Smile (band)
Encyclopedia
Smile were a London-based blues rock band best known as the predecessor to renowned rock band Queen
. The band was formed in 1968 by Brian May
, who was to become Queen's guitarist. The group included Tim Staffell
as singer and bassist, and, later, drummer Roger Taylor, who also went on to play for Queen. The group disbanded in 1970.
Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist
Tim Staffell formed a group when May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a "Ginger Baker
type" drummer, and a young medical student named Roger Taylor auditioned and got the job. Smile were signed to Mercury Records
in 1969, and had their first experience of a recording studio in Trident Studios
that year. Staffell was attending Ealing Art College
with Farrokh Bulsara
, and introduced him to the band. Bulsara soon became a keen fan.
The group's biggest public performance was on February 27, 1969 at the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child. Held at the Royal Albert Hall
, May, Taylor and Staffell performed as a trio on guitar, drums and bass respectively. Keyboardist Chris Smith had been fired the day before, according to Staffell. (According to Smith, he was only briefly in the band and left of his own accord because he was interested in different styles.)
Smile gigged quite a bit on the London scene, according to Time Out's listings. On April 19, they played at the Speakeasy and on May 31, they appeared at the Whisky A Go Go.
In March 1969, the band played at a venue known as PJ's, using claims to have previously been played on radio station BBC Radio 1
to secure an audience. It seems likely that the claims were fictitious, however. Shortly after they were given a one-off recording deal by Mercury Records to record three tracks, "Earth" (Staffell), "Step On Me" (May), and "Doin' All Right" (May/Staffell). These were recorded in June 1969 at Trident Studios in Soho. Ultimately this US promotional recording was never published commercially.
However, in September of the same year, Mercury Records commissioned them to record three more songs: "April Lady" (Stanley Lucas), "Blag", a May instrumental, and "Polar Bear", a "gentle song about a polar bear" written and led by May, at De Lane Lea Studios
. Again, the record was not released at the time.
When Staffell left Smile in 1970 to join another band, Humpy Bong
, Smile effectively disbanded. Bulsara persuaded May and Taylor to continue, changing the band's name from "Smile" to "Queen" in the process. Bulsara soon joined the band as lead vocalist. The band had a number of bass players
during this period, namely Mike Grose, Barry Mitchell and Doug Bogie, who did not fit with the band's chemistry. It was not until February 1971 that they settled on John Deacon
and began to rehearse for the first album. This definitively created the Queen lineup which lasted until Mercury's death in 1991.
For their debut album, Queen recorded "Doing All Right". According to the book "Queen: The Early Years", Staffell has been well compensated through royalties
from the sale of the album, given his co-songwriting credit for the song with Brian May. Queen also recorded the song for their first BBC
recording session with John Peel
. That session, along with their third session, have been released in the UK as At the Beeb (Band of Joy Records) in 1989, and in the U.S. as Queen at the BBC (Hollywood Records
) in 1995. Also in 1995, Queen issued their Let Me Live
singles, one of which features three of the first session BBC recordings, including "Doing Alright".
Smile reunited for several songs on 22 December 1992. Taylor's band The Cross
were headliners and he brought May and Staffell on to play "Earth" and "If I Were a Carpenter". May also performed several other songs that night.
Gettin' Smile (LP) from Japan, released September 23, 1982, on Mercury Records. The sleeve contains notoriously inaccurate lyrics and songwriting credits for the songs. This release was used for all subsequent bootlegs which contain the songs.
Ghost of a Smile (CD) from Holland, released in 1997, on Pseudonym Records. The CD booklet is comprehensive and features new liner notes by Tim Staffell. All the tracks were newly remastered. The album also features two versions of the Eddie Howell/Freddie Mercury collaboration "The Man From Manhattan" (no relation to Smile, except that Brian May plays guitar on it).
There is a bootleg
album of their early tracks circa the Smile era titled Pre-Ordained. Most of them also appeared on the 1995 Italian bootleg In Nuce.
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...
. The band was formed in 1968 by 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...
