@@bwpm1467Of course, Queen would be nowhere as big as they are, if Queen II was their only release, but there are a few potentially legendary bands, solo artists, who only made one sparkling album and are well remembered for it! I'm gonna send you a list to see what you think of these "one album wonders".
@@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cbFun fact: a friend of Freddie Mercury absolutely loved *Hot Space* so much that he tried to mimic its musical style on his own solo album. The album would become the biggest selling album of the 80s and 90s. That album was "Thriller." That friend of Mercury? ...it was Michael Jackson.
@@RichWards-Wins By the way, Michael Jackson can consider himself one of the fathers of “Another One Bites The Dust”. Neither Mercury, nor May, nor Taylor wanted this song. They called it "disco thrash". And Jackson is rumored to have helped protect John Deacon's masterpiece. According to rumors, Deacon even invited Jackson to include him in the list of authors of this super song. But the King of Pop refused
I absolutely LOVE *A Kind of Magic* It is the Epic album that made me a hardcore fan and inspired me to increase my physical health. "Gimme the Prize" and "Princes of the universe" pump you up.. And "Who wants to live Forever" says a touching goodbye to those dearly beloved ones who have passed on too soon. And "One Vision" is the best opener of any album. Glorious.
Magic was the first new Queen album I bought and as an 11year old I loved it. Now despite there being great tracks on it Prize and Princes. The remaining great tracks are on G/Hits 2 (Magic, Forever and Vision) leaving tracks I no longer like as much, so often skip. Therefore as an album it fails, for me. But, if you love it. Great.
Another great ranking. I feel a musician gives a different insight and looks at music differently and, at times, a fresh and new perspective on some of my favourite music. Thanking you 😊
I bring up how good Innuendo is all the time to music friends and usually they don't know it at all. From the first time I heard it when it came out I felt it was very underrated and one of their best Album I would probably even put it higher in the list
Your description of “We are the champions” reminded of when Freddie would say in concert, “This next song is only for beautiful people. That’s all of you.” That always touched me. Whether he meant a word of it, who knows…but he sold it, and it was amazing.
Maybe he meant it. Maybe he just liked the money he got from their worship. Who knows? I always thought it was just some silly teasing with the crowd. A bit like when 10cc went "I don't like reggae......I love it!".
@@SpaceCattttt Well, he definitely made $$$ from the worship, that’s for sure. Related, our household’s veterinarian attended Freddie’s estate auction and surprised us by bringing us the Sotheby’s book. Kinda cool to see all Freddie’s stuff, from knick-knacks to super-expensive/rare items. He otherwise came back empty-handed, though. The one item he was prepared to bid on went for several times his max $$$.
I am so glad. Happy. Ecstatic. Thought I was the only one in the world who thought Jazz is their greatest album. And it is! What a unique record. Mustapha sent me frantically to the (cheap) speaker cables when I first bought it.
I absolutely love Bring back that leroy brown, its like the soundtrack of a very weird, very tongue in cheek fleischer cartoon, and the part with the ukulele kills me every time.
I remember first buying Jazz and cranking it up, wondering why Mustapha wasn't that loud. Suddenly, May's crushing double-tracked riff comes barreling in. I was like that guy sitting in a chair in that old Maxell commercial getting utterly blown away.
I was lucky enough to see Queen on three occasions supporting three consecutive albums,those being A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races and News of the World. All three shows at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. All were spectacular. Thanks Queen.
Read a story where Queen and the Sex Pistols were recording in the same studio (may have been the News Of The World album)…and Sid Vicious walked in while Freddy was in the booth recording vocals. Sid proceeded to mock Freddy asking if he was still trying to bring opera to the masses etc. Freddy called him ‘Simon Ferocious’ which pissed him off and Sid was escorted out of the studio. Freddy with the razor sharp wit.
Great video. Thanks! That ABBA-Queen video idea you mentioned sounds great! I was born early january ‘72 and both ABBA and Queen were there non-stop in those early formative years: in the top 40 on the radio, on television and on records in our house! I loved all those songs! Don’t know exactly why. Could it be that young children really love the kinds of combinations in melody, harmony and rhythm both ABBA and Queen had? Being Dutch, I could not understand the lyrics as a young child. Just screamed along phonetically, 😅. My mother kept me from hanging the Jazz album poster on the wall in my bedroom. Perhaps understandable, because I was 7 at the time. Must be in the attick somewhere at my parent’s house... As a child I had the same feeling with Good Vibrations and Sloop John B of off my father’s Beach Boys records and with one particular single my mother had called Grocer Jack by Keith West... I’ve kept loving music! Prog too. Guess I would’ve had serious bad dreams if I would’ve listened too songs like Red as a youngster... Too much fantasy when I was young, 😄. Now I’ve been playing bass in bands for over 35 years. All because of Queen and ABBA to be honest. Love it!! 🖖
I have a love/hate relationship with Queen, and that varies from track to track, not just album to album. They veer from sublime to excruciating and no album is unblemished. I've always thought 1970's Queen and 1970's Rush would make a good direct comparison, because they both started out around the same time, with similar influences (Lifeson and May in particular have a lot of common ground) and continued to learn and develop through the decade in different ways. Sometimes Queen were ahead, sometimes Rush.
Queen was “my band” growing up, so I could never find fault with them back in the day. Videos like this one, and comments like yours, help me realize that in hindsight, they were far from perfect. But as you say, they developed over time. They seemed unafraid to alienate their fans and never seemed to follow trends, except perhaps in the case of “Hot Space,” with results we’re all acutely aware of.
@@thomasbonnett4800 I was never quite sure who Queen fans were. I wouldn't count myself as one, even though I own and enjoy, all the albums up to Hot Space. As far as I could tell, they weren't the people like me who were listening to Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC, or the people who were into Yes and Genesis. It seemed to be more the ones who were into Glam and Pop, and who didn't make themselves immediately identifiable by appearance. Some of them were even girls.
@@delorangeade Far more female fans than other 70s rock/prog bands for sure. I notice more overlap with people who like (for example) Bowie, T Rex, Bee Gees and ABBA, and not the bands you named.
