper.

If anyone is interested, I'm uploading the "definitive" version of this song (on Youtube).

Here's it is! Hope you like the descriptions!

Good stuff, but, there are versions out there with *MUCH LESS* digital noise.

Just when I thought I found the "best" version, there's better versions! lol

Note: I hear like 2 seconds of The Seven Seas Of Rhye at the end of that video!

The question no one seems to have asked is why on earth they would bother recording a Tim Staffell song as late as 1977?

Anyone considered the theory that they might have originally recorded the song in 1971-73, and then Roger decided to redo his drums in 1977? Therefore the recording could come from BOTH eras.

Heaven knows why they would want to, but perhaps they were looking for potential NOTW B-sides?

Tim