Time for the next part in this little series about the B-sides of Queen singles – like last time two songs, but from the same release:

On 17 March 1986, the single “A Kind of Magic” from the album of the same name, the unofficial soundtrack album for the movie Highlander, was released. Europe got “A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling” as B-side, an instrumental version of “Don’t Lose Your Head”:

This disco experimental track was a joke to not lose your head in battle, in co ordinance with the Highlander movie.

In the USA, however, “Gimme The Prize” (Kurgan’s Theme) was included, one of Queen’s heaviest works, of course written by Brian May; neither director Russell Mulcahy nor Freddie Mercury and John Deacon are said to have liked this song much.

» “A Kind of Magic” – official video, album/single version
» “A Kind of Magic” – Highlander version (during the credits)1
» “A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling” – fan video
» “Don’t Lose Your Head” – fan video
» “Gimme The Prize” – fan video

And thanks a lot to David R. Fuller for all these fan videos and rarities!

1. which I actually prefer, it isn’t that “pop-ishly styled” throughout yet ↺

Time for the next instalment of my little series about the B-sides of Queen singles – two at the same day this time:

On 4 March 1977 they released “Tie Your Mother Down” (live video) from the album A Day At The Races with the B-side “You And I” – a song written by John Deacon that they never played live:

» “You And I” still-image video
» Lyrics

Fourteen years later, on 4 March 1991, from the last “proper” album Innuendo came as second single “I’m Going Slightly Mad” (video – on which Freddie had to wear lots of makeup because he looked pretty ill at that time) with the B-side “The Hitman” which is a harder song again:

» “The Hitman” fan video (by David R Fuller again)
» Lyrics

That’s it, I hope there was something for everyone.