Description
Queen Signed A Day at the Races album with Freddie Mercury
Authentic Queen Signed A Day at the Races album with Freddie Mercury. Signed in silver marker by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor. Professionally framed and mounted, glass is non reflective UV glass. Measurements are 66cm x 66cm.
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A Day at the Races is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Queen; released on 10 December 1976 by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. The band’s first completely self-produced album, and the first not to feature producer Roy Thomas Baker. Recorded at The Manor, Sarm West and Wessex Studios in England, A Day at the Races engineered by Mike Stone. The album serves as a companion album to the band’s previous album; A Night at the Opera, both taking their names from Marx Brothers films, as well as sharing similar packaging and eclectic musical themes.
The album peaked at number one in the UK, Japan and the Netherlands. It reached number five on the US Billboard 200 and Queen’s fifth album to ship gold in the US; and subsequently reached platinum status in the same country. A Day at the Races voted the 67th greatest album of all time in a national 2006 BBC poll.
Recording and production
Queen entered The Manor in July 1976 to commence work on A Day At The Races. Absent was Roy Thomas Baker; who had helped the band produce their last four albums. By the end of July, Queen had recorded the basic track for six songs, “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy”; “The Millionaire Waltz”, “You Take My Breath Away”, “Simple Man” (White Man), “Drowse”, and “Somebody To Love” (Shorter version without the handclap section and beyond). Furthermore, Queen returned to the studio in late September to finish the album. In early October, Queen’s fan club subscribers were notified in regards to the creation of the album. The letter sent mentioned that the band may call the album “A Day At The Races”, but not confirmed at that point.
They also mentioned that a single had not been chosen yet, and Freddie had “penned a waltz” (A definite nod to “The Millionaire Waltz”). On 16 October 1976, Queen attended a special horse race, named “A Day At The Races”, at this point, the title of the album is confirmed. Additionally, Queen spent the remainder of the recording sessions overdubbing, and recording a few more basic tracks. The full “Somebody to Love” was mixed at Sarm West on 22 October 1976. “White Man” completed and mixed on 24 October 1976. A monitor mix of “Long Away” created on 26 October 1976, along with a copy of “Lover Boy” (Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy).
Other tracks
A copy of “You Take My Breath Away” created on 2 November 1976. A compilation mix of a still incomplete “A Day at the Races” created on 5 November 1976. On the tape, an early mix of “Tie Your Mother Down” used; along with a slightly alternate version of “You Take My Breath Away”.
A different version of “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)” also included on the tape. Also, a mix of “Long Away”, “Drowse”, and “Tie Your Mother Down” created on 9 November 1976. On 16 November 1976, copies of “You and I”, and “The Millionaire Waltz” were created. After one or two mastering sessions, A Day at the Races completed on 19 November 1976.
