Last week Queen drummer Roger Taylor and giuitarist Brian May opened an exhibition in London to celebrate the group’s 40th anniversary. The exhibition, “Stormtroopers In Stilettos”, covers Queen’s formative years and runs until 12th March at the Old Truman Brewery in East London. Is it really 40 years since the band began their accession to Rock Royalty?!!

Themed rooms at the exhibition document Queen’s journey to fame and focus on the band’s early albums. The exhibition includes artwork, costumes made by British designer Zandra Rhodes and the group’s instruments, plus a recreation of the studio in which “Bohemian Rhapsody” was recorded. It also features video footage, interviews and photographs.

The early years were most definitely the period where Queen produced their greatest music and seminal work. The group’s first five albums were a fusion of rock and classical music – “Queen”, “Queen II”, “Sheer Heart Attack”, “A Night at the Opera” and “A Day at the Races” were utterly sublime!! These albums forged Queen’s place in Rock folklore, and the flamboyance of Freddie Mercury ensured the band a place in the nation’s heart.  In 1973 they went on the road to support Mott the Hoople, but within a year they were the headline act after their single releases “Seven Seas of Rhye” and “Killer Queen” both charted in the Top Ten. The latter narrowly missed the No1 spot in November 1974 reaching No2, but within a year they had topped the charts for nine weeks with the unique and idiosyncratic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This anthem went totally against the grain of the three minute pop single format, with a duration of over six minutes, complex chords and no chorus!! In conjunction with it’s slightly psychedelic video, it enthralled and captured the imagination of the British public.

The following year, 1976, saw Queen narrowly miss the No1 spot again with another Rock Opera and No2 hit, “Somebody to Love”. One of my favourite Queen singles was released the following year – “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy”, and was precisely that; old fashioned, quaint and reminiscent of the early 20th century music of Noel Coward, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. From here my interest in Queen waned somewhat with the release of the poor “Jazz” album, and it’s hit double A side single “Fat Bottomed Girls / Bicycle Race”. From this point the group then went on to world domination as a “Super Group”, culminating in their stealing the Live Aid show, but in the process they lost their quintessential Englishness. Queen like so many of their contemporary British acts ( U2, Elton John and Rod Stewart immediately spring to mind ) produced their best work in the 1970s before selling out to the USA in the 1980s.

But for die hard Queen fans, we will always have those early years. And the great news for the Queen purists is that to mark the 40th anniversary of the band, they have released a two-track single, also entitled “Stormtroopers In Stilettos””.  It features previously unreleased versions of early Queen tracks “Keep Yourself Alive (Long Lost Retake)” and “Stone Cold Crazy” (2011 Remaster).

So why not mark Queen’s 40th Anniversary and preserve some of Queen’s back catalogue for posterity as a souvenir?…………Get your favourite Queen vinyl records or compact discs ( singles or albums ), framed and mounted, by clicking on….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively you can buy a Queen “Song Souvenir” for a family member, or friend……this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration ie a 40th, 50th or 60th Birthday, A Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mother’s or Father’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!

MyFirstRecord.co.uk have most of the Queen albums and singles available in their original vinyl record format, on the EMI Label.  Select from this full list –

Albums

* Queen (1973)

* Queen II (1974)

* Sheer Heart Attack (1974)

* A Night at the Opera (1975)

* A Day at the Races (1976)

* News of the World (1977)

* Jazz (1978)

* The Game (1980)

* Hot Space (1982)

* The Works (1984)

* A Kind of Magic (1986)

* The Miracle (1989)

* Innuendo (1991)

* Made in Heaven (1995)

Have you selected the Queen album of your choice? Order now, by clicking on…… http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/framed-albums/

Singles

1973 Keep Yourself Alive

1974 Seven Seas Of Rhye

1974 Killer Queen

1975 Now I’m Here

1975 Bohemian Rhapsody

1976 You’re My Best Friend

1976 Somebody To Love

1977 Tie Your Mother Down

1977 Queen’s First EP

1977 We Are The Champions

1978 Spread Your Wings

1978 Fat Bottomed Girls

1979 Don’t Stop Me Now

1979 Love Of My Life (Live)

1979 Crazy Little Thing Called Love

1980 Save Me

1980 Play The Game

1980 Another One Bites The Dust

1980 Flash

1981 Under Pressure

1982 Body Language

1982 Las Palabras De Amor

1982 Back Chat

1984 Radio Ga Ga

1984 I Want To Break Free

1984 It’s A Hard Life

1984 Hammer To Fall

1984 Thank God It’s Christmas

1985 One Vision

1986 A Kind Of Magic

1986 Friends Will Be Friends

1986 Who Wants To Live Forever

1989 I Want It All

1989 Breakthru

1989 The Invisible Man

1989 Scandal

1989 The Miracle

1991 Innuendo

1991 I’m Going Slightly Mad

1991 Headlong

1991 The Show Must Go On

1991 Bohemian Rhapsody

1993 Five Live EP

1995 Heaven For Everyone

1995 A Winter’s Tale

1996 Too Much Love Will Kill You

1996 Let Me Live

1996 You Don’t Fool Me

1998 No-One But You

1999 Under Pressure (Rah Mix)

Have you selected the Queen vinyl or CD single / song of your choice? Order now, by clicking on…… http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

For all other Queen merchandise and memorabilia, click on these websites……. www.queenonline.com www.queenworld.com www.queenzone.com