Produced by: Queen and Mack / "Under Pressure" was written, produced and performed by Queen and David Bowie
Recorded at: Musicland Studios and Mountain Studios
UK EMI LP: 21 May 1982 EMA 797 / UK Chart #4
USA Elektra LP: 25 May 1982 E1 60128 / Billboard #22

Side One 1. Staying Power (Mercury) 4:10 2. Dancer (May) 3:47 3. Back Chat (Deacon) 4:33 4. Body Language (Mercury) 4:32 5. Action This Day (Taylor) 3:32

Side Two 1. Put Out The Fire (May) 3:18 2. Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) (Mercury) 3:31 3. Calling All The Girls (Taylor) 3:52 4. Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (May) 4:29 5. Cool Cat (Deacon/Mercury) 3:28 6. Under Pressure (Queen/Bowie) 4:03

Related Songs
Soul Brother (Queen), There Must Be More To Life Than This (Mercury), My Boy (May), Feel Like, I Go Crazy (May)

UK Singles
- Under Pressure c/w Soul Brother 7" / UK Chart #1
- Body Language c/w Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) 7" / UK Chart #25
- Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) c/w Cool Cat 7" / UK Chart #17
- Back Chat (Single Remix) c/w Staying Power 7" / UK Chart #40
- Back Chat (Extended Remix) c/w Staying Power 12"

US Singles
- Under Pressure c/w Soul Brother 7" / Billboard #29
- Body Language c/w Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) 7" / Billboard #11
- Calling All Girls c/w Put Out The Fire 7" / Billboard #60

Queen's tenth album, Hot Space, is their most polarizing release, causing a rift in their fanbase and reversing their recent streak of success. Motivated by the previous success of Another One Bites The Dust, the band continued to expand upon the sparse, funk style of the hit single. Rock bands playing dance tracks were out of style by 1982; disco was a dirty word and decidedly out of fashion.

Produced by Queen and Mack, the album was recorded in Musicland Studios and Queen's own Mountain Studios from June 1981 to March 1982.

Hot Space was released by EMI in the UK on May 21, 1982, reaching #4 in the charts while achieving Gold Sales - a disappointing follow-up to Greatest Hits and Under Pressure. This would prove to be their final studio album released by Elektra in the US. Released four days after its UK counterpart, the Hot Space stalled at #22 on the Billboard chart, beginning a near decade long decline for the band stateside.

Under Pressure, Queen's classic UK #1 collaboration with David Bowie predated the album by nearly seven months - doing little to build momentum for its eventual parent album. Body Language, released a month before Hot Space, was rejected by the UK audience reaching a very disappointing #25. The track featured much better in the US, surprisingly, reaching #11, surpassing Under Pressure's Billboard #29. Las Palabras De Amor was a mildly successful follow-up in the UK, reaching #17, while Back Chat peaked at #40. Elektra released the Roger-penned Calling All Girls to little success in the US, reaching #60.

For those wanting to dig deeper, Soul Brother, the B-side to Under Pressure, is the only official non-album track released from this period. There Must Be More To Life Than This was attempted for this album and its follow-up The Works, before ultimately landing on Freddie's 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy. An early version of Under Pressure, entitled Feel Like, is an interesting curiosity that remains officially unreleased.

Staying Power (Album Version) 4:10
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 1

Staying Power (Extended Remix) 5:51
Appears on: US Staying Power 12" vinyl promo
This Extended Version of Staying Power is an awesome extended mix by Boston remixer/DJ John Luongo. It is only available on the original US 12" promo vinyl. In terms of content, it is not that different from the album version. It features more instrumental parts and some more vocal parts by Freddie. It is a shame this wasn't added to the Hollywood Records re-release or the 2011 Deluxe Version. Also of note, John Luongo remixed Liar nine years later for Hollywood Records' "Queen" re-release.

