Released 27 February 1984, reached no 2, on chart for 93 weeks, achieved Platinum status.
Album length 37:36, 2011 bonus EP length 25:15.
1. Radio Ga Ga
2. Tear It Up
3. It's A Hard Life
4. Man On The Prowl
5. Machines (or Back To Humans)
6. I Want To Break Free
7. Keep Passing The Open Windows
8. Hammer To Fall
9. Is This The World We Created?
1. I Go Crazy (non-album track)
2. I Want To Break Free (single version edit)
3. Hammer To Fall (Headbanger's 12" extended version)
4. Is This The World We Created? (live version from Rio De Janeiro, January 1985)
5. It's A Hard Life (live version from Rio De Janeiro, January 1985)
6. Thank God It's Christmas (non album single)
7. Tear It Up (live version from Wembley Stadium, London, 11 July 1986)
8. I Want To Break Free (live version from Rio De Janeiro, January 1985)
9. Radio Ga Ga (promo video)
10. I Go Crazy
11. Radio Ga Ga (extended version)
12. I Want To Break Free (extended version)
I Go Crazy
Thank God It's Christmas
Let Me In Your Heart Again
Love Kills
There Must Be More To Life Than This (with Michael Jackson)
Back To Storm
Little Boogie
Let Me Live (with Rod Stewart)
Man Made Paradise
Man On Fire
Produced by Queen and Mack
Engineered by Mack with additional engineering in LA by Mike Beiriger. Assistance by Stefan Wissnet and Ed Delana
Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles and Musicland, Munich, August 1983 - January 1984
Thanks to Fred Mandel for rip-roaring piano finale on 'Prowl', synthesiser arrangement and programming on 'Radio Ga Ga'. Also synths on 'Break Free' and candy-floss on 'Hammer To Fall'.
Demolition Fairlight programming on 'Machines' by Mack
Equipment supervision by Peter Hince, Chris Taylor, Brian Zellis and Peter Freestone
Sleeve design by Bill Smith
Photographed by George Hurrell
2011 Reissue Notes:
This 2011 version has been meticulously re-created using the finest modern analogue and digital technology from the original first-generation master mixes.
Executive producers - Brian May and Roger Taylor
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, ME
Audio supervised by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson.
Additional audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson
Special thanks to Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor
Sleeve notes by Greg Brooks and Gary Taylor, with a little help from the band
Special thanks to Greg Brooks, Gary Taylor, Declan O'Regan, and all at FX Copyroom.
Bonus tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5 mastered by Adam Ayan, and tracks 2 and 6 by Adam Ayan, at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine, audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson.
Bonus audio restoration by Kris Fredriksson.
An early promo cassette of the album lists a completely rearranged tracklisting, losing 'Is This The World We Created' but adding 'I Go Crazy' and four other tracks which turned up on later Queen or Solo projects, namely:
1. Tear It Up
2. Whipping Boy (I Go Crazy)
3. I Want To Break Free
4. Machines (or Back To Humans)
5. Man On Fire
6. Take Another Little Piece Of My Heart (Let Me Live)
7. It's A Hard Life
8. Your Heart Again (Let Me In Your Heart Again)
9. Man On The Prowl
10. Radio Caca (Radio Ga Ga)
11. Hammer To Fall
12. Keep Passing The Open Windows
13. Man Made Paradise
- Radio Ga Ga / I Go Crazy (no 2, 23 January 1984) [discography]
- I Want To Break Free / Machines (no 3, 2 April 1984) [discography]
- It's A Hard Life / Is This The World We Created? (no 6, 16 July 1984) [discography]
- Hammer To Fall / Tear It Up (no 13, 10 September 1984) [discography]
- Thank God It's Christmas / Man On The Prowl / Keep Passing The Open Windows (no 21, 26 November 1984) [discography]
Radio Ga Ga
Track 1. Written by Roger Taylor. Length 5:47.
The original title of this track is 'Radio Caca'.
