Fun in Space [Bonus Tracks]

by Roger Taylor

Overview

Queen drummer Roger Taylor's first solo album is a fairly strong set of up-tempo rockers and well-written ballads featuring Taylor's rough voice and effective croon. Much of the material is reminiscent of Taylor's work for Queen -- more guitar-based and less bombastic than the work of his cohorts in that band. That's not to say Taylor doesn't get over-dramatic. On "Future Management" and "Magic Is Loose," Taylor's vocals are quite over the top. However, "No Violins" and "Let's Get Crazy" balance things out with some fairly straightforward rock numbers that show the influence of 1950s rock & roll. Surprisingly, Taylor, who rarely wrote a ballad with Queen, shows himself quite adept at writing slower pieces on the lovely "Laugh or Cry." The interesting sci-fi ballad "Fun Is Space" is a striking and beautiful mix of classic rock and futuristic keyboard backdrops. The true highlight of the album though is the marvelous "My Country Parts 1 & 2." A powerful anthem of disillusionment with politics and war, the middle of the song picks up in intensity with some fine drumming from Taylor. Not all the material here is as strong or as memorable, but the album is a fine addition to the collection of any fan of classic rock or Queen. [The 2015 Omnivore reissue of Fun in Space features three bonus tracks, including Taylor's 1977 debut solo single "I Wanna Testify" backed by "Turn on the TV," and the U.K. single version of "My Country."] ~ Geoff Orens

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/2015
Label:	Omnivore
UPC:	0816651014743
Rank:	51370

Tracks

1. No Violins
2. Laugh or Cry
3. Future Management
4. Let's Get Crazy
5. My Country, Pts. 1 & 2
6. Good Times are Now
7. Magic Is Loose
8. Interlude in Constantinople
9. Airheads
10. Fun in Space
11. I Wanna Testify
12. Turn on the TV
13. My Country [Single Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Roger Taylor   Primary Artist,Vocals
David Richards   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Mike Stone   Engineer
Josh MacRae   Digital Remastering
Roger Taylor   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Instrumentation
George Clinton   Composer
George Marino   Mastering
Tony Cousins   Digital Remastering
Andre Jauchet   Engineer
Johnnie Taylor   Composer
David Richards   Engineer