“That’s when an engineer can produce his favorite band or a tea boy can be used as a tape op.” “They were given what was called ‘Dark Time,'” producer John Anthony told band biographer Mark Blake in Is This the Real Life? The Untold Story of Queen. Though it was an honor to follow in such prestigious footsteps, Queen’s lowly status meant that they were only allowed to record during off-peak hours: usually between 3 and 7 a.m. In early 1973, the fledgling band was recording its debut album at London’s Trident Studios, a cutting-edge facility that had recently been utilized by David Bowie and the Beatles. While Mercury’s first appearance on vinyl predates any release from Queen, it does feature two of his bandmates and a characteristic dose of irreverence.
He released a pre- Queen solo single covering the Ronettes and Dusty Springfield – and mocking Gary Glitter.
