A Night At The Opera
Queen
1975
Album Summary
A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 21 November 1975 by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, it was reportedly the most expensive album ever recorded at the time of its release.Named after the Marx Brothers' film of the same name, A Night at the Opera was recorded at various studios across a four-month period in 1975. Due to management issues, Queen had received almost none of the money they earned for their previous albums. Subsequently, they ended their contract with Trident Studios and did not use their studios for the album (the sole exception being "God Save the Queen", which had been recorded the previous year). They employed a complex production that extensively used multitrack recording, and the songs incorporated a wide range of styles, such as ballads, music hall, dixieland, hard rock and progressive rock influences. Aside from their usual equipment, Queen also utilised a diverse range of instruments such as a double bass, harp, ukulele and more. Upon release, A Night at the Opera topped the UK Albums Chart for four non-consecutive weeks. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and became the band's first platinum-certified album in the US. It also produced the band's most successful single in the UK, "Bohemian Rhapsody", which became their first UK number one. Despite being twice as long as the average length of singles during the 1970s, the song became immensely popular worldwide. Contemporary reviews for A Night at the Opera were mixed, with praise for its production and the diverse musical themes, and recognition as the album that established Queen as worldwide superstars. At the 19th Grammy Awards, it received Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and Best Arrangement for Voices. It has been hailed as Queen's best album, and one of the greatest albums in music history. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 128 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2018, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
WikipediaTo have you’re my best friend, love of my life, and Bohemian Rhapsody on the same album, is one of the greatest accomplishments in modern-day history. I know this is only the first album that we are listening to, but it’s going to be hard to beat this collection of songs.
Fantastic album, a beautiful voice with a beautiful band. I particularly liked The Prophet's Song
Absolutely a fantastic album. I’d never listened to all of this and it was such a delight to listen to some Queen deep cuts. There’s a reason why they’re held in such regard. This album blows me away.
There's a quote from fabled film director Howard Hawks about what makes a great movie: "Three great scenes, no bad scenes." That same rule applies to one's definition of a great album. But it has to check both boxes. Queen surely meets the "3 great songs" criteria here (You're My Best Friend, Bohemian Rhapsody and Death On Two Legs qualify, as does 39 on a good day). But imagine you're the drummer for Queen, and your band's frontman is Freddie Freaking Mercury. You decide to bring in a song you wrote for your band's make or break album, and it's titled "I'm In Love With My Car". You're so fond of this song that you insist it can only be sung by you. The drummer. Who can sell the song in a way the iconic Freddie Mercury just wouldn't understand. Your belief in this song is such that you go so far as to lock yourself inside a cabinet unless it not only makes the album, but it also has to be the B Side of the Bohemian Rhapsody single. As one does. There are 3 songs of which Mercury takes a back seat (although in the interest of full disclosure, I don't mind guitarist Brian May's vocals on the aforementioned "39"). But it's the bad songs that keep this album from the fabled 5 rating. Listen to this with a great set of headphones to really appreciate the finer moments. Even the auto enthusiasts can feel free to skip Roger Taylor's car song.
This album is brilliant, silly, fun. My ex girlfriend used to love it and it reminded me of the good times with her. So much fun
Okay, so this is great. I don’t really know why I haven’t been more into Queen before. This album has a sort of cinematic sound. I loved the quirkiness of the second song. They are so varied! Like, they have so much versatility in their style, and I think it’s fantastic.
An album I should have listened to a long time ago. I picked it up on vinyl years ago. An incredible listening experience, as per usual with Queen.
Queen were straining at the boundaries of hard rock and heavy metal on Sheer Heart Attack, but they broke down all the barricades on A Night at the Opera, a self-consciously ridiculous and overblown hard rock masterpiece. Using the multi-layered guitars of its predecessor as a foundation, A Night at the Opera encompasses metal, pop, campy British music hall, and mystical prog rock, eventually bringing it all together on the pseudo-operatic "Bohemian Rhapsody." In short, it's a lot like Queen's own version of Led Zeppelin IV, but where Zep find dark menace in bombast, Queen celebrate their own pomposity. No one in the band takes anything too seriously, otherwise the arrangements wouldn't be as ludicrously exaggerated as they are. But the appeal -- and the influence -- of A Night at the Opera is in its detailed, meticulous productions. It's prog rock with a sense of humor as well as dynamics, and Queen never bettered their approach anywhere else. [Source: https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-night-at-the-opera-mw0000391519]
No other band can jump from heavy metal to cabaret to prog rock with the effortless grace of Queen, and this album displays that with a beautiful smattering of song variety.
I could go the rest of my life without hearing Bo Rhap again and die a happy man. Yet, in terms of being the cherry on top of this overblown, bombastic confection, it's hard to argue with its aptness. Anyway, this also has 'Death on Two Legs', 'Love of My Life' and an eccentric love letter from Roger Taylor to his favourite motor. Oh, plus 'You're My Best Friend', the best thing Queen ever did. Eclectic, stuffed to the gills and, ultimately, glorious. Where's this ambition these days?
