"Queen" In The 60's - Make Your Own Reference Disc

One of the most common questions asked about "Queen" in the '60's is "What did these pre-Queen bands sound like?".

Well for one, very little genuine material survives, and for two, most of this output consisted of "Cover Versions". So for those interested in a "flavour" of what these bands may have sounded like, below I have made up some reference lists so that you can cut your own "pre-Queen compilation albums".

I accept that this may NOT be the genuine 1984 or whatever, but when completed, the following does give a fairly reflective and accurate idea of what the roots of Queen sounded like - so both entertaining and educational at the same time.

Of course, you do have the right to poo-poo the idea, but I honestly suggest you give it a try as the experience is really rewarding.

Brian May: Reference Reel 1964 – 1966
All material performed live by Brian May/1984 between 1964 – 1966.
Wonderful Land - Shadows
Apache’ - Shadows
FBI - Shadows
Flingel Blunt - Shadows
Bachelor Boy - Cliff Richard
Windy And Warm - Ventures
Ram Bunk Shush - Ventures
Bo Diddley - Buddy Holly
Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas
Eight Days A Week - Beatles
My Generation - Who
Oh Yeah - Others
I’m Taking Her Home - Others
I'm A Loser - Beatles
Help - Beatles
Jack O’ Diamonds - Lonnie Donegan
I Wish You Would - Yardbirds
I Feel Fine - Beatles
Little Egypt - Downliners Sect
Lucille - Little Richard
Monkey Business - Yardbirds
Mojo Working - B.B.King
Walking The Dog - Dennisons
Heart Full Of Soul - Yardbirds
Bright Lights Big City - Rolling Stones
Chains - Beatles
Little Rendezvous - Chuck Berry
I’m A Man - Spencer Davis Group
Bye Bye Bird - Moody Blues
Yesterday - Beatles
Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty

Brian May: Reference Reel 1964 – 1966 (B)
All material performed live by Brian May/1984 between 1964 – 1966.
Windy And Warm - Chet Atkins
Monkey Business - Chuck Berry
Mojo Working - Muddy Waters
Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas
Bright Lights Big City - Jimmy Reed
Bright Lights Big City - Animals
Chains - Cookies
Jack Of Diamonds - Blind Lemon Jefferson
I’m A Man - Bo Diddley
Bye Bye Bird - Sunny Boy Williamson
Route 66 Theme - Nelson Riddle & Orchestra
Keep On Running - Spencer Davis Group
High Heel Sneakers - Tommy Tucker
I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
I Should Have Known Better - Beatles
Jump Back - Rufus Thomas
Crazy House - Chuck Berry
Heatwave - Martha & Vandellas
Something's Got A Hold On Me - Beatles
Tired Of Waiting - Kinks
Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly
Does Your Chewing Gum… - Lonnie Donegan

Reaction: Reference Reel
Ghost Riders in the Sky - Shadows
Just A Little Bit - Rosco Gordon
I Go Crazy - James Brown
Apache - Shadows
FBI - Shadows
Muddy Waters’ Blues - Muddy Waters
What I Say - Ray Charles
Painter Man - Creation
Mr Pitiful - Otis Reading
Shake - Sam Cooke
Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyde
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
My Girl - Otis Reading
Down In The Valley - Otis Reading
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Long Tall Sally -
Smokestack Lightning - Howlin' Wolf
She Belongs To Me - Bob Dylan
Desolation Row - Bob Dylan
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Ballad Of A Thin Man - Bob Dylan
Slow Down - Larry Williams
My Generation - Who
Sunshine of Your Love - Cream
Fire - Jimi Hendrix
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix
Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
Can You See Me - Jimi Hendrix

Opposition: Reference Reel
Classical Gas -
Gloria - Them
She’s Not There - Zombies
Heart Full Of Soul - Graham Gouldman

Brian May: Reference Reel March – Dec 1967
All material performed live by Brian May/1984 March – December 1967.
Cool Jerk - Capitols
Respect - Otis Reading
My Girl - Otis Reading
Shake - Sam Cooke
(I’m Not Your) Stepp

I love this idea. Thanks for posting all the songs!
--Egret

Thanks for all your writing!
I've known Freddie's and now I feel pleased to know other stuffs I've known little about...very interesting!
Probably, at gigs they played some numbers from those you referred to, in early days before their debut when they had few original songs.

Bachelor Boy? Are you absolutely sure about this?

Bachelor Boy?

I know, I know. But what can one do?

Mind you "Move It" is seen as the first ever great UK Rock'n Roll single.

"Racing In The Street - Bruce Springsteen"

As far as I know this song was first released in 1978 (on Springsteen's album 'Darkness on the Edge of Town').

Wasn't that version a cover also?

Well spotted. Those last few are present day covers I added to the list.

Also, I believe 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It' was popularized by The Small Faces in 1965.

Yeah, well Whatcha Gonna Do About It?

Bachelor Boy?

In that list, besides some songs we can hear in their live albums, I've found some big names Queen was considered to cover before and after their debut. I wish I could hear their earlier gigs...well... I like to hear Queen cover other artists numbers especially, blues number like Muddy Water's "Mannish Boy".

Zeppelin's Rock & Roll didn't appear until '71 ..........

John S Stuart: Well spotted. Those last few are present day covers I added to the list.

What are these reference reels youre referring to?