The Greatest Video Hits II DVD features a mimed performance of the album version from Montreux 1984 and a surround sound mix. Fred Mandel (synthesiser arrangement and programming)
Phil Collins (drums on the 'Party At The Palace' live version) 1. 'Excerpts From The Works' Edit (1:15) (on the Flexidisc only; a short 'taster' edit of the album version; contains the first 9 seconds, then 3:32 to 4:07 and 5:16 onwards)
2. Instrumental Version (5:57) (on the 12" single only; an instrumental of the album version but replaces the section from 3:31 to 3:51 with that from 2:04 to 2:23; it also retains some backing vocals)
3. 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' Edit (5:34) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' DVD only; this is an edit which fades out earlier)
4. Karaoke Version (5:34) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' CD, DVD and video, and on the 'Artist Karaoke Series' US CD; an instrumental version of the above edit, retaining some backing vocals)
5. Extended Version (6:51) (on the 12", the boxed-set only album 'The 12" Collection', the US remaster CD, and also on the various artists compilation 'Now That's What I Call 12" 80s')
6. 'Greatest Hits II' Edit (5:43) (a very slight edit, fading out from around 5:32 onwards; this may also appear on the 'Greatest Flix I & II' Video-CD)
7. 'A Sample Of Magic' Promo Excerpt (1:07) (available on the promo CD only, this is a straight excerpt of the track from approximately 2:39 to 3:46)
8. 'Eight Good Reasons To Buy 'Greatest Hits II'' Promo Edit (1:01) (on the promo cassette only, seguing from 'A Kind Of Magic' and into 'I Want To Break Free', containing the section from approximately 1:32 to 2:33)
9. US Promo Edit (4:21) (available on a US promo 12" single; this edits out the approximate sections from 0:08 to 0:16, 0:22 to 0:41, 4:09 to 4:28 and 4:47 to 5:17, and fades out slightly earlier)
10. 2011 Promo Video Edit (4:47) (on the 'Days Of Our Lives' DVD and Blu-ray only; this is an edit of the track which loses the sections from 0:14 to 0:37, 3:32 to 3:41 and 4:09 to 4:28, and fades out from 5:30 to 5:38)
11. Rock Band Video Game Version (5:22) (available as part of the 'Queen Extravaganza 02' download only; this features some remixing throughout the track, and at around 5:17 the music stops, and Brian's guitar wail continues to end the track) 1. Live In Rio (5:42) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985)
2. Rare Live (2:45) (a compilation of footage, recorded in Sydney, Australia, on 25 April 1985, and at Knebworth Park, England, on 9 August 1986)
3. Final Concert Live In Japan (5:36) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
4. Live Aid Rehearsal (3:50) (recorded in the week before Live Aid, in London, July 1985, available on the 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid' DVD)
5. Live Aid (3:57) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 13 July 1985, available on the 'Live Aid' DVD, and on the double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid')
6. Live Aid Excerpt (3:55) (on the 'Live Aid - 20 Years Ago Today' DVD; not really different, it just omits the first 2 seconds of drums)
7. Live At Wembley, First Night (5:57) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only)
8. Live At Wembley, Second Night (5:52) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986)
9. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 1:45 to 2:10)
10. Hungarian Rhapsody / Live In Budapest (6:04) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986)
11. Live Magic (4:17) (recorded at Knebworth Park, England, on 9 August 1986) 1. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (5:50) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 April 1992, with lead vocals by Paul Young)
2. Queen's Day 2002 (5:48) (recorded at the Musumplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 30 April 2002, with lead vocals by Roger; available on the Heineken 'Queen's Day' CD-Rom)
3. Party At The Palace 2002 (2:19) (recorded at Buckingham Palace, London, on 3 June 2002, with lead vocals by Roger)
4. 46664 South Africa (2:30) (recorded at Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 November 2003, with lead vocals by Roger) 1. Official Download, Vienna 2005 (5:43) (recorded in Vienna, Austria, on 13 April 2005)
2. Official Download, Dortmund 2005 (5:42) (recorded in Dortmund, Germany, on 25 April 2005)
3. Return Of The Champions (5:43) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 9 May 2005)
4. Super Live In Japan (5:37) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 October 2005)
5. Super Live In Japan Edit (4:09) (available on the Highlights CD/DVD only)
6. Live In Ukraine (6:05) (recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine, on 12 September 2008, only available as part of the Itunes download, not on the CD/DVD)
7. Official Download, Milan 2008 (4:36) (recorded in Milan, Italy, on 28 September 2008)
8. Official Download, Sheffield 2008 (5:13) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 19 October 2008) 1. Live In Japan (4:16) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 17 August 2014)
2. VR The Champions (4:31) (recorded at the Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, Spain, on 22 May 2016) 1. The SAS Band - The Show (6:02) (recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, on 19 February 2000, with the SAS Band) 1. London Cast Recording (3:33)
2. Spanish Cast Recording (3:37) (lyrics in Spanish)
3. German Cast Medley (1:41) (recorded for the 'Wetten Dass' TV programme in Germany, on 11 December 2004; available on the 'We Will Rock You - Around The World' download EP and the UK cast album 10th anniversary reissue)
4. German Cast Recording (3:34) (lyrics in German) (Radio)
(Radio)
I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
And everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio
You gave them all those old time stars
Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars
You made 'em laugh, you made 'em cry
You made us feel like we could fly
(Radio)
So don't become some background noise
A backdrop for the girls and boys
Who just don't know or just don't care
And just complain when you're not there
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Radio, someone still loves you
We watch the shows, we watch the stars
On videos for hours and hours
We hardly need to use our ears
Our music changes through the years
Let's hope you'll never leave old friend
Like all good things on you we depend
So stick around 'cos we might miss you
When we grow tired of all this visual
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio goo goo, radio ga ga
All we hear is radio ga ga
Radio blah blah
Radio what's new?
