Queen is set to release a lavish box set edition of their 1974 album Queen II on March 27, 2026. The collection, titled Queen II Reimagined: Deluxe Collector’s Edition, features a new remix, unreleased outtakes, backing tracks, BBC sessions, and live recordings. It aims to highlight the band's innovative sound from their early years.
Queen's second album, Queen II, originally released on March 8, 1974, marked a significant evolution for the band, blending heavy metal and progressive rock elements across 'Side White' and 'Side Black.' The album includes tracks like 'Procession,' 'Ogre Battle,' 'White Queen (As It Began),' and the band's first U.K. hit, 'Seven Seas of Rhye.' It has been praised by artists such as Axl Rose, Billy Corgan, and Rob Halford.
The new box set expands on this legacy with a 2026 remix of the original album by engineers Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J. Macrae, and Kris Fredriksson. This remix seeks to clarify the sound without adding elements, addressing limitations of the era's recording equipment. 'Rather than add anything, we wanted to reveal more of what was there and get that desired sound,' Shirley-Smith stated.
Brian May reflected on the album's importance: 'Queen II was the single biggest leap we ever made. That’s when we really started making music the way we wanted to, rather than the way we were being pushed into recording it.' Drummer Roger Taylor added, 'With Queen II, I couldn’t believe how much work we put into it. I think we felt we were evolving our own sound. We were pioneering this sort of multitracking thing. It gave you a tremendous palette, massive choral effects with just three of us singing.'
The set includes unreleased material from Trident Studios sessions, such as guide vocals, demos like Brian May's 1969 recording of 'As It Began' (later 'White Queen'), and an unfinished track 'Not for Sale (Polar Bear).' A backing tracks disc showcases the instrumentation without vocals, while BBC sessions from 1973-1974 feature performances for John Peel and Bob Harris. Live recordings from 1974-1975 concerts in England, including at the Rainbow and Hammersmith Odeon, round out the audio.
Accompanying the discs is a 112-page book with outtakes from Mick Rock's iconic cover shoot, handwritten lyrics, musical notation, journal entries, letters, and memorabilia. The release will be available on CD, LP, and digitally.
In a recent interview, May expressed interest in performing at the Sphere venue, noting its potential for Queen's visuals.