It's Late
| "It's Late" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork for US release | ||||
| Single by Queen | ||||
| from the album News of the World | ||||
| B-side | "Sheer Heart Attack" | |||
| Released | 25 April 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1977 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock | |||
| Length | 6:22 (album version) 3:52 (single version) | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brian May | |||
| Producer(s) |
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| Queen singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "It's Late" on YouTube | ||||
"It's Late" is a song written by Queen guitarist Brian May and performed by the band for their 1977 album News of the World.
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.[1]
The lyrics describe a love affair that is on the verge of ending.[2]
According to Billboard Magazine, the music of the single version "shifts gear from subdued balladry to thunderous rock'n'roll."[3]
Release
The song was released as a single in the US in 1978, albeit in heavily edited form, and peaked at #74 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] and #66 on the Cash Box Top 100.[5] The song was later included on the Queen Rocks compilation in 1997.
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
- Brian May - electric guitar, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
- John Deacon - bass guitar
References
- ^ "Electric & Acoustic Guitar Gear, Lessons, News, Blogs, Video, Tabs & Chords". GuitarPlayer.com. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
- ^ Guarisco, D.A. "It's Late". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 29 April 1978. p. 80. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2002
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 6/03/78". cashboxmagazine.com. 3 June 1978. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