Someone still loves you
(Radio ga ga)
(Radio ga ga)
(Radio ga ga)
You had your time, you had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio (radio)
Tear It Up
Track 2. Written by Brian May. Length 3:24.
The Greatest Video Hits II DVD features a mimed performance of the album version from Montreux 1984. 1. Final Concert Live In Japan (1:43) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
2. Magic Tour Rehearsal (2:16) (recorded at rehearsals in May/June 1986; on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 and 2011 DVD)
3. Live At Wembley, First Night (2:12) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD and as a bonus video on the 2011 iTunes LP)
4. Live At Wembley, Second Night (2:12) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986)
5. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 0:15 to 0:40; contains the single word 'hey')
6. Hungarian Rhapsody / Live In Budapest (2:08) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986) Are you ready?
Well are you ready?
We gonna tear it up
Yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Tell me this babe
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Woo, hoo
Hey, give me your mind baby give me your body
Yeah, give me some time baby let's have a party
It ain't no time for sleeping baby
Soon it's round your street I'm creeping
You better be ready
We gonna tear it up
Stir it up, break it up, baby
We gonna tear it up
Shake it up, make it up as you go along
Tear it up, yeah
Square it up, yeah
Wake it up, baby
Tear it up
Stir it up
Stake it out and you can't go wrong
Hey, listen
I love you 'cos you're sweet, I love you 'cos your naughty
Yeah, I love you for your mind baby give me your body
I wanna be a toy at your birthday party
Wind me up
Wind me up
Wind me up, let me go
Yeah
Tear it up
Stir it up
Break it up, let me go
Tear it up
Shake it up
Make it up as you go along
Tear it up, ha, ha, ha
Turn it up
Burn it up, yeah baby
Are you ready? (oh yeah), yeah
Baby, baby, baby, are your ready for me? (oooh, oooh, oooh, oh yeah)
Baby, baby, baby, are your ready for love? (oooh, oooh, oooh, oh yeah)
Are you ready
Are you ready, are you ready for me, yeah (oooh, oooh, oooh, oh yeah)
Alright
Yeah, I love you so near, I love you so far (oooooh)
I gotta tell you baby you're driving me ga ga (oooh, ooooh)
Tear it up, yeah, go, wow
Oh yeah, burn it baby, ha
Yeah, yeah
Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby let's tear it up
Wooh, hoo
It's A Hard Life
Track 3. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 4:08.
The original title of this track was 'Hard Life', but this was changed shortly before release.
The Greatest Video Hits II DVD features a mimed performance of the album version from Montreux 1984 and a surround sound mix.
Details are also available of an unreleased early version. 1. 'Excerpts From The Works' Edit (1:10) (on the Flexidisc only; a short 'taster' edit of the album version; contains the sections from 0:00 to 0:15, 0:49 to 1:04 and then 3:22 to 4:01)
2. Extended Version (5:04) (on the 12" and the boxed-set only album 'The 12" Collection')
3. Album Version Edit (4:00) (on the 'Greatest Flix I & II' Video-CD, and the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' DVD; this is a slight edit which fades out earlier, just after the first piano chord at the end)
4. Instrumental Version (4:00) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' CD, DVD and video; an instrumental version of the above edit, retaining some backing vocals)
5. The Eye Excerpt (0:24) (only available within the game; a short edit of the instrumental section from 2:26 to 2:50) 1. Live In Rio (4:17) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985)
2. Live In Rio Corrected Version (4:17) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985; available on the 2011 double-disc reissue; this is the same as the above version, but includes a correction to Freddie's improvised lyrics)
3. Final Concert Live In Japan (4:12) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985) I don't want my freedom
(Oooh) there's no reason for ending with a broken heart
This is a tricky situation
I've only got myself to blame
It's just a simple fact of life
It could happen to anyone
You win, you lose
It's a chance you have to take with love
Oh yeah, I fell in love
But now you say it's over and I'm falling apart
Yeah, yeah
It's a hard life
To be true lovers together
To love and live forever in each other's hearts
It's a long hard fight
To learn to care for each other
To trust in one another right from the start
When you're in love
I try to mend the broken pieces (oh, ooh)
I try to fight back the tears
They say it's just a state of mind
But it happens to everyone
How it hurts (yeah) deep inside (ooh yeah)
When your love has cut you down to size
Life is tough on your own
Now I'm waiting for something to fall from the skies (ooooh)
