The Queen sound by definition was filled with electric guitars in harmony, a rock-solid rhythm section, and many layers of vocals,” CRS but even by their own standards, Queen “broke down all the barricades on A Night at the Opera” AMG with a mix of “hard rock, wistful ballads, music hall pastiche and perfectly crafted pop with classical trimmings.” PR It was “the disc that established them as a completely unique entity in rock music, quite distinct from the Seventies glam/proto metal pack with which they’d formerly been grouped.” GW “It’s prog rock with a sense of humor as well as dynamics.” AMG PR That “detailed, meticulous productions” AMG was a mutual effort from Queen and producer Roy Thomas Baker, who “was more than happy to oblige the boys, piling on the overdubs until the analog 16-track tape shed almost all its oxide and literally went transparent.” GW On the other front, it was the most expensive album made up to that time, taking months to record in as many as six studios simultaneously. Queen’s A Night at the Opera can be simultaneously viewed as the group’s “crowning achievement” PR and “an extravagant indulgence.” PR On the latter front, “this is where the band let its over-the-top tendencies loose.” RS500 The group “celebrate their own pomposity” AMG in “a self-consciously ridiculous and overblown hard rock masterpiece.” AMG In his book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, Tom Moon called it “the campiest rock concept album ever.” TM God Save the Queen (Queen/traditional) Ĥ.356 out of 5.00 (average of 22 ratings).Love of My Life (Freddie Mercury/Queen) (7/14/79, 30 CL, 63 UK).Seaside Rendezvous (Freddie Mercury/Queen).I’m in Love with My Car (Queen/Roger Taylor).Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon (Freddie Mercury/Queen).Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to…) (Freddie Mercury/Queen).

Song Title (Writers) (date of single release, chart peaks) Sales (in millions): 3.0 US, 0.3 UK, 10.0 world (includes US and UK)

In classical mood a night at the opera