Queen (1974) Seven Seas of Rhye

 Queen started out as a heavy prog band, combining the stacked high harmonies of a band like Styx with heavy metal riffing like Sweet, taking more pomp with more ornate arty aristocratic excess than the glam rockers or prog bands like Yes they soon became more of their own brand of regal pop metal. Only a small instrumental cut on their first album, Seven Seas of Rhye apepeared in full form on Queen II (1974), ironically despite it's Zeppelin-esque numbering this is where they, like another heavy band Rush, started to make the move from unoriginal ripping off Led Zep (NB :almost to the point where they should've sent some checks to Page and Plant) to rapidly discovering their own approach.

Their own sound particularly seemed to coalesce on this track; it's full of Sweet styled harmonies, speed metal riffs, Brian Mays' sea of multi tracked guitars and Freddie Mercury's strident vocals. Far more dynamic and better singers and song writers than novelty Glam act The Sweet, Queen were a natural successor to that whole scene with their sense of humour (the song ends with a jolly old singalong of 'I do like to be beside the seaside') combining with strong quality to produce garish but slightly less dated music.