ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 23, 1995
By Steve Newton
Recorded in February and December of 1973—half before and half after the release of Queen’s self-titled debut album—Queen at the BBC is an intriguing document of the Brit supergroup’s earliest material, which is certainly some of its best. (The band went downhill, musically if not commercially, after the release of its fifth disc, A Day at the Races.)
But since all but one of the songs here were included on Queen—and in much stronger, Roy Thomas Baker–produced form—Queen at the BBC will likely be of interest to Queen completists only.
While we’re on the subject of previously unreleased ’70s rock, a much stronger recommendation comes for Queen touring partners Thin Lizzy’s Peel Sessions. A BBC-recorded import released last year, it covers a six-year span in the band’s career, including obscure material from the Vagabonds of the Western World period and featuring surprising appearances by sometime member Gary Moore.