I'm waiting for love (ahhhh)
(Hard life) yes it's a hard life
Two lovers together
To love and live forever in each other's hearts
It's a long hard fight
To learn to care for each other
To trust in one another right from the start
When you're in love
Yes it's a hard life
In a world that's filled with sorrow
There are people searching for love in everyway
It's a long hard fight
But I'll always live for tomorrow
I'll look back on myself and say I did it for love
(Ooooh) yes I did it for love
(Love) for love
(For love, love) oh, oh, oh, I did it for love
Man On The Prowl
Track 4. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 3:25. Fred Mandel (Rip-roaring piano finale) 1. Extended Version (6:02) (on the 'Thank God It's Christmas' 12" and the boxed-set only album 'The 12" Collection') Hey
I'm gonna take a little walk on the wild side
I'm gonna loosen up and get me some gas
I'm gonna get me some action
Go crazy driving in the fast lane
My baby left me alone
She done me dirty and I'm feeling so lonely
So come home, come home
If you don't you're gonna break my heart
Man on the prowl
You better watch out
I'm on the loose and I'm looking for trouble
So look out (yeah, yeah) look out (yeah, yeah)
I'm a man on the prowl
I don't want be a rock and roll steady
I just want to be low down trash
I wanna go to the movies
All I wanna do is sit on my ass
So honey come home (come home, come home)
Don't leave me when I'm feeling so lonely
Come home (yeah, yeah) come home (yeah, yeah)
If you don't you're gonna break my heart
Man on the prowl, yeah
You better watch out
I'm on the loose and I'm looking for trouble
So look out (yeah, yeah) look out (yeah, yeah)
'Cos I'm a man on the prowl
Well I keep dreaming about my baby (ooooh)
But it ain't gonna get me no where (bap, bap), hey
I gotta teach my baby dancing (oooh, bap, bap)
But I am no Fred Astaire
So baby look out
I'm a man on the prowl
Look out
Man on the prowl, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Baby, baby, baby look out, yeah
Man on the prowl
Baby come home
I'm on the loose and I'm looking for trouble
Baby come home, oh yeah
'Cos I'm a man on the prowl
So honey come home, come home
'Cos I'm a man on the prowl, yeah
Man on the prowl, yeah
Hey
Steady babe
Loosen up baby
Wooh
Go baby, go
Wooh
Come on
Yeah
Machines
(or Back To Humans)
Track 5. Written by Roger Taylor and Brian May. Length 5:07.
The working title of this track was 'Machines World'.
The instrumental version has very short excerpts of 'Ogre Battle', 'Going Back' and 'Flash' mixed into it.
Concerts on the 1984/1985 tours begin with an instrumental backing track, which finishes with live drums.
Details are also available of an unreleased intro demo which features experimentation with various elements of the song. Mack (Demolition Fairlight programming) 1. Instrumental Version (5:07) (on a US 12" single and the boxed-set album 'The 12" Collection' only; has some remixing, and retains some backing vocals) 1. Live In Rio (0:32) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985; this is a backing track)
2. Final Concert Live In Japan (1:30) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985, this is a backing track) (Machines, machines, machines, machines, machines)
(Machines, machines)
(Machines)
It's a machines world
Don't tell me I ain't got no soul
When the machines take over
It ain't no place for rock and roll
They tell me I don't care
But deep inside I'm just a man
They freeze me, they burn me
They squeeze me, they stress me
With smoke-blackened pistons of steel they compress me
But no-one, but no-one, but no-one can wrest me away
Back to humans
(We have no disease, no troubles of mind
We are fighting for peace, no regard for the time
We never cry, we never retreat
We have no conception of love or defeat)
It's that machine noise
It's bytes and megachips for tea
It's that machine, boys
With random access memory
Never worry, never mind
Not for money, not for gold
Yeah, it's software, it's hardware
It's hard beat, it's time share
It's midwife's a disk drive
It's sex life is quantised
It's self-perpetuating a parahumanoidarianised
Back to humans
Back to humans
(Back to machines)
(Machines, machines) woooohh (machines, machines)
Living in a new world
Thinking in the past (humans)
Living in a new world
How you gonna last
Machine world (humans)
It's a machines world (humans)
Thinking in the past (back to humans)
Living in a new world
How you gonna last
Machine world
Machine world
Machine world
Yeah
Yeah
Machine world, wooh
Get up and go baby, yeah, yeah
Wooh
Back to humans, hey, hey
Back to humans
Back to humans
Living in a new world how you gonna last
Machine world
It's a machines world
I Want To Break Free
Track 6. Written by John Deacon. Length 3:19.
The end of the 12" version features a medley containing excerpts from most album tracks.
