A Day at the Races cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

A Day at the Races Songwriting Credits by Queen

1976 EMI Records / Elektra Records 10 tracks 44 min

Produced by Queen  ·  Engineered by Mike Stone, Gary Langan

EMI Records / Elektra Records Hard rockSymphonic rockGlam rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Queen wrote 10 of 10 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Queen carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Queen 0 tracksoutside writers
Queen's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
4
Lyricists
1
Producers
1 million
US Copies Sold
1976
Released
Data Insight

A Day at the Races is Queen's first fully self-produced album, made without Roy Thomas Baker, and a companion piece to A Night at the Opera down to its Marx Brothers title. The writing stays split among all four: Freddie Mercury wrote five songs, including the gospel-driven "Somebody to Love," Brian May four, with Roger Taylor and John Deacon one each. It is entirely self-written and self-produced, a milestone in the band's creative independence.

Queen's fifth studio album, released December 10, 1976, self-produced by Queen, their first album without Roy Thomas Baker, marking a milestone in creative independence. The album is often considered a companion to A Night at the Opera in its ambitions, similarly titled after a Marx Brothers film. 'Somebody to Love,' written entirely by Freddie Mercury and inspired by gospel music, reached number two in the UK and the US. Brian May contributes four tracks including 'Tie Your Mother Down,' a concert staple, and 'Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together),' a dedication to Japanese fans with a chorus partly in Japanese that closes the album. John Deacon contributes 'You and I,' his second solo composition. Roger Taylor contributes 'Drowse.' The album demonstrates the band's increasing technical confidence as producers, with the self-production credited reflecting the full band's creative contribution.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

More from Queen

Frequently Asked Questions A Day at the Races

Did Queen write A Day at the Races themselves?
Yes, and produced it. Freddie Mercury wrote five songs, Brian May four, Roger Taylor one, and John Deacon one, with no outside writers. It was also the band's first fully self-produced album.
Who wrote Somebody to Love by Queen?
"Somebody to Love" was written entirely by Freddie Mercury, inspired by gospel music and Aretha Franklin. It reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Was A Day at the Races by Queen self-produced?
Yes. A Day at the Races was Queen's first completely self-produced album, made without longtime producer Roy Thomas Baker. It marked a step up in the band's studio control.
Who wrote Tie Your Mother Down by Queen?
"Tie Your Mother Down" was written by Brian May and became a hard-rock concert staple. It reached No. 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
When was A Day at the Races by Queen released?
A Day at the Races was released on December 10, 1976, through EMI and Elektra. It was the band's fifth studio album.
What genre is A Day at the Races by Queen?
A Day at the Races is a hard rock and symphonic rock album with glam touches, running about 44 minutes. It mirrors the ambition of A Night at the Opera.

Sources