A Night At The Opera

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.

Amazing. A work of art. But not the car song

A surprising amount of fluff surrounding the eternal hits makes for a night at the opera that’s less memorable than you might hope.

Scaramouche

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.

To 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.

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.

Fantastic album, a beautiful voice with a beautiful band. I particularly liked The Prophet's Song

I lost my virginity to my best friend Puma while listening to this album. Sex was one star. Album is a 5.

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.

Another one I don’t even have to try on.

Now that's a fine album, REAL fine album, you can get a first class listening experience there

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.

Brilliant

Just fantastic, varied and fun, front to back awesome

Almost unbearable

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.

Love queen

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.

Dogshite overrated.

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 … )

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.

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?

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]

Classic. Random weirdness and gold standard all-time greats.

Queen's problem is that their good songs are overplayed and their deep cuts are an embarrassment to music.

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.

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

YAS QUEEN! i've been expecting this here

Queen albums are always entertaining. This is the big one - featuring everyone's favorite song, at least for one moment in their life. Varies a bit in quality throughout, but you gotta give respect to Freddie and the gang's most accomplished effort to bring ballet to the masses.

Gives a whole other level of appreciation for Bohemian Rhapsody

Amazing range and variety. Not all songs stick in the mind though.

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.

This is a top-tier 3/5 album, always fun, the preponderance of oddball song-shapes almost incidental to the record’s pleasures, the vocal and guitar fireworking, the pointed daftness, and the hugeness of the production. This contains maybe two and a half very good songs (and one and a half are BR), but I’m not sure that matters.

I’ve always been a tounge in cheek Aueen hater, but this album didn’t do much to change that. The 2 famous songs are great, BH might be one of the best songs ever, but I don’t really love the rest of it, which is a common theme for a lot of Queen I’ve found. Controversial 2

As much as I like some of their songs individually, I’ve never been that much of a Queen guy, and I tend to find their albums pretty grating. This is no exception.

I hated school. Hated it. Queen got me through year 10, year 11 and helped me get through - by actually getting to see them live with Freddie at the Sydney Entertainment Centre - year 12.* The sixth best Queen album. Still a ripper. The neat production tricks. Good Company with its 20s English trad jazz band built from guitar feed back, then the tape being cut and the pitches being all arranged into order. Yet tell me that’s not a clarinet. I’m over Bohemian Rhapsody - heard it way too much and there’s nothing in it for me to discover anymore. But it’s still an incredible track. Somewhat underrated I think. That piano riff is a six chord. Used all the time in Italian music. But also used in rock and roll. The Beatles often ended on a six. Possibly the most bitter rock song and a great great opener - Death On Two Legs. Young Mr Bulsara was not known for his subtlety. (He could be subtle but he wasn’t known for it.) Prophets Song - just brilliant. Actually Brian May starts to hit the heights of songwriting. He still had great stuff in him but Prophets song, 39, Good Company and even Sweet Lady are bangers. And the performance of God Save the Queen is the cherry on the top. John Deacon writes and plays piano on You’re My Best Friend. A top ten hit. A portend of things to come.** Freddie slushes and gushes on Love of my Life. I prefer Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack, Day at the Races and Queen. But this is still 5 stars. In fact 20000000 stars. *My dad gave me the tickets on his birthday. I caught the XPT train from Dubbo. Stayed at my uncle's at Burwood. He drove me in. Was in the very back row seven seats from the back wall on stage right. I can still remember a lot of it. Life changing for me. Was the show that made me want to be a musician. Also the first international act I saw. Still the standard I use to judge whether a show was any good. Seen them three times with Adam Lambert who is great. **It’s not generally recognised that Queen’s biggest selling single was ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ written by John Deacon.