The Greatest Video Hits II DVD features a mimed performance of the single version from Montreux 1984 and a surround sound mix. Fred Mandel (synthesisers) 1. 'Excerpts From The Works' Edit (0:55) (on the Flexidisc only; a short 'taster' edit of the album version; a straight edit from 0:38 to 1:33)
2. Single Version (4:23) (on all singles, and the 'Queen Singles Collection 2' boxed set; the first 8 seconds are replaced by a 36 second instrumental containing keyboards and then guitars. It is then the same as the album version from 0:08 to 2:00, when a 34 second keyboard solo begins, before it continues from 2:00 onwards. It fades out a fraction earlier)
3. Special Single Mix Edit (3:57) (on a US only promo single; this is the normal single version but omits the keyboard intro, starting at 0:20, and fades out slightly earlier, by about 4:18)
4. 'Greatest Hits' Edit (4:21) (on the US 'Greatest Hits' album) (this is identical to the single version above, but starts fading in just over a second later)
5. 'Greatest Hits II' Edit (4:18) (also on the 'Absolute Greatest' album and the 2011 double-disc reissue; as the single version above, but starts to fade out earlier, from around 4:05 onwards; a very similar edit appears on the 'Greatest Flix I & II' Video-CD)
6. Extended Version 1 (7:12) (on the 12" single and the US remaster CD)
7. Extended Version 2 (7:19) (on the boxed-set only '12" Collection' album; this is the same as the regular extended version, but runs slightly slower)
8. 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' Edit (4:07) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' DVD only; this is an edit of the single version, which fades in slightly later and fades out earlier)
9. Instrumental Version (4:07) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' CD, DVD and video, and also 'Greatest Video Hits II' disc 2, on the 'The Works' menu; an instrumental version of the above edit, with no lyrics at all)
10. 'A Sample Of Magic' Promo Excerpt (0:52) (available on the promo CD only, this is a straight excerpt of the track from approximately 0:40 to 1:32)
11. 'Eight Good Reasons To Buy 'Greatest Hits II'' Promo Edit (0:59) (on the promo cassette only, seguing from 'Radio Ga Ga' and into 'Under Pressure', containing the sections from approximately 0:40 to 1:11 and 1:37 to 2:06)
12. Rock Band Video Game Version (4:07) (available as part of the 'Queen 01' and 'Queen RB3 Enhanced Pack' downloads only; this is the single version, which fades in slightly later at the start, features remixing throughout, including some elements being echoed, and at around 4:06, the synthesiser from around 2:32 to 2:34 is repeated to end the track, meaning it loses the last two lines of lyrics) 1. Live In Rio (3:23) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 19 January 1985; also available as a bonus video on the 2011 iTunes LP)
2. Final Concert Live In Japan (3:18) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
3. Magic Tour Rehearsal (0:53) (recorded at rehearsals in May/June 1986, on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 and 2011 DVD, this is a severely edited version)
4. Live At Wembley, First Night (3:25) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only)
5. Live At Wembley, Second Night (3:25) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986)
6. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt 1 (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 0:28 to 0:53)
7. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt 2 (0:57) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD audio selection screen; an edit of the above live version from 0:00 to 0:57)
8. Hungarian Rhapsody (3:26) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986; available on the CD only)
9. Hungarian Rhapsody / Live In Budapest Edit (3:00) (available on the video releases only; an edit of the above version, which starts with the keyboards, omitting the synthesiser intro)
10. Live Magic (2:35) (recorded at Knebworth Park, England, on 9 August 1986, this is an edit of the live version) 1. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (3:48) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 April 1992, with lead vocals by Lisa Stansfield)
2. 46664 South Africa (1:29) (recorded at Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 November 2003, with lead vocals by Thandiswa Mazwai) 1. Official Download, Madrid 2005 (3:44) (recorded in Madrid, Spain, on 1 April 2005)
2. Official Download, Milan 2005 (3:50) (recorded in Milan, Italy, on 5 April 2005)
3. Official Download, Prague 2005 (3:48) (recorded in Prague, Czech Republic, on 16 April 2005)
4. Return Of The Champions (3:45) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 9 May 2005)
5. Live In Ukraine (3:27) (recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine, on 12 September 2008)
6. Official Download, Rome 2008 (3:21) (recorded in Rome, Italy, on 26 September 2008)
7. Official Download, Sheffield 2008 (3:25) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 19 October 2008) 1. Shepherd's Bush 1994 (3:50) (recorded at Shepherd's Bush Empire, London, on 15 September 1994; available on the 'Happiness' CD single only)
2. Band Du Lac (3:37) (recorded in Surrey, England, on 11 June 2005 with the Band Du Lac, available on the 'Band Du Lac - One Night Only Live' DVD) 1. London Cast Recording - Gallileo Version (2:33)
2. London Cast Recording - Scaramouche Version (0:32)
3. Spanish Cast Recording - Gallileo Version (2:36) (lyrics in Spanish)
4. Spanish Cast Recording - Scaramouche Version (0:31) (lyrics in Spanish)
5. German Cast Recording - Gallileo Version (2:35)
6. German Cast Recording - Scaramouche Version (0:30) (lyrics in German) I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
It's strange but it's true, hey
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, how I want to break free
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without
Living without, living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own
So baby can't you see
I've got to break free
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free
Oooh, yeah
I want to break, yeah, yeah, yeah, I want to break free
Keep Passing The Open Windows
Track 7. Written by Freddie Mercury. Length 5:21.
