Mr Bad Guy Album: Freddie Mercury's Classic Solo Album is Back on Vinyl

Freddie Mercury's first solo album, Mr Bad Guy, is brought back to life with a brand new vinyl reissue. This very natural album reflects Mercury's personal style, musical diversity, and experimental nature, showcasing how his solo work differed from his time with Queen. The album is a testament to Freddie's ability to explore musical territories beyond the confines of all the Queen albums.

This record was his debut away from Queen and included bangers like "I Was Born To Love You" and "Living On My Own." Mercury would later release other solo albums, further expanding his artistic range and discography, but Mr Bad Guy remains his only studio album released during his lifetime.

40 Years Later: Freddie is Spinning on the Turntable Again

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Mr Bad Guy, the album is being re-released on 180g vinyl in translucent green on 5 December, along with a picture disc edition available exclusively via direct-to-consumer (D2C). This special edition brings Freddie Mercury's songs back to life with better technology and enhanced sound quality.

The record was originally released at the end of April 1985. It was the first time Freddie launched a project of his own, separate from the band he had co-founded in 1970. Instead of Queen's chameleonic, larger-than-life stadium sound, here Freddie really lets his hair down and goes for songs that blend his unique songwriting with a much more dance- and pop-driven sound—very club, very late-night, very dancefloor.

He summed it up like this at the time:

"I had a lot of ideas bursting to get out and there were a lot of musical territories I wanted to explore which I really couldn't do within Queen."

Mr Bad Guy reached number 6 in the UK album charts and produced four singles, including the iconic "Made In Heaven" and the posthumously successful "Living On My Own" (which hit No.1 in the UK when it was re-released as a remix in 1993, two years after Mercury's death).

A More Intimate Freddie: More Club, More Freedom

Mr Bad Guy showed a very different side of Freddie Mercury, one that had already been hinted at a few years earlier on Queen's more dance-oriented album Hot Space. This solo album is, in part, a love letter to the club scene he was immersed in, and in part a chance for Freddie to reveal a much more personal and vulnerable side of himself than ever before.

The album was recorded over several months at Musicland Studios in Munich, co-produced by Freddie Mercury and Reinhold Mack, who had worked with Queen since their hugely successful 1980 album The Game. Freddie played piano on many tracks, showcasing his musicianship and hands-on approach in the studio. He worked closely with sound engineers throughout the recording process to achieve the album's distinctive sound.

On certain arrangements, Freddie was dedicated to playing all the notes himself, capturing the full musical scope and complexity he envisioned for the album. This dedication to detail is what makes Mr Bad Guy such a great collection of Mercury songs.

Before fully committing to a solo album, Freddie tested the waters with his 1984 single "Love Kills", a pulsing dance track produced by disco legend Giorgio Moroder, which appeared on the soundtrack of a restored version of the iconic silent film Metropolis. The warm reception to "Love Kills" gave Freddie the final push to keep exploring that path.

Between Queen and Experimentation: A Diverse Selection of Musical Styles

There are tracks on Mr Bad Guy that wouldn't have felt out of place on a Queen album, but the album as a whole stands apart from all the Queen albums for its bold genre experimentation and orchestral elements. The diverse selection of songs showcases the whole spectrum of Freddie's musical life.

"Made In Heaven" is Freddie in full epic-ballad mode, and Queen bandmates would later rework it for the posthumous 1995 album Made In Heaven. This is just one song among many Mercury songs on the album that showcase his unique songwriting outside of Queen.

At the same time, being away from the Queen "mothership" gave him the freedom to experiment much more with the collection of Mercury songs found here, each exploring different musical styles not typically heard on Queen albums:

• "Your Kind Of Lover" opens with a dramatic, piano-led intro and then bursts into a playful, high-energy groove—classic "Freddie in his element." This is one song that stands out for its unique style and energy.
• "My Love Is Dangerous" surprises with a rhythm built on a reggae-inspired beat.
• "Man Made Paradise" features operatic vocals that clearly point the way to his later collaboration with Montserrat Caballé on Barcelona.
• "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" captures Freddie's passionate, urgent attitude, urging listeners to love like there's no tomorrow.

The album also includes tongue in cheek songs that showcase Freddie's playful side, alongside very moving ballads that reveal his emotional depth. The liner notes famously dedicate the album to Mercury's beloved cat Jerry and "all the cat lovers—screw everybody else," adding a personal and humorous touch that fans adore.

💿 Building Your Vinyl Collection? Discover modular vinyl storage designed specifically for collectors who want to showcase albums like Mr Bad Guy with style and protection. Explore Keep Them Spinning™ vinyl storage solutions.

A Classic with an Updated Sound: The New Mix

The new translucent green vinyl reissue features a new mix of the album by Queen's longtime sound team Justin Shirley-Smith and Joshua J Macrae, a version that originally appeared in the 2019 boxset Never Boring. This release presents the album in a remixed form, revisiting the original multi-track tapes to enhance the sound quality with contemporary technology while honoring Mercury's artistic intent.

The remastering process delivers improved sounds and audio quality, offering listeners a richer and more immersive sonic experience. The idea was never to "modernise" Freddie, but to stay completely true to his original vision, while taking advantage of better technology and resources that simply didn't exist in the 1980s.

As Shirley Smith explains:

"We went back to the original multi-track tapes. It's a great collection of songs and Freddie's vocal performance is absolutely extraordinary. The idea wasn't to try to make it sound like they would make it now, it was to make it sound like it would have then if they'd had better technology and more time. And of course, it's a massive honour to work on anything Freddie did, and we always treat it with the utmost respect."

