It's Late (Queen song)
{{for-multi|the Ricky Nelson song|It's Late (Ricky Nelson song)|the episode of Degrassi Junior High|It's Late (Degrassi Junior High)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = It's Late
| cover = Itslatecover.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = US cover sleeve
| type = single
| artist = Queen
| album = News of the World
| B-side = Sheer Heart Attack
| released = {{Start date|1978|4|25|df=y}}
| recorded = 1977
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|heavy metal|blues rock|power pop}}
| length = {{Duration|m=6|s=22}} (album version)
- {{Duration|m=3|s=52}} (single version)
| label = Elektra
| writer = Brian May
| producer = {{hlist|Queen|Mike Stone}}
| prev_title = Spread Your Wings
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Bicycle Race
| next_title2 = Fat Bottomed Girls
| next_year = 1978
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5dTa12u0hSY|"It's Late"}}}}
}}
"It's Late" is a song by British rock band Queen, written by guitarist Brian May and released on their 1977 studio album, News of the World.{{Cite magazine|last=Epstein|first=Dan|date=2017-10-28|title=Queen's 'News of the World': 10 Things You Didn't Know|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/queens-news-of-the-world-10-things-you-didnt-know-195704/|access-date=2020-12-04|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Queen - News Of The World|url=https://www.discogs.com/Queen-News-Of-The-World/master/6414|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Discogs|year=1977 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Max|date=2019-10-28|title='News Of The World': Making Headlines Around The Globe For Queen|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/behind-the-albums/queen-news-of-the-world/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=uDiscover Music|language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine|last=Testa|first=Bart|date=1978-02-09|title=News Of The World|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/news-of-the-world-200112/|access-date=2021-01-15|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=October 28, 2015|first=Sterling|last=Whitaker|title=Why Queen Scaled Things Back on 'News of the World'|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-releases-news-of-the-world/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|language=en}}
Background
The song was May's idea of treating a song as a three-act theatrical play, and the verses are called "acts" in the lyrics sheet. It makes use of the tapping technique a few months before Eddie Van Halen's use of the tapping technique on the Van Halen album. May told Guitar Player Magazine that his use of the tapping technique was inspired by Texas guitarist Rocky Athas, after seeing one of his performances at Mother Blues, a Dallas club.{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/queens-brian-may/jan-08/32483 |title=Electric & Acoustic Guitar Gear, Lessons, News, Blogs, Video, Tabs & Chords |website=GuitarPlayer.com |date=28 June 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016 |archive-date=14 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814131829/http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/queens-brian-may/jan-08/32483 |url-status=dead }}
The lyrics describe a love affair that is on the verge of ending.{{cite web|title=It's Late|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/its-late-mt0041498328|author=Guarisco, D.A.|publisher=Allmusic|access-date=9 August 2012}}
According to Billboard, the music of the single version "shifts gear from subdued balladry to thunderous rock'n'roll."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=2020-07-10|title=Top Single Picks|page=80|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-04-29.pdf|date=April 29, 1978}} Cash Box said that "Brian May's guitar work excellently [complements] Freddie Mercury’s embracing vocals."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=April 29, 1978|page=28|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1978/CB-1978-04-29.pdf}} Record World called it a "thundering rocker [that] has quiet passages and a good melody, then roars through the choruses."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=May 6, 1978|accessdate=2023-02-13|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/78/RW-1978-05-05.pdf}}
Release
The song was released as a single in North America, Japan and New Zealand in 1978, albeit in heavily edited form, and peaked at #74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 and #66 on the Cash Box Top 100.{{cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19780603.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 6/03/78 |website=cashboxmagazine.com |date=3 June 1978 |access-date=27 July 2016 }} The song was later included on the Queen Rocks compilation in 1997.
Personnel
= Queen =
- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
- Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- John Deacon - bass guitar
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/queen-rocks/#lyrics Lyrics at Queen official website] (from Queen Rocks)
{{Queen singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Brian May
Category:Song recordings produced by Mike Stone (record producer)
Category:Elektra Records singles
Category:Hollywood Records singles