Details are also available of two unreleased demo versions. 1. Extended Version (6:45) (on the 'Thank God It's Christmas' 12" only)
2. The Eye Version (0:30) (only available in the game itself) (an instrumental, equivalent to the album version from approx 0:19 to 0:48, with a phased intro) This is the only life for me, yeah
Surround myself around my own fantasy
You just gotta be strong and believe in yourself
Forget all the sadness 'cos love is all you need
Love is all you need
Do you know what it's like to be alone in this world
When you're down and out on your luck and you're a failure
Wake up screaming in the middle of the night
You think it's all been a waste of time
It's been a bad year
You start believing everything's gonna be alright
Next minute your down and you're flat on your back
A brand new day's beginning
Get that sunny feeling and you're on your way
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Do you know how it feels when you don't have a friend
Without a job and no money to spend, you're a stranger
All you think about is suicide
One of these days you're gonna lose the fight
You better keep out of danger, yeah
That same old feeling just keeps burning deep inside
You keep telling yourself it's gonna be the end
Ooh, get yourself together
Things are looking better everyday
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
This is the only life for me, yeah (oooh, oooh, oooh)
Surround myself around my own fantasy
You just gotta be strong and believe in yourself
Forget all the sadness 'cos love is all you need
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
You just gotta be strong and believe in yourself
Forget all the sadness 'cos love is all you need, yeah
Love is all you need, baby
Love is all you need
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Just believe, just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Just keep passing the open windows
Hammer To Fall
Track 8. Written by Brian May. Length 4:26.
The promo video features some audience noise, but has the standard single version dubbed over the top. This was released as the 'MTV Video version' on a US 12" promo.
The full album version appears on 'Queen Rocks' while the single version appears on 'Greatest Hits II' and 'Classic Queen'.
The Greatest Video Hits II DVD features a mimed performance of the single version from Montreux 1986 and a surround sound mix. Fred Mandel (Candy-floss)
Brian Malouf ('Malouf Mix' remixing) 1. 'Excerpts From The Works' Edit (1:21) (on the Flexidisc only; a short 'taster' edit of the album version; equivalent to approximately 0:00 to 0:04, 0:52 to 2:05 and finally 4:17 to 4:19)
2. Single Version (3:36) (on all singles, the 'I Want To Break Free' 3" CD single, 'Greatest Hits II', 'Classic Queen', 'Jewels II', and in the 'Queen Singles Collection 3' boxed set; an edit, which contains: 0:00 to 1:56, 2:33 to 3:55, 3:53 to 3:55, 4:05 to 4:17 and 4:21 onwards)
3. Extended Version 1 (5:22) (on the 12" single and the boxed-set only album 'The 12" Collection')
4. Extended Version 2 (5:17) (on the 2011 double-disc reissue only; this is identical to the above version but runs slightly faster)
5. Instrumental Version (3:37) (on the 'Greatest Karaoke Hits' CD, DVD and video, and on the 'Artist Karaoke Series' US CD; an instrumental version of the single version, retaining some backing vocals)
6. The Eye Instrumental (4:20) (an instrumental version of the album version, with no lyrics, but has some additional percussion and more prominent bass)
7. Film Version (0:37) (only in the film 'Highlander'; a very short, slightly accelerated edit, from 0:15 to 0:54)
8. 'Queen Rocks' Video (3:47) (on the video only; a unique edit of the album version, losing the instrumental section from 1:56 to 2:33)
9. Malouf Mix (4:18) (on a US promo CD only; a good remix which is essentially the album version, but running slightly faster, with additional percussion throughout, more prominent 'candy floss' noises, and a slight echo to Freddie's vocal)
10. Malouf Mix Edit (3:40) (on a US promo CD only; this is essentially a cross containing the Malouf Mix changes applied to the single version of the track) 1. Live In Rio (4:50) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985)
2. Final Concert Live In Japan (5:04) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