Yeah, I mean, this hits all my sweet spots. It rocks. It's huge. It's dumb. It's weird. I love it. If you also love this and you've never heard The Kleptones A Night at the Hip-Hopera, I suggest you do so. This is all good.
I never owned this one but this was one of those albums you didn't have to buy since it was played so much at all the parties. Side 1 doesn't have THE song, but it is still a strong side. The Side 1 songs I remember most from the parties where this LP was spun are "You're my best Friend" and "I'm in Love with my Car". You're My Best Friend still sounds great. Death on Two Legs is also musically good and lyrically full of piss and vinegar to say the least. Wiki just taught me that this song was with respect to their management that they fired at the time over financial and contractual issues. I recall the Bohemian Rhapsody movie made it seem like the old label was fired because they wouldn't agree to make THE Song a single because it was too long for radio. I guess this was a better storyline for the movie than the legal one. It also allowed the brilliantly casted scene where Dana Carvey plays the record company exec who gives a diatribe about how bad Bohemian Rhapsody was. I can't watch that scene without thinking of Dana and Mike Myers bobbing their heads in the car while they lip sync THE Song. There is a lot of genre hopping in this LP: On Seaside Rendezvous I keep waiting for the tap dancing solo, lol, 39 is a cool folk song, Good Company is a funky Ragtime song, The Prophet's Song has a 2 1/2 minute capella segment, and THE Song brings us opera. One could argue whether or not the music itself brings this to a 5 but, imo, Queen's ability to record good songs in so many off the beaten path genres gets it there.
Adrenaline rush from start to finish. Tracks keep jumping without a moment's breath. Really puts the prog in prog rock by taking inspiration from all sorts of classical genres, from the namesake opera ("Bohemian Rhapsody") to ragtime ("Good Company"). There are the really poppy songs. The true-to-form hard rock songs ("I'm in Love with my car"), which gets even heavier, metal-like with "Sweet Lady." The beginning of the folk '39 sounds like it could have come out today, especially with that beat. The songs are catchy and fun to sing to. Production sounds amazing. Weaknesses? I'm not sure this is a weakness, but I felt the diversity in genres could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it grabs your attention the entire album, interested to discover not just what the next song will be, but what the very song you're listening to will sound like in a minute. On the other hand, they don't share much in common beyond the high energy, and it can be kinda exhausting with the sound constantly changing with each passing second. I think a better example of genre-blending is LDIV, but I don't think this deters from a perfect score. The songs can stand on their own. Each song is interesting to listen to from start to finish. There's really not much to dislike about anything about this album.
You suck my blood like a leech You break the law and you breach Screw my brain ‘til it hurts You’ve taken all my money and you want more - death on two legs (dedicated to … )
4/7/22 The easiest 5 I’ve given yet! Such a fun album with the perfect blend of theatrics and talent. Excellent guitar as well! Really enjoyed every song in the album and the ending was amazing! Favorite song: Bohemian Rhapsody Favorite new song: ‘39
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon into I'm In Love With my Car is the rock n roll one-two punch you never knew you needed.
I really wanna like the album more than I can honestly admit. I think it’s a 5 in terms of cultural impact but for my listening pleasure a lot of the songs are just on. Bohemian Rhapsody is a 5/5 and the production is very good but, I wish the rest of the album was as catchy and bombastic as that.
I was blown away by the scope of this album. It's probably best known for its two epics, but that summary ignores the depth and breadth of the rest of its offerings. What other rock project contains a hate song for a former manager, a Bowie-esque space folk song, and a combination Dixieland/ukulele number? All of the experiments work. I have a tendency to reduce Bohemian Rhapsody to a product of Wayne's World fame, and I'm definitely guilty of taking it for granted due to its overexposure. A fresh listen reaffirms its status as a masterpiece, and the thing of it is, it's not out of place on the album. The whole thing is a work of art. Best track: Bohemian Rhapsody
Heh, you'll have a hard time finding a Queen album for which I will *not* give 5 stars. This is NOT that album. 5 stars.
Good album. I know so many of the queen songs on it but have never listened to the full album.
Love this album, this is exactly what I was hoping for in this project— I really only knew the hits. I know this is one my dad probably wore the vinyl out of when he was in high school
How can the album that bore Bohemian and Rhapsody not to be a five. Love the 70s shredding.
Hard not to rate this well. Not every song is a gem but those that are make up for it. I’m thankful that Wayne’s World revived the interest in Queen.
Incredible album - Queen always puts me in a good mood. You're my best friend and Bohemian Rhapsody are both iconic. I also feel like I know a lot about this album because it was featured in the movie.
Amazing classic. Discovered '39, probably a 10 ten queen song for me now. Prophet song great stereo experience. Album excellence
Obviously some absolute jams here, but I really liked ‘39, which I’d never heard before, and The Prophet’s Song” was like a Bohemian Rhapsody 2.0 that I didn’t know existed.