When I was about 13, my mate Peter D. 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, a matinee performance of Puccini's Manon Lescaut) I didn't think much of the Puccini, but Queen blew my mind. Peter subsequently made me a cassette of Night at the Opera backed with Queen's Greatest Hits. I had been familiar with Bohemian Rhapsody and some 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! I love this review from Pitchfork (https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15221-reissues/), which encapsulates my feelings about the band: "Fucking Queen. For all their reported bombast, pomp, and tendency to overshoot and double-slaughter any semblances of good taste, everything you've heard about them is still true. They're one of the few phenomena who deliver on the hype, regardless of how you approach them. Hate or love proggy album suites? Doesn't matter, Queen will make you feel good about your choice. Can't stand operatic drama, or can't get enough unitard-clad frontmen? Love to hate prime 1970s hard rock with arena sheen? Welcome to the greatest/most horrible band of the 20th century. They did and wanted it all. Yet, so much of Queen's music is still under-recognized even by people who know and love the hits." Bohemian Rhapsody is the jewel in the crown here, and one of the most unlikely of iconic rock songs. Is it Freddie Quicksilver bringing ballet to the masses (according to the possibly apocryphal encounter between Freddie and Sid Vicious), or a barely disguised metaphor for Freddie coming out ("mama, I just killed a man", except maybe not "killed"?) Doesn't matter! We're all singing along and banging our heads! I was recently at a grungy bar on a Saturday night, when the manager climbed up on the bar to lead a very raucous sing-along of Bohemian Rhapsody. You better believe everyone knew all the words. And The Prophet's Song still blows my mind. It's a crazy, over-top-top, bombastic, proggy, weird, rockin', idiosyncratic, occasionally silly, wondrous feast. Fifty bazillion stars.

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

One of Queen's best. Not much else to say

Top of the heap

Not much that can be said. Brilliant.

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

Good album. I know so many of the queen songs on it but have never listened to the full album.

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.

Echt een aantal pareltjes op dit album.

A great album with a contender for best song ever almost at the end.

Woot. Queens good.

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

great start!

Notes before listening: - I do know queen and know this album, I have heard to Bohemian Rhapsody a few times. Although I like the gimmicks of the song, I think the song is a bit overhyped and gets a lot more praise than it deserves. However, maybe in the context of the album the song will jump out as something out of this world. During listening: Was strange hearing someone else besides Freddy sing a Queen song on "Im in love with my car". So far the album really reminds me of Electric Light Orchestra. During "39" another song not sung by Freddy. Is this Brian May? Great voice! Works well with the Queens aesthetic. Favorite song thusfar, very uplifting, like an irish pub song. Brian May really carrying the band in Sweet Lady. Love of my life - another song besides Bohemian Rhapsody Ive heard before, how could I have forgotten this song. Great album overall, knows how to keep your attention, especially during the acapella part . I think the hype and fanbase around Bohemian rhapsody really ruined the song for me, which is too bad because if it wasn't this overplayed Id have loved it in context of the album. 4/5

So I bought my first records when I was 12 in the mid-70’s, and “A Night At The Opera” & “A Day At The Races” were early additions to the collections, and have always been a fan of Queen… This is a spectacular album, and really enjoyed the diversity of music throughout the tracks – and it was produced with exceptional audio quality, which always scores points in my book… So many great tracks – especially on Side 1, and the best IMO were – “Death On Two Legs” – 6-stars out of 7… Great revenge track about their former Trident Studios manager… “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” – 4-stars out of 7… Fun little ditty with a lot packed into this 1:08 track… “I’m In Love With My Car” – 5-stars out of 7… Enjoyed the power and guitar work on this one… “You’re My Best Friend” – 7-stars out of 7… Staple on the soundtrack of the 70’s – absolute classic… “39” – 5-stars out of 7… Always one of my deep cut favs, and finally got to see it performed live in 2022 when we did a spur of the moment weekend trip to Minneapolis to see Queen & Adam Lambert perform – highly recommend by the way… “Love Of My Life” – 4-stars out of 7… This version is a bit over-produced, as I prefer the stripped-down version they used to play live – but a really unique, and well-written track… “Bohemian Rhapsody” – 7-stars out of 7… Loved this one from the first listen, and one of the foundational tracks in the rock canon… Only compliant was the dead spot at the end of Side 1, and beginning of Side 2, as everything from “Sweet Lady” though to “The Prophet’s Song”, are nowhere near as good as everything that preceded it on this album… Also – “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” was a perfect alternative track, and they really didn’t need to add 2 more shanty’s (i.e. “Seaside” & “Good Company”) as that was really a bit much… Would probably give this a 4.50 if I could, as there is so much goodness here, but the dead spot in the middle, and a few too many “shanty” tunes – keeps it from registering as a 5 for me… Awesome album, from one of the true originals – highly recommend!

