Queen - Polar Bear (Demo - Take 2) [Unreleased Song]

Re-uploaded due to a Copyright Strike which took down the original upload.
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This is a Queen recording of the Smile track, recorded at some time between 1971 and 1973, almost certainly featuring John Deacon on bass and not Barry Mitchell as some sources suggest. Musically it is similar to the Smile version, but some parts are slightly different. Freddie's vocals are more powerful than Tim Staffell's, and more suited to the track. The lyrics seem more ad-libbed by Freddie, and in places don't make much sense (such as the start of the second verse), but still this performance is much better than the Smile version.
It had been rumored for years that a Queen version Polar Bear existed with Freddie on vocals. These claims were denied by Queen Productions. A copy was leaked at about the same time as Silver Salmon. The Queen version is superior to the Smile version in just about every way. The track starts with 38 seconds of studio banter between Roger and the rest of the band, all the while Freddie is trying to start the take. Track starts at 0:39 with Freddie finally saying "Right, take two." There are some minor lyrical differences between the Queen and Smile version as well. It is unknown if further takes were attempted.
This version comes from an upgrade of an unknown working tape and now is a lossless source. I have done some de-noise work on this and like the outcome. Thanks to DJGreg for uploading this lossless upgrade to QueenChat!
Written by: Tim Staffell or Brian May
Produced by: ?
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Brian May - guitars
Roger Taylor - drums
Information from QueenVault.com, QueenPedia.com Ultimatequeen.co.uk
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Lyrics / Transcription:
Roger: ...We can't slow down
Freddie: Ha, ha, right, take two
Brian: I'm trying to slow the thing down
Roger: Well it doesn't need slowing down, it's, God, it's creeping at the moment
Freddie: Ha, ha, alright, try
(Unknown dialogue in the background, probably from Brian)
Roger: God, it was so slow, and it was getting even slower. You always try to play this like I've never
Freddie: Take two
Unknown voice: You play the fucking twelve string
Freddie: Take two, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
(Unknown dialogue in the background, probably from Brian)
Roger: Alright, we’ll all follow you
(Some sort of 'hollering' noise in the background)
Unknown (in background): Fucking hell
Freddie: Right, take two
Unknown: ...Four
In a bright shop window sits a polar bear
Makes his eyes light up but I don't see him there
Among the tinsel he gives everyone a smile
See him as you'd see a star
Love her from where you are
He's not for, not for, not for sale
Walk around the world I walks a pretty girl
Someone like you've seen or by it's hard to tell
Oooh, and when you see her light seem around the lie
And see her as you'd see a star
Love her from where you are
Not for, not for, not for sale
And when the lights light up
To warn the grasping hand
Minor contentment wears a smile
Ooohhh-wahh
Not for, not for, not for sale
Not for sale
[Tape Cut]

[@Marvin00000001]

I always wondered how it would sound with Freddie's voice. Now I know, now I know, now I know...

[@whistleoutoftune4417]

same for me. i really love this song and its a delight to hear it from freddie.

[@wumbomandlx]

Listen to the wise man sing.

[@toes_on_toads8225]

Ok prophet

[@notjrt]

yeah, there was also a live performance from june 1970 with freddie singing polar bear. queen's first performance

[@mmanes100]

First time I listen Freddie sings the song, tks so much.

[@bnjmnwst]

Roger is such a diva.

[@nameissturdy1390]

Still a huge fan 40 years on.

[@reversed2355]

THIS IS A BANGER 😭😭😭🙏🏼

[@antonioelle4894]

This track is a perfect example of how Mercury shaped his early voice on Tim's

[@johnsoos6907]

Spot on! I've always thought that, too.

[@КонстантинСилин-з1и]

Это песня Smile?

[@faddeybulgarin]

Шикарная песня❤ Впервые ее услышал исполнении Smile, но когда в 2000-х услышал ее в исполнении Фредди, то полюбил навсегда ❤❤❤ Топ 10 любимейших песен Queen

[@jordantreyofficial]

This is a Smile song, the demo was uploaded many years ago but this is the clearer version I've ever heard

[@stumpusMaximus]

Yeah and I have the Japanese import of the Smile album. If I remember, only one song was in stereo . The rest mono. I prefer Staffel’s voice on that album.

[@jordantreyofficial]

@stumpusMaximus yes, Tim Staffel has a very good voice there.

[@skywipe1949]

Downloaded this and the other ones before they go up in a puff of smoke.

[@milesfernando]

There's better sources than this KZbin video. KZbin compresses audio quite a bit.