Eclecticismo puro, bordea el heavy, pasa por el pop, se asoma brevemente al folk y es puro rock. Mercury desatado. Cambios de ritmo contínuos. Temazo mítico incluído. Sobresaliente
Рубрика "Не даром жирными жопами топ заняли". Тупа мастхиар-альбом. Пусть и не каждым треком по отдельности, но альбомом единым. Прям вообще проходняка не завезли, все треки плюс-минус интересные, от середняка до "боже мой, 10/10". Рапсодия, мб, лучший трек всех времён и народов. Туды и музла, и композиционных решений, и смыслу, и работы с языком, и элементов разных жанров завезли, и всё работает, как положено. К ней единственная претензия условная разве в том, что митольный фрагмент "So you think you can stone me..." слишком короток, имхо охуенен, мб больше, чем четверостишие на него выделить. Ну вот полвека прошло, до сих пор вполне актуально звучит. В смысле не по трендам, канеш, но по качеству, по доступности, так скать. Слушать не затем, чтоб знать, откуда есть пошло, а ради того... чем всё закончилось, грубо говоря. То есть решения, что Queen в золотое время напридумывали, опосля в мейнстриме особо развития особо нигде не получили, так и оставшись в своих альбомах. Мб, канеш, цэ тупа продукт своегоо времени, и опосля было как-то нерентабельно особо заморачиваться, дабы повторить. Но мб всё же Queen были ярким неповторимым явлением эпохи, к которому так просто и не подсосёшься. Так что всё же мастхиар из 10.
Great album, Queen was at the top of their game and produced a brilliant album out of it. It’s a little mix of everything and it’s all brilliant
Canciones que no conocía tanto, canciones rápidas casi todo el álbum para un gran crescendo. Lo mejor para el final.
Bohemian rhapsody bleibt einer der besten Songs aller Zeiten, aber auch sonst enthält das Album ein paar gute tracks
Another Queen album already? Let's GO. This album has some great songs. Of course Bohemian Rhapsody is the most well known, but they're all great.
Quite an iconic album. Nice to hear some of the other songs on the album instead of just the hits.
Yaaasssss Queen!!!! I loved this album. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a full on queen album and I’m glad this one was my first. Vocals and instruments are fire and Freddie Mercury is just incredible in everything Top tracks: you’re my best friend, Love of my life, bohemian rhapsody, sweet lady
first track- killer guitar parts, menacing gritty vocal performance, experimental structure second track- a psychadellic take on a classic British style, quite funny and tongue and cheek third track- hard/ blues rock style reintroduced, much more traditional rock structure, comedic lyrics fourth track- classic queen song, poppy and fun, lighthearted. fantastic songwriting on all tracks so far fith track- folky style with breaks into wierd choral vocals, quite nice but overall most bland track so far sixth track- comes in sounding like led zeppelin, punchy, dirty and aggresive lyrics and vocal performance seventh track- a British summertime inspired piano/vocal ditty, fun and funny eighth track- prog intro using acoustic guitar, whole track builds throughout its runtime, strange acapella vocal lines, very prog inspired ninth track- quite beautiful denounment with just Freddie and his piano, leads on beautifully from the eighth track, almost tear inducing tenth track- airy guitar lines, plodding ukelele, almost like something off of Abbey Road eleventh track- in the running for greatest song of all time, so operatic, amazingly structured with huge tonal shifts that come naturally, iconic moments and performance, a huge number that will be remembered in legend for all time closer- an instrumental of god save the queen, not as dramatic as the former track but still quite a tongue and cheek summary of the albums themes with the consistency in sound
An excellent album. I listened to this one a lot when I was little, and most are songs I still listen to regularly. Really formative for my music taste today. A respectful 5 stars
Easiest 5 star album of my life. I'd never heard many of the songs on this album, so it was an awesome listen. The Prophet's Song is really impressive and creative!
I'm surprised that I've never actually listened to this one all the way through. There were a couple songs that I'm surprised weren't released as singles. There were one or two that were a lot more ...bluegrass? than I thought would've been there.
Fantastic! One of the greatest opening tracks of all time to set the tone for the album. Love the juxtaposition of The Opera with raucous rock n roll. A great bloody time, the whole time.
All of the songs on this album are already pretty good, and then Bohemian Rhapsody kicks dick and makes it a masterpiece. Favorite tracks are Death on Two Legs, The Prophet's Song, and Bohemian Rhapsody, obviously.
What can you say about an album that makes you wait until the very end to hear Bohemian Rhapsody and yet you don't feel like skipping any of the tracks to get to that masterpiece? This album is great from the very first song. It features a tremendous diversity of songs and a wide range of emotions and tones, but each one flows effortlessly from the one before it. A true classic 5/5
Magnificent album. Bohemian Rhapsody is still a Top-25 song on Spotify after all this time.
oh finally i get the option to rate an album after refreshing: which is how i feel about this album.
