Bohemian Rhapsody

Recording

The song was recorded over three weeks by the band and producer Roy Thomas Baker, beginning on August 24, 1975 at Rockfield Studios near Monmouth. Further recording was done at North London's Scorpio and SARM Studios. According to some band members, Freddie had worked out the entire song in his head and directed the band through the song.

Related Topics:
Roy Thomas Baker - August 24 - 1975 - Rockfield Studios - Monmouth

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A backing track of grand piano (Mercury), bass guitar (Deacon) and drums (Taylor) was recorded first.

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The multi-part vocal harmonies took 84 hours to complete. Since the studios of the time only offered 24-track analogue tape, it was necessary for May, Mercury and Taylor to overdub themselves many times, and 'bounce' these down to successive submixes. In the end, eighth generation tapes were being used. These had passed over the recording heads so many times that they could be seen through, as the oxide layer was beginning to wear off! The various sections of tape containing the desired submixes would have to be cut with razor blades and reassembled together the correct sequence using adhesive tape (known as splicing).

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When they first heard the song, record company executives requested that the middle section of the song be cut. This was due to fears that the song was twice the normal length of a single ? radio stations would not play the song, and other record labels would object to it getting double the airplay.

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