You missed out on not seeing Queen live. I had the pleasure of seeing them 5 times starting with the Hyde Park free concert in 1976. The Earls Court show 6th June 1977 was pure theatre. Sheer Heart Attack at number one for me.
I got into Queen in the early ‘80s thanks to hearing “Bohemian Rhapsody” played through a friend’s new stereo. I rushed out immediately and bought their entire catalogue used on cassette. I learned that I missed their last U.S. tour by a year or so, and was crestfallen, particularly when my brother told me he saw that tour and said it was the best concert he’d ever witnessed. B-stard!
Thanks for giving Hot space some love. I saw them at Leeds in 82' when they toured the album and tracks like Staying Power where amazing live. May and Deacon dual guitars!! The album was ahead of its time. It influenced Michael Jackson and Extreme were big fans. You can hear its influence on their album Pornografitti.
Being a musician. All those bands you mentioned are of course great and classic and influential but Queen influenced my early music interest and creativity more than others. Brian Mays guitar, the heavy tones and the orchestrated multi layered guitars. The vocal harmonies. And like The Beatles the fact that their albums had all styles of songs.
Excellent stuff Andy ! I saw Freddie and the boys 4 times in the 70´s. What amazed me was that their album sound was impossible to recreate live but they absolutely nailed the songs. Easily the best live band ever(and I´ve seen a few). They deinitely drifted in the 80`s but for me at their best they WERE the best. My top 5 would be Shear Heart Attack, Queen II, Jazz, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races. So all in all, not disimilar to yours. P.S. You can´t be serious about Father to Son sounding like the Beach Boys ! I think you mean Funny How Love Is from the same album.
My top 5; 5. Jazz, 4. Sheer Heart Attack, 3. A Night At The Opera, 2. Queen, 1. Queen II (absolute perfection) Top songs; Great King Rat, My Fairy King, All of Queen II (except Funny How Love Is), Prophet Song. Dead On Time, Doin' All Right, Liar, & Sheer Heart Attack, to name a few.
I absolutely adore Queen. Sheer heart Attack was my first album and still my fav. Hot Space is my fav from the 80's and beyond. They are just brilliant. Cheers.
Andy! No filler on Sheer Heart Attack, it's, along with Queen II, their highpoint. It still sounds completely fresh and explodes with ideas and HEAVINESS!
Great video Andy, and yes, I can see how you rate 'Jazz' as your favourite but I just think the production/mix needed more oomph on some of the heavier/rockier tracks. FYI the lead acoustic guitar on News Of the World's Spanish/Reggae 'Who Needs You' was played by John Deacon. Indeed he played some rhythm acoustic on many tracks and also the electric, funky Nile Rodgers-esque riff on Another One Bites the Dust .
I've always liked Jazz, superb album marred only by the daft 'reprise/medley thing at the end of More of that Jazz,the guitar of which is utterly smokin '. Dead on Time also smashes it. Great vid Anders, keep em coming
For me songs that you never tire of make them great..night opera only has good company..my faves are sheer heart n jazz..the prob with prog is it's often melodically dull..just acrobatics...more of that jazz is my fave on jazz..tends to get dismissed..but that gritty beatley guitar riff is great...Taylors 1st solo album fun in space is a classic that never tires for me...
I like what Andy said about the big 80s production on A Kind Of Magic and how it mars the album. It got me thinking that the next big trend could be getting big name producers (such as Steven Wilson) to remix 80s albums that suffer from that big 80s 'gated-reverb' drum sound and bring out the 'hidden gems' within. The albums could then be re-appraised as 'lost classics'. Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love would be my first choice for this treatments. Artists like Queen could them flog their product to us again to make even more dosh! I say this with a mix of genuine enthusiasm and cynicism.
Damn Andy, I bought Jazz when it came out. Loved it then and still, and always felt that it got the cold shoulder from critics and fans alike. The last song/collage I always loved too. Kudos to you for challenging the status quo. (Although for me Sheer Attack would be on 2 and Q-II on 3)
You had it right to begin with as QUEEN II is not only their best album , but in my top 20 of all albums. Remarkable and so enjoyable to listen to. When an album has to be played all the way through because you WANT to hear it all at once..then you know you have a masterpiece.
I've been online for about 20 years and I've noticed that nearly every "serious" Queen fan, (not the people who only have Greatest Hits 1 and 2) rate Queen II as the best. I agree as well.
Fantastic. Love your analysis Andy and find it difficult to disagree with any of your placings. Great reveal; to me anyway, of 'No time for losers'. Brilliant
Jazz is my favourite album too!!! I always joke with my mates, imagine being in a band and turning up to band practice and going "I have this song" and launching into Bicycle race. They'd think you were nuts!... but somehow Queen pull it off and make something amazing. I've always loved that Bicycle Race and Fat Bottomed Girls reference each other with the lines 'Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today" and "Get on your bikes and ride!"
Funny.... my favourite songs are especially BECAUSE of the 80's production. I Want It All and Radio GaGa has an absolutely gorgeous sound which evokes so much emotion....
i reviewed this album for a free newspaper / campus paper back when released. I gave it a Very Good rating. 4/5. a lot of folks emailed me or called me to say I was crazy so the following week I changed my review and gave JAZZ. A 5 OUT OF 5. SAYING IT WAS GREAT. Seems I am in good company.
That was spot on although I wouldn't go for Jazz as N°1. Don't stop me now : best power pop song ever. Something has to be said about Roy Thomas Baker, producer of their best albums. He was an important part of their signature sound.
for me on any given day my top 3 is interchangeable, with A Night at the Opera, Sheer Heart Attack and Queen II my favourites. Live they were really something else - untouchable in my humble opinion 🙂
I’ve never heard members of Queen speak about Genesis, but after Chris Squire’s passing Brian May said that when they were starting out all the Queen guys were big Yes fans. They took particular interest in Yes’ example of layering complex vocals on top of superlative rock playing, and wanted to do the same only heavier. He also described being in awe of Squire’s bass sound, “a full-frequency thwack” as he described it. And of course, much later on they got Steve Howe to add the Flamenco guitar solo on the track Innuendo.