This album is actually quite good. Some songs are reminiscent of Ween. Generally outstanding instrumentation and performance. Deserving of headphones.
Have been listening to this one when i was 14, still do now, 25 years later. Another timeless gem.
This album has so many good songs. I had honestly never heard ‘39 and it might have become one of my favorite Queen songs out there. While not every song is great, this album as a whole is.
I usually don't review an album song by song, but I found myself doing this here. Death on two legs is a very strong opener, has an epic feel to it and the guitar's sound great. Lazing on a sunday afternoon is kind of a silly "Tiny Tim" kind of song, could go without it but we'll see how it ties into the album. I'm in Love with my Car: Now we're into an 80s Hair Rock song that sounds like it could be The Scorpions or Def Leppard. At this point I'm starting to think this album is going to be very disconnected song to song, but maybe more of a satire/comedy focus? You're My Best Friend: Classic tune, everyone knows it. Very upbeat and poppy. '39: Very strummy, stompy folk song. Reminds me of Country Roads Take Me Home but with a little Queen flair. I dig it. Sweet Lady: Back to the rock, guitar-first tune this time around. Kind of busy, bouncy melody, again very 80s kind of sound but more of a Foghat or Aerosmith vibe this time. Seaside Rendezvous: A ragtime piano tune, with some horns and slide whistles thrown in, file this one under weird Queen, vocals are great as usual but it's a bit out there. The Prophet's Song: Oh wow this is 8 minutes long. This one has a bit of an operatic quality to it, and a bit Metal telling an epic story, this is like Tenacious D almost but minus the comedy and more straight laced. Gets into a strange echoing chant in the middle that kind of kills the vibe. Love of my life: A romantic piano ballad, Freddy putting the emotion into this one. Good company: A vocal harmony, almost has a Beatles vibe now. A touch of ragtime again, and some plunky guitar. Bohemian Rhapsody: The quintessential Queen song. Fits perfectly in this album, the song goes in a lot of directions and matches the amount of whiplash you'll feel from song to song. God Save the Queen: It's actually God Save the Queen, but like a Jimi Hendrix style guitar solo version. Overall Thoughts: That was a wild ride, every single song is completely unlike the other. It feels like Queen had a checklist of genres or bands they wanted to pay homage to and they went through that piece by piece. Some really great tunes, some that I personally didn't dig but I recognize they were well done. Quality is there, Queen is an excellent band and belongs on this list, I can see why this was here. Overall liked it but the inconsistency dragged it a bit. Still giving it a 5, the highs are very high.
You're My Best Friend, '39, Love of My Life, and Bohemian Rhapsody. This is such a fun and well-recorded album. Possibly the best by one of the all-time greats.
How could I do anything but love this album? Such an iconic set of tracks, a legendary voice gone too soon. A roaring triumph of an album with a bold set of classical influences. I love that Queen manages to be both highbrow and utterly weird. Fave track: Bohemian Rhapsody, duh.
Campy and ambitious, this album is the pinnacle of 70s rock excess. The vocal arrangements are genius and the meticulous and uncompromising layering of music stands apart. Brian May is one of my favorite guitarists and his Dixieland jazz layered solo in ‘Good Company’ is one of his best with the guitar simulating an entire brass section including a sliding trombone. Of course, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is the climax of this album. That song is iconic on its own, but within the context of the album it becomes even greater. I adore this album
This album is the favorite of a person that played a crucial role in my past. Listening to these songs after all these years unpacks profound memories. Freddie’s voice is sublime. Love of my life, You’re my best friend are songs that will ever live in the collective conscience, let alone Bohemian Rhapsody… It is a fascinating trip, a piece of art.
Genre bending, sing a long operatic rock. I can see the influence on bands like Mr Bungle
It starts so heavy and powerful, then gets a little dorky. You're my best friend is such a feel good moment. There's a switch to a more folksy sound with '39 before heading back to classic rock. Seaside Rendezvous is full ridiculous campy cabaret I would have loved to see live in a small theatre. Prophet's Song is a little too rock opera and inconsistent for me. I couldn't figure out if Good Company featured a banjo or ukelele and learned of the combo instrument for the first time. How quirky and fun. Bohemian Rhapsody, what a masterpiece. Not possible to listen without joining in. Didn't really need the patriotic closer, but wow what a tight set of tracks showcasing real DYNAMIC range.
I hadn't listened to this album as a whole before and it was great. Lots of songs I knew and some I didn't. Dynamic, and beautiful. Favourite songs: You're My Best Friend, Seaside Rendezvous, Bohemian Rhapsody
It's so good. So much variety and incredible performances vocally and musically. I was also surprised how many of these songs I didn't even know I knew. There was only one or two I hadn't heard before. What a great album! Favourite Tracks: (Besides the classics) Death On Two Legs, I'm In Love With My Car, Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon, Seaside Rendezvous
This album gets 4/5 just got Bohemian Rhapsody alone. The rest of the record easily takes it over the top.