3. Live Aid Rehearsal Excerpt (0:42) (recorded in the week before Live Aid, in London, July 1985, available on the 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid' DVD)
4. Live Aid (3:57) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 13 July 1985, available on the 'Live Aid' DVD, and on the double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid')
5. Live At Wembley, First Night (5:11) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD only)
6. Live At Wembley, Second Night (5:14) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986; also available on the 'Live Magic' CD and 'Rare Live' video)
7. Live At Wembley, Second Night Edit (4:18) (on the 'Live Magic' UK LP, UK Cassette, Japanese original CD and Japanese 1994 CD only; an edit of the above version, losing a number of sections)
8. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 0:20 to 0:45)
9. Hungarian Rhapsody (4:49) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986; available on the CD only)
10. Hungarian Rhapsody / Live In Budapest Edit (4:07) (available on the video releases only; as above, omitting the section from 3:26 to 4:07) 1. Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (4:33) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 20 April 1992, with lead vocals by Gary Cherone) 1. Official Download, Antwerp 2005 (6:33) (recorded in Antwerp, Belgium, on 20 April 2005)
2. Official Download, Dortmund 2005 (6:51) (recorded in Dortmund, Germany, on 25 April 2005)
3. Return Of The Champions (6:30) (recorded in Sheffield, England, on 9 May 2005)
4. Super Live In Japan (3:42) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 October 2005; not released on the Highlights CD/DVD)
5. Live In Ukraine (3:42) (recorded in Kharkov, Ukraine, on 12 September 2008)
6. Official Download, Glasgow 2008 (1:59) (recorded in Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 October 2008)
7. Official Download, London 2008 (1:59) (recorded in London, England, on 13 October 2008)
8. Official Download, Belgrade 2008 (2:01) (recorded in Belgrade, Serbia, on 29 October 2008) 1. Fire Fight Australia (5:01) (recorded in Sydney, Australia, on 16 February 2020; available on the Australia only 'Artists Unite For Fire Fight: Concert For National Bushfire Relief' album) 1. Live At The Brixton Academy Edit (5:15) (recorded at the Brixton Academy, London, on 15 June 1993; available on the album only)
2. Live At The Brixton Academy Full (5:59) (available on the video only, this is the full live version with extra instrumental sections)
3. Paris 1998 (8:32) (recorded at Le Reservoir, Paris, France, on 9 June 1998; only available on the 'Red Special' Japanese CD) 1. London Cast Recording (2:57)
2. Spanish Cast Recording (3:01) (lyrics in Spanish)
3. German Cast Recording (2:58) Yeah
Here we stand or here we fall
History won't care at all
Make the bed, light the light
Lady Mercy won't be home tonight, yeah
You don't waste no time at all
Don't hear the bell but you answer the call
Comes to you as to us all, yeah
We're just waiting for the hammer to fall, yeah
Oh every night, and every day
A little piece of you is falling away
But lift your face, the western way, baby
Build your muscles as your body decays, yeah
Toe your line and play their game
Yeah, let the anaesthetic cover it all
Till one day they call your name
You know it's time for the hammer to fall, yeah
Rich or poor or famous for
Your truth it's all the same, yeah baby (oh no, oh no)
Oh, lock your door but rain is pouring
Through your window pane, yeah (oh no)
Baby now your struggle's all in vain, yeah, yeah For he who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the mushroom cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
We just want to scream it louder and louder and louder
What the hell we fighting for?
Yeah, just surrender and it won't hurt at all, baby
Just got time to say your prayers, hey
While you're waiting for the hammer to, hammer to fall
Hey, yes, it's gonna fall, right
Hammer, you know it
Yeah, hammer to fall
Woooohh
Hey, yeah
Wow, wow
Ha Ha Ey, eh
Waiting for the hammer to fall, hey, baby
Yeah, yeah While you're waiting for the hammer to fall
Give it to me one more time
Is This The World We Created?
Track 9. Written by Freddie Mercury and Brian May. Length 2:12.
This track originally featured piano, but this was removed (or lost) for the final release.