, who was to become Queen's guitarist. The group included Tim Staffell
Tim Staffell
Timothy "Tim" Staffell is an English rock musician and visual artist. He was a member of blues-rock outfit 1984 and later Smile, a band which included guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Upon Staffell's departure, Smile were joined by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon to form the band Queen...
as singer and bassist, and, later, drummer Roger Taylor, who also went on to play for Queen. The group disbanded in 1970.
History
In 1968, guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Tim Staffell formed a group when May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a "Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
type" drummer, and a young medical student named Roger Taylor auditioned and got the job. Smile were signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in 1969, and had their first experience of a recording studio in Trident Studios
Trident Studios
Trident Studios was a British recording facility, originally located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield a drummer of former 1960's group The Hunters and his Brother Barry....
that year. Staffell was attending Ealing Art College
Ealing Art College
Ealing Art College was 'Ealing Technical College & School of Art', a further education institution on St Mary's Road, Ealing, London, England. The site today is the Ealing campus of University of West London...
with Farrokh Bulsara
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...
, and introduced him to the band. Bulsara soon became a keen fan.
The group's biggest public performance was on February 27, 1969 at the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and Her Child. Held at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, May, Taylor and Staffell performed as a trio on guitar, drums and bass respectively. Keyboardist Chris Smith had been fired the day before, according to Staffell. (According to Smith, he was only briefly in the band and left of his own accord because he was interested in different styles.)
Smile gigged quite a bit on the London scene, according to Time Out's listings. On April 19, they played at the Speakeasy and on May 31, they appeared at the Whisky A Go Go.
In March 1969, the band played at a venue known as PJ's, using claims to have previously been played on radio station BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
to secure an audience. It seems likely that the claims were fictitious, however. Shortly after they were given a one-off recording deal by Mercury Records to record three tracks, "Earth" (Staffell), "Step On Me" (May), and "Doin' All Right" (May/Staffell). These were recorded in June 1969 at Trident Studios in Soho. Ultimately this US promotional recording was never published commercially.
However, in September of the same year, Mercury Records commissioned them to record three more songs: "April Lady" (Stanley Lucas), "Blag", a May instrumental, and "Polar Bear", a "gentle song about a polar bear" written and led by May, at De Lane Lea Studios
De Lane Lea Studios
De Lane Lea Studios is a recording studio, currently based in Dean Street, Soho, London, England, UK. Although the studios have mainly been used for dubbing feature films and television programmes, major artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink...
. Again, the record was not released at the time.
When Staffell left Smile in 1970 to join another band, Humpy Bong
Humpy Bong
Humpy Bong was an early 1970s band.Singer and guitarist Jonathan Kelly was playing in a restaurant in London one night in 1969 when in walked Colin Petersen, a former child actor in Australia and drummer with the Bee Gees...
, Smile effectively disbanded. Bulsara persuaded May and Taylor to continue, changing the band's name from "Smile" to "Queen" in the process. Bulsara soon joined the band as lead vocalist. The band had a number of bass players
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
during this period, namely Mike Grose, Barry Mitchell and Doug Bogie, who did not fit with the band's chemistry. It was not until February 1971 that they settled on John Deacon
John Deacon
John 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...
and began to rehearse for the first album. This definitively created the Queen lineup which lasted until Mercury's death in 1991.
For their debut album, Queen recorded "Doing All Right". According to the book "Queen: The Early Years", Staffell has been well compensated through royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
from the sale of the album, given his co-songwriting credit for the song with Brian May. Queen also recorded the song for their first BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
recording session with John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. That session, along with their third session, have been released in the UK as At the Beeb (Band of Joy Records) in 1989, and in the U.S. as Queen at the BBC (Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
) in 1995. Also in 1995, Queen issued their Let Me Live
Let Me Live
"Let Me Live" is a song by Queen, from the album Made in Heaven. Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May share lead vocals, with Mercury singing the first verse, Taylor singing the second and May singing the last...
singles, one of which features three of the first session BBC recordings, including "Doing Alright".
