Flick of the Wrist
Encyclopedia
"Flick of the Wrist" is a song by English rock band Queen
, released as a Double A-side with "Killer Queen" in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, the US and most other territories. It was written by frontman Freddie Mercury
for the album Sheer Heart Attack
.
singing octave vocals. When Brian May
returned to work having recovered from his hepatitis
, he had not heard the song before he recorded his guitar
and backing vocals.
The original, non-segued master recordings of "Tenement Funster," "Flick Of The Wrist" and "Lily Of the Valley" were used for some singles' flip-sides, such the Japanese 3-inch CD single re-issue of Queen's first EP ("Tenement Funster"), the Dutch AA-side version of "Flick Of The Wrist" (see below) and the 1975 US-only re-issue of "Keep Yourself Alive
" ("Lily Of The Valley").
The Dutch AA-side version features the complete song without the seguing, overlapping sections from "Tenement Funster" and "Lily Of The Valley".
The UK AA-side version features almost the same complete version as the Dutch version, but with a few notes edited at the beginning. This version also features on the 1991 Japanese 3-inch CD single of "Killer Queen"/"Flick Of The Wrist."
The US AA-side version (the same as issued in Canada) has a much more pronounced edit at the beginning, with the first 18 seconds of the song absent. It ends with a fade-out over the segue into "Lily Of The Valley," where the latter's opening piano is heard.
The UK's 1987 3-inch CD single re-issue starts with the crescendo segue which ends "Tenement Funster." It ends with a fade-out before the song is properly over, missing the last line "Baby, you've been had."
in London, England. One of the songs recorded was "Flick Of The Wrist". This performance features parts of the original album backing track with new vocals by Freddie Mercury and a new guitar solo by Brian May.
covered the entire three-song arc ("Tenement Funster," "Flick Of The Wrist" and "Lily Of The Valley") for their album Black Clouds & Silver Linings
and it appears on the Special Edition.
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, released as a Double A-side with "Killer Queen" in the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, the US and most other territories. It was written by frontman Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
for the album Sheer Heart Attack
Sheer Heart Attack
Sheer Heart Attack is the third album by the British rock group Queen, released in November 1974. It was produced by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker and distributed by EMI in the United Kingdom, and Elektra in the United States....
.
Background
Freddie Mercury never went on record as to whether the unpleasant character in the song is based on anyone in particular, though then-current manager Norman Sheffield may be one inspiration. The song includes Freddie MercuryFreddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
singing octave vocals. When Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
returned to work having recovered from his hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, he had not heard the song before he recorded his guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and backing vocals.
Album version
As it appears on the album, "Flick Of The Wrist" is the middle song of a three-track series of songs which seamlessly overlap, segueing from one to the other: "Tenement Funster" to "Flick Of The Wrist" to "Lily Of The Valley". Each song was recorded separately and later mixed together to form the unbroken stretch of music. Because of this structure, the record company had to select points to separate each track on CD re-issues of the album. "Flick Of The Wrist," in this way, starts with the crescendo ending of "Tenement Funster" and ends abruptly before the last line of the song "...baby, you've been had." This last lyric appears at the beginning of the next CD track, "Lily Of The Valley".The original, non-segued master recordings of "Tenement Funster," "Flick Of The Wrist" and "Lily Of the Valley" were used for some singles' flip-sides, such the Japanese 3-inch CD single re-issue of Queen's first EP ("Tenement Funster"), the Dutch AA-side version of "Flick Of The Wrist" (see below) and the 1975 US-only re-issue of "Keep Yourself Alive
Keep Yourself Alive
"Keep Yourself Alive" is a song by English rock group Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, it is the opening track on the band's debut album Queen . It was released as Queen's first single along with "Son and Daughter" as the B-side...
" ("Lily Of The Valley").
Single versions
All the single versions and edits are from the original album recording.The Dutch AA-side version features the complete song without the seguing, overlapping sections from "Tenement Funster" and "Lily Of The Valley".
The UK AA-side version features almost the same complete version as the Dutch version, but with a few notes edited at the beginning. This version also features on the 1991 Japanese 3-inch CD single of "Killer Queen"/"Flick Of The Wrist."
The US AA-side version (the same as issued in Canada) has a much more pronounced edit at the beginning, with the first 18 seconds of the song absent. It ends with a fade-out over the segue into "Lily Of The Valley," where the latter's opening piano is heard.
The UK's 1987 3-inch CD single re-issue starts with the crescendo segue which ends "Tenement Funster." It ends with a fade-out before the song is properly over, missing the last line "Baby, you've been had."
BBC Version
On October 16, 1974, Queen recorded a BBC session at Maida Vale 4 StudiosMaida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
in London, England. One of the songs recorded was "Flick Of The Wrist". This performance features parts of the original album backing track with new vocals by Freddie Mercury and a new guitar solo by Brian May.
Cover versions
Dream TheaterDream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
covered the entire three-song arc ("Tenement Funster," "Flick Of The Wrist" and "Lily Of The Valley") for their album Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Black Clouds & Silver Linings is the tenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on June 23, 2009 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's last album to feature drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy before his departure on September 8, 2010. The album was...
and it appears on the Special Edition.