There are very few things I dislike more than the marriage of rock music and cabaret/music hall. …and I say that as a Kinks fan. This record is excellently produced, which distracts from A Night at the Opera’s haughty cabaret-rock. Musically, however, Queen has never really been for me.

“Mamaaaaa, uwu” - Freddie Mercury

terrible

Pretentious crap

I tried but had to bail before the end. Overblown and frankly a mess - 39 doesn't sound like it should be on any album, never mind this one. Too much guitar, too little melody.

Awful.Awful.Awful.

As a former band kid who used to bang their head against the back of the seat when inevitably some asshole from the saxophone section used to start singing this song on the bus ride to competitions - I used to hate Queen. I specifically used to hate Bohemian Rhapsody. I have it on a short list of songs that were taken from me by the horniest, geekiest people I have ever met along with Don't Stop Believing and Piano Man. After listening to this entire album, I felt like the Grinch who's heart grew three sizes today - I used to stand atop my soap box and and look down on those tasteless, braces wearing, sportsball repellant dorks - but you know what? After experiencing the entire album I can truly grow to appreciate it. This is really the final act of a much larger rock opera. It's truly one of the most unique albums I have ever heard and I can't imagine there being anything else quite like this anywhere else in the entire catalog of the 70s. My mind has been changed.

I loved it. It took chances on a bunch of different songs. Everything followed a theme but didn’t seem like the same 1 or 2 songs. Also, I forgot how much I love ‘39. Great album!

Another album I own a physical copy of, but this one’s all me. I’ve loved Queen since Wayne’s World came out, so of course I was excited to find this gem in the used bin for $10. Bohemian Rhapsody is the star of this album…No question, but I really enjoy 39. I’m not normally a folksy guy, but when you got a folk song about space travel with a pounding bass line like this, woo boy. A delightfully weird album with a quirky mix of musical styles that somehow all fit brilliantly together.

Quite an eclectic, entertaining mix here. I actually really liked the songs where Freddie Mercury wasn't singing: "39" and "I'm in Love With My Car", specifically. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still a banger, and would be without Wayne's World. When it was over, I was ready to hit play again.

One of the best albums ever made by one of the most musically talented bands ever.

Let's take time to talk about this masterpiece because I'm literally crying. I'm not here to stress its historical significance or artistic achievements, but I'm speaking for myself. This album is so important to me emotionally because it was the very first rock album I've ever listened to (and the very first record I own), and it opened a whole new world to me. I used to think rock music was just loud, annoying noises, and I really did not care much about musicality- until this. This album is just so beautiful and thoughtful; I can hardly describe the astonishment I felt when I first listened to it; all I can responsibly say is that if it were not for Queen, I wouldn't be here on this website. I won't have the desire to study or even really "listen" to music. This album is one of those things that changed my life. Queen is one of those things that changed my life. It means everything to me—a complete 10/5. Years pass, and I still love this; I still love them. Also, weirdly enough, my favourite tracks are "'39" and "The Prophet's Song". I cry over "Love of My Life" every time.

Can I give this ten stars?

Fantastica

I mean it's Queen and this is the album that graced us with Bohemian Rhapsody. But it also stands on its own as an incredible concept album, bringing opera to rock.

Bohemian Rhapsody is pretty much everyone’s number 1 song of all time. It’s a sign of just how good this album is, that it doesn’t overshadow the other tracks on here. As the title of the album suggests, this is a grand performance with flourishes, arias, jokes, nostalgia and plenty of hard rock. Some people might not like the 1920s style music hall tracks or Roger’s song about being in love with his car but they are essential parts of the tapestry. Superb!

Outstanding album, with many different styles and complex harmonies. Had this on an eight-track tape back in the 70’s until it was stolen out of my car in 1978. Haven’t listened to the whole album since.

Millennials were right

It’s huge and ambitious, like a rock circus that somehow pulls it all off. Even the weaker songs don’t matter because the highs are so high. The production is wild, but everything fits together perfectly. It’s fun, weird, and absolutely brilliant.

