Smile & Larry Lurex (Pre-Queen)

Smile was a London band formed in 1968 by Brian May with singer and bassist Tim Staffell; Roger Taylor later joined on drums. Its recordings and personnel place it directly before Queen in the musicians’ shared history. The group disbanded in 1970.

Larry Lurex was a recording name used by Freddie Mercury for a project organised by Trident Studios engineer Robin Geoffrey Cable. Seeking a sound associated with Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound”, Cable recorded versions of I Can Hear Music, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector, and Goin’ Back, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin.

Mercury sang lead vocals on the recordings while Queen were working at Trident Studios. At his suggestion, Brian May and Roger Taylor contributed guitar, percussion and backing vocals.

The two tracks appeared on a seven-inch EMI single in 1973 (EMI 2030), before Queen’s debut album. They were subsequently included in later compilations of Mercury’s solo work and in unofficial Queen-related releases.

Legend: Side A / Side B – Record Company – Catalogue number – Country (Year) ~ Notes

Vinyl record: Earth / Step On Me - MERCURY 72977 USA (1969) ~ Promotional copy - No PS. White label with hand written matrix numbers and "MR" at 180 degrees
Earth / Step On Me – MERCURY 72977 USA (1969) ~ Promotional copy – No PS. White label with hand written matrix numbers and “MR” at 180 degrees
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I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ First press with misspelling on label (“Her” instead of “Hear”) – Front
Vinyl record: I Can Hear Music / Goin' Back - EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ First press with misspelling on label ("Her" instead of "Hear") - Back
I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ First press with misspelling on label (“Her” instead of “Hear”) – Back
I Can Hear Music / Goin' Back - EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ First pressing with misspelling on label ("Her" instead of "Hear") - Side A
I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ First press with misspelling on label (“Her” instead of “Hear”) – Side A
F
I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ Second press with corrected label (“Hear”) – Front
I Can Hear Music / Goin' Back - EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ Second pressing with corrected label ("Hear") - Back
I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ Second press with corrected label (“Hear”) – Back
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I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ Second press with corrected label (“Hear”) – Side A
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I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 1C 006-94 677 GERMANY (1973) ~ Second press with corrected label (“Hear”) – Side B
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I Can Hear Music / Going back – ANTHEM AN-204 USA (1973) ~ No PS
Scan by Wiz 110
I Can Hear Music / Going back – ANTHEM AN-204 USA (1973) ~ No PS. “Remix” on label – Side A
Scan by Wiz 109
I Can Hear Music / Going back – ANTHEM AN-204 USA (1973) ~ No PS. “Remix” on label – Side B
I Can Hear Music / I Can Hear Music - ANTHEM AN-204 USA (1973) ~ No PS. "Promotional Copy Not For Sale" on label
I Can Hear Music / I Can Hear Music – ANTHEM AN-204 USA (1973) ~ No PS. “Promotional Copy Not For Sale” on label
Larry Lurex UK DEMO
I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 2030 UK (1973) ~ 1st press – No PS. “Demo record not for resale” on label
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I Can Hear Music / Goin’ Back – EMI 2030 UK (1992) ~ 2nd press – No PS