The Night Comes Down

When Brian May wrote "The Night Comes Down", just a year after Queen formed in 1970, he was coming off the experience with his previous band, Smile. The first time this song was recorded was in September 1971, at De Lane Lea Studios. The band was there to test the studio's new equipment, and in return, they were allowed to record demos of their work. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and Queen made the most of the cutting-edge technology to record five of their tracks.

Later, in 1972, Trident Studios signed a deal with Queen. This agreement gave them access to the studio only during downtime, when other artists were not recording. It was then that they began working with producer Roy Thomas Baker, alongside the studio owners, Norman and Barry Sheffield. They insisted on re-recording the demos they had already made at De Lane Lea. A new version of "The Night Comes Down" was made, but in the end, it was determined that the original version from De Lane Lea was superior. That is the one that ended up on the 1973 debut album. The version produced by Roy Thomas Baker, which was recorded at that time, was never officially released and hasn't even appeared on bootlegs. Bootlegs of the original De Lane Lea demos circulate, and the difference in sound quality compared to the 1973 version is noticeable, and even more so when compared to more recent digital remasters.

The lyrics of "The Night Comes Down" explore themes that would become characteristic of Brian May, such as the transition from childhood to adulthood, nostalgia for lost times, and the complexities of adult life. There is a reference that could be interpreted as a nod to The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", a band that May deeply admires and which has influenced his work. The album where it was included, 'Queen', was released in the UK on July 13, 1973, by EMI Records and in the US on September 4, 1973, by Elektra Records. The recording took place at Trident Studios and De Lane Lea Music Centre in London, with production by Roy Thomas Baker, John Anthony, and the band members themselves. This record mixed influences from heavy metal and progressive rock with touches of folk.