Bombastic and delightful from the first notes. The highlight of the first half is You're My Best Friend, but the poignant '39 is almost as good. Lots of heavier moments too on I'm In Love With My Car and especially Sweet Lady with its crunchy riffs. Seaside Rendezvous closes the side on a catchy ragtime note. The Prophet's Song takes us back to hard rock with progressive leanings. Powerful start to side two. The lengthy a capella harmonies eventually give way to the heavy guitar again and it blends into Love Of My Life, a mostly acoustic and piano intermezzo that also features a harp (!). The quirky, jazzy sounding Good Company then sets up Bohemian Rhapsody. It's a microcosm of the whole album and a hell of a climax. Iconic stuff.

Who doesn't love a bit of Queen. There are parts of this album that are absolutely bonkers, and I mean that in a nice way. In fact, the whole album is almost completely bonkers. And therein lies the whole majesty (geddit?) of Queen. They were almost unique in their sound, nothing like it before or since.

Iconic album Freddie has a unique voice

What can i say? Majestic, perfection, a perfect album. Sound engineering of it, complex melodies, fun changes, the guitar sound rocks hard… I better stop writing, you get the point. 5/5

Ok but not my cup of tea

I love these early albums of queen. Such concept and wit and flamboyance. Beautiful arrangements and songs. Mercury’s voice is so good on this album (too)

This album speaks for itself. I loved the creative audio effects in The Prophet’s Song, like Freddie with a delay effect singing in a way that he harmonized with himself multiple times over, and the section shortly after using panning to create a push-and-pull effect between the left and right acapella “groups”. Freddie Mercury is the GOAT.

theatrical, enchanting, sometimes a bit camp. such is typical for queen. it's impressive to see how much they've put out and how consistent the quality has been. yes, this is the album with the famous "bohemian rhapsody", which their manager despised... the first song in the album is a nasty, yet elegant read on him. one minute, songs are carefree and energetic, the next minute songs are dramatic and emotional... besides the iconic tracks, this album is the british rock equivalent of 24-karat gold. bravo, bravo i say.

The Beatles do stuff like "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" and get called geniuses; Queen do it and they get called other names.

Unlike many of their edgy rockin’ and tumblin’ UK contemporaries, Queen is not afraid to revel in the absurd, theatrical, Monty Python-esque side of the British way of life. Drawing inspiration from the pomposity of opera and music hall tunes, Freddie Mercury swings and swaggers his way to a near masterpiece of an album. Brian May sounds like a legit magician on the guitar at times, experimenting with which had never been exploited in a rock environment. There’s an argument to be made that this is where metal guitar’s interest with classical music began.

I had never listened to this album, but I know half of the songs. This is what I'm talking about! This is exactly the type of album that should be on this list. So great.

Is this a masterpiece concept album? Yes it definitely is. Does it belong in the 1001 albums? Yes it definitely does. Will I ever listen to it again? No probably not. PS: God Save The Queen as the closing track was a masterstroke

Just an amazing album and bohemian rhapsody is just sounds phenomenal on this recording.

The prophet’s song🤘🏻

LISTENED TO THUS 2992 TIMES AND ITS PERFECT .

So difficult to go wrong with Queen because vocals are amazing, melodies are great, and instrumentals are great.

Perfect.

Phenomenal album.

Absolutely majestic af

This is Queen at their most Queen, meandering though bombastic, ridiculous, camp, and pure rock there is never a dull moment (although some moments might be a bit odd). Highlights include Death on Two Legs, ‘39, Prophet Song, and Love of My Life plus the more well know songs I’d still give it 5 starts even if it didn’t have Bohemian Rhapsody in it.

Queen is undefeated

Absolute legend. Feels blossomingly rich and absolutely deep. Cool.

Great tunes from start to finish. Need a few listen through to appreciate all elements

The epitome of an album, of legendary status. Delivers what it promises: an operatic, experimental, rocking musical experience.

great album

Epic!!!

Y'all already K N O W how queen makes me feel.

A perfect album, front to back. They really nailed down their sound on this album, one of my favorites. 5/5

Perfect album for being productive, was wrapping presents. favourite song is love of my life 5/5