Legend has it, that in the early seventies, Peter Gabriel wanted Roger Taylor to be the drummer for Genesis. But fortunately he declined the offer.
4 месяца назад+2
It's funny that you mention ABBA in connection with Queen. In 1980 (I was 12), we had the fashion in class of ironing the names of our favorite bands onto our denim jackets using iron-on letters. Back then it was mostly Kiss or ACDC. There was a boy who had ironed on the letters for ABBA and Queen. I found the mix...um...remarkable, but in some ways fitting and, of course, brave ;-)
Excellent. I too, currently would have ‘Jazz’ as my No.1 Queen album and it features heavily on my Queen playlist. I always questioned whether it was simply because that was the album that was out when I ‘really’ started to get into music and had started to learn and instrument, as I kind of got the impression that proper full on Queen fans weren’t too big on it,( just an impression, I could be completely wrong). Now that you seem to have independently arrived at same conclusion then perhaps it’s become a little more objective,(as far as you can take these things).
Thank you Andy for the effort and the humility of putting this video together. And it's so on brand that you would find a reason to put Jazz in number one haha. But you have a point, it's also one of my favorites and it does sound like nothing else. They developed their sound in the 70s and the last album was their absolute peak, which to me is symbolized by Bicycle Race (their last real pastiche of effortless virtuosity). Then the new decade comes along and they start to play 'the game'. And right off the bat they succeed, like you said, in the same record they have probably the best disco song and the best rockabilly song ever. The 80s were definitely a lower standard for them but there are lots of gems to be found. I don't know, in terms of staying power, the Beatles take second place to Queen's catalogue, musicianship, songwriting and impact. And nobody else comes close. But that's just one guy's opinion.
59 years old. Love QUEEN since i heard A day at the Races after its release. Excellent ranking and someone else who doesn't think that Hot Space is such a 'dud' album :) And No. 1 - JAZZ .. Fabulous .. !!!! Jazz .. overlooked and underrated .. but .. fabulous atmospheric album!!
Thanks Andy I did like this video. I think I understand where you’re coming from. Personally they have made one heck of a musical impact and I feel they have more than earned their accolades 😎👍
My favourite band. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching your review of the albums Andy, and your 'live' dilemma regarding their addition to your overrated bands list. Your dilemma reflects the sheer diversity (and the dichotomy) of Queen's music.
I must be one of the few, but I think the last two (real) albums, The Miracle and Innuendo, made up a great era for the band. Production and sound were just on point, the blend of harder guitar sound with synth and pop sounds was perfect. And the emotional depth of what the band was going through at the time gives these albums something special. Come on: to name one song at random, The Invisible Man with its synth bass and May's unique guitar work was as good as anything any veteran band from the 70s was doing in 1989.
Thoroughly enjoyable hour, Queen hold a special place in my heart as the first band I saw (“A Day At The Races” tour) and one of my favourite bands of all time. My ranking wouldn’t differ too much to yours and the surprise that you have “Jazz” at no 1 I completely respect. It’s certainly high on my list and I believe it’s a bit of an underestimated album. I think you’re right, I haven’t thought of this before, but it does personify Queen perfectly. For me they stand with The Who as the two most unique bands ever.
Great review Andy. For me, (and not an official album) 'Queen at the Beeb' captures their best collection of songs and performances. They're all on it.
Because only the unwashed peasants like pop music. Only culturally inferior people like catchy music. The idea that a mere commoner could go into a store and buy a SINGLE from a band I like fills me with disgust. Ugh!
Congratulations on quitting your job and succeeding on RUclips. I just subscribed a couple of days ago. Great stuff. I tend to agree with most of your points, even the hated ones. My father introduced me to The Beatles when I was a little boy in the ‘80s, but Queen was the 1st band I discovered on my own. Unfortunately, Freddie would die not long after, but they made a huge impact on my music listening. I have over 50 songs by Queen on my massive Spotify playlist of over 1200 songs and counting and for 2 years in a row have topped my most listened to band according to the Year End Wrap. My favorite albums are as you mentioned to us hard rock / metal guys, the 1st 3 albums, but that’s what I like. “Queen II” to me is one of the few perfect albums. I can listen to every single song and not skip one.
Queen is certainly not over rated. Millions can't be wrong. They tried almost everything and succeeded in most of it. Legends. Thanks for this. P.S I love Jazz. Dare I say an underrated album? Cheers.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm disappointed to say the least. I was talking about the music and the masses of people who freely bought their music. Not millions of people brainwashed or forced into following dictators. If we are bringing this stuff into music reviews then it is a sad, sad day.
Hi Andy! Completely agree with choice of No. 1 - Jazz through its variety sums up Queen perfectly . 'Dead on Time' is an underrated rock song and for me 'Bicycle Race' has to be a prog masterpiece in less than 3 minutes.
In past years Queen never seemed to be a "cool" band to be into so I'm a bit surprised at their current popularity. But not unpleasantly surprised. I personally think that like other bands like The Beatles for some people the fact that they wrote catchy and accessible music is in some weird way a reason they shouldn't be too lauded. In my experience people who dislike Queen tend to be (overly forced) cynical or hipster types who associate catchiness with shallowness. The type who would roll their eyes at the thought of Holst's The Planets suite but enthuse over "challenging" composers like Stravinsky. The Queen haters I've seen online tend to be into stuff like Velvet Underground, The Stones, Bob Dylan or punk. Whatever.
My personal fav always was Jazz, and... the one everyone trashes and destroys, Hot Space, is also one of my favs, with Sheer Heart and Queen I. But i love every album
About One Vision on A Kind of Magic. It was actually a song in the soundtrack for a movie called Iron Eagle (pretty sure that was the name of the movie). So, AKOM was a soundtracks album.