[@Александрэ-ы2ш]

☝👍👍💪💪😊

[@skywipe1949]

​@@milesfernandoWhere is better audio available? I'll take what I can get for now, but if something better is accessible, I'd certainly be interested in having a look.

[@ant2manbee931]

@@skywipe1949 I've being trying to search for a good copy for quite sometime as well. If I find it, I'm going to post it myself. I would really be grateful if anyone could share a lossless copy of any of Queen's demos/unreleased songs.

[@ant2manbee931]

@@milesfernando Would you mind saying where to find a better source?

[@saskiabaggen117]

I miss you Freddie and I love you singing it ❤

[@dianecourtney2724]

Young beautiful ‘Freddie voice’ before he learned to keep his voice from doing its own thing … he took charge and reeled it in. Sad in a way BUT I love it both ways. Freddie is completely irreplaceable.

[@jdsnyc]

For people that prefer the “Smile” version, the difference here is that Freddie sings the whole song himself; in the Smile version there are 2 people (Brian & Tim) singing different parts-so it feels different somehow & it is telling. Freddie is able to handle the lows & highs with his own sole voice & it’s what set him apart, then & (forever) now.

[@jovipz0314]

Qué liiiindo!! ❤ Los inicios de Freddie cuando Brian y Roger aceptaron la propuesta de cambiar el nombre a QUEEN, Su voz es fresca, como en Goin' Back, hermoso! 👑🧚‍♂️💛🌍⭐️🥰

[@juunotfromearth]

Love that u can just hear Brian and roger arguing

[@ThomasBrunkard]

This is magic

[@jimmiok]

Almost certainly Deaky on bass. I don’t believe Queen did any studio work before John joined.

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

Absolutely. The first time Queen did anything in the studio was at De Lane Lea and John had already been with them a while by then. The only time before that Freddie had been in a studio was doing the covers of Goin’ Back and I Can Hear Music, his voice is noticeably completely different here.

[@dpm103151]

Hearing Freddie sing this for the first time several years ago sent me reeling! I always wondered if it was intentional that he changed the lyric from "makes my eyes light up when I would see him there" to " makes HIS eyes light up when I would see him there." Seems so Freddie. Lol. But maybe just an error. I wish I could understand all the lyrics. I have this on a demo CD compilation of several songs from '72-'74, that includes Silver Salmon and Misfire. ❤

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

It’s probably not intentional. Freddie gets quite a few of the lyrics wrong here. And I should point out that Silver Salmon is actually from ‘77 in the News of the World sessions.

[@dpm103151]

@@TieYourLaurenDown hard to tell as Freddie sometimes made errors and other times made changes. Tim Staffell wrote Silver Salmon, so it goes back to the Smile days and Queen recorded it in '72. It was an unreleased track from the first Queen album. I never saw any reference to NOTW sessions other than the Queenvault site, which has some errors in it, but maybe it was.

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

@ it’s definitely from “News of the World”, it was recorded back to back with “Feelings/Now that I’m Here” (which was also erroneously rumoured to be from the “Queen” sessions). Roger’s got China symbols and rototomes on those tracks, which he didn’t get until 1976. If you listen to it after the speed has been corrected, Freddie’s voice is unmistakably too developed to be that early in their career. We also know that Queen were revisiting older songs at the point with “Now That I’m Here” developing into “Feelings, Feelings” and the finished version of “Sheer Heart Attack”. Edit: add “We are the Champions” to that list too, Freddie wrote an early version of it in 1975.

[@dpm103151]

Well, the forums going back and forth on this, and there are many, all end the same way. No one really knows for sure. Lol. Anyway, I have what I think might be a boot of the Queen sessions that states they're from '72-'74. The first listed is labeled Queen l sessions and includes KYA, Liar, S & D, Silver Salmon & Polar Bear. Makes sense really. It's a single CD and also has Q 2 sessions 1973 and SHA 1974 as well. All grouped to to the year. People also can't seem to agree whether it's an early 70s Freddie voice or the mid to late 70s voice. To me his speaking and singing voice on this track sound like a young Freddie but I guess we could go on about it forever. I'm just glad we have it to listen to and we're all here because we love Queen. Thanks.

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

@ Freddie has a diaphonic voice crack on “Silver Salmon” which isn’t possible unless you have a physical abnormality of the vocal cords. Freddie didn’t develop nodules on his vocal cords until early 1975 during the “Sheer Heart Attack” tour. Also, the “Queen 1” physical box set has photos of tape reels and recording times for songs. “Silver Salmon” definitely can’t be from 1971 because the whole session at De Lane Lea is documented and it is incredibly unlikely for it to have come from the ‘72 Trident sessions. There is no evidence whatsoever that it comes from that point in time, there is a mountain of evidence saying it’s from 1977.

