Freddie Mercury | Notebook with abandoned lyrics and notes on the video for 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', circa 1979

Freddie Mercury

Autograph manuscript notebook with draft lyrics and other notes

including notes on the video for 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love', preparations for 'The Game' tour, draft lyrics for two abandoned songs (beginning "I'm going to California" and "This is my voice & I shall sing it"), and doodles, 13 pages, plus blanks, floral patterned paper wrappers (253 x 177mm), c.1980

The video for 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' was filmed at Trillion Studios in London's Soho in September 1979. The band mimed to the song on a stage set whilst Freddie promenaded down a catwalk then straddled a motorbike, wearing PVC trousers and a torn t-shirt and accompanied by a troupe of dancers choreographed by Arlene Phillips. These notes show Freddie's close involvement in planning, with notes on details like the length of the catwalk ("15 feet") and specific shots that were used in the video ("There goes my baby = walking ass + face/lips"). 

At the back of the notebook are two songs that were probably written at around the time of The Game. 

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