Staying Power (Demo) 4:13
Appears on: Unreleased
This demo, presumably from Musicland Studio in Munich, is very different than the released version. The track starts off with the standard intro with Freddie adding, 'Let's make contact!' There is a guitar solo at around 1:50 by Brian that is more in line with the band's live performance of the song.

Dancer (Album Version) 3:47
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 2

Dancer (Early Mix) 3:50
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 2006 Dutch Fan Club Convention. This early version of the track is still very much a work in progress. Lyrics are not final and the chorus is missing. The backing track is very similar to the final version. The track ends with percussion as opposed to a fade-out.

Back Chat (Album Version) 4:33
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 3

Back Chat (Single Remix) 4:12
Appears on: UK Back Chat 7" vinyl, UK The Singles Collection Volume 2, UK 2011 Hot Space Deluxe CD
This single remix is actually an improvement over the album mix. This version cuts out some of the instrumental sections of the album version and remixes it together quite nicely. In general, the song sounds much better (much like the Pain Is So Close To Pleasure single remix was better than the album version). This version finally saw its first CD release with 2009's The Singles Collection Volume 2. It is now more widely available on the 2011 Deluxe Hot Space CD. The single stalled out at number 40 on the UK chart.

Back Chat (Extended Remix) 6:55
Appears on: UK Back Chat 12" vinyl, US Staying Power 12" vinyl promo
This version of Back Chat is Queen's first official extended 12" mix. This mix features a lot of extra drums and instrumental parts. Added guitar by Brian at the end is a nice touch. Overall, this is a pretty good mix.

Back Chat (Demo) 4:35
Appears on: Unreleased
This demo, presumably from Musicland Studio in Munich, is an interesting alternative version. This take starts with a slightly different intro with a few bass notes. The demo's lyrics are still early and slightly different from the final version. This one is worth a listen just to hear how the song has progressed.

Back Chat (Alternative Mix)
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 2006 Dutch Fan Club Convention. The alternative mix features Brian's guitars much more prominently.

Body Language (Album Version) 4:32
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 4

Body Language (Susan Rogers Remix) 4:44
Appears on: Hot Space Hollywood Remaster (1991)
This is one of the good 1991 remixes from the Hollywood Records remasters. This remix, by Susan Rogers (producer for David Byrne, Barenaked Ladies, etc.) features additional guitars and an added back beat. The best part of the remix is the added piano bits. If you like the original, this is worth getting.

Body Language (Greatest Video Hits 2 Surround Mix) 4:39
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Body Language was made for the 2003 Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD. The new mixes on this DVD were produced by Justin Shriley-Smith. Engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson. Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Action This Day (Album Version) 3:32
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 5

Action This Day (Demo) 3:40
Appears on: Unreleased
This demo, presumably from Musicland Studio in Munich, is not very different from the album take. Freddie's vocals are noticeably different in some places. Roger's backing vocals are much more pronounced (like they are for live versions of this song). Synthesizer and horn solos are present even in this early version.

Action This Day (Live in Tokyo, November 1982) 6:25
Appears on: UK 2011 Hot Space Deluxe CD
Recorded live from Tokyo's Siebu Stadium, this live performance of Action This Day is fantastic. Highly recommended over the Live At The Bowl version. As an added bonus, Freddie does his vocal exercises with the audience at the end.

Put Out The Fire (Album Version) 3:18
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 6

Put Out The Fire (Alternative Mix) 4:37
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 20th International Fan Club Convention in Prestatyn. This mix is much longer than the album version, featuring almost a full minute of percussion at the end.

Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) (Album Version) 3:31
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 7

Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) (Demo) 3:29
Appears on: Unreleased
This demo, presumably from Musicland Studio in Munich, is similar to the album version. Freddie's vocals are noticeably different in some places. The track begins with either a drum machine or Roger on drums. Brian's guitar work is a bit more drawn out and Freddie's piano has a bit more volume to it.