Smile reunited for several songs on 22 December 1992. Taylor's band The Cross
The Cross
The Cross were a side project of Queen's Roger Taylor that existed from 1987 to 1993 and released three albums. Although the drummer in Queen, Taylor fronted The Cross as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. On its debut release, the classic rock band incorporated dance influences which they...
were headliners and he brought May and Staffell on to play "Earth" and "If I Were a Carpenter". May also performed several other songs that night.
Discography
Two legitimate releases of the six Smile tracks have since been issued:Gettin' Smile (LP) from Japan, released September 23, 1982, on Mercury Records. The sleeve contains notoriously inaccurate lyrics and songwriting credits for the songs. This release was used for all subsequent bootlegs which contain the songs.
Ghost of a Smile (CD) from Holland, released in 1997, on Pseudonym Records. The CD booklet is comprehensive and features new liner notes by Tim Staffell. All the tracks were newly remastered. The album also features two versions of the Eddie Howell/Freddie Mercury collaboration "The Man From Manhattan" (no relation to Smile, except that Brian May plays guitar on it).
There is a bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
album of their early tracks circa the Smile era titled Pre-Ordained. Most of them also appeared on the 1995 Italian bootleg In Nuce.
Songs
The following songs have been confirmed by the members of the band as being part of their repertoire, either live or in their short-lived studio time.- "Earth" (Staffell)
- "Step On Me" (Staffell/May) originally from May and Staffell's band 1984.
- "Doin' Alright" (Staffell/May)
- "Blag" (May)
- "Polar Bear" (May)
- "Silver Salmon" (Staffell)
- "See What A Fool I've Been" (May, based on the song "That's How I Feel" by Sonny TerrySonny TerrySaunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry was a blind American Piedmont blues musician. He was widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.-Career:Terry was born in Greensboro, Georgia...
and Brownie McGheeBrownie McGheeWalter Brown McGhee was a Piedmont blues singer and guitarist, best known for his collaborations with the harmonica player Sonny Terry.-Life and career:...
) - "If I Were a Carpenter" (Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
) a coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
regularly featuring in their live set. - "April Lady" (Lucas) a song presented to the band by Mercury Records during their second studio session.
Smile songs recorded by other artists
- "Step On Me": Two versions were recorded by the pre-Smile band, 1984, as part of a demo tape made at ITV Studios, London, England, March 31, 1967.
- "April Lady": Southern Comfort (the band remaining after Iain Matthews left Matthews Southern Comfort) recorded this on their Frog City album (Harvest SHSP 4012; 1971) although it is not included on the CD version). On the record label this song is mistakenly credited to Carl Barnwell. It may have come to them via Fritz Freyer, who produced the Smile version, who had connections with Matthews Southern Comfort?
- "April Lady" and "Earth": Staffell joined the band MorganMorgan (band)Morgan was an English progressive rock band, formed and disbanded in the early 1970s.-History:Featuring former Smile member Tim Staffell on vocals and guitar, Bob Sapsed of Springfield Park on bass, Maurice Bacon on drums and Morgan Fisher on keyboards, Morgan formed in 1971...
and title track of their first album Nova SolisNova Solis-Track listing :All tracks composed by Fisher and Staffell , with "Nova Solis" incorporating "April Lady" and "Earth" by Staffell's earlier band, Smile....
(1972) incorporates exceprts from "April Lady" and all of "Earth". - "Doin' Alright": Recorded by Queen for their first BBC session on February 5, 1973. This version appears on At the Beeb (1989) in the UK, and Queen at the BBC (1995) in the US, as well as on the CDQUEEN24 single "Let Me Live" as a B-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. Queen also recorded this song for their debut album, Queen (1973), with the slightly altered title, "Doing All Right". This version also appears on the US-only 7" single for their song "Liar" on Elektra Records (1974). - "Polar Bear" and "Silver Salmon" : Queen recorded these as demoDemo (music)A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
tracks, yet unreleased, during their debut album sessions. - "See What a Fool I've Been": Queen recorded this in August 1973, during their second album sessions (Queen IIQueen IIQueen II is the second album by British rock group Queen, released in March 1974. It was recorded at Trident Studios, London in August 1973 with co-producers Roy Thomas Baker and Robin Cable, and engineered by Mike Stone....
