Back to the Light
Encyclopedia
Back to the Light is the first solo effort of Queen
's guitarist Brian May
and his second non-Queen album. It was recorded between 1988 and 1992 at the Allerton Hill Studios, mixed at the Metropolis Studios and then released on September 28, 1992 in the UK. The album would be released in the United States and Canada on February 2, 1993 with a different cover.
The album contains the hits "Too Much Love Will Kill You
" and "Driven by You
".
An alternate version of "Too Much Love Will Kill You" was also recorded by Queen and can be found on their Made in Heaven
album (1995), with vocals by Freddie Mercury
. Brian May also recorded an instrumental guitar version of the song.
An alternate "explicit" version of "Love Token" was recorded with lyrics which may have been deemed offensive by the record label. The lyric "shit for brains" was replaced by "meat for brains," while the lyrics "well, f— you" were replaced by "that's a shame." The original "explicit" version was never officially released except on a free CD packaged with RCD Magazine, Vol. 4.
Three more versions of "Driven by You" are known. The first was made famous in a Ford
advertisement, with slightly altered lyrics. Another one is a rare instrumental remix of the song, called "Driven by You Too." The last was a rock re-mix with a new drum track from Cozy Powell for the US release of Back to the Light, as a bonus track.
The track, Just One Life, was written as a tribute to the actor Philip Sayer
, who died in 1989.
, unless stated below.
"Resurrection" is credited to Brian May for the words and to Brian May, Cozy Powell and Australian guitarist Jamie Page for the music. It also features material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leif Masses at Mono Valley Studio and Marcus Studios.
"Driven By You
" was recorded and mixed with David Richards
co-producing at Mountain Studios
, Montreux, Switzerland, 1991.
"Nothin' But Blue" includes material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leis Masses at Mono Valley Studios and Marcus Studios.
"I'm Scared" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards
.
"Last Horizon
" includes material recorded with David Richards at Sarm Studios.
"Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards at Sarm Studios, March 1988.
"Just One Life" includes material engineered by David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux.
"Rollin' Over" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards, March 1988 at the Townhouse.
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...
's guitarist 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...
and his second non-Queen album. It was recorded between 1988 and 1992 at the Allerton Hill Studios, mixed at the Metropolis Studios and then released on September 28, 1992 in the UK. The album would be released in the United States and Canada on February 2, 1993 with a different cover.
The album contains the hits "Too Much Love Will Kill You
Too Much Love Will Kill You
"Too Much Love Will Kill You" is a song written by Queen guitarist Brian May, Frank Musker, and Elizabeth Lamers. The song was recorded by Queen around 1988 or before, and was intended to be on the band's The Miracle album in 1989, but did not make the cut...
" and "Driven by You
Driven by You
"Driven by You" is a song by Queen guitarist Brian May. It was written as part of his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as a single in late 1991, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart....
".
An alternate version of "Too Much Love Will Kill You" was also recorded by Queen and can be found on their Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven
Made in Heaven is the fifteenth studio album by British rock group Queen and the final one to feature lead singer Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, released on 6 November 1995...
album (1995), with vocals by 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...
. Brian May also recorded an instrumental guitar version of the song.
An alternate "explicit" version of "Love Token" was recorded with lyrics which may have been deemed offensive by the record label. The lyric "shit for brains" was replaced by "meat for brains," while the lyrics "well, f— you" were replaced by "that's a shame." The original "explicit" version was never officially released except on a free CD packaged with RCD Magazine, Vol. 4.
Three more versions of "Driven by You" are known. The first was made famous in a Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
advertisement, with slightly altered lyrics. Another one is a rare instrumental remix of the song, called "Driven by You Too." The last was a rock re-mix with a new drum track from Cozy Powell for the US release of Back to the Light, as a bonus track.
The track, Just One Life, was written as a tribute to the actor Philip Sayer
Philip Sayer
Philip Sayer was a British actor. He worked for stage, film and television; and was probably best known for his role as Sam Phillips in the science-fiction horror film, Xtro .- Biography :...
, who died in 1989.
Track listing
All songs written by Brian May, except where noted- "The Dark" – 2:20
- "Back to the Light" – 4:59
- "Love Token" – 5:55
- "Resurrection" (May, Cozy PowellCozy PowellColin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
, Jamie Page) – 5:27 - "Too Much Love Will Kill YouToo Much Love Will Kill You"Too Much Love Will Kill You" is a song written by Queen guitarist Brian May, Frank Musker, and Elizabeth Lamers. The song was recorded by Queen around 1988 or before, and was intended to be on the band's The Miracle album in 1989, but did not make the cut...
" (May, Frank MuskerFrank MuskerFrank Musker is a songwriter and composer. Especially in the 80s and 90s he worked with artists like Sheena Easton, The Babys, Robert Miles, Jennifer Rush, Bucks Fizz , Air Supply, Zucchero and Brian May...
, Elizabeth Lamers) – 4:28 - "Driven by YouDriven by You"Driven by You" is a song by Queen guitarist Brian May. It was written as part of his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as a single in late 1991, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart....
" – 4:11 - "Nothin' But Blue" (May, Powell) – 3:31
- "I'm Scared" – 4:00
- "Last HorizonLast Horizon"Last Horizon" is a guitar solo written by Queen's guitarist Brian May. It was released as a single, from its parent album, Back to the Light, and remained on the UK charts for two weeks, peaking at number 51. May plays it at every one of his concerts since then . It is a slow, poignant solo, with...