Calling All Girls (Album Version) 3:52
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 8

Calling All Girls (Live in Tokyo, November 1982) 4:45
Appears on: On Fire: Live At The Bowl DVD, UK 2011 Hot Space Deluxe CD
Recorded from Siebu Stadium, Tokyo, this great live version is found as an extra on both the 2011 Hot Space Deluxe CD and on the Live At The Bowl DVD. A great, heavier version of the song with an intro by Freddie and an extended ending makes this a keeper.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Album Version) 4:29
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 9

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Greatest Hits III Version) 4:28
Appears on: Greatest Hits III
This version of Las Palabras De Amor loses about a second of time in comparison to the album version. There is a minor cross-fade with the previous track (Heaven For Everyone) that cuts some of the beginning.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Greatest Flix III Video Version) 3:57
Appears on: Greatest Flix III
The Greatest Flix III Video Version has a fairly major early fade-out at the end; cutting off about half a minute at the end.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Greatest Video Hits 2 Surround Mix) 4:40
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) was made for the 2003 Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD. The new mixes on this DVD were produced by Justin Shriley-Smith. Engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson. Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Mix 2) 4:27
Appears on: UK Las Palabras De Amor 10" Acetate Test Pressing
A 10" Acetate Test Pressing, once owned by Ron Formela, appeared on his Queen Picture Hall website. The one sided acetate is housed in a plain, brown sleeve with a handwritten note "Los Parablas De Amor Queen Mix 2". Spelling errors aside, little else is known about the acetate. When listening to the acetate, there aren't any major differences detected between this mix and the final version.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Alternative Mix) 4:15
Appears on: MusicLand Studios tape
An alternative mix of Las Palabras De Amor was shared by Queen collector Sikke Van Der Veen from a MusicLand acetate tape. There are minor differences in the mixing levels of individual instruments and vocals. It is very apparent when you listen to the vocals, acoustic guitar, and drums. The synth opening is gone from this one, instead it starts with drums and guitar. There's some added vocal bits from Freddie in the opening as well (some of which may have been buried in the final mix). Throughout the song you'll notice minor performance differences in Freddie's vocal and some of the instrumentation.

Las Palabras De Amor (The Words Of Love) (Demo) 4:28
Appears on: Unreleased
This demo, presumably from Musicland Studio in Munich, has some distinct differences from the album take. This version starts with a count in from Roger and a different vocal intro by Freddie. Different lyrics appear (and disappear) throughout the song. The demo is a bit more quiet during the main lyrical parts, focusing much more on Freddie's lead vocal track. Brian's vocals can be heard very well in the backing track.

Cool Cat (Album Version) 3:28
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 10

Cool Cat (Instrumental) 3:28
Appears on: RSD Cool Cat 7" vinyl
Out of nowhere, Cool Cat became one of the most downloaded/streamed songs in the Queen catalog due to the track's appearance on a 2023 Amazon Prime commercial directed by Olivia Wilde. To capitalize on the track's new popularity, a Record Store Day 7" release was prepared for 2023. For whatever reason, the release was pushed back and the 7" became available the following year in April 2024. The B-side features an instrumental version newly mixed by Kris Fredriksson and Joshua J. Macrae. Thanks to the press release advertising the single, we learned that Freddie and John penned and recorded the upbeat song together without Roger and Brian. What's particularly unique about the recording is that John plays every instrument on Cool Cat apart from Freddie accompanying the bassist on electric piano.

Cool Cat (Original Version with David Bowie) 3:48
Appears on: US Hot Space vinyl test pressing
The original version is very similar to the final album release. The performance is mostly the same and it features David Bowie doing some backing vocals. Bowie's vocals actually add a weird "haunting" element to the track. Definitely worth finding, although the current bootleg copies are not the best.

Cool Cat (Alternative Take with David Bowie) 3:45
Appears on: Unreleased
Not to be confused with the completed version with David Bowie that appears on the Hot Space test pressing, this is a completely different take of Cool Cat. The backing track is different in many parts, Freddie's lead vocal is from a different take, and there are lyrical changes. Bowie's contribution seemss to be from the same take as the original version. Not dramatically different, but there is enough here to stick out.

