BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1986
“A Kind of Magic” is the title track of the 1986 album of the same name by the British rock band Queen. It was written by the band’s drummer, Roger Taylor, for the film Highlander. The single reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, top ten in a number of European countries, and #42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is the opening track on the band’s compilation albums, Greatest Hits II, and Classic Queen.
The phrase “a kind of magic” is used in Highlander by Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) as a description of his immortality. Roger Taylor liked the phrase so much that he used it as inspiration for the song. There are references to the film in the lyrics: “one prize, one goal”; “no mortal man”; and “there can be only one”. The single’s cover art features an image of Clancy Brown in character as the film’s villain, The Kurgan.
Taylor wrote the melody and chords for the version that appeared in the film, which Brian May described as “quite lugubrious and heavy”. Freddie Mercury composed a new bass line, added instrumental breaks, and changed the song’s order to make it more chart-friendly. Mercury and David Richards produced this new version. The song was still credited only to Taylor. Whilst Taylor’s version is at the end of the film, Mercury’s version appears on the album. Taylor’s version of A Kind of Magic did not see an official release until it was included on the extra EP for the 2011 special edition of the album.
The b-side track is an instrumental version of Don’t Lose Your Head.
SIDE A:
A Kind Of Magic (Extended Version) 6:25
SIDE B:
A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling 5:03
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | A Kind Of Magic | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #42 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI ?– 1C K 060-20 1119 6, EMI ?– 12 QUEEN 7
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
CREDITS:
Design – Richard Gray (2)
Photography By – David James (20)
Producer – David Richards, Queen
Written-By – Roger Taylor
NOTES:
From the film Highlander – There Can Be Only One
Find the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard: Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
I’m totally unfamiliar w Queen. Yesterday I heard a song that piqued my interest, so now I’m “Queen” hunting, and your site is just the best place to explore 🙂
Thanks Paul, for creating a great music archive/resource!
kajagoogoo – hang on now pls, thx
Thank you again.
This marked my childhood….
thanks Dj Pault
Big thanks pal, my intro to Queen
Awesome. Any chance of posting Queen: Radio ga ga 12″? I think there’s an extended version on there certainly if we’re talking UK. Queen are reknowned for ignoring the 12″ versions of all the remasters / deluxe versions they release which, let’s face it, is quite a number! They never give us fans what we want. As ever, this is where you step in our good friend!
Yeah, the long Gaga with its 6-minute instr version would be nice. And Scandal. And Breakthru. And Invisible Man. And…and…and…. 🙂
Oh yes! There’s a lot of interesting..
Staying Power (John Luongo remix)
Hammer To Fall (Headbangers Mix)
Radio Ga Ga (Extended / Instrumental Version)
It’s A Hard Life (Extended Mix)
Thank God It’s Christmas
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure (12″ Version)
And there’s a solo Freddie and Roger.
We have to do more donations for Paul!
Excellent DJ Paul!!
I agree with the above statements!
Cool.
Thanks!
I like the B-Side, too.
You’re welcome Richard the Big Bunny 🙂
“The works” and “A kind of magic” are my favourite Queen albums. Thank you Paul for this classic single and for all the informations about the song. I didn’t know about Taylor’s version. His version sounds great too, so I will have to purchase this 2011 special edition of the album. Burning The Ground is a real kind of magic and you Paul are the magician. Have a great weekend.
You’re welcome, Daniel. I’m going to have to get that edition of the album too 🙂 Have a great weekend.
🙂
One of my favourite Queen songs, a real feelgood tune. Love Brian May’s playful guitar stuff in particular.
I agree Jon one of their best 🙂
Paul, you are “a kind of magic” to the 80’s twelves. Thank you.
Thanks so much Steveasian 🙂
Many thanks DJPaul,
great choice as you usually do!
… in the CD album of the 1986
there is (as a bonus material) a sort of dub version
named “A Kind of’a Kind of magic'”.
Have a magic weekend!!!
Have a magic weekend too BE.D12” 🙂
Thank you very much, Paul!
It’s good to see that you don’t forget this supergroup.
You’re welcome Denis 🙂
I just can´t help it – hearing Freddie´s voice always makes me sad. What a loss. You just cannot put it in words. I love AKOM, especially the end titles version from the movie which actually is the original version as you point out.
Oh Fred, you are dearly dearly missed.
Freddie was one of a kind. I am so thankful that he left us this legacy of great music 🙂
And yet another perfect week on Burning The Ground comes to an end. Paul, thank you for such an outstanding amount of music this week. This is a fantastic way to bring in the weekend! I can’t wait to hear this extended version. I’ve already made a compilation courtesy of you of your Queen/Freddie Mercury posts, and now I can add another track to it. You’re amazing!!
Have a splendid weekend and thanks a trillion times over for all the music!!
Jeff
Have a fantastic weekend Jeff. I think you are gonna really like this mix 🙂
Nice different upload, thanks for treating us on 80s gems!
Of course, Freddie Mercury was the Caruso of pop music, and like him he died too soon but thanks to recorded music, they both won’t die.
You’re welcome Martijn van Heeringen 🙂