Sheer Heart Attack is the band's third studio album, released in the exact same year as Queen II. This is the album that grabbed the public by the balls and yelled "WE'RE FUCKING AWESOME", containing their first real big hit Killer Queen.
This was the first album of theirs to chart in the USA, reaching No.12. This is where the sound got more streamlined. It's also listed as being one of the band's best albums, so it has that going for it too. Just about every review of it from the day saw something good in it, but there was one disappointed guy who preferred tracks like Keep Yourself Alive and Father To Son. I'm not going to badmouth the guy; those are some of my favorites so far as well.
Anywho, I can't talk about the production this time; the Wikipedia article is lacking, and I'm too lazy to do actual research. Yep. I can tell you that during a tour in North America (opening for another band), Brian May got sick with hepatitis. Turns out some asshole stabbed him with a dirty vaccination needle when they went to Australia. He ended up working from hospital, but before he got completely better Queen had to drop out of the tour. Brian felt guilty, and worried that he might be replaced... but none of the others even considered it.
Anywho, it's time to get to work. Next post, I'll be taking you through "Brighton Rock", "Killer Queen", "Tenement Funster" and "Flick Of The Wrist"!