Under Pressure (Album Version) 4:03
Appears on: Hot Space, Track 11

Under Pressure (Greatest Hits II CD Edit) 3:55
Appears on: UK Greatest Hits II CD, UK David Bowie: The Singles 2 CD
This minor edit by David Richards was done to reduce run time on the Greatest Hits II CD. The only difference is the end lyrics; "this is our last dance..." is only repeated once, as opposed to the normal two times.

Under Pressure (Classic Queen Mix) 4:02
Appears on: US Classic Queen, US David Bowie: The Singles 2 CD
This remix is very close to the final album version. The bass lines seem to be a bit more prominent in the mix and the overall sound is a little less muddy. Freddie singing "that's okay!" has been removed right before Bowie sings, "it's the terror of knowing..." It is unknown who did this remix. It is rumored that this is actually an old mix from around the Hot Space time period.

Under Pressure (Video CD Version) 3:51
Appears on: UK Greatest Flix I & II VCD
The Queen promo videos were released digitally for the first time in 1994 on video CD format. The two disc set featured Queen's most popular videos, some of which were minorly edited. This version is edited at the end, leaving three finger clicks.

Under Pressure (Greatest Video Hits 2 Surround Mix) 4:10
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Under Pressure was made for the 2003 Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD. The new mixes on this DVD were produced by Justin Shriley-Smith. Engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris Fredriksson. Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Under Pressure (Jewels Video Version) 4:00
Appears on: Japan Jewels DVD
The Japan only DVD release Jewels features many of Queen's most popular videos. Under Pressure is included on this release. It differs from the album version, omitting the final two finger clicks at the end.

Under Pressure (Days Of Our Lives Video Version) 3:43
Appears on: Days Of Our Lives DVD, Days Of Our Lives Blu-Ray
The excellent BBC documentary "Days Of Our Lives" was release on DVD and Blu-Ray with bonus features. Included in those bonus features are alternative videos to some of their hits. The Under Pressure video is edited by about 20 seconds. One of the repeating "this is our last dance" lyrics is removed and all but two finger clicks are also removed at the end.

Under Pressure (1998 Karaoke Version) 3:55
Appears on: 1998 Greatest Karaoke Hits
This is a nice instrumental version which shows there's much more to this song than people may think. It ends short of the album version, leaving a singular finger snap at the end. There is no click track to begin this karaoke version.

Under Pressure (2004 Karaoke Version) 4:04
Appears on: 2004 Greatest Karaoke Hits
The ending to this Karaoke Version differs from the original 1998 version. There is an extended outro, featuring 13 finger snaps to end the song.

Under Pressure (Mr. Mixx Remix) 4:04
Appears on: BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
Mr. Mixx is best known as a co-creator of the rap group 2 Live Crew. The remix is made up of the lead vocals of Freddie and David with scratching and drum beats in the background. The famous bass line pops up now and again.

Under Pressure (Rah Mix) 4:08
Appears on: Greatest Hits III, 1999 Under Pressure 12" vinyl promo, Queen + David Bowie/Elton John CD promo
The Rah Mix is a really good remix to promote the Greatest Hits III release. Most notably, it features brand new lyrics to open the song from both Bowie and Freddie. The mix is bass heavy and features some neat guitar and vocal effects. It is unknown who remixed this one, but I have heard from reliable sources that it stems from Brian.

Under Pressure (Rah Mix Radio Edit) 3:53
Appears on: UK Under Pressure Rah Mix CD Single, UK Under Pressure Rah Mix 7" vinyl, UK The Singles Collection Volume 4
This mix is exactly the same as the regular Rah Mix, except that it is missing the 15 seconds of extra vocals from Bowie and Freddie at the beginning. It is surprising that one of the most interesting parts of the song was edited. This shortened version was released on CD single and became another hit for the band, reaching number 14 in the UK.

