It's Late
Encyclopedia
"It's Late" is a song written by Queen
guitarist Brian May
and performed by the band for their 1977 album News of the World
. The song was May's idea of treating a song as a three-act theatrical play, and the verses are called "acts" in the lyrics sheet. It makes use of the tapping
technique one year before Eddie Van Halen
's use of the tapping technique on the Van Halen
album. May told Guitar Player Magazine that his use of the tapping technique was inspired by an unnamed bar-band guitarist from Texas. The song is notable for its length and heavy, wide vocal range (E3-E6), bluesy guitar riff, using the previously mentioned technique.
The song was released as a single in the US in 1978, albeit in heavily edited form, and peaked at #72 on the Billboard charts. The song was later included on the Queen Rocks
compilation in 1997, and a new video was produced using footage of Las Vegas and prostitutes, intercut with live performances of the song.
The song appears in the 2006 documentary film Kurt Cobain: About a Son. The song also plays over the credits in the Jody Hill
film Observe and Report
.
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...
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 performed by the band for their 1977 album News of the World
News of the World (album)
News of the World is the sixth studio album by British rock group Queen, released in 1977. Containing hit songs "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions" and "Spread Your Wings", the album went 4x platinum in the US, 2x platinum in the UK, and achieved high certifications around the world as...
. The song was May's idea of treating a song as a three-act theatrical play, and the verses are called "acts" in the lyrics sheet. It makes use of the tapping
Tapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
technique one year before Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
's use of the tapping technique on the Van Halen
Van Halen (album)
Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen, released in February 1978.- History :Recorded in 1977, Van Halen sold over 10 million copies in the US alone, becoming one of the most successful debuts by a rock band. Along with 1984, it gives Van Halen two original albums with...
album. May told Guitar Player Magazine that his use of the tapping technique was inspired by an unnamed bar-band guitarist from Texas. The song is notable for its length and heavy, wide vocal range (E3-E6), bluesy guitar riff, using the previously mentioned technique.
The song was released as a single in the US in 1978, albeit in heavily edited form, and peaked at #72 on the Billboard charts. The song was later included on the Queen Rocks
Queen Rocks
-Video version:A video version of the album was made. It included slightly different videos for all these songs.# “I Want It All”...
compilation in 1997, and a new video was produced using footage of Las Vegas and prostitutes, intercut with live performances of the song.
The song appears in the 2006 documentary film Kurt Cobain: About a Son. The song also plays over the credits in the Jody Hill
Jody Hill
Jody Hill is an American film director and screenwriter from Concord, North Carolina. In 2006 he directed, co-wrote, co-produced, and co-starred in his first film The Foot Fist Way, which he based on his experience as a Taekwondo black belt and instructor. His follow-up film, Observe and Report,...
film Observe and Report
Observe and Report
Observe and Report is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen, Anna Faris and Ray Liotta.-Plot:...
.
Queen comments on the record
Personnel
- Freddie MercuryFreddie MercuryFreddie 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...
- vocals. - 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...
- bass guitar. - Brian MayBrian MayBrian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
- guitar and backing vocals. - Roger TaylorRoger Meddows-TaylorRoger Meddows Taylor , known as Roger Taylor, is a British musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the drummer, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Queen. As a drummer he is known for his "big" unique sound and is considered one of...
- Drums .