A classic, Bohemian Rhapsody was a song I didnt like as a teenager, but love now, a personal example of musical growth
God, I love this album. It's the flaming cherries jubilee of rock albums. It's decadent and absolutely too much, but incredibly beautiful. I mean, have you ever spent a night at the opera? I have and it really isn’t like this at all, but at the same time, they kind of nail it here. It’s big and luxurious and theatrical and you might just shed a tear before it’s all over. This is probably Queen's most perfectly realized album. It's one of the only ones I can listen to without skipping a track. The production is superb and the band are in the best form of their lives. The layered vocals are stunning, the arrangements absolutely gorgeous. It has all the pomp and majesty and R-O-C-K you want in a Queen album, with plenty of surprises. The way the band breezily sways from twee, old timey confections like "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" or "Seaside Rendezvous" to muscular, complex songs like "Prophet's Song" and "Death on Two Legs" is a sonic joy, something no other band could hope to pull off without sounding ridiculous. Only Queen could put out an absurdity of a song called “I’m in Love with My Car” and not be met with endless derision. Queen gives us permission to let go and indulge as listeners like no one else. They were at heart a killer power trio plus one, the One being Freddie Mercury, rock’s greatest front man, with an operatic vocal range and a flair for the dramatic. It’s the interplay/tension between that huge rock sound and the band’s more elegant, progressive inclinations that creates a singular kind of magic. Throw in a little winking, campy humor and you have a style of music that delivers on every level. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is of course the star of the whole production. Queen does more musically with this song than most bands could hope to do with an entire album. The pathos, the grandeur, the bombast, the humor, the strutting rock assault. Yes, this song gets played a lot, but there's a reason why. There's nothing else in the world like it. Fave Songs (All songs, in order from most to least favorite): Bohemian Rhapsody, You're My Best Friend, Death on Two Legs, Love of My Life, Seaside Rendezvous, The Prophet's Song, Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon, '39, Sweet Lady, Good Company, God Save the Queen, I'm In Love With My Car
This is an album I know well, as it was in my sister's record collection in my youth and I played it often. But I don't think I've listened to it since she moved out when I was in junior high. So this is an exciting opportunity. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is nothing short of amazing. "Death on Two Legs" pairs soaring Queen vocals and heavy metal guitars to rip into whoever it was dedicated to. You know you are in for something good. Who else but Queen would then dive right into the tinny vocaled 1920's-ish "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" then with a little guitar solo jump headlong into the hard rock "I'm In Love With My Car" - a wonderful love song to a car. This is really thrilling stuff! I've always loved "You're My Best Friend." That song still makes me incredibly happy as I think of my best friends every time I hear it. I love the electric piano and vocals. Such a wonderful song. "'39" is a total change of pace and I love it. The acoustic guitar driven song is a great listen evoking its sci-fi backstory with great use of vocals and the electric guitar. I don't think I've heard this song in 40 years but as soon as it started I remembered instantly how much I love it. "Sweet Lady" is a straight Queen rocker with some unusual tempo changes that make it quite interesting to listen to. "Seaside Rendezvous" is a 20's sounding piano driven track. I love sailing along over Freddie Mercury's smooth vocalizations imagining the stage show as I sip a Bee's Knees in some illegal club. "The Prophet's Song" is a dire warning accompanied by the heavy guitars and dark vocals as a prophet warns of the flood made famous by Noah's ark. I love the a cappella vocal solo in the middle that give way to a guitar solo. "Love of My Life" is a heart wrenching love song supported mostly by a gorgeous piano arrangement. Beautiful. "Good Company" adds a dixieland style with a ukulele-driven number again providing testament to Queen's incredibly versatility. Remarkable too is that this song precedes the utterly remarkable... "Bohemian Rhapsody" - what can one say about this song? No one would ever have imagined such a song could ever be exist - let alone become a huge hit, becoming one of the most beloved and enduring songs in rock and roll - and probably in all of music history. Listening to it in the context of this album was wonderful. There were a few moments when I could briefly feel what it was like to listen to this for the first time as an eight-year-old kid and being utterly mesmerized. "God Save The Queen" closes A NIGHT AT THE OPERA in a truly epic way. I have chills. I cannot imagine any other group with the audacity and talent to create anything like this album. The songs all come together beautifully to create a transcendent listening experience. While the singles are spectacular on their own, there is nothing like listening to this album as a whole. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is a masterpiece.
What a glorious piece of work this is. An incredible example of what's possible in rock music. A grand display of hutzpah and talent. I love it very much.
I have said it before and I may say it again...I love Queen! This is an excellent album! There is so much of musical interest to my ears. The variety of musical styles and instrumentation is lovely.
