Live Killers

Recording

The album was self-produced by the band and was their first to be mixed at their own studios, Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland. Guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor later revealed on the US radio show In the Studio with Redbeard (which spotlighted the making of 1980's The Game) that the band had mixed Live Killers themselves and were unhappy with the final mix.

Release

Live Killers was released as a double vinyl album in the UK by EMI on 22 June 1979, in Europe by Parlophone, and in the US by Elektra and Hollywood Records.

In the territories outside of the United States, Europe and Canada, Elektra Records re-released a shorter and edited version of the album in 1985 titled Queen Live.

The 1994 issue released as part of the Digital Master Series by EMI Records did not improve upon the quality of the previous release. It was later remastered and restored in better quality by Peter Mew in 2001.

Reception

The album reached number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 16 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, and is certified double platinum in the US.

The album received negative reviews from critics on release. In a retrospective appraisal, Greg Prato of AllMusic found the initial reaction inexplicable, calling the album "an excellent document of Queen at the height of their '70s arena rock powers".

Track listing

Omitted tracks

• "Somebody to Love"
• "Fat Bottomed Girls" (Version from Pavillon de Paris, 27 February 1979, was released on Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack)
• "If You Can't Beat Them"
• "It's Late"

Singles

• "Love of My Life (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79 – edited version)"/"Now I'm Here (Live at Festhalle Frankfurt, 2 Feb '79)"
• "We Will Rock You (Fast Version) (Live)"/"Let Me Entertain You (Live)" – Elektra E46532; released August 1979

Personnel

;Queen

• Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano
• Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor – drums, tambourine, timpani, backing vocals, lead vocals on "I'm in Love with My Car", co-lead vocals on "Sheer Heart Attack"
• John Deacon – bass guitar, backing vocals, triangle

Production

• Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC

Charts

Certifications

References

References

1. "Queen singles".
2. {{AllMusic
3. "1979.06.xx – Record Mirror – UK – Killer Queen – QueenCuttings.com – Welcome on board!". QueenCuttings.com.
4. (1999). "MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide". Visible Ink Press.
5. Fricke, David. (1979-09-06). "Live Killers".
6. "Queen: Album Guide".
7. Starr, Red. "Albums". [[Smash Hits]].
8. [http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/songs/killers.htm Live Killers] Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 11 July 2011
9. David Fricke. (6 September 1979). "Album Reviews Live Killers".
10. Paul Sexton. (14 July 2019). "When Queen Became Live Killers". udiscovermusic.com.
11. [http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/live-killers/] {{dead link. (June 2025)
12. link. (4 September 2015 Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved 11 July 2011)
13. Roberts, David (2006). [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]. London: Guinness World Records Limited
14. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
15. Nyman, Jake. (2005). "Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja". Tammi.
16. (18 August 2023). "Queen - Freddie Mercury's commemorative Canadian in-house sales award - 'Queen Rules Canada', 1992".
17. (18 August 2023). "Queen – Freddie Mercury's Japanese in-house presentation awards".
18. "Queen – Freddie Mercury's in-house South African sales award for multiple albums".