Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

"Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy"
File:Queen's First EP.jpg
Single by Queen
from the album A Day at the Races
A-side	Death on Two Legs
B-side	Tenement Funster White Queen (As It Began)
Released	20 May 1977
Format	Vinyl record (7")
Recorded	1976
Genre	Glam rock, music hall
Length	2:54
Label	EMI, Elektra
Writer(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Queen
Queen singles chronology
"Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)" (1977) "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" (1977) "Long Away" (1977)

"Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" is the third single and the eighth track from the British rock band Queen's 1976 album A Day at the Races, written by Freddie Mercury. It was one of several British music hall-inspired songs composed by members of the band.

Background and composition

The song starts with a piano and vocal introduction by Mercury, then continues, with the bass and drums adding on, at the start of the chorus. The second verse is sung, followed by another chorus. At this point, the drums, bass and guitar drop out, which then leads into the bridge, sung by Freddie Mercury and Mike Stone. Following the Brian May guitar solo, another verse is sung, and then the chorus ends the track.

The song describes how "a good old-fashioned lover boy" will romance with an unnamed love interest, especially at night.

Live performances and other appearances

It was partially mimed by the band for the BBC and aired on Top of the Pops. The Top of the Pops version also has drummer Roger Taylor singing Mike Stone's line.

The song was also performed live from A Day at the Races Tour until the end of the News of the World Tour. It was performed in a medley after "Killer Queen", and was the first two verses, followed by the final chorus.

Queen comments on the record

It’s called 'Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy', and it’s in my ‘ragtime’ mood that I get a chance to do on every album and this time, this is something I’ve come up with this time around.

— Freddie Mercury

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano
• Brian May - electric guitar, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, backing vocals
• John Deacon - bass guitar
• Mike Stone - additional vocals

Tracks

• "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" – 2:53
• "Death on Two Legs" – 3:44
• "Tenement Funster" – 3:00
• "White Queen (As It Began)" – 4:18

Chart position

• #17 (UK)

External links

• Official music video on YouTube
• Lyrics at Queen official website
• Queenpedia - detailed worldwide release information