Queen’s meteoric ascendancy during the 1970s has been well documented. From their gloriously ambitious self-titled debut album of 1973 through to the album that put them in the superstar bracket, 1975 s A Night At The Opera, and beyond, this unique group carved out a singular path as the most visionary, inventive and charismatic band of that epic decade.

But there is another side to Queen’s rise that has been largely overlooked. Between February 1973 and October 1977, the band recorded six radio sessions exclusively for the BBC. The twenty four recordings these landmark sessions produced include alternate versions of the debut single, unique takes of classic album tracks and even a radically reworked reimagining of one of their best known anthems that has never previously appeared on any Queen studio release.

Now, for the very first time, all six Queen BBC sessions – meticulously restored by Queen engineer Kris Fredriksson and mastered by Grammy Award winner Adam Ayan – have been brought together on Queen On Air. Available as a Deluxe 6-disc edition featuring a CD of live broadcasts and 3 CDs of radio interviews, Queen On Air is an essential addition for connoisseurs of the band.

Track Listings

Disc: 1

  1. My Fairy King – BBC Session, February 1973/With DJ Chatter

  2. Keep Yourself Alive – BBC Session, July 1973/With DJ Chatter

  3. Doing All Right – BBC Session, February 1973/With DJ Chatter

  4. Liar – BBC Session, February 1973/With DJ Chatter

  5. See What a Fool I’ve Been – BBC Session, July 1973/With DJ Chatter

  6. Keep Yourself Alive – BBC Session, July 1973/With DJ Chatter

  7. Liar – BBC Session, July 1973/With DJ Chatter

  8. Son and Daughter – BBC Session, July 1973/With DJ Chatter

  9. Ogre Battle – BBC Session, December 1973/With DJ Chatter

  10. Modern Times Rock ‘n’ Roll – BBC Session, December 1973/With DJ Chatter

  11. Great King Rat – BBC Session, December 1973/With DJ Chatter

  12. Son and Daughter – BBC Session, December 1973/With DJ Chatter

Disc: 2

  1. Modern Times Rock ‘n’ Roll – BBC Session, April 1974/With DJ Chatter

  2. Nevermore – BBC Session, April 1974/With DJ Chatter

  3. White Queen (As It Began) – BBC Session, April 1974/With DJ Chatter

  4. Now I’m Here – BBC Session, October 1974/With DJ Chatter

  5. Stone Cold Crazy – BBC Session, October 1974/With DJ Chatter

  6. Flick of the Wrist – BBC Session, October 1974/With DJ Chatter

  7. Tenement Funster – BBC Session, October 1974/With DJ Chatter

  8. We Will Rock You – BBC Session, October 1977/With DJ Chatter

  9. We Will Rock You – BBC Session, October 1977/With DJ Chatter

  10. Spread Your Wings – BBC Session, October 1977/With DJ Chatter

  11. It’s Late – BBC Session, October 1977/With DJ Chatter

  12. My Melancholy Blues – BBC Session, October 1977/With DJ Chatter

Disc: 3

  1. Procession (Intro Tape) – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  2. Father to Son – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  3. Son and Daughter – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  4. Guitar Solo – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  5. Son and Daughter (Reprise) – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  6. Ogre Battle – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  7. Liar – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  8. Jailhouse Rock – Live At The Golders Green Hippodrome, London / September 1973

  9. Intro – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  10. We Will Rock You (Fast) – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  11. Let Me Entertain You – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  12. I’m in Love with My Car – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  13. Alright Alright – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  14. Dragon Attack – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  15. Now I’m Here (Reprise) – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  16. Love of My Life – Live At The Estadio do Morumbi, Sao Paulo, Brazil / March 1981

  17. A Kind of Magic – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  18. Vocal Improvisation – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  19. Under Pressure – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  20. Is This the World We Created…? – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  21. (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  22. Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

  23. God Save the Queen – Live In Mannheim, Germany / June 1986

Disc: 4

  1. A Day At the Races (Part 1) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  2. A Day at the Races (Part 2) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  3. A Day at the Races (Part 3) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  4. A Day at the Races (Part 4) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  5. A Day at the Races (Part 5) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  6. A Day at the Races (Part 6) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  7. A Day at the Races (Part 7) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  8. A Day at the Races (Part 8) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  9. A Day at the Races (Part 9) – Capital Radio, November 1976 (Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett)