[@frenkn.t.ninjabless]

Freddie ❤😂😊

[@edgardominguez8318]

No mames que chingon wey Escucho a un ángel alaverga

[@LilacHaze]

Considering not even a flick of hope was giving about this piece appearance on Queen I Box Set l, probably is from Queen II or Sheer Heart Attack Session, although wonder is from that era was also Now That I'm Here/Silver Salmon...

[@JPDeez]

Wow, never thought I'd prefer Tim's vocal to Freddie's. Roger would often say in interviews, Freddie early on didn't have the best technique... I guess this would be an example of that.

[@keanufrancoisaquino9456]

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 y0u with all my💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

[@MarcoMelis-y1s]

This is a SMILE song!

[@MRCIVN]

And?

[@supertitan86]

​@@MRCIVNcopyright, this song is from Smile not queen band.

[@Alfonso162008]

Yes, and this is Queen covering that song. What's your point?

[@yosh9433]

​@@supertitan86 2/3 members of Smile are playing here, so, is valid.

[@shootingstar7793]

Fuck the copyright anyway, they don't want this song to be heard after all.

[@jimilove7773]

Thanks!

[@MaxPower2719]

Always thought the first part of this (“the banter”) was from the NOTW sessions…

[@rodolfovargas3504]

Polar Beer !!!

[@Mcqlfc]

Brian was playing through a Fender Twin

[@mrpositronia]

It would have been okay as a b-side. But I can see why they chose not to put it on an album.

[@ちっちぽ]

Roger is cute because he talks a lot.

[@guardu1705]

Why wasn't it included in the Queen I box set? 😢

[@Rehashh]

probably song writing credit stuff, nothing smile related has ever been released except doin alright

[@guardu1705]

@Rehashh Yoooo guys I love your band! I loved your cover of April Lady, keep it up 💪

[@ivanschickendantz]

I think Polar Bear was recorded at Sheer Heart Attack sessions instead Queen I. To be omitted in the box set makes that theory more probable

[@supertitan86]

Copyright friend, this song is from Smile not Queen band. 😕

[@Iainrankingtheobscure]

Because its crap

[@KIM-fz1cm]

its like led zeppelin 😮

[@gbclab]

❤

[@miguelmartins27]

Queria que essa fosse lançada no Queen I

[@dpm103151]

I know you really want to have the last word here but Freddie's voice cracked due to him reaching another register and not necessarily from throat nodules from using a diaphonic technique. SS was reputed to be from 1972 not 1971. I haven't as yet seen the evidence that satisfies me that it's from 1977. I won't resist it when I see it..the only evidence I see from 1972 is the actual cd liner info that claims it is.

[@katiehill7552]

love this song, amazing to see that they did a version with Freddie! anyone know if they did a version of Step On Me with him?

[@LilacHaze]

Perhaps they tried all Smile songs in 1970 but probably dropped them except for Doing Alright, Polar Bear and Silver Salmon "for later" and the only released at the time was Doing All Right

[@wumbomandlx]

@@LilacHaze Blag was repurposed into Brighton Rock and the Night Comes Down in terms of guitar work. Lyrically, I find Blag to be absent. Although, Brighton Rock was not in production around this time, in early takes of Liar and Great King Rat, you can hear bits of Blag's wonderful solo.

[@LilacHaze]

@@wumbomandlx Perhaps, considering that supposedly Blag was a Roger piece, is true that Brian ideas were also there, considering the lack of info about the early Queen concerts & the lack the rest of the Imperial College Gig probably Son & Daughter already made the inclusion of the Brighton Rock, to be honest it would be interest to know if they get to rehearsal all the Smile pieces

[@wumbomandlx]

@@LilacHaze In an interview, Brian said he wrote Blag.

[@ant2manbee931]

Do you have a lossless file of this song and Silver Salmon to share? Thanks!

[@ranocchietto5]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@BranZ_R0]

Does anyone know that behind the background audio roger and brian was arguing?

[@paulmcleod8370]

I wonder if Freddie ever sang April Lady ?

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

Almost definitely not. April Lady was a song given to Smile by Mercury Records. It was written by Stanley Lucas, not by any member of the band. Queen prides themselves on only recording original material so the odds of them even thinking about doing that song are next to none. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freddie didn’t even know it existed.