Great ranking or assessment! I love Queen and in my opinion they are one of the greatest bands ever. I do agree with the 70's versus the 80's albums. Are they overrated? No, i don't think so, they were a very creative, productive and talented band with 4 songwriters and incredible live performances. Also, overrated in what sense? I don't really care, i like all kinds of music and i listen to what i like regardless if it's overrated or popular or not. Thanks for the video Andy and your channel is becoming another one of my favorites regarding music and stuff (others being @rickbeato and @JustinHawkinsRidesAgain)👍 P.S. Besides rankings and lists, i would like to hear some (funny)stories of your own experiences in the music industry over the years and maybe some drumming tips, your one hell of a drummer I've seen. Just a thought😄
In no particular order my top five are the first five. My bottom 5 are The Cosmos Rocks, A Kind of Magic, Made in Heaven, The Game, Hot Space. This takes into account Greatest Hits etc. I love the Flash Gordon soundtrack, but not really counting it.
The best thing about "Mustapha" is how the mix makes everything feel so tiny at first, daring you to turn up the volume. Then everything suddenly bursts out of the speakers and kicks your face in 😆 Jazz is very underrated, it's such a fun yet batshit record.
There are 2 albums i can listen from start to finish: heart attack & the races. The rest are having 2-3 bits here &there- the way it sounds to me... Great band anyway
@@NelsonMontana1234 The cover and title are a rehashing, but I don’t find the music to be all that similar. There are no cutesy pastiche songs (which is like half of A Night at the Opera) other than Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy. And the gospel style of Somebody to Love is unique. It’s certainly not any more similar musically to A Night at the Opera than A Night at the Opera was to Sheer Heart Attack.
I own all queen releases with fredie mercury. Queen II is their best lp i think, and Killer Queen. Hot Space is an interesting lp and not really bad, but obscure.
Here's how bad Hot Space is: Junior high pep rally, herded into the front row against my will. Cheerleader squad does routine to "Body Language." There I was, in the midst of puberty, with girls gyrating right in front of me, and the only thought going through my mind at that moment: "Damn, this song blows."
Yeah for Jazz! Yeah for a Queen-Abba comparison video! Tell you what though... despite the 80's production, I personally would put The Works at number two! Just love the songs on that album. Apart from that, I'd agree with much of what you say here. Cheers!
Simply brilliant Video Andy. I don't entirely agree with all your rankings, but you make a very strong case for your opinions. On the whole I still think Night at the Opera, Marx brothers title 1, is the best, but you have made me want to relisten to Jazz so we shall see if you've made me change my mind. I still hate Hot Space, apart from Under Pressure, though.
Thank you for avoiding the knee-jerk rockist reaction to Hot Space, an album I adore and return to often. I did a video with the Contrarians on this album that I recommend for those seeking different perspectives on it
A Kind of Magic was one of the first songs by them that grabbed my attention. I was aware of Queen and I definitely remember hearing We will Rock You and a few others but not many. Hearing that guitar riff of May on AKoM for the 1st time is what dragged me into being a fan so that album would always rate higher for me.
Andy Edwards as someone who has been a fan of Queen since I was 11 (sadly a year after Fred died), I found your ranking refreshing. You draw attention to some heavily repeated views and flip them. Personally, I listen to Hot Space way more than albums like the Miracle (it's not that bad). People always put NATO at the top, occasionally it's SHA (my fave) but you rightly hold up Jazz, which is a bit Marmite (but this means that half the fan base absolutely adores it). I find Jazz to be that rare forgotten gem, a rich puddingy treat to be enjoyed once in a while. Lastly, thank you for championing Made in Heaven. Came out in my teens and was an unexpected treat. I didn't really know the solo material that they reworked so all those tunes were new to me but Sweet Mother Love and Winter's Tale are sublime vocal tracks. Loving the videos, only just found you, CAR and Prog Corner through the algorithm. Keep up the great work!
I remember listening to Jazz when it came out. I’ve heard all the other albums but it’s still my favourite. From Mustapha to all that jazz it’s perfection.
17.) Flash 16.) A kind of Magic 15.) The Works 14.) Innuendo 13.) with Adam Lambert "We will Rock you (The Musical Journey)" 12.) Hot Space 11.) The Cosmos rocks 10.) Sheer Heart Attack 09.) Jazz 08.) Queen II 07.) A Day at the Races 06.) A Night at the Opera 05.) Made in Heaven 04.) Queen 03.) News of the World 02.) The Game 01.) (my first Queen Album) The Miracle 🤭 This is just *my* Opinion and also I got ranked these Compilations: 05.) Greatest Hits III 04.) Queen Rocks 03.) Greatest Hits 02.) Queen Forever 01.) Greatest Hits II
Interesting ranking and insight in your thinking. Totally different from how I would put together the list. For example Jazz would be much lower for me because of the week side 2. On top for me definitely Queen II and News of the World (and Sheer Heart Attack). NotW for me is one the most perfect albums ever made - consistent even when it is so diverse and the only one without a week song. I was never and never will be a fan of the overblown mishmash of Night of the Opera (I like Day at the races more). At the bottom definitely The Miracle, Hot Spaces, Kind of Magic, and Flash Gordon. The Workl was my first Queen album as a teen so I naturally rank it higher..
1. Jazz 2. Sheer Heart Attack 3. A Day at the Races 4. News of the World 5. The Miralce 6. Hot Space 7. The Game 8. The Works 9. Queen II 10. A Night at the Opera 11. Queen 12. Innuendo 13. A Kind of Magic 14. Made in Heaven 15. Flash Gordon
Crazy little thing called Love was a weird 180 switch up, who would have expected them to do a rockabilly song in 1980 after all of what they had before that was a colossal bust out
much like your favourite Dr Who or Bond, the albums you love tend to be the ones you grew up with/first heard. (not always). my first gig was the first night at wembley on the magic tour. managed to get to just a few feet from the front. they played the Lap of the Gods part 2 which was super rare at that point. i was a very happy 15 year old. i used to play night at Opera and Heart Attack in my head to get to sleep when i was preteen. those two albums are the sweet spot for me. who wants to live forever is a great tune passing the open windows off Works is great. Brian hates Hot Space. and i agree with him.