  10. News of the World (Part 1) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  11. News of the World (Part 2) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  12. News of the World (Part 3) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  13. News of the World (Part 4) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  14. News of the World (Part 5) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  15. News of the World (Part 6) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  16. News of the World (Part 7) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  17. News of the World (Part 8) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  18. News of the World (Part 9) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  19. News of the World (Part 10) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  20. News of the World (Part 11) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  21. News of the World (Part 12) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  22. News of the World (Part 13) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  23. News of the World (Part 14) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  24. News of the World (Part 15) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  25. News of the World (Part 16) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  26. News of the World (Part 17) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  27. News of the World (Part 18) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  28. News of the World (Part 19) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  29. News of the World (Part 20) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  30. News of the World (Part 21) – Christmas 1977 (Queen, Tom Browne)

  31. Live Killers – June 1979 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  32. Flash Gordon (Part 1) – June 1980 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  33. Flash Gordon (Part 2) – June 1980 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  34. Flash Gordon (Part 3) – June 1980 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  35. Flash Gordon (Part 4) – June 1980 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  36. Flash Gordon (Part 5) – June 1980 (Queen, Roger Skinner)

  37. The Record Producers (Part 1) – BBC Radio 1 (Roy Thomas Baker)

  38. The Record Producers (Part 2) – BBC Radio 1 (Roy Thomas Baker)

  39. The Record Producers (Part 3) – BBC Radio 1 (Roy Thomas Baker)

  40. The Record Producers (Part 4) – BBC Radio 1 (Roy Thomas Baker)

Disc: 5

  1. John Interview – South American Tour, 1981 (Roy Thomas Baker)

  2. Rock On (Part 1) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  3. Rock On (Part 2) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  4. Rock On (Part 3) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  5. Rock On (Part 4) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  6. Rock On (Part 5) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  7. Rock On (Part 6) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  8. Rock On (Part 7) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  9. Rock On (Part 8) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  10. Rock On (Part 9) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  11. Rock On (Part 10) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  12. Rock On (Part 11) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  13. Rock On (Part 12) – June 1982 (Brian May, John Tobler)

  14. Newsbeat – August 1984 (Freddie Mercury)

  15. Newsbeat – September 1984 (Brian May)

  16. Saturday Live – September 1984 (Freddie Mercury, Graham Neale)

  17. Simon Bates (Part 1) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  18. Simon Bates (Part 2) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  19. Simon Bates (Part 3) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  20. Simon Bates (Part 4) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  21. Simon Bates (Part 5) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  22. Simon Bates (Part 1) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  23. Simon Bates (Part 7) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  24. Simon Bates (Part 1) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  25. Simon Bates (Part 8) – April 1985 (Freddie Mercury, Simon Bates)

  26. The Way It Is – Capital Radio, 1984 (Brian May, David “Kid” Jensen)

Disc: 6

  1. My Top Ten (Part 1) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  2. My Top Ten (Part 2) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  3. My Top Ten (Part 3) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  4. My Top Ten (Part 4) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  5. My Top Ten (Part 5) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  6. My Top Ten (Part 6) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  7. My Top Ten (Part 7) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  8. My Top Ten (Part 8) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  9. My Top Ten (Part 9) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  10. My Top Ten (Part 10) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  11. My Top Ten (Part 11) – 1986 (Roger Taylor, Andy Peebles)

  12. Queen for an Hour (Part 1) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  13. Queen for an Hour (Part 2) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  14. Queen for an Hour (Part 3) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  15. Queen for an Hour (Part 4) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  16. Queen for an Hour (Part 5) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  17. Queen for an Hour (Part 6) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  18. Queen for an Hour (Part 7) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  19. Queen for an Hour (Part 8) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  20. Queen for an Hour (Part 9) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  21. Queen for an Hour (Part 10) – May 1989 (Queen, Mike Read)

  22. Brian With Simon Bates – BBC Radio 2, August 1992 (Brian May, Simon Bates)

  23. Freddie and the Tribute Concert – BBC Radio 2, October 1992 (Brian May, Johnnie Walker)