Queen
A Night at the Opera - EMI 1975
Tracks: 1. Death On Two Legs / 2. Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon / 3. I'm In Love With My Car / 4. You're My Best Friend / 5. '39 / 6. Sweet Lady / 7. Seaside Rendezvous / 8. Prophet's Song / 9. Love Of My Life / 10. Good Company / 11. Bohemian Rhapsody / 12. God Save The Queen
Comments:
"A Night at the Opera" from 1975 will probably go into rock history as the album containing "Bohemian Rhapsody". It was Queens' big worldwide breakthrough; the predecessor "Sheer Heart Attack" was also quite big.
This is a studio album and there is plenty of time for production and overdubs, and all four group members contribute to the songwriting.
Freddie Mercury really shines on this album; of course by virtue of fantastic vocals but also his songwriting is top notch.
His opening song "Death on Two Legs" is classic Queen - both very melodic and also fine guitar lines and hooks.
Mercury apparently had a weak spot for music-hall and "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" and "Seaside Rendezvous" are fine examples of this - quite fun and not too long.
"Love of My Life" is a beautiful piano ballad, with strong inspiration from classical music.
The big highlight, of course, is "Bohemian Rhapsody". A musical masterpiece - a mini opera of six minutes that contains everything a Queen fan could wish for; and unlike May's equally ambitious "The Prophet's Song" – it holds with time.
This brings me to May's four contributions. There are nice parts in "The Prophet's Song", but it appears overly constructed and looks a bit like a failed attempt to match "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Far far better is "39" which is both uplifting, down to earth and very catchy - very folkish.
A little George Formby style on is found on "Good Company", but it does not quite have the charm of Mercury's two songs in this genre.
"Sweet Lady" is just an ordinary heavy rocker – filler??
Roger Taylor sings his own rocker "In Love With My Car" and he does it well - really well.
John Deacon also contributes. With his fine "You My My Best Friend" he and the group achieved good rankings on the charts around the world; and this totally deserved. Mercury sings the song as if it were his own.
As a whole "A Night at the Opera" must be Queen’s finest hour
Back to Band pages
|