Tuesday 3rd February: Frederick Mercury attends a production of Verdi's 1859 opera Un ballo in maschera in order to see Luciano Pavarotti, one of his idols. Pavarotti's co-star is Montserrat Caballé, who deeply impresses him.
1986:
Thursday 31st July: Queen fly from Nice to Barcelona via Madrid, on Iberia 683 and 1800, and stay at Princess Sofía Hotel, as they're playing a concert the next evening. Either on this day or the next one (Friday 1st of August), Frederick is asked who his favourite singer is and he replies 'Montserrat Caballé'. Somehow that comment reaches her ears and eventually her people ring his people up and a meeting is set up.
November: Michael Moran and Frederick Mercury record 'Exercises in Free Love' as a B-Side for 'The Great Pretender'.
1987:
January:
Monday 26th: Early version of 'Rachmaninov's Revenge' is recorded.
February:
Thursday 19th: Later version of 'Rachmaninov's Revenge' is recorded.
March:
Sunday 29th: Frederick Mercury, Montserrat Caballé and Michael Moran get together at Frederick's house in London and work on 'Idea' and 'The Duet', which would later become 'Barcelona' and 'The Fallen Priest'.
April:
Thursday 9th: Alternative piano version of 'How Can I Go On' is recorded.
Tuesday 28th: Early version of 'Barcelona' is recorded.
May:
Saturday 2nd: Early version of 'The Golden Boy' is recorded.
Sunday 3rd: Later version of 'Barcelona' is recorded.
June:
Wednesday 24th: Some vocal recordings are done for 'How Can I Go On'.
September:
Tuesday 1st: Early version of 'La Japonaise' is recorded.
Wednesday 9th: Later versions of 'La Japonaise' and 'The Golden Boy' are recorded.
October:
Monday 26th: Lead single, 'Barcelona' / 'Exercises in Free Love', is released.
1988:
March:
Wednesday 2nd: Alternative versions of 'Guide Me Home' and 'How Can I Go On' are recorded.
October:
Monday 10th: The album is released in the UK.
Monday 24th: Sophomore single, 'The Golden Boy' / The Fallen Priest', is released in the UK.
November:
Monday 7th: The album is certified Silver in the UK, after having reached the necessary threshold.
1989:
January:
Monday 23rd: Third single, 'How Can I Go On' / 'Overture Piccante', is released in the UK.
Documented Venues:
Mountain Studios in the Casino Barrière on 9 Theatre Road, Montreux, Vaud 1820, Swiss Confederation.
The Town House on 150 Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, Royal Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Greater London W12 8EN, England.
Documented Personnel:
Performers:
Instrumentalists:
Barry Castle: French horn.
John Deacon: Electric bass.
Homi Kanga: Violin.
Laurie Lewis: Violin.
Michael Moran: Acoustic piano, analogue and digital synthesisers, MIDI programming.