BRIAN MAY – “Too Much Love Will Kill You” (1992 EMI/Parlophone CD single)

The first time that most of us heard “Too Much Love Will Kill You” was in 1992, at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert.  Surely one of the biggest and most spectacular such events ever hosted, Queen played a scorching set with guests that night.  One of the highlights was a song that Brian May humbly said was the best he had to offer.  That song was the ballad “Too Much Love Will Kill You”, which Queen recorded but did not release on The Miracle (until 2022).  For that album, the band chose to only include songs written solely by the four core members.  “Too Much Love Will Kill You” was co-written by Brian with Elizabeth Lamers and Frank Musker.   A few months after the concert, May would release his solo version of  the song on his album, Back to the Light, and also as a single.  (There is now a deluxe edition of Back to the Light, containing all the songs from this single.)

“I’m just the pieces of the man I used to be,” croons May after a a delicate intro.  A song about being torn between two lovers, you somehow actually feel sorry for the guy who’s trying to choose between two women.  “Too much love will kill you, just as sure as none at all.”  May’s version is different from Queen’s, with lush orchestration taking up much of the space.  It’s absolutely gorgeous!  Queen’s version was as well, and it may be difficult to choose between versions.  Brian takes a lovely acoustic guitar solo, which is so rarely heard from the master of electric layers of bliss.  His vocals are impassioned, perhaps even more than Freddie’s were.  Though loaded to the gills with strings and accoutrements, it’s a spellbinding version.

Second on the single is a rocker named “I’m Scared”.  If it were a Queen song, it would be one of the harder-edged.  It’s a speedy ride through an amusement part of guitar and drums (by Cozy Powell, with bass by his Black Sabbath and Whitesnake compatriot Neil Murray).  Brian talk-sings for most of it, which works well, especially when he mockingly has trouble getting his words out towards the end.  It’s a performance, and the chorus ain’t bad regardless of the vocal storytelling.  It’s too weird for radio, but could be one of those cool deep cuts.

Track three is the “guitar version” of “Too Much Love With Kill You” which, believe it or not, is an instrumental.  Brian’s electric guitar takes the place of the singer.  It’s a cool and unexpected version.  It’s an incredible, lyrical version.  Brian takes liberties and doesn’t play the vocal melody note for note, but you can make it out just the same.  This could be one of May’s greatest guitar performances, simply because he uses his instrument to speak in a way that very few guitarists can do for four minutes straight.  He changes voices, he adds luscious trills, and it’s an absolute knockout.

The last track is a re-do of lead single “Driven By You”, with Cozy and Neil.  Brian played bass on the album version.  This version is hard and punchy.  The song is a melodic rock classic.  If it had come out a couple years earlier, it could have been a summer hit.  Cozy and Neil were in Brian’s live band, so having them re-do the track for a B-side probably made sense.  It’s really strong, and the bass and drums are both in your face.  Diehard fans will absolutely be able to recognize the legendary rhythm section.  Cozy in particular has a signature sound, and Neil does as well to a lesser degree.

What a great single, combining rarities with hits and a deep cut.  A total score.

5/5 stars