Read on Twitter
I’m revisiting Queen’s albums in chronological order. Yesterday it was the debut, which is much overlooked and underrated. Today it was Queen II, which has some delightfully batshit moments. Best songs: Queen - Liar, Queen II -March of the Black Queen. Sheer Heart Attack tomorrow
Sheer heart attack today. This is where it starts getting really good. The album starts with Brighton Rock and ends with the mighty singalong In the lap of the gods (revisited). Nothing is bad on this but I wish someone would bring back Leroy Brown (we want Leroy for president).
A Night at the Opera. Unparalleled despite over exposure. Apart from the obvious it has Sunny afternoon, Good Company, the Prophet’s Song, Sweet lady, Love of my life and Seaside Rendezvous. And ‘39. Any album with ‘39 on it is automatically better than any other album. Fact.
A Day at the Races suffers from being the follow up to A Night at the Opera. It’s...fine. The ones that stand out are The Millionaire Waltz, Good old fashioned Lover Boy and, of course, Tie your mother down, which is a banger if quite icky. White Man is probably offensive now.
News of the World is superb and a marked departure with little of the grandiosity of the previous albums. Brian May really knew how to pick which of his songs to sing himself. All dead, all dead and Sleeping on the Sidewalk are great. Top quality from start to end. Lovely stuff.
Jazz. Another album without a weak song. It has three of Queen’s most recognisable songs but also Dreamer’s Ball, which is all kinds of brilliant. Other highlights include In Only Seven Days, Leaving Home Ain’t East, Let Me Entertain You and of course, Mustapha.
I’m skipping live albums and compilations otherwise I’ll be here all year but a word for Live Killers here. It was the first live album I ever heard and had little idea about live music when I did. It blew me away. Still my favourite live album ever. Have that, Kiss’s “Alive”.
The Game is probably Queen’s most overlooked album. Some great songs here. John Deacon shines and Brian May nails it again with Sail Away Sweet Sister. Not sure what they were going for with Don’t try suicide. Great hook but the message is...questionable. And the mighty Save Me
I’ve got to do Flash Gordon and Hot Space next. I’ll push on through.
Flash Gordon was unexpectedly enjoyable after all this time. It’s an elongated ad for a film with few “songs” as such. Freddie must have taken a few weeks off when the recorded it. Football Fight, Battle Theme and The Hero are the highlights. The last two are a bit heavy metal
Hot Space probably wasn’t as bad as I remembered it. I mean, it’s still about 60% guff but it does have Put out the Fire, Action This Day, Las palabras de amor and Calling all girls. And they tacked Under Pressure on at the end. Which is nice. Now let us never speak of it again.
The Works is a blinding return to form and was the first album I ever bought for myself (on cassette) at the age of 12. It’s one of Queen’s best. Tear it up and Hammer to Fall rock as hard as Queen ever did. And It’s A Hard Life is up there with Queen’s best songs.
Catching up a bit here, been busy like. A Kind of Magic is many levels above the last soundtrack Queen did. It’s probably the last of the “classic” albums. Princes of the Universe, Gimme the prize etc. And the obvious ones. Always found Friends will be Friends to be a bit sappy.
I remember buying The Miracle and my first listen in the park In Gorseinon. It’s...ok. Patchy. For every brilliant “i want it all” and “Was it all worth it” there’s a “Rain Must Fall” and “My baby does me”. I do like the opening two track salvo though, Party and Khashoggi’s ship.
