Jazz

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

After a hefty tax bill, Queen decided in 1978 to record outside the United Kingdom. Brian May left for Canada in July, while the rest rehearsed in Nice. The band visited the Montreux Jazz Festival, which probably inspired the title, and David Bowie persuaded them to record at Mountain Studios in Montreux. They then worked at Super Bear Studios in France, with Roy Thomas Baker as co-producer. A stage of the Tour de France gave Freddie Mercury the idea for Bicycle Race.

In Mustapha, Mercury sings in a mixture of English, Arabic, Persian and possibly invented words. In Fat Bottomed Girls, guitar and bass are in drop-D, rare for the group. Bicycle Race has a change of time signature from 4/4 to 6/8 and a section in which guitars imitate a bicycle race. The album was released on 10 November 1978 and reached number 2 in the United Kingdom. The shifting styles were both praised and criticised.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Mustapha3:01Apple Music ↗
2. 2Fat Bottomed Girls4:17Apple Music ↗
3. 3Jealousy3:14Apple Music ↗
4. 4Bicycle Race3:03Apple Music ↗
5. 5If You Can't Beat Them4:15Apple Music ↗
6. 6Let Me Entertain You3:07Apple Music ↗
7. 7Dead On Time3:23Apple Music ↗
8. 8In Only Seven Days2:30Apple Music ↗
9. 9Dreamer's Ball3:31Apple Music ↗
10. 10Fun It3:30Apple Music ↗
11. 11Leaving Home Ain't Easy3:15Apple Music ↗
12. 12Don't Stop Me Now3:29Apple Music ↗
13. 13More Of That Jazz4:15Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