Sheer Heart Attack (song)

"Sheer Heart Attack" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released on their sixth studio album News of the World in 1977.^[4][5] It is one of two songs on the album entirely written by Roger Taylor, the other being "Fight from the Inside".

"Sheer Heart Attack"
Back side of the US vinyl for the "It's Late" single release
Song by Queen
from the album News of the World
A-side	"Spread Your Wings" (Europe) "It's Late" (US)
Released	10 February 1978 (Europe) 25 April 1978 (US)
Recorded	July – September 1977
Studio	Basing Street, London Wessex, London
Genre	Hard rock[1] heavy metal punk rock[2][3]
Length	3:27
Label	EMI, Parlophone (Europe) Elektra, Hollywood (US)
Songwriter(s)	Roger Taylor
Producer(s)	Queen Mike Stone
Music video
"Sheer Heart Attack" on YouTube

Background

"Sheer Heart Attack" was originally written as the title track for the album Sheer Heart Attack in 1974, but was not included. It was finished for News of the World in 1977, and is characterized by its fast, even tempo throughout its length, with the raw simplicity and traditionalism of punk rock including an abrupt ending.^{[according to whom?]}

Roger Taylor sang lead on the demo, but for the definitive version the band decided Freddie Mercury should sing lead vocals, with Taylor singing the chorus. Taylor plays almost every instrument on the finished track, with some help from Brian May on lead guitar and "screams". This is one of the few original Queen recordings that does not feature bass guitarist John Deacon.^{[citation needed]}

The song was the B-side of the Deacon-penned single "Spread Your Wings" in February 1978. It was also the B-side of the single "It's Late", written by May, which was released only in Canada, the United States, New Zealand and Japan in April 1978.

Live performances

The song was performed live from 1977 to 1984. It has been released on three live albums: Live Killers in 1979, Queen Rock Montreal in 1981, and Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl in 1982.

Personnel

Information is based on the album's liner notes^[6]

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals
• Brian May – lead guitar
• Roger Taylor – co-lead and backing vocals, drums, rhythm guitar, bass guitar

References

1. House, Denis (23 November 2018). "The Show Must Go On". The Sentinel-Echo. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
2. Testa, Bart (9 February 1978). "News Of The World". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
3. Chiu, David (24 June 2015). "How Queen Embraced Disco, Conquered America, Then Bit The Dust". Medium. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
4. Epstein, Dan (28 October 2017). "Queen's 'News of the World': 10 Things You Didn't Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
5. Easlea, Daryl. "BBC - Music - Review of Queen - News Of The World". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
6. Queen. “News of the World” (Album Notes). EMI. 1977.