Produced by: Brian May
Recorded at: The Record Plant
UK EMI EP: 31 October 1983 SFLT 1078061 / UK Chart 35
USA Capitol EP: 1 November 1983 MLP-15014 / Billboard #147

Side One 1. Star Fleet (Bliss/Arr. May) 8:06 2. Let Me Out (May) 7:13

Side Two 1. Blues Breaker (May/Van Halen/Gratzer/Chen/Mandel) 12:51

Related Songs
Son Of Star Fleet (May)

UK Singles
- Star Fleet (Edited Single Version) c/w Son Of Star Fleet 7" / UK Chart #65
- Star Fleet (Edited Single Version 2023 Mix) c/w Let Me Out (Single Edit 2023 Mix) / Did Not Chart

US Singles
- Star Fleet (Edited Single Version) c/w Son Of Star Fleet 7" / Did Not Chart

In April 1983, Queen guitarist Brian May found himself in Los Angeles doing very little. He picked up the phone and called Eddie Van Halen (guitar), Phil Chen (bass), Alan Gratzer (drums), and Fred Mandel (keyboards) to record some tracks for fun. The end result was too long to be an E.P. and too short to be an album, a mini-LP of sorts called Star Fleet Project. Star Fleet Project was released on October 31, 1983 in the UK charting at #35.

The title track was inspired by a Japanese puppet TV show May watched with his son Jimmy. At his son's request, Brian May did his own version of the title theme, along with added lyrics. Queen drummer Roger Taylor later added backing vocals during mixing at SARM Studios. Star Fleet was released as a single, backed with the non-album B-side Son Of Star Fleet, reaching #65 in the UK.

Let Me Out was an old song written by May that was finally brought to life on this album. A fan favorite, the song has only been played live twice by May, once with The Cross in 1990 and again at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2001.

Blues Breaker is a jam credited to all five musicians, dedicated to their hero Eric Clapton.

Star Fleet Project has remained out of print for decades, however the three songs were released as bonus tracks on Brian May's Back To The Light CD singles in 1992 and on the Japan Resurrection CD EP in 1993.

In 2023, Star Fleet Project was reissued and completely remixed as part of the Brian May Gold Series. A deluxe box set titled "Star Fleet Sessions" includes the entire session recordings, a document of the two days, April 21 and 22 1983. The new mix of the title track was edited for single release on both 7" vinyl and CD single. The Star Fleet Project re-release peaked at #35, just as its original counterpart did.

Brian May: "We are going to give you everything. Every take of every song. The things that went wrong, the laughing, the finding new things to do. But it won't be just a remaster - we've rescued everything from the original multitracks, every detail magnificently remixed, and more! You'll hear every take from the historic 1983 sessions plus fragments of conversations, out-takes and musical experimentation."

Star Fleet 8:06
Appears on: Star Fleet Project, UK Back To The Light CD single 1
Since this album only had a limited original run and no proper re-release, it is pretty hard to come by, but well worth getting finding. Star Fleet Project was called a "mini-album" by Brian because he thought it was too short to be a proper album, but too long to be even an EP single. The project's title track is an exceptional rocker featuring Eddie Van Halen and Brian seeming to duke it out with their axes. This is raw and full of energy. The lyrics are from the English-dubbed Japanese TV show "Star Fleet."

Star Fleet (2023 Mix - Complete Version) 8:10
Appears on: Star Fleet Project vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD (2023), Star Fleet Project picture disc vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)

Star Fleet (Edited Single Version) 4:12
Appears on: UK Star Fleet 7" vinyl, US Star Fleet 7" promo vinyl, US Star Fleet 12" promo vinyl
The single version was cut down from the full eight minutes, removing most of the guitar battle opening between Brian and Eddie. Removing the opening makes it feel less like a jam session and more like a completed song. There's still plenty to love here.

Star Fleet (Edited Single Version 2023 Mix) 4:02
Appears on: Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD (2023), Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023), Star Fleet 7" red vinyl (2023), Star Fleet CD single (2023)

Star Fleet (US Promo Edit) 3:07
Appears on: US Star Fleet 7" promo vinyl
The somewhat rare US promo edit chops a whole 5 minutes off of the original's running time. It is similar to the Single Edit, but removes even more of the instrumental section in the middle. This version actually works much better and is more accessible as a single version.

Star Fleet (Argentina Promo Edit) 3:36
Appears on: Star Fleet 7" Argentina promo vinyl
This is a very interesting version that is more similar to the album version than the single version. The beginning surprisingly retains the opening guitar battle that is missing in the single version. This edit is basically the album version, fading at a very early 3:36.

Star Fleet (Video Version) 4:25
Appears on: Unreleased
The over the top video for Star Fleet is essentially the single version with some added sound effects from the TV series, including a "spacy" intro for the video's text opening.

Star Fleet (Video Version - 2023 Version) 4:28
Appears on: YouTube
A remastered version of the Star Fleet video was released on YouTube to promo the 2023 Star Fleet Project re-release, as part of the Brian May Gold Series. Audio is the new 2023 Edited Single Version 2023 Mix with reinstated sound effects from the television series, mirroring the sound of the original video.

Star Fleet (Take 1) 3:19
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
This take starts with Ed playing a riff that would later become "Top Of The World" by Van Halen, off their 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. For the actual take, Brian sings a faint guide vocal, and it sounds like the backing guitar parts from right after the drum intro survived to the album version, as well as the opening drums. The take ends when one of the group loses his headset.

