Released 1977 Genre Punk rock | A-side "Spread Your Wings" Length 3:27 | |
Recorded July - September 1977 at Basing Street and Wessex Studios Label EMI, Parlophone (Europe)
Elektra, Hollywood (US) | ||
"Sheer Heart Attack" is a song by the British rock band Queen, originally released on their sixth studio album News of the World in 1977. It is one of two songs on the album entirely written by Roger Taylor.
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Background
"Sheer Heart Attack" is a song by Queen. It was originally written for the album of the same name in 1974, but was not included on the album for several reasons. The song was finished for News Of The World in 1977.
Roger Taylor plays almost every instrument on the finished track, with some help from Brian May on guitar. This is one of the few Queen recordings that does not feature bassist John Deacon.
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 first performed live in 1977. It was usually performed in some sort of medley, and is one of the few Queen songs for which drummer Taylor would perform lead vocals on stage. It has been released on three live albums: Live Killers in 1979, Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl in 2004 and Queen Rock Montreal in 2007.