Star Fleet Project + Beyond [40th Anniversary Edition]

by Brian May, Brian May + Friends

Overview

Brian May's Star Fleet Project is one mysterious album. First off, it's not an album, but a brief EP that contains only three songs. And Brian's "friends" on the album include session bassist Phil Chen, REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer, and none other than Eddie Van Halen on second guitar. The EP was still a relatively new format to Capitol Records at the time, so what better way to kick off this new line than with an obscure near-concept album based on a children's cartoon, written by Brian May? It doesn't take a genius to predict that Star Fleet would be a guitar-heavy album, and it is, with lots of over the top guitar duels and songs based on soloing rather than memorable compositions. Still, the title track rocks like few Queen numbers did in the early '80s, kicking off with Van Halen's signature two-handed tapping technique, and eventually leading into a guitar solo fest. The remaining tracks, "Let Me Out" and "Blues Breaker," are blues-based rather than rooted in heavy metal. "Let Me Out" features some heartfelt vocals courtesy of May and has a liberating quality. "Blues Breaker" (dedicated to Eric Clapton, who was a big influence on both guitarists) is a 12-bar blues stretched to nearly 13 minutes, but it's interesting to hear both Eddie and Brian let down their hair and lay into some blues licks. The only problem with Star Fleet Project is that just when you're getting wrapped up in it, it's finished. A full album (with an emphasis on stronger songwriting) would have been ideal, but fans of both guitarists should definitely hunt down a copy of this forgotten '80s guitar summit. ~ Greg Prato

Product Details

Release Date:	07/14/2023
Label:	Emi / Emi Records
UPC:	0602455094230

Tracks

1. Star Fleet [2023 Mix]
2. Let Me Out [2023 Mix]
3. Blues Breaker [2023 Mix]
4. Cynthia Fox (Release Day Interview, 1983)
5. Bob Coburn (Rockline Interview, 1984)
6. Let Me Out [Live at the Palace Theater, LA, 1993]
7. We Will Rock You [Live at the Palace Theater, LA, 1993]
8. We Will Rock You (Fast) [Live at the Palace Theater, LA, 1993]
9. Star Fleet [2023 Mix] [Complete Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Brian May   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Brian May + Friends   Primary Artist
Phil Chen   Bass
Alan Gratzer   Drums
Jamie Moses   Guitar,Vocals,Soloist
Shelley Preston   Vocals
Bob Coburn   Vocals
Edward Van Halen   Guitar
Spike Edney   Vocals,Keyboards
Cozy Powell   Drums
Eddie Van Halen   Guitar
Fred Mandel   Keyboards
Neil Murray   Bass
Catherine Porter   Vocals

Technical Credits

Johnny Mandel   Composer
Van Halen   Composer
Justin Shirley-Smith   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Phil Chen   Composer,Liner Notes,Photography
Jim Tomlinson   Engineer
Alan Gratzer   Composer,Liner Notes
Kris Fredriksson   Supervisor,Mixing Engineer,Mixing
Richard Gray   Artwork
Nick Froome   Engineer
Ron Galella   Photography
Jimmy Hite   Engineer
Michael Beiriger   Engineer
Reinhold Mack   Mixing
Elizabeth Frye   Photography
Mark Felsot   Associate Producer
Edward Van Halen   Composer
Cindy Tollin   Producer
James "Motor" Merritt   Photography
Brian May   Artwork,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Photography
Bernie Grundman   Mastering Engineer
Paul Bliss   Composer
Fred Mandel   Composer,Liner Notes
Adam Ayan   Mastering,Mastering Engineer