Queen - Great King Rat (Demo - Take 1)

This track premiered in 2004 at the 19th International Fan Club Convention in Prestatyn. Freddie Mercury counts-in to begin the take. The lyrics are not finished, but are beginning to develop The track goes up to the bridge when Freddie counts-out. This is obviously a very early take, some of the verses are complete, but many are improvised. The music is fairly similar to the album version. As the lyrics are so under-developed in places, it is possible that this demo pre-dates the De Lane Lea sessions by some time.
Unfortunately, this comes from a lossy source and you have "Property of Queen Productions" being repeated throughout.
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Produced by: Queen
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - acoustic & electric guitars
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, tambourine
Information from QueenVault.com, QueenPedia.com Ultimatequeen.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lyrics:
Freddie: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Great king rat died today
Born on the twenty-first of May
Died syphilis forty-four on his birthday
Every second word he swore
Yes, he was the son of a whore
Always wanted by the law
A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
A wouldn't you like to know
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Great king rat was a dirty old man
Would you like to see?
Yeah
Where will I be tomorrow
Will I beggar or will I borrow
I don't care anyway
Come on, come on, the time is right
The man is evil and that is right
I told you once before
And that's no lie
(Unknown lyrics)
Oh now people
(Unknown lyrics)
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now listen all you people
Would you like to see?
Show me
Oh yeah
(Two verses of ad-libbed vocals)
Now listen all you people
Now listen all you people
A wouldn't you like to know
Great king rat was a dirty old man
And a dirty old man was he
Now what did I tell you
Would you like to see?
Now listen all you people
Put out the good and keep the bad
Never (unknown lyric)
Sinners get in line
Far behind
And very soon you're gonna be his
Two, three, four
Two, three, four
(Unknown lyrics)
One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four
One, two, three

[@lanocheyeldia4393]

Freddie counting to 10 is more musical than other singers actually singing.

[@tickledgooch]

Wouldnt you like t-*PROPERTY OF QUEEN PRODUCTIONS*

[@anunconstitutionalchickenw9731]

1:22 Great king rat was..PrOpERty Of QuEeN PrOdUCtiOns

[@muc_michi]

Knowing there are earlier recordings than De Lane Lea changed my life! Property of Queen Productions

[@rickysld]

That "property of queen productions reminds" me of that weird somebody to love demo version

[@rickysld]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn-ymndvfNl2nLM

[@gsw1235]

Blame Greg Books

[@Meofcourse2319]

Damn, this must be the earliest Queen recording ever at this point

[@ryannewton1202]

Property of Queen Productions

[@tickledgooch]

Property of Queen Productions

[@carloscortesvega1698]

Property of Queen Productions

[@darqv9358]

Property of Queen Productions

[@colesondilbeck4582]

snoitcudorp neeuQ fo ytreporp

[@oreo3740]

Ԁɹodǝɹʇʎ oɟ Qnǝǝu dɹopnɔʇᴉous

[@OneMagic]

Other than the annoying tag all through the recording, this is a real gem right here. Thanks!

[@darqv9358]

Bri really wanted you to know it's property of Queen productions

[@angelsoverme25]

This is awesome. Even though it was quite a mess. Freddie’s counting was funny as heck. When it’s usually a 4 count. This was something new to listen to. So thank you for sharing ♥️

[@luixpaproductions]

So, this could be the earliest recording Of Queen as a group, If it's earlier than the De Lane Lea Studios recordings?

[@debinicholson2279]

Awesome!! Thanks so much. Listening to young Freddie made my day!!

[@cynicalwho4039]

Interesting to see how the song begun before the guitar intro was put in!

[@carloscortesvega1698]

This is awesomeeee :'c (Property of Queen Productions)

[@juliusbardillon8583]

Guess what! Property Of Queen Productions

[@JonBecker81]

It sounds like a Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor duet.

[@joaop2506]

1:39 freddie's singing ❤

[@pbnjosh1057]

What the heck there is an earier demo than the De Lane Lea One???

[@Chinwonder2]

Yep!

[@terry60252]

La bellissima. Sensuale voce di freddie.👄💋😻😍

[@gaminglegend]

What year was this was this demo recorded? The De Lane Lea demos were recorded in 1971, but the description says it was before then, so I'm assuming earlier 1971 or 1970??

[@colesondilbeck4582]

I'm kind of hoping (and assuming) it's 1970

[@cuc321]

It’s for sure this was before the De Lane Lea Demos, that demo was very close to the final song and this doesn’t seem even as complete as the De Lane Lea Demo.

[@gaminglegend]

@@colesondilbeck4582 How come you're hoping it's 1970?

[@colesondilbeck4582]

@@gaminglegend Because there's almost no recordings of Queen from that year.

[@fancypantszakFPZ]

@@colesondilbeck4582 Are there any other recordings from 1970 except for this one?

[@annaelizabeth5888]

Yes, it's a gem!!! in what year was it recorded???

[@WendiSpooks]

Judging by the unfinished lyrics, roughly November - early December 1971

[@radamesboscolo]

To that...does you plague in night?! 😝

[@troliroli]

Wouldn’t you like to know property of queen productions

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

FREDDIE EVEN COUNTS SEXY😂😂😂😂 LOVE HIS ASS TO DEATH❤👑❤

[@happyclam1266]

What was the year?

[@Chinwonder2]

Well, the De Lane Lea demos were recorded around Nov/Dec 1971 and this take 1 is considerably different. So I'm thinking maybe early '71 or even late '70/

[@khizarjamil7664]

Chinwonder2 Late '70 would pre-date John Deacon, so it's unlikely to date from that early on. But then again, who knows for certain?

[@oreo3740]

I wish we get a live concert from mid 70', though it’s probably buried in the deep web, though we can’t dig for it there without getting killed by hackers, though it might come from another source then and there, or sadly, it may never exist.

[@oliverryter4322]

P R O P E R T Y O F Q U E E N P R O D U C T I O N S

[@itsmekornbiptol29]

Guys, what is the meaning of P.O.Q.P?

[@topmandog1]

to stop it leaking online in a full form i guess

[@nanest7014]

Fucking property of queen production

[@thetomey]

Property of Queen Productions

[@Chinwonder2]

Who does it belong to?

[@thetomey]

@@Chinwonder2 To Queen Productions 😂

[@leveebroke]

Property of Queen Productions

[@gaminglegend]

IF I HEAR THAT ONE MORE GODDAMN TIME... >:(

[@happyclam1266]

I would like to know who that was.

[@happyclam1266]

Obviously they were afraid of someone stealing the take? It's similar to putting a watermark over a document. lol

[@tickledgooch]

Property of Queen Productions