Queen Keep yourself Alive long version from acetate

QP already have both versions, as GB was the previous owner of the acetate.

Sounds as though GB bought it in case it had anything intersting - when he found it was what was already in the archive, he sold it on.

I agree.

Thank ou and happy birthday!

Wilki: i enjoyed your very interesting post, but i think (imo) you may be a little too logical here.

The problem may be that you interpret the word "re-take" too literally, and that this disc could still have been recorded as a pre-eponymous album version.

Here's what i am thinking: on 3rd April 1983, Brian May revealed in an Alexis Korner BBC Radio One interview, as many as "8 different Takes/Versions of Keep Yourself Alive was recorded".

Using the above statement as my base, this means that - this acetate could be as early a version as take 2 - as by default - that would still make it a retake on take 1. This would make it a much earlier incarnation than your Trident/Emi version.

I personally think that the first take was cut between September 1971 - February 1972, (more specifically as one of the five demo tracks laid-down at De Lane Lea Studios recorded on September 18, 1971), because the De Lane Lea Demo Tape as recorded by Louie Austin, was the first real studio time employed by Queen.

After moving studios, rehearsal suites, and timetables, the eponymous LP was recorded June – Nov 1972. (Released 13th July 1973). Produced by John Anthony, Roy Thomas Baker & Queen at Trident Studios, London, for Neptune Productions. (The Night Comes Down was recorded by Louie Austin, and kept over from the De Lane Lea session).

It was at these more serious/professional Trident sessions which much of the older De Lane Lea material (along with some newer tracks) was re-recorded and eventually considered good enough to publically release.

Therefore i suggest, (and this is my best guess) taht the acetate disc was cut between the original de lane le demos - September 1971 and the Emi Lp version recorded June – Nov 1972.

As previously suggested this would point to an early 1972 recording.

I also think this is why it was "lost" - as it was lost between the De Lane Lea and the trident/emi recordings - again pointing to an early 1972 - pre LP version.

However i would be very interested in reading your (or any one else's) feedback to this post.

Below is a complete Keep Yourself Alive discography based on all current information:


Keep Yourself Alive
(8 different Takes/Versions: Brian May/Alexis Korner BBC Radio One 03rd April 1983)

Album Version Queen: EMI CDP 7 462 04 2
US 7" 3:25 Edit Elektra E-45106-B (…Bites The Dust)
Long Lost Re-take 4:05 Queen: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61064-2
Long Lost Re-take 3:29 Edit 1972 UK Master Room 7” Acetate
De Lane Lea Original Demo 3:40 In The Beginning: Miko QCD 01
Karaoke Instrumental Edit Japan Toshiba EMI TOLW - 3249.50
BBC 05.02.1973 (3:51) Queen At The Beeb: BOJCD 001
BBC 25.07.1973 (3:40) Freddie's Boys At The Beeb: Bulsara Records
Intro Edit: 33” Total Guitar CD Magazine
Starlicks Video Edit Starlicks Video
Karaoke/CD Full Instrumental (3:38) Unreleased: Home Mini-Disc
BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Best Of The Test: Windsong OGWT CD 1
Exposed Fake Mono Demo Exposed MC

BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Reconstructed Video Queen Rocks VHS video
Promotional Video (Original 4x3 TV Ratio) Greatest Flix I & II: Pioneer PLMPD 01171
Promotional Video Greatest Video Hits: Parlophone 7243 4 92944 9 3
Promotional Video (Brian's Mother's Coat) Version Unreleased:
BBC Old Grey Whistle Test Original Video Erased:

Two quick points -

First:

Inu-Liger: Wonder if we should send this (the MP3) to Brian and/or QP? :)

Apart from the fact that GB was the previous owner, it is NOT yours or OURS to send to anyone. That decision solely belongs to Ferdy.

Second:

Once again - Nice one Ferdy - thank you and well done.

yes, I confirm I bought from GB. But the information that are coming out from this thread are very precious for me cause they help me and hope all of you, in tracing a sort of serious history of this item. I have another acetate (not from GB) of Seven Seas Of Rhye/see what a fool I've been, 7" trident label. I think that they are same of album one but if it can be useful we can do same work as for the KYA. Let me know

as regard sending or not. edit version is now available. And I think that anyone can download. If someone from QP listen to it and would like a better quality copy why shouldn't I give to them. Anyway I think they had these versions considering where i took this from.

Now, after reading all your posts, I'm pretty confused.

I downloaded KYA (Long-Lost..) few years ago, but that version is 3:58 long. So which one is that?

Jamaleni: "...I'm pretty confused. I downloaded KYA (Long-Lost..) few years ago, but that version is 3:58 long. So which one is that?"

Don't be confused. it is obviously an incorrectly labeled download.

I can not say for sure which version you do have, but i suggest it may be either one of the bbc's - or even a long lost retake - but as an incomplete download. (now i know the download may have appeared complete to you, but how do you know if the version you downloaded was complete to begin with?)

Moral of the story? - buy the hollywood version for the full unedited long lost retake!

but for sure:
Long Lost Re-take 4:05 Queen: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61064-2

Hope this helps you out!!!

Thanks a lot Ferdy for sharing it. It's very interesting I have to say. And, of course, thanks John for info.

Thanks for sharing! Seems to be very interesting...

'Re-taking' the original thread...

Keep Yourself Alive - acetate "long version" versus Hollywood Records "long lost re-take"/"long lost original version": My veredict is SAME recording, but in slightly DIFFERENT mixing stage.

Whilst some of the (still minor) differences between both versions are mainly due to their coming from different recording media and in different conditions (new CD versus old acetate) and also from the HR remastering process, I believe that the following (at least for the most part) are not:
- Slightly different mixing. The drums are more prominent in the HR version, while the guitar is more prominent in the acetate. You can spot this easily on the intro to the song and also on the instrumental breaks (e.g: from 1:24 to 1:30).
- Slightly different stereo panning. You can also spot this more easily in the intro: The track starts almost only on the left side in the HR version, while the one from the acetate is more equally balanced.
- The vocal reverb on the word "superstar" (approximately at 1:07 on the song) is a bit more prominent in the acetate.
Also, the fade-out of the track is a bit longer in the acetate version, but this is more likely because of another fade-out being applied during HR remastering.

I also want to make clear that both names "long lost re-take" and "long lost original version" refer to the very same track issued by Hollywood Records - NO DIFFERENCES HERE.

Finally, Keep Yourself Alive - acetate "long version" versus acetate "short version": The short version is indeed just an edit of the long version, as John already said. It misses the last 30 seconds by means of an earlier fade-out (ending approximately at the time of the "take you all your time and money, honey" line) - so resembling the approach used in the US single edit of the same song (but of course that one is based on the regular album version instead). Also the 'phased' intro is a little bit shorter (missing about 3 seconds).

Text reproduced by kind permission of Ferdinando Frega.

I will add to our when/where deliberations later.

the_hero wrote:

thank you very much John and Wilki for this discussion and Ferdy for the song, and happy birthday! :)

As the hero said, thank you to John, Wilki and Ferdy and happy birthday to Ferdy!

For this topic as well:

Thank you Ferdy, Wilki and John! Two excellent and informative posts in one day.

And for Ferdy: many happy returns! Hooray Hooray Hooray !!!