Under Pressure (Rah Mix Video Version) 4:22
Appears on: UK Under Pressure Rah Mix CD Single - Part 1, UK 2011 Hot Space iTunes Video Download
The Rah Mix video is actually fairly well done, mixing together elements of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and Wembley '86. The video creates a good illusion of Queen and Bowie performing together on stage. The audio is the same as the regular version, just adding crowd cheers and noise to go along with the video.

Under Pressure (Mike Spencer Mix) 3:52
Appears on: UK Under Pressure Rah Mix CD Single, Queen + David Bowie/Elton John CD promo, UK The Singles Collection Volume 4
This remix from producer Mike Spencer stays true to the original song. The bass line is much more prominent. The song opens with Bowie's backing humming edited in with Freddie's a capella opening. A few effects are added here and there which adds a bit to the song. Not a bad remix at all.

Under Pressure (2000 Club Mix) 5:21
Appears on: 1999 Under Pressure 12" vinyl promo
This remix begins with the strange guitar effects from the Rah Mix and pretty much remixes and rearranges the Rah Mix edit from that point on.

Under Pressure (Knebworth Mix) 4:17
Appears on: UK Under Pressure Rah Mix CD Single, UK The Singles Collection Volume 4
Recorded live at Knebworth Stadium. This live mix from Queen's last concert starts with Freddie doing his vocals exercises with the crowd and goes right into the live version of Under Pressure from that night's concert. This is a great live version to have just because this is the band's last performance of the song.

Soul Brother 3:40
Appears on: UK and US Under Pressure 7" vinyl, Japan Under Pressure 3" CD single, UK Under Pressure 3" CD single, UK The Singles Collection Volume 2, UK 2011 Hot Space Deluxe CD
Soul Brother is the B-side to the 1981 smash hit Under Pressure (UK 1, US 29). Credited to the entire band, Soul Brother seems to be Queen spoofing themselves to a degree. Freddie's vocals are mostly in falsetto, singing lyrics made up of other Queen tracks. The band are obviously having fun with this track and the energy translates well to the listener.

Soul Brother (Canada Edit) 3:35
Appears on: Canada Under Pressure 7" vinyl
The Canadian release of Under Pressure features a unique edit of Soul Brother. The "count-in" notes at the beginning of the song are edited out, leaving the track to start with Freddie's vocal.

Soul Brother (Hollywood Records Remaster Stereo Swap) 3:40
Appears on: US Heaven For Everyone CD single
Soul Brother finally made its way to CD in the US with 1995's Heaven For Everyone CD single. The left/right stereo tracks were accidentally switched in the remastering process.

There Must Be More To Life Than This (Queen Version)
Appears on: Unreleased
Attempts at a Queen version of There Must Be More To Life Than This began in 1981 during the Hot Space sessions. A backing track was recorded by the band, but ultimately it was not finished for the album. In the summer of 1983, the track was revisited by Freddie and Michael Jackson during their recording session at the Jackson residence in Encino, California. A demo cassette of this session has been leaked, featuring Freddie on piano coaching Michael as he lays down lead vocals. Again, this track, as well as two others (State Of Shock and Victory) were left unfinished. The track was revisited again by Queen at the Record Plant in Los Angeles for inclusion on their album The Works. The track was to be the closing song of the album, but was replaced by Is This The World We Created. The Queen version, again, was left unfinished. Freddie finally released his solo version of the song on his 1985 album Mr. Bad Guy. An attempt at releasing the Jackson/Mercury demo was made for 2000's Freddie Mercury Solo Collection. Unfortunately, the rights could not be obtained. In 2011, Queen signed with Universal Music, first under the Island Records label and then later under the Virgin EMI label. Universal wanted a new compilation album called Queen Forever for a Christmas release in 2011; their one mandate was for a Queen/Michael Jackson version of There Must Be More To Life Than This. This release did not happen at the time because rights were not granted by the Jackson estate. Roughly a year later, Brian May and Roger Taylor were finally able to work with the 1983 master tapes that were recorded by Freddie and Michael. On July 28, 2013, Brian May announced on his website the he, Roger, and producer Chris Thomas finished a track "with two great singers". Over a year later, a new compilation album entitled Queen Forever was announced for release in November 2014. A Queen version of There Must Be More To Life Than This featuring Michael Jackson was confirmed for inclusion on the CD. The version that was released for Queen Forever was not the Queen/Chris Thomas produced version, but a different version produced by William Orbit. The track was premired on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show in September 2014 during an interview segment with Brian and Roger. Both Brian and Roger sounded somewhat disappointed in the Orbit mix, stating that they prefered their version, but it was not permitted for release. Roger Taylor later appeared on the UK TV show "Loose Women" to promote Queen Forever and the Queen + Adam Lambert European tour. Roger stated that the William Orbit Mix was the only one approved for release by the Jackson estate. It appeared that for Queen to release the track, it would be either the William Orbit Mix or no release at all.

