Queen Announces Deluxe 'Queen II' Box Set Featuring Unreleased Material And Live Recordings

Queen will release Queen II Reimagined: Deluxe Collector's Edition on March 27, featuring new mixes and previously unreleased outtakes from their 1974 sophomore album, along with rare live recordings from the era. The five-disc collection includes a new remix by engineers Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J. Macrae, and Kris Fredriksson, plus alternate sessions from Trident Studios and BBC recordings with John Peel and Bob Harris. Notable unreleased tracks include guitarist Brian May's 1969 demo "As It Began," drummer Roger Taylor's two demos for "Loser in the End," and the unfinished Christmas song, "Not for Sale (Polar Bear)." "Queen II was the single biggest leap we ever made," May shared in a statement. "That's when we really started making music the way we wanted to, rather than the way we were being pushed into recording it." The box set also features live concert recordings from 1974-1975, and a 112-page book featuring outtakes from photographer Mick Rock's iconic cover shoot, special memorabilia, and the band's memories about writing and recording the album.