[@JismIsm-en4kz]

XCELLENT pic! The tunes 'not that great' (in my humble opinion) Signed ~ An Early Queen fan

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

The lyrics definitely needed some work but the melody is lovely. The instrumentation sounds essentially good on the Smile version because there are more guitar tracks for Brian to really show off with.

[@jeffcorpse]

Where is this available?

[@charlesbronson4282]

This would have fit on Queen 2...instead of How Funny How Love Is

[@Marvin00000001]

"Funny how love is" is a never ending song

[@charlesbronson4282]

@Marvin00000001 YUP...

[@Marvin00000001]

@@charlesbronson4282 It glues in your head like a mantra and you spend all day with ir going out and coming in out of the blue. I admit I love this feeling.

[@Golfing-AddiCt]

Not keen on this if I'm honest. I can understand why it didn't get released.

[@misery.machine15]

The people saying they prefer Tim’s version is only saying that because it’s the one they heard first and know it better. Tim’s is very forgettable compared to Freddie’s.

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

No? Believe it or not people are actually allowed to have their own opinions. The harmonies on the Smile version are amazing, the instrumentation is more developed and Time and Brian’s duet gives it a lot of rich variety. Obviously Freddie is amazing but you don’t have to pretend he’s literally the only singer with any talent.

[@misery.machine15]

@ I see my comment from weeks ago bothered you. Let’s see if I can push it further. If it wasn’t for Freddie Mercury, you wouldn’t even know who Tim Staffell is.

[@JC-td9gj]

and the idiots didn't put it in the queen I box

[@TieYourLaurenDown]

We don’t actually know when it was recorded. It could very well be from the Queen II sessions, maybe even from Sheer Heart Attack

[@realityhurtstoomuch8830]

I love Freddie to bits, but Tim Staffell done a better version of this song. I first heard Tim's version on Gettin' Smile and it rocked. Freddie's version is okay, and I guess this is a demo not a release, but we have what we have, and Tim's was better. The whole Gettin' Smile album is great. Tim played bass and sang most leads, Brian and Roger did some singing too, but Smile were Tim Staeffell's voice in my opinion. Tim was a tough act to follow in my opinion, but Freddie was the guy to top him...even if it took a while for Freddie's voice to do the job properly. I'm sure in interviews over the years Brian and Roger stated before Queen they thought Freddie was a 'theoretical' singer...with Taylor saying Freddie sounded like a sheep! LOL

[@veronicaterronesasesorainm5205]

are you deaf ? freedie version is way better smile version is like crap on a cassette literally

[@perhaden6184]

Yea the history books say that Freddie sound like a cheap. 😊

[@Azzronika]

Freddie is my all time fave forever..BUT i prefer Tims vocal and the Smile version

[@akm20-lx8jk]

yeah, freddie is the best ever but i think tim is somewhat underrated, he could have been a legendary vocalist on his own imo

[@josesegundobarroeta6752]

Agree.

[@ricknorris1466]

HORRIBLE application of noise reduction. Complete amateurish application. Sounds like it’s coming out of Darth Vaders mouth.

[@monitor4208]

Perhaps autotuned as well

[@silasaraujo2849]

​@@monitor4208There is no autotune here, this is not an official production. Read the description.

[@michavandam]

I prefer the Smile recording.

[@Iainrankingtheobscure]

There is a reason this was lost because it's terrible it never made an album for that reason

[@ConstableHandsy]

Your opinion. Even if it is wrong.

[@Iainrankingtheobscure]

@ConstableHandsy come just because it's Queen not everyone likes every track if this song was good it would of appeared on an album this is definitely belongs on the cuting room floor .

[@dianecourtney2724]

@@Iainrankingtheobscureit’s young Freddie. We love him and try to hear every remarkable and unremarkable thing he did 😂🥰

[@Iainrankingtheobscure]

@@dianecourtney2724 Yes I know I was At His last ever performance but I don't like everything he did nor Queen. Hot Space is a waste of Space except Under Pressure and Mr Bad Guy is shockingly shite The Last great Queen Album Was Jazz in my book the others are ok

[@Alfonso162008]

​@@Iainrankingtheobscure that is certainly your opinion. I also don't like every single song Queen made (though mostly I do, in varying degrees of course lol), but I think it's too much to be so categorical and say it's "terrible", as if it should be so obvious to everyone else. I personally kinda like this version more than the Smile one, but it's just a preference thing. Remember that this is only take 2, who knows how it could've improved with more work on it. Perhaps they did try to get better takes, but then decided it wasn't worth it and got discarded. But it is far from terrible in my opinion.