Brilliant Andy. Getting dtuck in to 1986 crap production, DX7's and drum programming. All totally spot on. Keep up the great work and ignore the moaners...
"Prophet Song" is THE Queen track. Amazingly, when they featured the making of the album on "Classic Albums", they covered every track except Prophet Song!
Queen were always a popular music band and not an avant garde one. I yearned for them to go left-field but they never did. They were essentially a "Good Times" band. But they were a very accomplished good times outfit.
Queen II is there best album by far so proggy
If Queen II was the only album they ever made, they'd still be legendary!
Agree
Queen II definitely a masterpiece and their best - the only downside is, it's doesn't have Bring Back Leroy Brown on it
@@treff9226They'd have been forgotten if Queen II was the only album they'd ever made, as excellent as it is.
@@bwpm1467Of course, Queen would be nowhere as big as they are, if Queen II was their only release, but there are a few potentially legendary bands, solo artists, who only made one sparkling album and are well remembered for it! I'm gonna send you a list to see what you think of these "one album wonders".
For what it's worth: Zappa wasn't one to offer much praise to rock bands during the 70s. He pointed to Queen's studio work more than once.
Hot Space was an abomination to music. Apart from that, they were mint.
I enjoyed side two, but never need to hear the disco stuff again.
@@LorraineHinchliffe-vg5cbFun fact: a friend of Freddie Mercury absolutely loved *Hot Space* so much that he tried to mimic its musical style on his own solo album.
The album would become the biggest selling album of the 80s and 90s.
That album was "Thriller."
That friend of Mercury? ...it was Michael Jackson.
@@RichWards-Wins By the way, Michael Jackson can consider himself one of the fathers of “Another One Bites The Dust”. Neither Mercury, nor May, nor Taylor wanted this song. They called it "disco thrash". And Jackson is rumored to have helped protect John Deacon's masterpiece. According to rumors, Deacon even invited Jackson to include him in the list of authors of this super song. But the King of Pop refused
@@eminzeynali6325 so true.
I absolutely LOVE *A Kind of Magic*
It is the Epic album that made me a hardcore fan and inspired me to increase my physical health.
"Gimme the Prize" and "Princes of the universe" pump you up..
And "Who wants to live Forever" says a touching goodbye to those dearly beloved ones who have passed on too soon.
And "One Vision" is the best opener of any album.
Glorious.
Such a good album! Haven’t heard it in a while.
One Year of Love always had a spot in my heart. Nobody can sell the cheese like Freddie
Magic was the first new Queen album I bought and as an 11year old I loved it. Now despite there being great tracks on it Prize and Princes. The remaining great tracks are on G/Hits 2 (Magic, Forever and Vision) leaving tracks I no longer like as much, so often skip. Therefore as an album it fails, for me. But, if you love it. Great.
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings. YEAH!
@@elasmojones Legendary stuff.
Another great ranking. I feel a musician gives a different insight and looks at music differently and, at times, a fresh and new perspective on some of my favourite music. Thanking you 😊
I bring up how good Innuendo is all the time to music friends and usually they don't know it at all. From the first time I heard it when it came out I felt it was very underrated and one of their best Album I would probably even put it higher in the list
IMHO, Innuendo was better than any of the 80's albums....by far. Yes, people....including The Game.
@@vman365 oh for sure
Your description of “We are the champions” reminded of when Freddie would say in concert, “This next song is only for beautiful people. That’s all of you.” That always touched me. Whether he meant a word of it, who knows…but he sold it, and it was amazing.
In the song *Was it all worth it* QUEEN said to the fans: "We Love you madly!"
Summed up how Freddie and the boys felt about their audiences.
I think he meant it.
What an awesome thing to say! Got the "feels" simply by reading that!
Maybe he meant it. Maybe he just liked the money he got from their worship. Who knows?
I always thought it was just some silly teasing with the crowd. A bit like when 10cc went "I don't like reggae......I love it!".
@@SpaceCattttt Well, he definitely made $$$ from the worship, that’s for sure. Related, our household’s veterinarian attended Freddie’s estate auction and surprised us by bringing us the Sotheby’s book. Kinda cool to see all Freddie’s stuff, from knick-knacks to super-expensive/rare items. He otherwise came back empty-handed, though. The one item he was prepared to bid on went for several times his max $$$.
I am so glad. Happy. Ecstatic. Thought I was the only one in the world who thought Jazz is their greatest album. And it is! What a unique record. Mustapha sent me frantically to the (cheap) speaker cables when I first bought it.
I absolutely love Bring back that leroy brown, its like the soundtrack of a very weird, very tongue in cheek fleischer cartoon, and the part with the ukulele kills me every time.
I remember first buying Jazz and cranking it up, wondering why Mustapha wasn't that loud. Suddenly, May's crushing double-tracked riff comes barreling in. I was like that guy sitting in a chair in that old Maxell commercial getting utterly blown away.
And it goes mono to stereo too...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Blimey I'd never noticed that! I was probably too busy putting new speakers in me stereo after Mustapha had blown em...again LOL!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yes. It's absolutely brilliant.
I was lucky enough to see Queen on three occasions supporting three consecutive albums,those being A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races and News of the World. All three shows at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. All were spectacular. Thanks Queen.
You saw them at their peak.
Read a story where Queen and the Sex Pistols were recording in the same studio (may have been the News Of The World album)…and Sid Vicious walked in while Freddy was in the booth recording vocals.
Sid proceeded to mock Freddy asking if he was still trying to bring opera to the masses etc.
Freddy called him ‘Simon Ferocious’ which pissed him off and Sid was escorted out of the studio.
Freddy with the razor sharp wit.
Always interesting to see where people place “Hot Space” . For me , I like it
Naked ladies on bicycles is one tiny step removed from the Batley Townswomen's Guild's reenactment of the Battle Of Hastings...
Why are there no women in Freddy Mercury's home movies?
@@drjerry5389Because they wanted to be in the bicycle video instead, I suppose...