There Must Be More To Life Than This featuring Michael Jackson (William Orbit Mix) 3:27
Appears on: Forever, Forever Deluxe Edition
After years of rumors, false starts, and red tape with the Michael Jackson estate, the Queen/Michael Jackson version of There Must Be More To Life Than This finally appeared on the 2014 compilation album "Forever". The Jackson estate approved the William Orbit Mix for release over the Chris Thomas/Queen produced version. The William Orbit Mix is sourced from Jackson's 1983 vocal take in Encino while Mercury/Deacon/Taylor's backing tracks are from either the 1981 Hot Space sessions or the 1983 The Works sessions. Orbit states that Brian May never played on the track (at least on the master tapes he had access to), so a new performance by Brian was recorded by Orbit in 2014. Orbit was given full creative freedom on his mix by the band, so additional programming and keyboards were added by him as well. The final product has received mixed reviews from Queen fans. The production and mixing of Freddie's vocal versus Jackson's vocal are the main source of contention. The first verse is sung by Freddie, the second verse is sung by Jackson, and the third verse is a duet between the two of them.

My Boy
Appears on: Unreleased
According to Queen expert John S. Stuart, the track My Boy originated from the Hot Space sessions. A Brian May solo version was later released in 1998 as part of the Joan Amratrading curated Lullabies With A Difference, for a children's charity called PACES.

Feel Like (Demo) 5:02
Appears on: Unreleased
Feel Like is a demo version of Under Pressure. The track features the same backing guitar work by Brian, but is missing the famous bassline. The lyrics are completely different and in no way resemble the final Under Pressure. The lyrics basically deal with love and love breaking up. Freddie's vocals are still early and serve as a guide for his eventual final vocals (which never happened with these lyrics). This demo is worth seeking out just to compare with the final product.

I Go Crazy 3:45
Appears on: The Works Hollywood Remaster (1991), US & UK Radio Ga Ga 7" vinyl, US & UK Radio Ga Ga 12" vinyl, Japan Radio Ga Ga 3" CD single, UK Radio Ga Ga 3" CD single, UK The Singles Collection Volume 2, UK 2011 The Works Deluxe CD
I Go Crazy originated during the Hot Space sessions and finished during recording for The Works. The track never made it to an album proper but landed as the B-side to Radio Ga Ga (UK 2, US 16); the lead single to 1984's The Works. Usually considered the favorite B-side among Queen fans, this Brian May track is a rock song through and through. The band puts on a great performance with a really good live feel to it. Some unused lyrics to the appeared in the Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics book, with some interesting mentions of a certain Mr. Bowie.

I Go Crazy (Instrumental Live Take) 3:12
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 2006 Dutch Fan Club Convention. From the Hot Space sessions, 1982.