On the 'Forever' compilation, this track starts just before 'The Miracle' has fully faded out, but is otherwise the same as the album version. 1. Earthrise Version (2:48) (on a various artists compilation album of the same name; this is the normal album version, with various animal noises at the end, after a short pause; the track itself is unaltered) 1. Live In Rio (2:23) (recorded in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, on 12 January 1985; also available on the 2011 double-disc reissue, with a 29 second acoustic intro, and a slightly longer fade out, extending it to 2:28)
2. Final Concert Live In Japan (2:38) (recorded in Tokyo, Japan, on 11 May 1985)
3. Live Aid (2:26) (recorded in London, July 1985; on the 'Live Aid' DVD and on the double DVD 'Queen Rock Montreal And Live Aid'
4. Mannheim 1986 (2:30) (recorded at Maimarktgelande, Mannheim, Germany, on 21 June 1986; available on the 'On Air' 6CD set)
5. Live At Wembley, First Night (2:36) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 11 July 1986; available on the 2011 DVD)
6. Live At Wembley, First Night Edit (1:28) (available on the 'Live Magic' album only, this edits out the middle two verses)
7. Live At Wembley, Second Night (2:40) (recorded at Wembley Stadium, London, on 12 July 1986)
8. Live At Wembley, Second Night Excerpt (0:25) (on the 'Live At Wembley Stadium' 2003 DVD song selection screen; an edit of the above version from 0:19 to 0:44)
9. Hungarian Rhapsody / Live In Budapest (2:25) (recorded in Budapest, Hungary, on 27 July 1986) 1. 46664 South Africa (2:18) (recorded at Green Point Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 November 2003, with lead vocals by Andrea Corr and Brian on guitar) Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need
Is this the world we created, what did we do it for
Is this the world we invaded, against the law
So it seems in the end is this what we're all living for today
The world that we created
You know that everyday a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by
Ooh, oh, oh, is this the world we created, we made it on our own
Is this the world we devastated, right to the bone
If there's a God in the sky looking down
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that he created
I Go Crazy
Non-Album Track. Written by Brian May. Length 3:41.
This track is available on the 2011 double-disc reissue, the US Hollywood Records remaster CD, the 'Radio Ga Ga' single (both original and 3" CD releases), the boxed-set only 'Complete Vision' LP, and in the 'Queen Singles Collection 2' boxed set.
Apparently ideas for this track originate from the 1981 recording session with David Bowie, and the working title of the track may be 'Whipping Boy'. Parts of it were performed by Brian during his guitar solo on the 1982 'Hot Space' tour.
Details are also available of an unreleased instrumental demo. Yeah yeah
Ha, ha
Let's go, let's go, let's go
Yeah, I took my baby dancing
To see a heavy band
I never saw my baby till the encore
She had the singer by the hand
I didn't wanna cry 'cos I had to be cool
I didn't wanna tell you that you're much too cruel
Did you have to run off with that dog-gone fool
All I gotta do is think about you
Every night and day I go crazy
All I gotta do is get my hands on you
You better stay away from me baby
Hey, I wouldn't mind the postman
If the neighbours didn't know
Or the gas man, electric man, the man who fixed the car
I'd have to let it go
But you had to bring me down for a rock 'n' roll clone
Leave me like a sucker standing all alone
You just had to run off with that rolling stone
Go ahead fool
All I gotta do is think about you
Every night and day I go crazy
All I gotta do is get my hands on you
You better stay away from me baby
So I ain't gonna go and see the Rolling Stones no more, no more
I don't wanna go to see Queen no more, no more
I ain't gonna go and see the Rolling Stones no more, no more
I don't wanna go and see Queen no more, no more
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, crazy
Wow
Yeah
Crazy, crazy
I don't wanna hurt you
But you've been a hurting me
But you know that I'll be watching
Rolling on the floor next time you're on the TV
Had enough of your pretending that you know where it's at
Come on to all the boys like a real small brat
You think I'd nearly let you get away with all that
No way baby
All I gotta do is think about you
Every night and day I go crazy, crazy
All I gotta do is get my hands on you
Better stay away from me baby
Ooh, you got to, got to, got to
Got to stay away from me baby
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, yeah
Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, wooooh
Crazy, yeah
Crazy
Thank God It's Christmas
Non-Album Track. Written by Roger Taylor and Brian May. Length 4:18.
This track is available on the 2011 double-disc reissue, the 'Greatest Hits III' album, the 1984 single, the 'A Winter's Tale' CD1/cassette single, the 'Under Pressure' CD2/cassette single, in the 'Queen Singles Collection 3' boxed set, and several other releases. It was recorded between 7 November and 11 November 1984. Apparently, Roger wrote this track, while Brian wrote 'I Dream Of Christmas' (later recorded by Anita Dobson). They then chose this track for Queen and collaborated together on it.
A 'Peace In The Middle East' mix also exists which is found on a 12" single release in Israel in 1993; however the track was remixed and released without permission from Queen. 1. "Extended" Version (4:25) (on the 'Queen Talks' CD in the US 'Queen Collection' Box Set; identical to normal but contains a seven second drum intro) Oh, my love, we've had our share of tears
Oh, my friends, we've had our hopes and fears
Oh, my friends, it's been a long hard year
But now it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
The moon and stars seem awful cold and bright
Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas proud
My friends, the world will share this special night
Because it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one night
Thank God it's Christmas, yeah
Thank God it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas (oooh)
Can it be Christmas (oooh)
Let it be Christmas
Every day
Oh, my love, we live in troubled days
Oh, my friend, we have the strangest ways
Oh, my friends, all this, one day, all days
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
Ooooh, yeah
Thank God it's Christmas
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes, it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day
Christmas
And a very merry Christmas to you all