One of the finest observations, fine sir.😂
@@drjerry5389 Wasn't there some singer in a British 60s band called The King Bees?
Krusty the Clown’s quote comes to mind: “Burn that seat.”
Hi Andy, Spot on review, keep these entertaining reviews coming - cheers Matt
Great video. Thanks!
That ABBA-Queen video idea you mentioned sounds great! I was born early january ‘72 and both ABBA and Queen were there non-stop in those early formative years: in the top 40 on the radio, on television and on records in our house!
I loved all those songs! Don’t know exactly why. Could it be that young children really love the kinds of combinations in melody, harmony and rhythm both ABBA and Queen had?
Being Dutch, I could not understand the lyrics as a young child. Just screamed along phonetically, 😅.
My mother kept me from hanging the Jazz album poster on the wall in my bedroom. Perhaps understandable, because I was 7 at the time. Must be in the attick somewhere at my parent’s house...
As a child I had the same feeling with Good Vibrations and Sloop John B of off my father’s Beach Boys records and with one particular single my mother had called Grocer Jack by Keith West...
I’ve kept loving music! Prog too. Guess I would’ve had serious bad dreams if I would’ve listened too songs like Red as a youngster... Too much fantasy when I was young, 😄.
Now I’ve been playing bass in bands for over 35 years. All because of Queen and ABBA to be honest. Love it!!
🖖
You sir, have good musical taste.
I have a love/hate relationship with Queen, and that varies from track to track, not just album to album. They veer from sublime to excruciating and no album is unblemished. I've always thought 1970's Queen and 1970's Rush would make a good direct comparison, because they both started out around the same time, with similar influences (Lifeson and May in particular have a lot of common ground) and continued to learn and develop through the decade in different ways. Sometimes Queen were ahead, sometimes Rush.
I like Supertramp more than both. "Even in the quietest moments" is one of my all time best albums.
Queen was “my band” growing up, so I could never find fault with them back in the day. Videos like this one, and comments like yours, help me realize that in hindsight, they were far from perfect. But as you say, they developed over time. They seemed unafraid to alienate their fans and never seemed to follow trends, except perhaps in the case of “Hot Space,” with results we’re all acutely aware of.
@@thomasbonnett4800 I was never quite sure who Queen fans were. I wouldn't count myself as one, even though I own and enjoy, all the albums up to Hot Space. As far as I could tell, they weren't the people like me who were listening to Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC, or the people who were into Yes and Genesis. It seemed to be more the ones who were into Glam and Pop, and who didn't make themselves immediately identifiable by appearance. Some of them were even girls.
@@delorangeade Far more female fans than other 70s rock/prog bands for sure. I notice more overlap with people who like (for example) Bowie, T Rex, Bee Gees and ABBA, and not the bands you named.
@@jimmycampbell78 That's exactly right, glam and pop.
You missed out on not seeing Queen live. I had the pleasure of seeing them 5 times starting with the Hyde Park free concert in 1976. The Earls Court show 6th June 1977 was pure theatre. Sheer Heart Attack at number one for me.
There it is - Sheer Heart Attack flipped my lid! Brian May in full bloom!
I got into Queen in the early ‘80s thanks to hearing “Bohemian Rhapsody” played through a friend’s new stereo. I rushed out immediately and bought their entire catalogue used on cassette. I learned that I missed their last U.S. tour by a year or so, and was crestfallen, particularly when my brother told me he saw that tour and said it was the best concert he’d ever witnessed. B-stard!
How was Earls Court show? How was the sound? I think it's the Greatest concert of Queen. Unfortunately there is no good quality recording.
Thanks for giving Hot space some love. I saw them at Leeds in 82' when they toured the album and tracks like Staying Power where amazing live. May and Deacon dual guitars!! The album was ahead of its time. It influenced Michael Jackson and Extreme were big fans. You can hear its influence on their album Pornografitti.
I love Hot Space too. I even love Body Language because it's so stupid. It sounds like something off of the Kenny Everett show.
Being a musician. All those bands you mentioned are of course great and classic and influential but Queen influenced my early music interest and creativity more than others. Brian Mays guitar, the heavy tones and the orchestrated multi layered guitars. The vocal harmonies. And like The Beatles the fact that their albums had all styles of songs.
The first things I did when I got a 4 track recorder were little guitar orchestrations. And it taught a lot about how to mix multiple tones together.
OMG I so agree with your no 1. I’m from ‘65 and grew up loving all of Queen but the only album I ever bought was Jazz. It’s brilliant.
Excellent stuff Andy ! I saw Freddie and the boys 4 times in the 70´s. What amazed me was that their album sound was impossible to recreate live but they absolutely nailed the songs. Easily the best live band ever(and I´ve seen a few). They deinitely drifted in the 80`s but for me at their best they WERE the best. My top 5 would be Shear Heart Attack, Queen II, Jazz, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races. So all in all, not disimilar to yours. P.S. You can´t be serious about Father to Son sounding like the Beach Boys ! I think you mean Funny How Love Is from the same album.
My top 5; 5. Jazz, 4. Sheer Heart Attack, 3. A Night At The Opera, 2. Queen, 1. Queen II (absolute perfection)
Top songs; Great King Rat, My Fairy King, All of Queen II (except Funny How Love Is), Prophet Song. Dead On Time, Doin' All Right, Liar, & Sheer Heart Attack, to name a few.
I absolutely adore Queen. Sheer heart Attack was my first album and still my fav. Hot Space is my fav from the 80's and beyond.
They are just brilliant.
Cheers.
I was never a particular Queen fan; I was more into classic rock and early metal. But I always thought that Sheer Heart Attack was a great album.
Sheer Heart Attack is mint. Andy mentioned that the album has some 'filler' but he doesn't know what he's talking about.
Andy! No filler on Sheer Heart Attack, it's, along with Queen II, their highpoint. It still sounds completely fresh and explodes with ideas and HEAVINESS!
That's wonderful to see Jazz getting some love!
Hot Space is great lots of fun - love the production on it. Glad to hear some love for Staying Power.
