🔘 Now I’m Here – Single: Jan. 1975

Released in the UK on January 17, 1975, Queen’s “Now I’m Here,” backed with “Lily Of The Valley,” appeared as a 7-inch vinyl single on EMI Records (EMI 2256). Written by Brian May and produced by Queen with Roy Thomas Baker, the track served as the second single from *Sheer Heart Attack*. A high‑energy rocker built on sharp riffs, dynamic tempo shifts, and Freddie Mercury’s commanding vocals, it quickly became a live favourite. Entering the UK Singles Chart on January 25, 1975, the single peaked at No. 11 and remained on the chart for seven weeks. Issued in an EMI factory sleeve with a solid‑centre pressing, it stands as one of Queen’s defining mid‑’70s statements.

Label: EMI Records

Catalogue Number: EMI 2256

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Solid Centre; EMI Factory Sleeve)

Released: January 17, 1975 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Single — EMI Records – EMI 2256 — 1975

A. Now I’m Here

Written by: Brian May

Produced by: Queen & Roy Thomas Baker

B. Lily Of The Valley

Written by: Freddie Mercury

Produced by: Queen & Roy Thomas Baker

Recorded at: Trident, Wessex & Rockfield Studios, 1974

Published by: Queen Music Ltd.

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released January 17, 1975

• A-side: Brian May–penned hard‑rock anthem

• B-side: Mercury’s reflective ballad from *Sheer Heart Attack*

• UK peak: No. 11

• Chart run: 7 weeks

• Issued in EMI factory sleeve, solid‑centre pressing

🔘 The Story

“Now I’m Here” emerged from Brian May’s recovery period following a serious illness during Queen’s 1974 US tour. Written as both a reflection on the band’s rapid rise and a tribute to their time supporting Mott the Hoople, the track fused swaggering riffs with theatrical dynamics — a hallmark of Queen’s evolving sound. Freddie Mercury’s vocal performance, shifting from snarling rock delivery to playful call‑and‑response phrasing, helped cement the song as a live showpiece.

The B-side, “Lily Of The Valley,” offered a stark contrast: a delicate, introspective ballad written by Mercury, originally featured on *Sheer Heart Attack*. Its emotional depth and melodic subtlety highlighted the band’s range during this period.

Commercially, “Now I’m Here” performed strongly, entering the UK chart on January 25, 1975 and peaking at No. 11. Its seven‑week run reflected Queen’s growing mainstream presence, coming just months before the release of *A Night at the Opera*. The single was issued in a standard EMI factory sleeve with a solid‑centre pressing, typical of the label’s mid‑’70s output.

Today, “Now I’m Here” remains a cornerstone of Queen’s live legacy — a powerful, riff‑driven anthem that captures the band’s transition from rising stars to arena‑level icons.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre — EMI – EMI 2256 — UK — 1975

• 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo — EMI – EMI 2256 — UK — 1975

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

11 — Peak Position

Chart Run: 7 Weeks Total

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Written by Brian May during the US tour

• B-side: Mercury ballad from *Sheer Heart Attack*

• Production: Queen & Roy Thomas Baker

• Sleeve: Standard EMI factory sleeve

• Historical placement: Second single from *Sheer Heart Attack*; major live staple

🔘 Related Material

• “Killer Queen” (1974)

• Sheer Heart Attack (Album, 1974)

• “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)

• A Night at the Opera (1975)

🔘 Discography

Killer Queen — 1974

Now I’m Here — 1975

Bohemian Rhapsody — 1975

You’re My Best Friend — 1976

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1974 — Recorded during *Sheer Heart Attack* sessions

✦ Jan 17, 1975 — UK single released

✦ Jan 25, 1975 — Enters UK chart

✦ Early 1975 — Peaks at No. 11, charts for 7 weeks

🔘 Glam Flashback

A razor‑sharp burst of mid‑’70s Queen — riff‑heavy, theatrical, and electrifying, capturing the band on the brink of global domination.

🔘 Hashtags

#ReleaseChronicle #Queen #NowImHere #1975 #EMI #GlamRock #SheerHeartAttack

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources:

Wikipedia • Discogs • 45cat • BBC / Official Charts Company

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.