Smile,Eddie Howell,Brian May,Roger Taylor/Rare Compilations

We have prepared a studio album that is even more directly connected to the QUEEN sound. Brian May plays the leading role in this film. This is a rare album released under the name of the parent band SMILE, which also appeared in the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The only single released during SMILE’s career was “Earth” in 1969, but with the success of QUEEN, several other excavated albums were released, including “GHOST OF A SMILE”. This work is one of them. Although it is known as the definitive edition with the most songs, it is a compilation edition that is out of print. The contents can be roughly divided into three types. Let’s introduce each of them. [June/September 1969: SMILE (6 songs)] First up is SMILE. They were a trio consisting of Brian and Roger, plus vocalist and bassist Tim Staffell. They had two sessions in 1969 and recorded six songs. This work includes all of them. However, the songs are not in chronological order; “Doing Alright,” “Earth,” and “Step On Me” are from the June 1969 session, and “Blag,” “April Lady,” and “Polar Bear” are from the September session of the same year. That sound is truly the mother of a queen. Not only is the early version of “Doing All Right” remade in “Terror Princess”, but the guitar and chorus are also directly connected to the early QUEEN. You can enjoy a much richer QUEEN color than THE REACTION and THE OPPOSITION. You can also hear Roger’s lead vocals at the end of “Doing All Right” and Brian’s lead vocals on “April Lady” and “Polar Bear (part of)”. [1976: EDDIE HOWELL (1 song, 2 versions)] Next comes a recording with Eddie Howell in which Freddie and Brian participated. Actually, this session is only from the QUEEN era, but it is a standard recording on SMILE’s excavation board. This work is also included as a straight reprint of the masterpiece compilation. Contains two versions of “The Man From Manhattan”, the “Original” version being released as a single in 1975. Another version of “Back Again” appeared later in 1997. When Eddie’s only album “THE MAN FROM MANHATTAN” was made into a CD in West Germany, it was added as a separate version. Perhaps because QUEEN had already become a big hit, the melody, arrangement, and sound were just like QUEEN. In addition to Brian’s guitar, Freddie, who was also a producer, also participated on the piano and chorus. If Freddie were singing lead, it would be QUEEN. [March 1967: 1984 (8 songs, 9 takes)] The last song is “1984”, the band that formed the basis of SMILE. Roger hasn’t joined us yet, but Brian is on guitar and Tim Staffell is on vocals. That sound is literally the prototype of SMILE. You can listen to two takes of the original “Step On Me”, which was also recorded on SMILE, but all the others are covers. However, its content is more approachable than THE REACTION or THE OPPOSITION. There is also a repertoire of SAM & DAVE and THE TEMPTATIONS, but the main ones are CREAM, Jimi Hendrix, the Stones, THE BIRDS, etc. For British rock fans, they will play hard, straightforward numbers. Not only is it primitive, but it is a rare track that is genuinely fun to listen to. This is exactly the “just before” scene depicted in the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Why not take your time and enjoy it and then visit the theater again? (62:59) SMILE 1. Doing All Right 2. Blag 3. April Lady 4. Polar Bear 5. Earth 6. Step On Me Brian May – guitar Roger Taylor – drums Tim Staffell – bass & vocals EDDIE HOWELL 7. The Man From Manhattan (Original) 8. The Man From Manhattan (Back Again) Eddie Howell – lead vocals & acoustic guitar Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals Freddie Mercury – piano, backing vocals Jerome Rimson – bass Barry De Sousa – drums 1984 (Brian and Tim Staffell, Pre-SMILE band) 9. Hold on I’m Coming 10. Knock On Wood 11. N.S.U. 12. How Can It Be 13. Step On Me ( Take 1) 14. Step On Me (Take 2) 15. Purple Haze 16. Our Love Is Driftin’ 17. Remember?