The big news? A special limited edition Dolby Atmos Audiophile Blu-ray of Queen I is set to release on June 13.
Sir Brian shared: ‘I’m particularly excited about this new Dolby Atmos version of what we now call QUEEN 1. When the boys were converting the stereo rebuild into a surround experience, I was unable to be there, due to a health hiccup. So I was very happy to have the opportunity to go back in with them recently and add my own contribution to this multichannel mix. There are now a few nice adventurous Easter eggs in there, which those who know the album intimately will hopefully enjoy. So the Blu-ray version is an update from the version that has currently been available to stream. Nobody has ever heard our first album quite like this !!!”
Roger Taylor added: “At last, we get our first album to sound as we imagined it should sound….phew!”
The announcement read: “With Brian May and Roger Taylor acting as executive producers, and overseen by Queen’s long-standing audio-production team of Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J Macrae and Kris Fredriksson, this enhanced spatial surround sound format release breathes stunning new life into the band’s epic and unique multi-layered sound.”
Justin Shirley-Smith said, “It always feels like Queen’s music was designed for immersive formats. It’s dramatic and powerful and has a lot of dynamics. The original album was recorded more than 50 years ago, but it was so ambitious musically, rhythmically and lyrically. It’s beyond belief really, and it’s such a joy for us to work on.”
The announcement continued: “To mix Queen I in Dolby Atmos, the team made stems from the 2024 stereo mix, allowing them to process and pan each musical part individually, bringing new depth and dimensions to an album already bursting with invention.”
Shirley-Smith explained: “It’s always fun working in Atmos because we are confident that the mix is already good from the stereo and this expanded sound field gives us an opportunity to feature the backing track without masking some of the intricate multi-layered elements that Queen are famous for. We finished the mix with Lewis Jones at Abbey Road where they have a great mix studio equipped with all the speakers required,” he continues. “Lewis has worked on a great many significant immersive projects and is a crucial part of the Atmos mix team.”
To pre-order Queen I – Dolby Atmos Blu-ray, click here.