MAY, BRIAN star fleet project EMS-41013

Guitar Titans Unite: Brian May + Friends’ ‘Star Fleet Project’ (EMS-41013)

Today’s entry showcases a legendary impromptu meeting of rock royalty. We are looking at the 1983 Japanese Promo Sample pressing of the mini-album Star Fleet Project by Brian May + Friends, released on EMI with the catalog number EMS-41013.

A Historic Jam Session

Recorded at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, this release documents a spontaneous collaboration between Queen’s Brian May and guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen. Backed by a rhythm section featuring Alan Gratzer (REO Speedwagon), Phil Chen, and Fred Mandel, the group tears through a hard-rocking cover of the sci-fi theme “Star Fleet” and the melodic “Let Me Out.” However, the centerpiece for guitar aficionados is Side B: the sprawling, 12-minute blues jam “Blues Breaker,” where May and Van Halen trade licks in a spirited tribute to their blues-rock heroes.

Rare Promo Edition

This specific copy is a coveted Promo Sample, distinguished by a “Sample (Not For Sale)” sticker located on the bottom right corner of the front cover. The disc labels also bear the Japanese “Mihon” (Sample) characters, marking it as a copy originally intended for radio play or industry review.

Japanese Quality

Manufactured by Toshiba EMI, this pressing offers the superior audio fidelity expected from Japanese vinyl of the early 80s. It comes complete with the original Obi strip, making it a perfect archival copy of this unique moment in rock history.