This was my first favorite album at the age of 8 or 9. I have probably listened to these tracks more than any other tracks, or at least for the most years. It's hard to analyze these songs objectively. I like how silly a lot of them are. The Skiffle Band influence is on full display here. This is Queen in transition. They are not quite yet the powerhouse arena rock band they became, but they are also growing out of their art school glam rock phase (I mean, they were always glam, let's be honest). Bohemian Rhapsody is so overplayed on the radio that it takes a conscious effort to listen with fresh ears and appreciate its brilliance. That being said, I think Prophet's Song does what BR is also doing, but better. I'm in Love With My Car is the worst song Queen ever wrote, and I'm happy they got it out of the way this early in their discography.
This is an extraordinary album. It was revolutionary when it came out, and you can still feel that almost 50 years later. I don't know any other group that can successfully interweave such a mix of musical ranges.
I personally think that Queen is kinda overrated, even though I am not gonna lie, it's a beautiful piece of an album, Bohemian Rhapsody is a classic, undoubtedly. The rest of the album isn't just a background of one hit, I really enjoyed it and it has an unique, special vibe
2/17/2022 Today's Album: "A Night At The Opera" by Queen - This is an album that I have had on vinyl since around the beginning of the initial 2020 quarantine and in the time it really has not gotten old to me. The reason? This album is one of the best produced albums of the decade. In my opinion, this is a textbook example of how to mix and pan audio to transform it from a basic performance to something that feels beyond instrumentation. The Bohemian Rhapsody movie that came out a few years ago did a great way of showing how much Freddy Mercury wanted to create an LP at the caliber of a theatrical performance and with a good pair of headphones, it absolutely sounds like it. The way Death On Two Legs begins with a gigantic instrumental build before it cuts out to pretty much nothing is absolutely stunning. Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon is a really fun ragtime tune about exactly what the title would imply. I'm In Love With My Car, despite its absurd title, has a ton of really creative sounds in the mix and they are all mixed exceptionally well as well. The song '39 is one that I had on repeat after listening to it because of how enchanting it is. You're put into this bittersweet song about war and forgotten love that tugs on the heart string despite the lyrics being quite vague. It has this deep emotional weight to it and is the best track on the album in my eyes, with two acoustic guitars and the bass playing off each other in a way that gives this song great levity despite the lyrics. Seaside Rendezvous is a really fun piano-focused track that has a really bouncy 20's feel to it, similarly to many other songs on this album. It is a great way to end side 1 of the vinyl with Freddy saying, "Give us a kiss" before one last musical hit. Prophet's Song, being the longest track on the album, is an incredibly dark and menacing track with great chorus vocals and bass work before the track breaks out into a several minute experimental looping and prog rock section. I think it's really well done and despite how long it goes on for, it totally works with the flow of the record. Love Of My Life is, in my opinion, one of the best love songs to ever exist. It's up there with The Beatle's Something and everyone should know this song. It's heartbreaking, but lovely and incredibly well performed by Mercury. Also the harmonies are literally perfect. Like I haven't emphasized it very much yet, but this guy's vocals are NUTSO. Good company is an all around solid track, Classic queen with great guitar work, fast basslines, and a ton of extraneous orchestral instruments. The stringed instrument, which I think is a ukulele(?) is a really nice part of the track and gives it a lot of personality. Bohemian Rhapsody needs no review. It is fucking Bohemian Rhapsody (It sounds funny at 45 speed on the record player lol). God Save the Queen closes off the album and is just the British national anthem. Epic. Overall, this album is really enjoyable from start to finish and more people should hear it because it's some of queen's best work, despite some of it being really overplayed (Really just Bohemian) Score: 9.5/10 "Bloody Brilliant" Highlights: Death On Two Legs, Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon, '39, Seaside Rendezvous, The Prophet's Song, Love Of My Life, Good Company
All around a great album. All good songs, including the monster hit Bohemian Rhapsody. Quite the variety of songs. Easy 5
One of the greatest albums I've ever listened to. I love this one through and through. From Death on Two Legs, '39, Sweet Lady, and all the rest. This is Queen at their best.
When I was about 13, my mate Peter played me the Prophet's Song on his walkman during a school excursion to the Sydney Opera House (we were there for an afternoon at the opera. Matinee performance of Manon Lescaut.) I didn't think much of the opera, but I loved Queen. He subsequently made me a cassette of Night at the Opera backed with Queen's Greatest Hits. I had been familiar with Bohemian Rhapsody and many of their singles prior to that, but Night at the Opera was the first Queen studio album that I really delved into and played obsessively. I find it hard to approach this record objectively, because of my nostalgic love of the record. Does it have a lot of songs that delve into pastiche and novelty? Yes. Is it almost bombastically over-produced? Well, yes. Is it full of cracking tunes and rocking rock? well, hell yeah! Let's play it again, and louder!
it feels like I’ve heard a hundred different Queen songs but the only ones I knew from this was You’re My Best Friend and of course that which must not be named so it was a pretty pleasant surprise hearing more proggy songs like Death On Two Legs and The Prophet’s Song as well as more Tally Hall vibe songs like Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon or Seaside Rendezvous, though I guess that one’s more Elton John also ‘39 was a whole-ass surprise, who knew Queen made a motherfucking folk song it’s reported that at the time this was the most expensive album ever produced and it sure does sound like it, fucking phenomenal - 10/10
This album is one of my all-time favorites. Listening to it today was fantastic, because it’s a repeat of something I do often. Freddie’s master class on live looping in The Prophet Song is worth the price of admission on its own, but starting with Death on Two Legs? Sheer perfection.