Yes!! A whole video just for Hot Space. Sign me up.
Great video Andy, and yes, I can see how you rate 'Jazz' as your favourite but I just think the production/mix needed more oomph on some of the heavier/rockier tracks. FYI the lead acoustic guitar on News Of the World's Spanish/Reggae 'Who Needs You' was played by John Deacon. Indeed he played some rhythm acoustic on many tracks and also the electric, funky Nile Rodgers-esque riff on Another One Bites the Dust .
Jazz was the first Queen album I bought but Queen II is always my favourite.
I've always liked Jazz, superb album marred only by the daft 'reprise/medley thing at the end of More of that Jazz,the guitar of which is utterly smokin '. Dead on Time also smashes it. Great vid Anders, keep em coming
For me songs that you never tire of make them great..night opera only has good company..my faves are sheer heart n jazz..the prob with prog is it's often melodically dull..just acrobatics...more of that jazz is my fave on jazz..tends to get dismissed..but that gritty beatley guitar riff is great...Taylors 1st solo album fun in space is a classic that never tires for me...
I like what Andy said about the big 80s production on A Kind Of Magic and how it mars the album. It got me thinking that the next big trend could be getting big name producers (such as Steven Wilson) to remix 80s albums that suffer from that big 80s 'gated-reverb' drum sound and bring out the 'hidden gems' within. The albums could then be re-appraised as 'lost classics'. Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love would be my first choice for this treatments. Artists like Queen could them flog their product to us again to make even more dosh! I say this with a mix of genuine enthusiasm and cynicism.
Damn Andy, I bought Jazz when it came out. Loved it then and still, and always felt that it got the cold shoulder from critics and fans alike. The last song/collage I always loved too. Kudos to you for challenging the status quo. (Although for me Sheer Attack would be on 2 and Q-II on 3)
You had it right to begin with as QUEEN II is not only their best album , but in my top 20 of all albums. Remarkable and so enjoyable to listen to. When an album has to be played all the way through because you WANT to hear it all at once..then you know you have a masterpiece.
It is my favourite too !
LOVE every song on that album.
I never skip a track.
Queen 2 is a musical masterpiece
Agree
I've been online for about 20 years and I've noticed that nearly every "serious" Queen fan, (not the people who only have Greatest Hits 1 and 2) rate Queen II as the best. I agree as well.
Fantastic. Love your analysis Andy and find it difficult to disagree with any of your placings. Great reveal; to me anyway, of 'No time for losers'. Brilliant
Jazz is my favourite album too!!! I always joke with my mates, imagine being in a band and turning up to band practice and going "I have this song" and launching into Bicycle race. They'd think you were nuts!... but somehow Queen pull it off and make something amazing. I've always loved that Bicycle Race and Fat Bottomed Girls reference each other with the lines 'Fat bottomed girls they'll be riding today" and "Get on your bikes and ride!"
My favorite too, I love the production, especially Rogers drum sound!
That's cos they were released as a double A sided single, as was WATC/WWRY.
Funny.... my favourite songs are especially BECAUSE of the 80's production.
I Want It All and Radio GaGa has an absolutely gorgeous sound which evokes so much emotion....
i reviewed this album for a free newspaper / campus paper back when released. I gave it a Very Good rating. 4/5. a lot of folks emailed me or called me to say I was crazy so the following week I changed my review and gave JAZZ. A 5 OUT OF 5. SAYING IT WAS GREAT. Seems I am in good company.
That was spot on although I wouldn't go for Jazz as N°1.
Don't stop me now : best power pop song ever.
Something has to be said about Roy Thomas Baker, producer of their best albums. He was an important part of their signature sound.
Absolute bonkers ranking xD
for me on any given day my top 3 is interchangeable, with A Night at the Opera, Sheer Heart Attack and Queen II my favourites.
Live they were really something else - untouchable in my humble opinion 🙂
I’ve never heard members of Queen speak about Genesis, but after Chris Squire’s passing Brian May said that when they were starting out all the Queen guys were big Yes fans. They took particular interest in Yes’ example of layering complex vocals on top of superlative rock playing, and wanted to do the same only heavier. He also described being in awe of Squire’s bass sound, “a full-frequency thwack” as he described it. And of course, much later on they got Steve Howe to add the Flamenco guitar solo on the track Innuendo.
Yes, I'm glad I can make these connections, you can learn a lot just using your ears
Legend has it, that in the early seventies, Peter Gabriel wanted Roger Taylor to be the drummer for Genesis. But fortunately he declined the offer.
It's funny that you mention ABBA in connection with Queen. In 1980 (I was 12), we had the fashion in class of ironing the names of our favorite bands onto our denim jackets using iron-on letters. Back then it was mostly Kiss or ACDC. There was a boy who had ironed on the letters for ABBA and Queen. I found the mix...um...remarkable, but in some ways fitting and, of course, brave ;-)
Excellent. I too, currently would have ‘Jazz’ as my No.1 Queen album and it features heavily on my Queen playlist. I always questioned whether it was simply because that was the album that was out when I ‘really’ started to get into music and had started to learn and instrument, as I kind of got the impression that proper full on Queen fans weren’t too big on it,( just an impression, I could be completely wrong). Now that you seem to have independently arrived at same conclusion then perhaps it’s become a little more objective,(as far as you can take these things).
Thank you Andy for the effort and the humility of putting this video together. And it's so on brand that you would find a reason to put Jazz in number one haha. But you have a point, it's also one of my favorites and it does sound like nothing else. They developed their sound in the 70s and the last album was their absolute peak, which to me is symbolized by Bicycle Race (their last real pastiche of effortless virtuosity). Then the new decade comes along and they start to play 'the game'. And right off the bat they succeed, like you said, in the same record they have probably the best disco song and the best rockabilly song ever. The 80s were definitely a lower standard for them but there are lots of gems to be found. I don't know, in terms of staying power, the Beatles take second place to Queen's catalogue, musicianship, songwriting and impact. And nobody else comes close. But that's just one guy's opinion.
