Legendary rock band Queen has announced a brand-new reissue of their self-titled 1973 debut album, arriving on October 25. This newly mixed and mastered version, now titled Queen I, brings a fresh, modernized sound to their breakthrough record over 50 years after its original release.
Remixed and restored by Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J Macrae, and Kris Fredriksson, the reissue aims to reflect the sonic vision the band always wanted for the album. Guitarist Brian May described the release as “the debut album we always dreamed of bringing to you.”
The expanded version will include not only the original tracks but also previously unheard recordings, demo tracks, and live performances. Notably, the song "Mad The Swine," which was left off the original release due to creative differences, has been reinstated in its intended place.
Fans will also get their hands on a 108-page book filled with handwritten lyrics and memorabilia, alongside a six-CD box set featuring 43 brand new mixes and remastered tracks.
In 1970, Queen began to take shape with Freddie Mercury on vocals, Brian May on guitar, and Roger Taylor on drums. The line-up solidified the following year when bassist John Deacon joined the group. Together, they embarked on the creation of their debut album, Queen.
Drummer Roger Taylor reflected on those early, challenging days: “The first three years were really faith and fumes. We were penniless but we had a lot of belief in ourselves and a lot of energy. We’d arrive [at the studio] at three in the morning and then go on, for all the hours that we could grab. It was just a grind. I wouldn’t say it was soul-destroying because we were quite confident. We had a sort of innate, gentle arrogance, you know, we thought we were good and quite different.”
This release comes shortly after Brian May shared that he is recovering from a recent stroke, though he assured fans that he is doing well.
Photo: Queen Productions Ltd