The number of strong songs on this album is staggering: Bohemian Rhapsody, Love of My Life, '39, You'Re My Best Friend, God Save the Queen. The rest are at least very good. Among the early Queen records, this is easily the most important one. Truly iconic. 5/5
A very easy 5 stars. It's crazy how such a massively versatile album can be so consistently excellent. Apart from the somewhat annoying middle-part of The Prophet's Song (not quite the lightning in a bottle that is Bohemian Rhapsody) and the sub-par Good Company, every single track is worthy of the 5 star album score. '39 in particular is a longtime Queen favorite of mine.
A truly eclectic album with so many different instruments and styles. A number of classics with Bohemian Rhapsody (potentially the greatest song of all time) along with You’re My Best Friend and Love of My Life. A very solid 5.
Listened to on 4/7/22 5/5 Favorite song: Bohemian Rhapsody, God Save the Queen Simply. Iconic.
I needed this. Too many mediocre albums have passed by. I bought this as a kid and played it to death and even 47-odd years later people are still listening to it in droves. So varied- even the 'dodgy' tracks are great (Lazing on a Sunday. I'm in love with my car) and all have a story attached to them. Vocals (and not just Freddies), guitar, bass and drums all top of the game and the production is beyond perfection. Even the one-star reviews admit how mega it all is and base the score on just not being into it's excess. 'Death on two Legs' is my favourite Queen song by the way....If I could give this 1000 stars I would.
Brilliantly original, quirky and inventive. I love how they are doing their own weird ass thing. It remind me a couple of times of McCartney with the very silly and British “show tunes”. But then mix in the epic, soaring opera and blistering hard rock guitar solos. With 2 classic singles and album tracks full of interest, has to be 5 stars.
Huh, I just had Sheer Heart Attack day before yesterday. That's OK! You can't have too much Queen. A Night At The Opera is not a chore. ...yep...still great. Be my clementine!
p351. 1975. 5 stars Yes, it's overblown and over produced camp rock - but it's also an A grade rock band on top form with some cracking tunes and a sense of humour, and that covers a multitude of sins. There is a reason why Queen were so popular and why their songs are still played today, and this is the perfect illustration why. There isn't a weak track on it, although you can argue that The Prophet's Song outstays its welcome. And Brian May seems quite a good guitarist.
I did not immediately like this album as much as I like their first three; I'm a sucker for harder rock. Don't get me wrong, Death on Two Legs and I'm In Love With My Car are great hard rocking songs, the former a brilliant opener. It was the middle of the album where I was a bit uncertain. But I found when I was already in an amped up mood, this album took it to the next level. And it's far too complex to appreciate in one or two listens. After a few listens, I loved it, especially the more jazzy songs. What was particularly impressive was when I learned that a lot of the cool jazz sounds I learned to like were created through Mercury's and Taylor's vocals (Seaside Rendezvous) or regular instruments (Good Company). May's and Deacon's instrument innovations throughout the album are impressive. You're My Best Friend and Love of My Life are two very different but equally lovely odes. '39 was probably the place where I first started to wonder about the album (maybe May's just ok vocals?), but after a closer listen it's a pretty cool ballad - a cross between Led Zeppelin and John Denver. And I love how Sweet Lady cleanses the palette after. I don't always want to listen to Bohemian Rhapsody I've heard it so many times, but it is a rock opera masterpiece. Still, I think I might like The Prophet's Song just as much for its sweeping, grandiose style; it might be my new favorite on the album. In the end, I think I'm at a 4.5 but I'm rounding up for all the intricacy they put into the album and because they're freakin' legends (and deservedly so).
Such great stuff on this, even besides "Bohemian Rhapsody," which everyone knows. I mean "You're My Best Friend," " '39," "I'm In Love With My Car" are all great as well. But you can't get around the elephant in the room, can you? It's just too big. I tend to listen to the B-sides / deep cuts of Queen more only because I have heard those greatest hits so often. And BR is one I think I have heard hundreds of time now. It's still a great song, though. The band is firing on all cylinders on just about every song. Not one I would skip at all.
It's hard not to be charmed by this album. It's fun and well performed by everyone involved. It's just a classic. Duh. 3 5's in a row? Wow.
I fell in love with music because of this album. In classical music, in rock, in jazz, in vocal singing. Thank you Queen (10/10) FT: Bohemian Rhapsody, Love of my Life ... actually the whole album
Growing up in the UK, Queen are as omnipresent as complaining about the weather, so I've always thought of them as a band I "know", but in reality I haven't really listened to any of their albums in a dedicated fashion. This was great! A super fun listen, and it makes "Bohemian Rhapsody" seem slightly less alien when listened to in context. Fave track - I mean, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is just ridiculously good, and a karaoke get-the-whole-room-yelling-along classic. "The Prophet's Song" seems almost as epic, and I'd never heard it before, so that feels like an awesome discovery!
