Nice reaction! Yes, as you mentioned this song was written by Brian and Tim Stafell for Smile. Smile was just a 3 piece band, with Tim Stafell on bass and lead vocals, and with Brian and Roger, they also did harmonies. Smile was a good band, they were signed by Mercury Records to record one album. Unfortunately they did not progress far beyond that. Tim Stafell was very good friends with Freddie, they were in college together both of them studied Graphic Design at Ealing Art College, Tim Stafell was the one who introduced Freddie to Brian and Roger. When their album did not gain much traction Tim Stafell left the band. He got an offer from a band with the name Humpy Bong, which of course sounds very silly. But they had the drummer of the Bee Gees, they had an appearance on Top Of The Pops and Eric Clapton played on their album as a cameo. So it seemed like a far better option then Smile, who was just basically playing college gigs. Freddie used to go to a lot of their shows, in the process Freddie and Roger became best friends, they shared a flat and worked together at a market stall selling vintage clothes. At the same time Freddie got his own band together, Ibex, but he quickly changed the name to Wreckage. In truth Freddie really wanted to be in a band with Brian and Roger. Wreckage broke up, and Freddie joined another band called Sour Milk Sea, this band also quickly broke up. When Tim Stafell left, Brian and Roger were disappointed, but Freddie basically told them that he could be their lead singer, at this stage Brian, Roger and Freddie were already sharing a house so it was somewhat of an obvious idea. Freddie also had loads of different ideas about how the band should present themselves, and their performances. You are right, Doing Alright is not really a typical Queen song, but Queen does a few none typical songs, so it fits in. Freddie always had a very good falsetto, his falsetto sounded a lot like his normal voice, so people don't always notice when he uses it. Freddie's falsetto is perhaps more noticeable in the 80's, there is an duet opera album that he recorded in the late 80's, where he sang all of the female parts in falsetto, so that the opera Soprano knew what to sing. During 1971 - 1976, it was generally Roger's falsetto that people notice, because he had that very youthful, high and bright falsetto sound. Roger actually received some scholarships from prestigious schools because of his good falsetto, he sang in a lot of choirs in his youth. But Roger lost the high falsetto around 1979. There is a great long interview with Brian May where he talks a lot about how Queen got started, it is called, Brian May Interview Face To Face With Rick Wakeman 2012. It you are interested it is a great interview to watch, about Queen's early years.
Freddie knew Brian, Roger, & Tim Staffel at University. In fact, Roger & Freddie were roomies!! Freddie would go to watch SMILE perform like a groupie even making suggestions on how to do things better. In an interview, Tim Staffel said Freddie was born to be a frontman so when he left SMILE Freddie was literally waiting in the wings!! Tim still gets writing credits for this song!! Freddie earned a Graphic Arts/Design degree, Roger earned a Biology degree, John Deacon earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, and what can you say about Brian … later earned his PhD in Astro Physics. 📚 🤔 🧐
Looking forward to your reactions as you work your way through this album and hopefully through the Queen catalogue. I think most of your remarks are really very apt. However...what IS a "typical Queen song"? If it has harmonies, and Brian's guitar, changes tempo at least once and is a bit more complex than the usual rock song, that is typical. But the songs are in every genre imaginable so you never really know what to expect.
Nice reaction! Yes, as you mentioned this song was written by Brian and Tim Stafell for Smile. Smile was just a 3 piece band, with Tim Stafell on bass and lead vocals, and with Brian and Roger, they also did harmonies. Smile was a good band, they were signed by Mercury Records to record one album. Unfortunately they did not progress far beyond that. Tim Stafell was very good friends with Freddie, they were in college together both of them studied Graphic Design at Ealing Art College, Tim Stafell was the one who introduced Freddie to Brian and Roger. When their album did not gain much traction Tim Stafell left the band. He got an offer from a band with the name Humpy Bong, which of course sounds very silly. But they had the drummer of the Bee Gees, they had an appearance on Top Of The Pops and Eric Clapton played on their album as a cameo. So it seemed like a far better option then Smile, who was just basically playing college gigs.
