This is some seriously great news for folks who love “Under Pressure,” and really, who doesn’t?
This isolated vocal track puts Mercury and Bowie’s voices on total display. The 1981 classic was recorded at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, though its path to completion was a rocky one.
“It was very hard,” said Queen’s Brian May in 2008. “because you already had four precocious boys and David, who was precocious enough for all of us. Passions ran very high. I found it very hard because I got so little of my own way. But David had a real vision and he took over the song lyrically.”
May also recalls calling Mercury in to mediate the mixing sessions, and ended up arguing furiously with Bowie who threatened block the release of “Under Pressure” (originally titled “People on the Streets”). OpenCulture gives the full scoop here.
But enough talk, treat your ears to the track below.
And here is the original version.