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Smile (pre Queen) "Gettin' Smile" 1969
Released in Japan as 6 tracks mini-LP (1982)

Smile were a London based rock band for about 18 months in the late 1960s. The band Queen was formed out of its ashes. Formed by Brian May (later guitarist for Queen) in 1967, it included Tim Staffell as singer and bassist. It later included drummer Roger Taylor, who also went on to play for Queen.

Roger Taylor joined the group on drums in response to an advertisement which called for a "Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker" drummer. He had previously been both drummer and vocalist as frontman for a group known as Reaction. With a manager, roadie, logo designed by Staffell and paid gigs, the group was now becoming professional. They also used the promotions agency Rondo for publicity.

While Staffell and May both studied at Imperial College, their first gig there was on 26 October 1968, as a support act to Pink Floyd, playing mostly variations of covers with wild tempo changes and extreme dynamics. By the end of that year, Taylor had dropped his dentistry course, while May was still enrolled in astronomy.

The group's biggest public performance was on 27 February 1969 at the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child. Held at the Royal Albert Hall, May, Taylor and Staffell performed as a trio on guitar, drums and bass respectively. Keyboardist Chris Smith had been fired the day before, according to Staffell. (According to Chris, he was only briefly in the band and left of his own accord due to wanting to try different styles).

Around this time Freddie Mercury was living with all three, and supported them behind the scenes. However, without a place for him in the band, he continued playing in other groups such as Ibex, later known as Wreckage.

1. Doing Allright (May/Staffell)
2. Blag (Taylor)
3. April Lady (Lucas)
4. Polar Bear (May)
5. Earth (Staffell)
6. Step On Me (May/Staffell)