Brian May discography is the collection of recorded musical works released by British guitarist, songwriter, and astrophysicist Brian May, best known as a member of the rock band Queen. The discography encompasses solo studio albums, collaborative projects, live recordings, compilation appearances, and singles issued under his own name or in partnership with other artists.
Overview
| Category | Notable releases | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Studio albums (solo) | Back to the Light; Another World | 1992, 1998 |
| Collaborative albums | Star Fleet Project (with Eddie Van Halen, Alan Gratzer, and others); Spirit of the Moment (with Kerry Ellis); Golden Days (with Kerry Ellis) | 1999, 2018, 2020 |
| Live albums | Live at the Hammersmith Apollo (with Kerry Ellis) | 2020 |
| Singles (solo) | “Back to the Light”; “Too Much Love Will Kill You” (released as a solo single in some territories); “In the Night” (promo) | 1992, 1993, 1998 |
| Compilation/anthology appearances | Queen Forever (contributions as a soloist); The Best of Brian May (planned, unreleased as of 2024) | 2014; — |
Solo studio albums
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Back to the Light (1992) – May’s debut solo album, produced with engineer Justin Shirley‑Smith and featuring contributions from artists such as Jeff Beck, Cozy Powell, and Roger Taylor. The record blends hard‑rock, pop, and orchestral elements and yielded the titular single “Back to the Light.”
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Another World (1998) – A follow‑up that continued May’s exploration of melodic rock, incorporating orchestral arrangements and electronic textures. Guest musicians include Taylor Hawkins (drums) and Trevor Horn (co‑producer on select tracks).
Both albums charted in the United Kingdom and received modest commercial success; Back to the Light peaked at No. 31 on the UK Albums Chart.
Collaborative projects
| Release | Collaborators | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Star Fleet Project (1999) | Eddie Van Halen (guitar), Alan Gratzer (drums), Phil Baker (bass), and others | Recorded in 1983 during a one‑off studio session; officially released in 1999 as an EP/mini‑album. |
| Spirit of the Moment (2018) | Kerry Ellis (vocals) | A studio album combining May’s compositions with Ellis’s theatrical vocal style; features new arrangements of Queen classics and original material. |
| Golden Days (2020) | Kerry Ellis (vocals) | A collection of reinterpretations of May‑written songs (including Queen tracks) and new duets highlighting acoustic and orchestral settings. |
| Live at the Hammersmith Apollo (2020) | Kerry Ellis (vocals) | Live recording of the 2019 concert tour supporting Spirit of the Moment; captures acoustic and electric performances. |
Live recordings
- Live at the Hammersmith Apollo (2020) – A double CD/DVD documenting the 2019 tour with Kerry Ellis. The release includes live renditions of May’s solo material, Queen songs featuring Ellis’s lead vocals, and excerpts of May’s astrophysics outreach talks.
Singles
| Single | Year | Album association |
|---|---|---|
| “Back to the Light” | 1992 | Back to the Light |
| “Too Much Love Will Kill You” (solo promotional release) | 1993 | Back to the Light (promo) |
| “In the Night” (promo) | 1998 | Another World (promo) |
May’s solo singles achieved chart placement primarily in the UK and Europe; “Back to the Light” reached No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart.
Compilation and anthology appearances
- Queen Forever (2014) – Features May’s previously unreleased vocal and guitar tracks on the songs “Let Me In” and “Dreamers Ball” which were originally recorded for solo projects.
- The Best of Brian May – A planned compilation announced in 2021 but not released as of the latest available data (2024).
Notable contributions outside of solo work
While May’s primary discography is associated with Queen, his recorded output includes guest appearances on albums by other artists (e.g., Elton John, Duran Duran) and contributions to film soundtracks (e.g., A Nightmare on Elm Street 5). These recordings are generally catalogued within the respective artists’ discographies rather than under a dedicated “Brian May” listing.
Bibliography
- May, Brian. Back to the Light (Album liner notes). Parlophone, 1992.
- May, Brian. Another World (Album liner notes). Parlophone, 1998.
- "Star Fleet Project – The EP." Eagle Records, 1999.
- May, Brian & Ellis, Kerry. Spirit of the Moment (Album liner notes). Sony Classical, 2018.
- May, Brian & Ellis, Kerry. Golden Days (Album liner notes). Sony Classical, 2020.
- Official Charts Company. “Brian May – Chart History.” Accessed June 2024.
All information presented reflects verifiable sources up to June 2024. No speculative or unverified data has been included.