Brings me straight back to high school where I'd listen to this a lot on the morning bus trip. It's a very engaging album with genres and moods switching up after each song. What I find really interesting is their ambition to not use any synthesizers during the 70s and instead create sounds of clarinets, jazz bands, saxophones, through voices and guitar effects. Every member contributes at least one of the album's all killer tracks, and the three different vocalists have a chance to shine. Even though I find Bohemian Rhapsody a bit annoying whenever its played at karaoke, I come to love it when its in context of this album. Favourite songs are 39, You're My Best Friend, Prophet Song, and Love of My Life (even though the live version is 3 times better).
Queen is my favourite band of all time. On my last.fm they are twice the number of my 2nd place artist. I could talk about every Queen album in detail for hours. I love this album. Of course the famous songs Bohemian Rhapsody and You're My Best Friend, but it's full of so much other great stuff. Brian May's contributions on this album are outstanding: '39, The Prophet's Song , and Good Company are brilliant and more people should know them. '39 is possibly my favourite Queen song, or at least in the top 3. This album is such an eclectic mix of songs it's always a joy to listen to.
Another great album by Queen. The songs each have their own feel but they work well together. The mega hit is at the end of the album. I will listen to it again.
Amazing album, with most forgetting how much the recording and layering sound pushed the boundaries at the time. Like The Beatles, the beauty of Queen was they had multiple talents able to get along, write songs AND... they never settled. "Just don't let me become boring" was all ever Freddie & Co was ever interested in.
So good! I had this album as a kid and it was one of my favourites. I do not enjoy the interlude in the Prophet's Song but the rest of the song makes up for it and everything else is either amazing or hilarious.
This was my first album and to this day I do not think a more perfect album was ever composed. I got this for my 10th birthday and have memorized every song, lyric, lick and note from the 10k times I've listened to it. Where's the six star button?
Bursting with an abundance of ideas, Queen delivers a diverse and overloaded twelve-track album that hits on hard-rock, soft-pop, music hall, suite-style composition, and some dazzling delay-like effects. While the band's off-the-wall oddities are most closely akin to the music of Sparks, this record is really, really good on its own terms. It's also refreshing to hear Roger Taylor and Brian May sing lead on a few tracks. Favorites: "Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...)" and "'39"
Enjoyed this from start to finish, the familiar songs and the new-to-me ones, too. Plus, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Plein de classiques incroyables, Death on two legs, Bohemian Rhapsody; You're my best friend... J'adore l'ambiance générale de l'album, avec une mention spéciale pour '39 qui me fait rêver.
Stone cold classic. I don't know what to even say about this album. One of the greats.
Pocas bandas y pocos discos logran el espectro tan amplio que tiene este disco: una balada melosa con Love of My Life, rolas pesada como Death on Two Legs, rolas como de cabaret y hasta un par de experimentos de Rock Opera como '39 y The Prophet Song. Eso sin contar Bohemian Rhapsody que es, yo creo, un parteaguas en el Rock, que puso en claro que se puede ser creativo, salirse de los 3 minutos típicos del radio, combinar géneros, meter un solo alocado de guitarra y con todo y todo, ser un hitazo. Y hablando de lo pesado… No sé cómo lo logra Queen, pero de algún modo logran lanzar canciones más o menos heavy que son digeribles para todo público y que otras bandas de la época (Led Zeppelin por ejemplo) con lo mismo o menos ya están en el espectro de "quita ese ruido infernal".
Love it. Absolute classic. Funny that this was the first recommendations, as it was one of the first albums I ever loved.
First Queen album I ever listened to straight through. What an experience. They could do it all. 39 would be a bit today, forget the rest of this thing with Rhapsody and Best Friend
Truly a masterpiece. Great diversity among the songs but they create cohesive album and fit the concept. Great to hear Roger singing. Love '39 and The Prophet's song.
Wow… this is literally perfect. Highlights: How can there be highlights if the whole damn thing slaps?
Queen is so great. This album has a lot of songs that mean a lot to me. I enjoyed hearing some of the other songs as well. 9/10
heard it a few times before, really good album, just good classic Queen. some whimsical freddie numbers, some balls-out rockin brian songs, 4/5.
9/10. album is cool. overdramatic but in a fun way. love the music hall shit on here i think its really when the albums fun theatric spirit shines the most. not talked-to-death fav: '39. really good. folk music is good. talked-to-death fav: b*henian ratsody. you know why this song is good
a classic, I feel like the front half pales compared to the ladder half and why I can't give it a perfect score, def deserving of this list
Pretty good, better than I expected but you know what? Bohemian Rhapsody is overrated. There. I said it.
I love queen, this album have some amazing tracks but also some that I don't find brillant...