Back To The Light

Product Information

This was the last time John Deacon performed as a member of Queen, and for me, the last time Queen songs were played with anything like the passion, and to the standard, we’d become accustomed to with Freddie. Brian played an absolute blinder on not just Queen songs, but as a Master of Ceremonies to a whole host of other artists and their own hits. Expo Sevilla 1992

May’s vocals are emotive and powerful, and you can clearly feel the anguish he is going through in every syllable Purvis, Georg (2011). Queen: Complete Works (2nded.). London: Titan Books. p.154. ISBN 9780857685513. The live version of “Too Much Love Will Kill You” was recorded at the Palace Theater, Los Angeles, on 6 April 1993; the night before, Brian and a special guest tore through Queen concert favourite “Tie Your Mother Down” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “Welcome, Mr Slash,” says Brian, as the Guns N’ Roses guitarist serves notice of May’s multi-generational influence. Sarah an artist who has studied her art and her subject well, skilfully illuminates Brian’s wisdom, power and passion through her portraits in this book. As well as celebrating Brian May, the musician, Rugg aBlso presents the astronomer and the stereo photographer in her imagery, capturing his multi faceted existence. Between its layers of sound and dramatic melodic sweep, the song stands as a personal yet expansive declaration of determined belief that the light is out there – and a constant promise, perhaps, that this album would accompany (“I’ll be there”) listeners on the long road towards it. Between its warm, hymnal verses and erupting choruses, the song’s search “for a clearer view” maps out that journey in microcosm. As Brian explains, “the song came at a difficult time in my life. It wasn’t a sunshine time. I had to find a place where I could see a signpost to the journey I had to make. So the song is about that.

20th February 2023

The roistering “I’m Scared” wears Brian’s fears on its sleeve, while “Last Horizon” reaches for a sense of serenity in its expressive guitar work. Written for skiffle star Lonnie Donegan, “Let Your Heart Rule Your Head” proves May’s easy way with buoyant melody. “Just One Life” is a poignant elegy to a lost loved one, but very unusual in that Brian wrote the song about someone he never met – only came to know at a celebration of his life. It is a powerful and undeniably moving reminder of just how bright and clear the light of Brian’s soulful solo adventure continues to shine almost 30 years on down the road.

The release also comes with a brand new video, which inventively bridges the passage of time between the original release and its current revisiting. Between its warm, hymnal verses and erupting choruses, the song’s search “for a clearer view” maps out that journey in microcosm. As Brian explains, “the song came at a difficult time in my life. It wasn’t a sunshine time. I had to find a place where I could see a signpost to the journey I had to make. So the song is about that. Let Your Heart Rule Your Head", "an unconscious update of...'39....an uplifting, upbeat moment on an album of otherwise bleak and melancholy songs". [25]

Release

Rollin' Over" is May's cover of The Small Faces' song. "In [May's] hands...the song becomes a scorching tour de force of guitar riffs and exploding drums, turning [it] into what might as well be an outtake from one of Queen's earlier albums (indeed, Smile played it in their touring days)". [27] Release [ edit ]