BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“I Want to Break Free” is a song by the British rock band Queen, from their eleventh album The Works (1984). It was written by bass guitarist John Deacon and was released in three versions: album, single and extended. It came to be included in most live concerts by the group, in several videos and in The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert where it was sung by Lisa Stansfield.
The song is largely known for its music video for which all the band members dressed in women’s clothes, a concept proposed by Roger Taylor, which parodied the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The second part of the video included a composition rehearsed and performed with the Royal Ballet and choreographed by Wayne Eagling. Whereas the parody was acclaimed in the United Kingdom, it was considered controversial in the United States and banned by MTV and other stations. After its release in 1984, the single of the song was well received all over Europe and South America, where it was listed within top ten and regarded as an anthem of the fight against oppression. The single reached only the 45th position in the US charts, but reached number 3 in the UK and was certified silver with 200,000+ copies sold.
The rear of the sleeve incorrectly lists the B side track as just “Machines (or ‘Back To Humans’)” which was the B side in many countries, but the label correctly lists “Machines (or ‘Back To Humans’) – Instrumental Version”.
SIDE A:
I Want To Break Free (Extended Mix) 7:12
Written-By – Deacon*
SIDE B:
Machines (Or “Back To Humans”) (Instrumental Version) 5:04
Written-By – May*, Taylor*
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | I Want To Break Free | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #45 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Capitol Records – V-8590
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock
CREDITS:
Engineer – Mack (2)
Producer – Mack (2), Queen
NOTES:
From the LP “THE WORKS”
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
Thanks Paul for enabling my continued education via Queen 🙂
Yep, loving this one. Sounds very clear, great job!
Excellent – thank you for this one, DJPaul!
Awesome. I think we now finally have more posts for Queen than Freddie Mercury. I really hope you can post a lot more Queen. ‘Radio ga ga’ would be perfect for your next post / Queen post. BTW i edited this comment as thought we had the same amount. It’s actually 3 Freddie, 5 Queen. I wonder would you venture into their 90’s catalogue as i know this is predominently an 80’s page. I love their 90’s stuff too!
I will see what I can do Neil 🙂
Many thanks!
Thank god things have changed since the video to this was greeted in the US with such prejudiced homophobic eyes. Shocking to look back with today’s perspective where thank god most progressive society’s have embraced difference instead of using it as a tool for spreading hate and intolerance.
It is funny though that here in the UK, even back then, it was seen by most as just a bit of fun (as intended?).
Maybe we were just more used to the idea of men dressing as women on stage and screen via the pantomime tradition etc..?
During the Obama years, I thought things were changing sadly now the Trump presidency is rolling things back racism and bigotry are alive and well in the USA. I hope America can survive it and overcome the damage that is being done. Hard to believe that in 2018 we are still fighting each other on this subject.
No things are still far from perfect but the general direction is moving forward. Trump will not be about forever.
How about some nice deal old episodes of The Honeymooners for wholesome ”entertainment”? Can you name the president ”ruling” back then?
Superb, this sounds wonderful. Thank you!
You’re welcome Richard 🙂
JESUS CHRIST THAT SYNTH INTRO GAVE ME TINGLES…
It is pretty awesome 🙂
Excellent, classic and inmortal track! Thank you Paul.
You’re welcome Luis 🙂
Thank you Paul!
Great, it’s a rare gem!
Modern remasters are evil. I have a lot of CDs of this band, but only the 80s releases can be listened to without the pain in the ears.
I understand that there are people who like dancing and DJ mixes. I go to your blog for pop and rock pearls. I am very glad that you make posts with music of different genres.
Thanks again for your work and diligence.
I agree about the modern remasters most are so over processed and way too loud. I appreciate your comment Denis 🙂
🙂 Thanks!
You’re welcome CL 🙂
WOW Paul this post rocks, This is my favourite era of Queen, even though every single has been great. Another One Bites the Dust, Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, One Vision and A Kind of Magic my most favourite to sing a long to. Each of the four members (Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon) really added to very essence of the band, and Freddie’s voice and stage presence was just astronomical. I’m really looking forward to Bohemian Rhapsody film (later this year) where the main focus is on 15 years of Queen, and… Read more »
Hi, John I will see what I can do 🙂
Thank You Paul.
“I want to break free” and “Radio ga-ga” are my favourite singles by Queen. This extended mix is also awesome excepting the last part which is a kind of short megamix of songs from the album “The works”. I never understood the meaning of it. Anyway thanks for this great post.
I agree Daniel the little mini megamix tagged onto the end was a bit strange. I wish it was a separate track allowing “I Want To Break Free” to finish as a complete mix.
I love this 12inch. Great a-side (ok, maybe not so for die-hart Queen fans) and a great b-side.
Your rip, as always, is just fabulous. Just downloaded the 24bit version. Have to play it LOUD 🙂
That’s great Song_and_Dance love playing this one LOUD! 🙂
It’s so timely of you Paul showcasing a Queen record as the new teaser for the Freddie Mercury bio-pic has just been released. I’m totally jazzed over it as it looks amazing. Plus, I love the musical mix that accompanies it. So loved the fact that Mr. Mercury enjoyed dance music and all. Your site is chock-full of tremendous 12-inch versions by him and his band. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the extended mix before. Again, you are the first person to introduce rarities to my ears and I’m forever grateful.
Thanks Paul!
Jeff
Thank you, Jeff. The biopic inspired me to post this record today. Wish Freddie was still with us he would have been 72 this year.
Don’t be fooled by the biopic. It does look ok but Sacha Baron Cohen was born to play Mercury. As Brian and Roger are behind the pic, they vetoed Cohen’s involvement even as far as him not making his own movie. He wanted to portray Freddie warts and all. The remaining Queen members don’t want that. What a real shame!