Freddie used to go to a lot of their shows, in the process Freddie and Roger became best friends, they shared a flat and worked together at a market stall selling vintage clothes. At the same time Freddie got his own band together, Ibex, but he quickly changed the name to Wreckage. In truth Freddie really wanted to be in a band with Brian and Roger. Wreckage broke up, and Freddie joined another band called Sour Milk Sea, this band also quickly broke up. When Tim Stafell left, Brian and Roger were disappointed, but Freddie basically told them that he could be their lead singer, at this stage Brian, Roger and Freddie were already sharing a house so it was somewhat of an obvious idea. Freddie also had loads of different ideas about how the band should present themselves, and their performances.
You are right, Doing Alright is not really a typical Queen song, but Queen does a few none typical songs, so it fits in. Freddie always had a very good falsetto, his falsetto sounded a lot like his normal voice, so people don't always notice when he uses it. Freddie's falsetto is perhaps more noticeable in the 80's, there is an duet opera album that he recorded in the late 80's, where he sang all of the female parts in falsetto, so that the opera Soprano knew what to sing. During 1971 - 1976, it was generally Roger's falsetto that people notice, because he had that very youthful, high and bright falsetto sound. Roger actually received some scholarships from prestigious schools because of his good falsetto, he sang in a lot of choirs in his youth. But Roger lost the high falsetto around 1979. There is a great long interview with Brian May where he talks a lot about how Queen got started, it is called, Brian May Interview Face To Face With Rick Wakeman 2012. It you are interested it is a great interview to watch, about Queen's early years.
They were like a fine tuned machine, their harmonies were awesome. Another Freddie song where he sings the whole song in falsetto is Cool Cat.
YESSSS... COOL CAT! ALSO SOUL BROTHER.
Also See What a Fool I've Been earliest version is awesome, written by Brian
good reaction. I appreciate how you are going through the Queen catalogue systematically
Didn't know... Now I definitely have to subscribe! 👑🥂😱
Great break down....👍👍
wow! beautiful sweet Freddie!
Thanks, AceM - haven't heard this one in a long time... look forward to more of your reactions!
Glad you enjoyed it, more to come!
Great reaction! This track is another hidden gem and very underrated... Maybe you should react to 'The Millionaire Waltz' (1976). Cheers 🥂👑
Thanks for this one. I've probably heard it before but it's not one you hear all the time. I liked all the change ups and the laid back sound.
Your reactions are so thoughtful.
Great way to do reviews...you'll never miss a song....
I really like this song, what an opening lyric. I always listen to the live performances though.
What makes Queen different, all four wrote....switch ups...harmonies....wide variety of sound
AceM … You’re DOIN’ ALRIGHT 👏👏👏
Hi, Debbie! - just found this guy - he seems "all right" lol
Freddie knew Brian, Roger, & Tim Staffel at University. In fact, Roger & Freddie were roomies!! Freddie would go to watch SMILE perform like a groupie even making suggestions on how to do things better. In an interview, Tim Staffel said Freddie was born to be a frontman so when he left SMILE Freddie was literally waiting in the wings!! Tim still gets writing credits for this song!! Freddie earned a Graphic Arts/Design degree, Roger earned a Biology degree, John Deacon earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, and what can you say about Brian … later earned his PhD in Astro Physics. 📚 🤔 🧐
Great reaction 😊 there are videos on RUclips of Smile singing this maybe have a listen & see the difference x I love both versions x
Brian May plays the piano on this one
I hope You get to The Great King Rat and My Fairy King 🙏👍
Two of my favorites!! 😁
Looking forward to your reactions as you work your way through this album and hopefully through the Queen catalogue. I think most of your remarks are really very apt. However...what IS a "typical Queen song"? If it has harmonies, and Brian's guitar, changes tempo at least once and is a bit more complex than the usual rock song, that is typical. But the songs are in every genre imaginable so you never really know what to expect.
So young. So poor but you could tell what is coming. They were totally unknown. A good beginning.