Queen - Spread Your Wings (Alternative Take)

This version of Spread Your Wings comes from the 2017 News Of The World 40th Anniversary "Raw Sessions" CD by Bob Ludwig and was released on November 17th, 2017 in the UK.

Unfortunately, this release from 2017 has autotune/pitch correction done on the lead vocals on many tracks. Some of which are more obvious than others. It's very apparent in Spread Your Wings, specifically in these parts in the first verse; "right out of your head" and "Sammy who...".

Spread Your Wings has always been a fan favorite; this alternative version will likely be just as loved as its album counterpart. Freddie starts this version with a different, longer piano intro that isn't used on the album version. His piano performance continues to be unique throughout the rest of this take. The whole band are playing soulfully and with passion, proving that this version could have been used on the album. Brian's guitar parts are noticably different in parts of the song as well. Roger's drumming is similar to the final version, but no less aggressive. The song breaks down at the end with no real ending. Freddie exclaims "what a jam!"

Written by: John Deacon
Produced by: Queen, assisted by Mike Stone
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars
John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic guitar
Roger Taylor - drums
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Lyrics:

Sammy was low
Just watching the show
Over and over again
He knew it was time
He'd made up his mind
To leave his dead life behind, yeah

His boss said to him
'Boy you'd better begin
To get those crazy notions right out of your head
Sammy, who do you think that you are?
You should've been sweeping up the Emerald Bar'

Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Far away, far away
Pull yourself together
'Cos you know you could do better
That's because you're a free man

He spends his evenings alone in his hotel room
Keeping his thoughts to himself, he'd be leaving soon
Wishing he was miles and miles away
Nothing in this world, would make him stay

Since he was small
Had no luck at all
Nothing came easy to him
Now it was time
He'd made up his mind
'This could be my last chance'

His boss said to him
'Now listen boy
You're always dreaming
You've got no real ambition, you won't get very far
Sammy boy, don't you know who you are?
Why can't you be happy at the Emerald Bar'

So, Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Pull yourself together
You know you should do better
Ooh, that's because you're a free man

Take me away with you
Spread your little wings
And fly away, far away
Spread your little wings
And fly away, oh, honey

Spread your wings
Fly, fly, fly away
Spread your wings
Fly away, yeah
Fly away
Far away

Freddie: Oh, what a jam