Jazz
(10 November 1978)
Tracklisting: Mustapha / Fat Bottomed Girls /
Jealousy / Bicycle Race / If You Can’t Beat Them / Let
Me Entertain You / Dead On Time / In Only Seven
Days / Dreamer’s Ball / Fun It / Leaving Home Ain’t
Easy / Don’t Stop Me Now / More of that JazzMustapha ���
A bizarre opening track if ever there was one, ‘Mustapha’’s lyrics
consist mostly of Arabic-sounding nonsense. A solid fusion of rock
and Middle Eastern inspired music, ‘Mustapha’ closes with some
nice vocal harmonies.
Fat Bottomed Girls ���
A country-flavoured stomp, ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ isn’t one of the
best cuts from the album, in spite of its popularity. May and
Mercury share lead vocals here, in one of the few Queen songs to
use drop D tuning in the guitars.
Jealousy ���
Featuring some of Mercury’s most understated vocals, ‘Jealousy’ is
sad, soothing and optimistic all at the same time. May’s acoustic
guitar is synched up in such a way that it is a little reminiscent of
a sitar. All parts were recorded simultaneously in this spontaneous
take of the track.
Bicycle Race ����
More complex than most people give it credit for, ‘Bicycle Race’
features unusual chord functions, several modulations, and a race
of guitars emulating the bicycle race in question. Also famed for
its bicycle bell solo, the track certainly stands the test of time, and
sounds great to this day.