Spread Your Wings
"Spread Your Wings" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() UK single picture sleeve | ||||
Single by Queen | ||||
from the album News of the World | ||||
B-side | "Sheer Heart Attack" | |||
Released | 10 February 1978 | |||
Recorded | 1977 at Sarm West and Wessex Studios | |||
Genre | Hard rock[1] | |||
Length | 4:32 | |||
Label | EMI (UK) | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Deacon | |||
Producer(s) | Queen, assisted by Mike Stone | |||
Queen singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Spread Your Wings" on YouTube |
"Spread Your Wings" is a power ballad by the rock band Queen, from their 1977 album News of the World.[2] Written by bassist John Deacon, it was released as the A-side of the single "Spread Your Wings"/"Sheer Heart Attack" in 1978.
Arrangement[]
The track features Freddie Mercury on piano and vocals, Brian May on electric guitar, Roger Taylor on drums, and John Deacon on bass and acoustic guitars. A live version of the song appears on the band's 1979 album Live Killers.[2] The song peaked at number 34 in the UK Singles Chart.
"Spread Your Wings" was not released as a single in North America. However, the live version from Live Killers was featured as the B-side to Queen's 1979 hit, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.[3]
Personnel[]
- Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, piano[4]
- Brian May - electric guitar
- Roger Taylor - drums, percussion
- John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Charts[]
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] | 29 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[6] | 20 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] | 26 |
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 34 |
Cover versions[]
This song was covered by German power metal band Blind Guardian on their 1992 album Somewhere Far Beyond. The same recording reappeared on their 1996 album The Forgotten Tales.[9]
References[]
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Live Killers - Queen". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Your Wings News of the World: Spread Your Wings (Track 5) Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 11 July 2011
- ^ "Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love". 45cat.com. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ Spread Your Wings: Song Analysis Queen Songs. Retrieved 17 November 2018
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Spread Your Wings" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Queen" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Queen – Spread Your Wings" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (2018). Queen: Album by Album. Voyageur Press. p. 108.
External links[]
- Queen (band) songs
- Hard rock ballads
- 1978 singles
- 1970s ballads
- Songs written by John Deacon
- Song recordings produced by Mike "Clay" Stone
- 1977 songs
- EMI Records singles
- Elektra Records singles
- Hollywood Records singles
- British hard rock songs