" – 4:10 - "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" – 3:51
- "Just One Life" – 3:38
- "Rollin' Over" (Ronnie LaneRonnie LaneRonald Frederick "Ronnie" Lane was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who is best known as the bass guitarist and founding member of two prominent English rock and roll bands; the Small Faces where he was nicknamed "Plonk", – and, after losing the band's frontman, Faces, with two new...
, Steve MarriottSteve MarriottStephen Peter Marriott , popularly known as Steve Marriott, was an English musician, songwriter, and frontman of several notable rock and roll bands, spanning over two decades...
) – 4:36 - "Driven by YouDriven by You"Driven by You" is a song by Queen guitarist Brian May. It was written as part of his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as a single in late 1991, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart....
" (rock re-mix on the US and Canadian versions only)
Singles
- "Driven by You" / "Just One Life" (Guitar Version, Instrumental) (November 1991) - #6
- "Too Much Love Will Kill You" / "I'm Scared" (August 1992) - #5
- "Back to the Light" / "Nothin' But Blue" (November 1992) - #19
- "Resurrection" / "Love Token" / "Too Much Love Will Kill You" (Live) (June 1993) - #23
- "Last Horizon" / "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" (Live) (December 1993) - #51
Miscellaneous credits
All music, words, vocals, backing vocals, guitars and keyboards and anything else around by Brian MayBrian 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...
, unless stated below.
- Drums by Cozy PowellCozy PowellColin Flooks , better known as Cozy Powell, was an English rock drummer who made his name with many major rock bands.-Early history:...
on "Back To The Light", "Love Token", "Resurrection", "Nothin' But Blue" and "I'm Scared"; and by Geoff Dugmore (formerly of The EuropeansThe Europeans (band)The Europeans were a British group formed in 1981. They released three albums, none of which achieved much in terms of chart position. The band are perhaps best known for their lead vocalist and keyboard player, Steve Hogarth, who went on to greater things as vocalist with Marillion...
) on "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" and "Rollin' Over." - Bass by Gary TibbsGary TibbsGary Tibbs is a bass guitarist and actor, who appeared in the film Breaking Glass, alongside Hazel O'Connor....
on "Back To The Light", "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head", "Just One Life" and "Rollin' Over"; by Neil MurrayNeil Murray (British musician)Philip Neil Murray is a Scottish bass player, best known for his work in Whitesnake and Black Sabbath.-Early days:Originally a drummer, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 and his musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians,...
on "Love Token" and "I'm Scared"; and by John DeaconJohn DeaconJohn Richard Deacon is a retired English multi-instrumentalist and song writer, best known as the bassist for the rock band Queen. Of the four members of the band, he was the last to join and also the youngest, being only 19 years old when he was recruited by the other members of the band...
on "Nothin' But Blue." - Backing vocals by Suzie O'List and Gill O'Donovan on "Let Your Heart Rule Your Head"
- Piano by Mike Moran on "Love Token" and Rollin' Over." He also played keyboards on "Last Horizon."
- Extra keyboards by Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
on "Resurrection", "Nothin' But Blue."
- "The Dark" includes material engineered by Alan DouglasAlan DouglasAlan Douglas is a journalist and broadcaster.Douglas was a reporter and then studio presenter on BBC Scotland's evening news programme Reporting Scotland from 1978 to 1996....
at the Townhouse Studios, 1980. - The first ideas for the song "Back To The Light" were engineered by Brian Zellis and Pete Schwier in March 1988.
"Resurrection" is credited to Brian May for the words and to Brian May, Cozy Powell and Australian guitarist Jamie Page for the music. It also features material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leif Masses at Mono Valley Studio and Marcus Studios.
"Driven By You
Driven by You
"Driven by You" is a song by Queen guitarist Brian May. It was written as part of his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as a single in late 1991, peaking at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #9 on the US Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart....
" was recorded and mixed with David Richards
David Richards (record producer)
David Richards is an English-born Swiss-based record producer, engineer and musician. In the Mountain Studios in Montreux, owned by the rock band Queen, and in Attalens he engineered and co-produced many albums by Queen, David Bowie and other artists. Richards also played keyboards on some records...
co-producing at Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios is a recording studio previously located in Montreux, now located in Attalens, Switzerland. It was owned by the rock band Queen from 1979 until 1993...
, Montreux, Switzerland, 1991.
"Nothin' But Blue" includes material engineered by Sean Lynch and Leis Masses at Mono Valley Studios and Marcus Studios.
"I'm Scared" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards
Richard Edwards
Richard Edwards may refer to:* Richard Edwards , Commodore for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador for 1745* Richard Edwards Richard Edwards may refer to:* Richard Edwards (Royal Navy officer) (?–1773), Commodore for the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador for 1745*...
.
"Last Horizon
Last Horizon
"Last Horizon" is a guitar solo written by Queen's guitarist Brian May. It was released as a single, from its parent album, Back to the Light, and remained on the UK charts for two weeks, peaking at number 51. May plays it at every one of his concerts since then . It is a slow, poignant solo, with...
" includes material recorded with David Richards at Sarm Studios.
"Let Your Heart Rule Your Head" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards at Sarm Studios, March 1988.
"Just One Life" includes material engineered by David Richards at Mountain Studios, Montreux.
"Rollin' Over" includes material engineered by Pete Schwier, assisted by Richard Edwards, March 1988 at the Townhouse.