Star Fleet (Take 2) 4:47
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
After a false start, the second take sees the group get a complete run-through in, but none of the guys seem too happy with it (Brian laments that he "fucked up" part of it). Brian only sings part of a guide vocal here and there, and overall, this take is rough. It doesn't sound like any of it made it into the album version, which isn't surprising.

Star Fleet (Take 3) 4:37
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Another false, followed by the group launching into Take 3. There are some neat guitar accents in the opening as they played around with different space-y sounds and effects, Brian again sings a partial guide vocal. It seems this take provided a lot of material for the final album version, particularly from the around the second verse onward. The group really seems to be getting into it here, having a lot of fun.

Star Fleet (Take 4) 1:06
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
The take is more or less an extended false start. It does have some more interesting guitar sounds over the opening drums, some of which may have made it in to the album version, it's hard to say.

Star Fleet (Take 5) 4:28
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Picking up right after Take 5, this run through the song features some more material around the solo section and the very end, that sound like they were used in the album version.

Star Fleet (Take 7) 0:47
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Another long false start that breaks down pretty quickly. There isn't much to note here, and it doesn't sound like any of it made it into the album version.

Star Fleet (Take 8) 4:39
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
At the end of this take, Brian asks the engineer to mark this one, stating it has "the best bits." Indeed, it seems he used some middle eight and solo parts for the album version here, as well. The take breaks down at the end and everyone lets out good-natured collective "Oooh!" of frustration.

Star Fleet (Take 10) 5:02
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
This take features some solo parts that appear in the album version.

Star Fleet (Take 11) 4:53
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Some of the solo section backing, as well as the third verse backing appears to be in the album version, and possibly some of the solo guitar parts.

Star Fleet (Alternative Overdub EVH Solo) 0:55
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
This short outtake is exactly what it says, an alternate guitar solo overdub by Eddie that went unused. The track fades in at the beginning and fades out at the end.

Let Me Out 7:13
Appears on: Star Fleet Project, UK Back To The Light CD single 1
Brian has said this was an old song he brought out for this project and it's a good little bluesy track. Brian is on lead vocals and there's more of Brian and Eddie trying to out-do each other on the strings.

Let Me Out (2023 Mix) 7:18
Appears on: Star Fleet Project vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD (2023), Star Fleet Project picture disc vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)

Let Me Out (Single Edit 2023 Mix) 4:33
Appears on: Star Fleet 7" red vinyl (2023), Star Fleet CD single (2023)

Let Me Out (Rehearsal 1) 1:41
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Pretty much as described, this is the group rehearsing the song prior to recording proper takes of the song. Brian sings a guide vocal and the track ends with everyone stopping abruptly and some brief studio chatter.

Let Me Out (Rehearsal 2) 5:55
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
This longer rehearsal has a guide vocal by Brian where he also sings of his lead guitar parts as he plays the backing guitar part. While a bit rough around the edges, there is some great stuff in this run through. The guys do seem to be having fun and Brian comments on that at the end.

Let Me Out (Take 1) 6:22
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Take 1 begins with a false start, followed by a full run-through. Brian sings a guide vocal (and the middle eight lead guitar part that reminiscent of "Somewhere In Time"/"Nothin' But Blue"). Some of the backing and guitar parts from the solo section sound like they made it into the final album version.

Let Me Out (Take 3) 1:31
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
This take is mostly each of the musicians working on their separate bits, with a focus on Fred Mandel's piano, as his is the lynchpin instrument of the main melody. At the end, they all join him for a few bars before ending the take, seemingly having worked of their timing following his lead.

Let Me Out (Take 4) 6:31
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Take 4 is the strongest run of the song so far, having taken the time in Take 3 to tighten everything up. It sounds like some of the lead guitar parts from this take was worked into the final version. There are some neat unused guitar parts here, too.

Let Me Out (Take 6) 6:17
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Like Take 4, this is a strong run-through and it sounds like the backing track of this take formed the backbone of the album version, as well as some of the solo parts making it in, too.

Let Me Out (Take 7 False Start) 0:54
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)
Despite being labelled as a False Start, this short piano intro take by Fred Mandel is actually the cut that opens the album version. It's recognizable by the little flourishes on the fourth beat of the first three bars (the fourth bar is where Take 6 comes in, as it doesn't feature those extra notes).

Let Me Out (Live At The Palace Theater, LA, 1993) 7:34
Appears on: Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD (2023), Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)

Blues Breaker 12:51
Appears on: Star Fleet Project, UK Back To The Light CD single 2
A long blues jam, with no lyrics or vocals, just a bunch of talented musicians grinding it out for almost thirteen minutes. The liner notes dedicate this piece to "E.C." (Eric Clapton) and that's where the title comes from.

Blues Breaker (2023 Mix) 12:52
Appears on: Star Fleet Project vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project + Beyond CD (2023), Star Fleet Project picture disc vinyl (2023), Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)

Son Of Star Fleet 4:28
Appears on: UK Star Fleet 7" vinyl
A B-side to the Star Fleet 7" vinyl single. Here's everything cut of out the single version of "Star Fleet," cleverly working around the absent lyrics. The original is still the best version, but this still holds up.

Son Of Star Fleet (2023 Mix) 4:25
Appears on: Star Fleet Project Sessions box set (2023)

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Jam

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We Will Rock You