Five Live (George Michael and Queen EP)


Five Live is an EP released on 19 April 1993, featuring five tracks, performed by George Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held on 20 April 1992, at Wembley Stadium.
All proceeds from the sale of the EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust. Sales of the record were very strong throughout Europe, where it debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and several European countries, either considered as a single, or charting on album charts as an extended play or an LP. Chart success in the US was far less spectacular, but the EP still peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200.
A shortened version of "Killer" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a live medley performed by Michael at Wembley Arena, was released as a further independent single, in some territories only. The singer also shot a music video for it, but did not personally appear in full face. The video was directed by Marcus Nispel.
While "These Are the Days of Our Lives" is played by the remaining members of Queen, the vocal is a duet between George Michael and Lisa Stansfield.
The sixth track – only featured on some versions of the release – is represented by a short performance by Queen, entitled "Dear Friends", originally sung by Freddie Mercury. Recorded in 1974 and originally appearing on the band's Sheer Heart Attack album; this constitutes the one studio recording on the record. It was not included in the UK vinyl of the EP.
Usually, countries where the six-track work is distributed consider it to be a short LP, whereas those where the five-track work is available generally tend to see it as an EP or even as a particularly long or content-rich single.

Track listing

  1. "Somebody to Love" – 5:17
  2. * Performed by Queen and George Michael
  3. ** Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
  4. "Killer" – 5:57
  5. * Performed by George Michael
  6. ** Recorded at Wembley Arena in March 1991
  7. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – 5:25
  8. * Performed by George Michael
  9. ** Recorded at Wembley Arena in March 1991
  10. "These Are the Days of Our Lives" – 4:43
  11. * Performed by Queen, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield
  12. ** Recorded at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1992
  13. "Calling You" – 6:17
  14. * Performed by George Michael
  15. ** Recorded at Wembley Arena in March 1991
  16. "Dear Friends" – 1:07
  17. * Performed by Queen

Release history

CountryDateLabelFormatCatalogue
United KingdomParlophoneCDCDRS 6340
United KingdomParlophone7-inch vinylR 6340
United KingdomParlophoneCassetteTC-R 6340
EuropeEMICD0777 7 89418 2 8