The official video remastered for several tracks also benefits from this enhanced approach, bringing Freddie's vision to life for modern audiences.

Track List and Vinyl LP Details: The Only Studio Album

The Mr Bad Guy solo studio album is a true showcase of Freddie Mercury's creative genius, offering a diverse selection of songs that reflect the whole spectrum of his musical life. The 40th Anniversary Special Edition Vinyl brings together all 11 tracks, each written by Freddie himself, and presents them in a format that's perfect for both longtime fans and new listeners discovering the magic of Mercury's solo work.

Side One

1. Let's Turn It On – An energetic opener that sets the stage for a journey through dance, pop, and rock influences
2. Made In Heaven – A classic Mercury anthem, bursting with ideas and that unmistakable Queen spirit
3. I Was Born To Love You – One of the album's most iconic tracks
4. Foolin' Around – A playful, tongue-in-cheek moment
5. Your Kind Of Lover – Shows off Freddie's lighter side with high energy

Side Two

6. Mr. Bad Guy (title track) – Features the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, marking the first time a fully fledged orchestra was used on a Freddie Mercury solo song or any Queen album
7. Man Made Paradise – A very moving ballad with operatic elements
8. There Must Be More To Life Than This – Originally written with Michael Jackson, this emotional track showcases Freddie's songwriting depth
9. Living On My Own – Keeps the dancefloor energy alive and became a posthumous hit
10. My Love Is Dangerous – Features reggae-inspired rhythms
11. Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow – A heartfelt closer that captures Mercury's ability to blend vulnerability with pop brilliance

This very natural album was co-produced by Freddie Mercury and Reinhold Mack at Musicland Studios in Munich, with contributions from guitarist Paul Vincent, drummer Curt Cress, bassist Stephan Wissnet, and Queen's touring keyboard player Fred Mandel. Freddie played piano on many tracks, demonstrating his commitment to playing all the notes himself on certain arrangements.

Freddie's Vocal Performance: Absolutely Extraordinary

What makes Mr Bad Guy truly special is Freddie's vocal performance, which is absolutely extraordinary throughout the album. From the powerful belting on "I Was Born To Love You" to the tender vulnerability of the very moving ballads, Freddie's voice carries the emotional weight of every song.

The album showcases Freddie Mercury's ability to navigate different musical territories with ease, from dance-driven tracks to operatic moments. His work with sound engineers ensured that every vocal nuance was captured, and the new mix by Justin Shirley-Smith and Joshua J Macrae brings out details that were previously buried in the original recordings.

Legacy and Influence: From Mercury's Death to Today

Following Mercury's death in 1991, Mr Bad Guy took on new significance as his only studio album released during his lifetime. The album has been re-released in various formats over the years, including LP, CD, cassette, and digital editions, and has found its place in the Solo Collection and other great collections of Mercury's work.

The influence of Mr Bad Guy can be heard in the Made In Heaven album, which Queen bandmates completed after Freddie's passing using his final recordings. Tracks like "Made In Heaven" were reworked, showing how Freddie's solo explorations informed Queen's later work.

The album's experimental nature—from the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra on the title track to the reggae-influenced bass guitar on "My Love Is Dangerous"—proved that Freddie was completely crazy in the best possible way, always pushing boundaries and refusing to be confined by genre expectations.

🎵 Preserve Your Vinyl Legacy Whether you're collecting Freddie Mercury classics or building a diverse vinyl library, proper storage is essential. Keep Them Spinning™ offers eco-friendly, modular storage that grows with your collection. Shop Vinyl Record Modular Systems.

Conclusion: A Testament to Freddie's Artistic Vision

Mr Bad Guy is more than just Freddie Mercury's solo album—it's a window into the artist's soul, revealing a side of him that Queen albums couldn't fully capture. With a lot of ideas bursting to get out and a lot of musical territories he wanted to explore, Freddie created a very natural album that stands as a testament to his genius.

The 40th Anniversary Special Edition vinyl reissue, with its remixed form using the original multi-track tapes and better technology, ensures that new generations can experience Freddie's vocal performance in all its glory. From the tongue in cheek songs to the very moving ballads, from the dance anthems to the orchestral grandeur, Mr Bad Guy captures the whole spectrum of what made Freddie Mercury one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.

Whether you're one of the all the cat lovers Freddie dedicated this album to, a longtime Queen fan, or a new listener discovering his solo work, Mr Bad Guy deserves a place in your vinyl collection. It's completely crazy, absolutely extraordinary, and utterly unforgettable—just like Freddie himself.

The 40th Anniversary Edition of Mr Bad Guy is available now on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Mr Bad Guy Freddie Mercury's only solo album?
A: Yes, Mr Bad Guy is Freddie Mercury's only studio album released during his lifetime. While he released other solo material and collaborations (like Barcelona with Montserrat Caballé), this remains his sole complete solo studio album.

Q: What makes the 40th Anniversary Edition special?
A: The new edition features a remixed form of the album using the original multi-track tapes with better technology, resulting in enhanced sound quality. It's available on 180g translucent green vinyl and as a picture disc edition.

Q: Who played on Mr Bad Guy?
A: The album was co-produced by Freddie Mercury and Reinhold Mack, with contributions from guitarist Paul Vincent, drummer Curt Cress, bassist Stephan Wissnet, and Fred Mandel on keyboards. Freddie played piano on many tracks himself.

Q: What is the best way to store vinyl records like Mr Bad Guy?
A: Store vinyl records vertically in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Use proper vinyl storage furniture designed specifically for record dimensions to prevent warping and damage.