Queen: Sheer Heart Attack Album (1974)

No Synthesizers, All Heart

Queen’s Sheer Heart Attack LP, was released in the UK on November 8, 1974, on EMI Records (catalogue: EMC 3061 / OC 062 ◦ 96 025). This 13-track glam-prog triumph, produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker, featured “Killer Queen” and “Now I'm Here.” Recorded at Trident, Wessex, Rockfield, and AIR Studios, it peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart for 47 weeks across six runs. Issued in vinyl LP, cassette, and 8-track formats, with a 1st pressing Slip sleeve Inner sleeve with lyrics and credits.(no Trident logo, G&L print), it’s a cornerstone of Queen’s early reign.

The album noticeably diverges from the progressive rock themes of its earlier works, being classified as hard rock and glam rock. The Daily Vault called it "an important transition album" because it highlighted "what the band would soon become while acknowledging their hard-rock roots," while Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic noted that although there are still nods to the fantasy themes of their previous albums, especially on "In the Lap of the Gods" and "Lily of the Valley," "the fantasy does not dominate as it did on the first two records."

"Killer Queen" was composed in just one night, contrasting with the "ages" it took Mercury to write "The March of the Black Queen." "Brighton Rock" was created during the production of Queen II; "Stone Cold Crazy" originated from Mercury's pre-Queen band, Wreckage; and "Flick of the Wrist" was written by Mercury while May was absent due to illness. Sheer Heart Attack marked the first Queen album to feature at least one song by each member, including John Deacon's first recorded song with the band, "Misfire," and "Stone Cold Crazy," which credited all four members as co-writers.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: EMI Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP (1st pressing), cassette, 8-track; later CD reissues.

℗ & ©: 1974 Trident Audio Productions Ltd. Mastered at The Mastering Lab. Printed by Garrod & Lofthouse. Pressed by EMI Records.

Notes: “no synthesizers.” Art Direction/Photography by Mick Rock. Inner sleeve: lyrics, credits, 2 die-cut corners. 1st pressing: No Trident logo on back; “G&L” under Crest Logo. Special thanks to Geoff Workman.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Sheer Heart Attack was released in the UK in 1974 in multiple formats, all with the same 13-track sequence:

Vinyl LP, 1st Pressing (Catalogue: EMC 3061 / OC 062 ◦ 96 025):

Side A:

Brighton Rock (May)

Killer Queen (Mercury)

Tenement Funster (Taylor)

Flick Of The Wrist (Mercury)

Lily Of The Valley (Mercury)

Now I'm Here (May)

Side B:

In The Lap Of The Gods (Mercury)

Stone Cold Crazy (May, Mercury, Deacon, Taylor)

Dear Friends (May)

Misfire (Deacon) – Guitar [Almost All] – Deacon

Bring Back That Leroy Brown (Mercury)

She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettoes) (May)

In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited (Mercury)

Packaging: Slip sleeve, 2 die-cut corner inner sleeve with lyrics/credits. 1st pressing: No Trident logo on back; “G&L” under Crest Logo.

Cassette, Album (Catalogue: TC-EMC 3061 / OC 244 o 96025):

Same 13-track sequence.

Packaging: Standard cassette case.

8-Track Cartridge, Album (Catalogue: 8X-EMC-3061 / 0C 346 ○ 96025):

Program 1: Brighton Rock / Killer Queen / Lily Of The Valley

Program 2: Now I'm Here / She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettoes) / Dear Friends

Program 3: In The Lap Of The Gods / Stone Cold Crazy / Misfire / Bring Back That Leroy Brown

Program 4: Tenement Funster! / Flick of the Wrist / In The Lap Of The Gods... Revisited

Packaging: Standard 8-track cartridge.

CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered (Label: Parlophone – 0777 7 89491 2 1 / CDPCSD 129, Series: Queen Digital Master Series, Released: 1993):

Brighton Rock (5:10)

Killer Queen (3:00)

Tenement Funster (2:46)

Flick Of The Wrist (3:17)

Lily Of The Valley (1:45)

Now I'm Here (4:13)

In The Lap Of The Gods (3:22)

Stone Cold Crazy (2:14)

Dear Friends (1:07)

Misfire (1:49) – Guitar [Almost All Guitars] – John Deacon

Bring Back That Leroy Brown (2:15)

She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettos) (4:09)

In The Lap Of The Gods ... Revisited

Country Variations:

The album was launched worldwide with slight differences, with most versions featuring the same picture sleeve except:

Country: Portugal Label: Orlador Catalogue: 2127

Production and Context

Produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker. Musicians: Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano, jangle piano, vocal extravaganzas), Brian May (guitar, vocals, piano, ukulele banjo), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals, percussion, screams), John Deacon (bass, double bass, acoustic guitar). Crew: John Harris (equipment supervision). Management: Jack Nelson (for T.A.P.). Recorded at Trident, Wessex, Rockfield, and AIR Studios. Sheer Heart Attack was Queen’s glam-prog breakthrough, following Queen II (No. 5 UK, 1974).

Singles Released and Chart Performance

Sheer Heart Attack spawned two singles:

“Killer Queen” / “Flick of the Wrist” (1974, EMI EMI 2229):

Released: October 11, 1974

UK Chart Data: Entry October 26, 1974; Peak No. 2; 12 weeks.

"Now I'm Here"

Released: January 17, 1975

UK Chart Data: Entry January 25, 1975; Peak No. 11; 7 weeks.

Album Chart Performance

Sheer Heart Attack charted across six runs:

UK:

Peak: No. 2.

Total Weeks on Chart: 47.

Run 1: 25 weeks (November 23, 1974 – May 10, 1975).

Run 2: 1 week (December 6, 1975).

Run 3: 18 weeks (December 20, 1975 – April 17, 1976).

Run 4: 1 week (September 18, 1976).

Run 5: 1 week (October 2, 1976).

Run 6: 1 week (March 26, 2011).

Certification: Platinum (300,000 copies sold, BPI).

Outside UK:

US: No. 12 (Billboard 200, 20 weeks).

Australia: No. 19 (Kent Music Report, 10 weeks).

Canada: No. 6 (RPM, 15 weeks).

Netherlands: No. 7 (Dutch Album Top 100, 12 weeks).

Finland: No. 7 (The Official Finnish Charts).

France: No. 6 (SNEP).

Japan: No. 23 (Oricon).

Norway: No. 9 (VG-lista).

Legacy and Collectibility

Sheer Heart Attack is a Queen masterpiece, with “Killer Queen” a glam anthem. Streams on Spotify via reissues preserve the analog majesty. This LP is a must-have for Queen fans and glam rock collectors.

Do you have Sheer Heart Attack in your vinyl stack? Which track attacks your heart? Share in the comments!

Sources:

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and UTube.