QUEEN ii P-10119E
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Artist = QUEEN
Title = ii
Label = ELEKTRA
Catalog# = P-10119E
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 1974
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
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Every legendary band has a moment where they fully discover their own unique and brilliant identity. For the iconic British rock band Queen, that moment is arguably their second album, the dazzling and ambitious “Queen II.” We are looking at a Japanese pressing of this masterpiece, released on the Elektra label with the catalog number P-10119E.
Released in 1974, “Queen II” is a world away from their hard-rocking debut. This is the album where the band’s flair for the dramatic, their love of grand, layered arrangements, and their unique blend of fantasy and rock and roll truly came into focus. It is one of the most daring and creative albums of the 1970s, a record that laid the epic groundwork for future triumphs like “A Night at the Opera.”
The album is famously structured with a “White Side” and a “Black Side,” composed primarily by Brian May and Freddie Mercury, respectively. The White Side is filled with majestic, multi-tracked guitar harmonies and soaring, almost ethereal melodies, featuring tracks like the beautiful “White Queen (As It Began).” The Black Side, in contrast, is a journey into darker, more fantastical territory, a showcase for Mercury’s theatrical and complex compositions like “The March of the Black Queen,” a stunning precursor to “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
This is the album where Queen’s signature sound, often dubbed “kitchen sink” production, was perfected. The sheer density of the sound is astonishing, with countless layers of vocals and guitars creating a soundscape that is both overwhelmingly powerful and exquisitely detailed. From the thunderous proto-metal of “Ogre Battle” to the delicate beauty of “Nevermore,” the album is a tour de force of creativity.
This Japanese pressing is a superb way to experience the album’s rich, complex sound, renowned for its high-fidelity audio that does justice to the incredibly dense production. For any fan of Queen or 70s rock, “Queen II” is not just an album; it’s a monumental artistic statement and an absolutely essential listen. You can find this classic record in our store or on our website.