). It did not appear on the album, but was released as the B-side to the album's single "Seven Seas of Rhye" (1974). This version later appeared on the Queen boxed set The Complete Works bonus LP Complete Vision. Hollywood Records re-issued Queen II in the US in 1991, with this song as a bonus track. The UK and Japanese CD3 singles (1987 and 1990 respectively) include the song again as the B-side for "Seven Seas of Rhye". Queen also recorded this song as part of their fourth BBC session with John Peel. - "Blag": Though never recorded again as such, the featured solo evolved (and continues to evolve) through Brian May's career both with Queen and as a solo artist. Recorded versions of the solo include: "Son And Daughter" (third Queen BBC session, 1974, released on the aforementioned BBC album), "Brighton Rock" (from Queen's third album Sheer Heart AttackSheer Heart AttackSheer 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....
in 1974), "Brighton Rock" (from Queen's live album Live KillersLive KillersLive Killers is a double vinyl and compact disc live album by English rock band Queen. It was released on June 22, 1979.It was recorded live during the European leg of Queen's Jazz world tour between January and March 1979...
in 1979), as "Guitar Solo" (from Queen on Fire - Live at the BowlQueen on Fire - Live at the BowlQueen on Fire - Live at the Bowl is a double compact disc live album by English band Queen released on October 25, 2004 in Europe and on November 9, 2004 in the US....
recorded 1982), "Brighton Rock Solo" (recorded in 1986, on Live At Wembley '86Live at Wembley '86Live at Wembley '86 is a double compact disc live album by English rock band Queen.It was recorded live on Saturday July 12, 1986 during the Magic Tour at Wembley Stadium in London, England and released on May 26, 1992...
, released 1992), as "Guitar Extravagance" (from The Brian May BandBrian MayBrian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
live album Live at the Brixton AcademyLive at the Brixton Academy (Brian May album)Live at the Brixton Academy is a recording of The Brian May Band's first show in London on June 15 1993. The album was released on CD, LP and VHS in 1994, and remains the group's only release as a collective....
in 1993), and recently again as "Guitar Solo" (on the Queen + Paul RodgersQueen + Paul RodgersQueen + Paul Rodgers was a supergroup collaboration between Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen and Paul Rodgers...
live album Return of the ChampionsReturn of the ChampionsReturn of the Champions is a double live album by English rock band Queen + Paul Rodgers. It was recorded in May 2005 during the Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour at the Hallam FM Arena in Sheffield, England and released on 19 September 2005...
in 2005). - "Polar Bear": ValensiaValensiaAldous Byron Valensia Clarkson , better known as simply Valensia, is a Dutch singer, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist.-Early life:...
recorded this for his album Queen Tribute in 2003. - "Earth" and "Doin' Alright": Tim StaffellTim StaffellTimothy "Tim" Staffell is an English rock musician and visual artist. He was a member of blues-rock outfit 1984 and later Smile, a band which included guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Upon Staffell's departure, Smile were joined by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon to form the band Queen...
recorded these songs for his solo album aMIGOAmigoAmigo is the Portuguese and Spanish word for "friend" in the masculine and may refer to:-People with the name:* fabian amigo , a Spanish Roman Catholic archbishop emeritus of Seville-Businesses and products:...
(2003). Both tracks feature Brian May on guitar and vocals. "Earth" features Morgan FisherMorgan FisherMorgan Fisher is an English keyboard player / composer, and is most known for being a member of Mott the Hoople in the early 1970s. However, his career has covered a wide range of musical activities, and he is still highly active in the music industry...
(formerly of MorganMorgan (band)Morgan was an English progressive rock band, formed and disbanded in the early 1970s.-History:Featuring former Smile member Tim Staffell on vocals and guitar, Bob Sapsed of Springfield Park on bass, Maurice Bacon on drums and Morgan Fisher on keyboards, Morgan formed in 1971...
) on keyboards.