Great choice #1!
59 years old. Love QUEEN since i heard A day at the Races after its release. Excellent ranking and someone else who doesn't think that Hot Space is such a 'dud' album :) And No. 1 - JAZZ .. Fabulous .. !!!! Jazz .. overlooked and underrated .. but .. fabulous atmospheric album!!
Thanks Andy I did like this video. I think I understand where you’re coming from. Personally they have made one heck of a musical impact and I feel they have more than earned their accolades 😎👍
You’re underrating Innuendo. The Show Must Go On is everything Queen. Their entire catalogue in one song.
My favourite band. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching your review of the albums Andy, and your 'live' dilemma regarding their addition to your overrated bands list. Your dilemma reflects the sheer diversity (and the dichotomy) of Queen's music.
I must be one of the few, but I think the last two (real) albums, The Miracle and Innuendo, made up a great era for the band. Production and sound were just on point, the blend of harder guitar sound with synth and pop sounds was perfect. And the emotional depth of what the band was going through at the time gives these albums something special. Come on: to name one song at random, The Invisible Man with its synth bass and May's unique guitar work was as good as anything any veteran band from the 70s was doing in 1989.
the first 3 songs on The Miracle are a flawless suite
Thoroughly enjoyable hour, Queen hold a special place in my heart as the first band I saw (“A Day At The Races” tour) and one of my favourite bands of all time. My ranking wouldn’t differ too much to yours and the surprise that you have “Jazz” at no 1 I completely respect. It’s certainly high on my list and I believe it’s a bit of an underestimated album. I think you’re right, I haven’t thought of this before, but it does personify Queen perfectly. For me they stand with The Who as the two most unique bands ever.
Great review Andy. For me, (and not an official album) 'Queen at the Beeb' captures their best collection of songs and performances. They're all on it.
I´m as excited as a very excited person who has an exciting reason to be excited.....
The most exciting thing I've ever read!
In 1973 I bought the first album and saw them live. In 1974, they became a pop group and I went off them!
Because only the unwashed peasants like pop music. Only culturally inferior people like catchy music. The idea that a mere commoner could go into a store and buy a SINGLE from a band I like fills me with disgust. Ugh!
Congratulations on quitting your job and succeeding on RUclips. I just subscribed a couple of days ago. Great stuff. I tend to agree with most of your points, even the hated ones.
My father introduced me to The Beatles when I was a little boy in the ‘80s, but Queen was the 1st band I discovered on my own. Unfortunately, Freddie would die not long after, but they made a huge impact on my music listening. I have over 50 songs by Queen on my massive Spotify playlist of over 1200 songs and counting and for 2 years in a row have topped my most listened to band according to the Year End Wrap. My favorite albums are as you mentioned to us hard rock / metal guys, the 1st 3 albums, but that’s what I like. “Queen II” to me is one of the few perfect albums. I can listen to every single song and not skip one.
Ditto on Queen II!
Queen is certainly not over rated. Millions can't be wrong. They tried almost everything and succeeded in most of it. Legends. Thanks for this. P.S I love Jazz. Dare I say an underrated album? Cheers.
Millions can't be wrong...oh, they can...ruclips.net/video/Qq_jR_AeU_U/видео.htmlsi=mBA1gWiWQS0Vrxkl
Millions can certainly be wrong. Musically, politically etc... one doesn't even need to look back in history.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm disappointed to say the least. I was talking about the music and the masses of people who freely bought their music. Not millions of people brainwashed or forced into following dictators. If we are bringing this stuff into music reviews then it is a sad, sad day.
I guess Ed Sheeran is better than John Coltrane then.
i was just making the point that just because lots of people think something, it doesn't mean its correct
Prog connection: Steve Howe played guitar on innuendo.
It is very ease to pick #1: A Night at the Opera. Of the later albums, A Day at the Races and Jazz are good in my opinion.
Hi Andy! Completely agree with choice of No. 1 - Jazz through its variety sums up Queen perfectly . 'Dead on Time' is an underrated rock song and for me 'Bicycle Race' has to be a prog masterpiece in less than 3 minutes.
In past years Queen never seemed to be a "cool" band to be into so I'm a bit surprised at their current popularity. But not unpleasantly surprised. I personally think that like other bands like The Beatles for some people the fact that they wrote catchy and accessible music is in some weird way a reason they shouldn't be too lauded. In my experience people who dislike Queen tend to be (overly forced) cynical or hipster types who associate catchiness with shallowness. The type who would roll their eyes at the thought of Holst's The Planets suite but enthuse over "challenging" composers like Stravinsky. The Queen haters I've seen online tend to be into stuff like Velvet Underground, The Stones, Bob Dylan or punk. Whatever.
Tonight, I'm going to have myself, a real good time... And listen to Jazz. And that is where first got into Queen.
My personal fav always was Jazz, and... the one everyone trashes and destroys, Hot Space, is also one of my favs, with Sheer Heart and Queen I. But i love every album
I really think they are number one. I love this band and ready to listen to them anytime. Even Hot Space has its moments
I watched Flash Gordon last night just to hear Queen's brilliance!
About One Vision on A Kind of Magic. It was actually a song in the soundtrack for a movie called Iron Eagle (pretty sure that was the name of the movie). So, AKOM was a soundtracks album.
Delighted to see Jazz at the top of this list. I always thought I was crazy for loving that one so much!
Thanks Andy. I love Queen and agree with most of what you said. Hot Space was where I drifted and went over to hard rock and my least favourite.
Great ranking or assessment! I love Queen and in my opinion they are one of the greatest bands ever. I do agree with the 70's versus the 80's albums. Are they overrated? No, i don't think so, they were a very creative, productive and talented band with 4 songwriters and incredible live performances. Also, overrated in what sense? I don't really care, i like all kinds of music and i listen to what i like regardless if it's overrated or popular or not. Thanks for the video Andy and your channel is becoming another one of my favorites regarding music and stuff (others being @rickbeato and @JustinHawkinsRidesAgain)👍 P.S. Besides rankings and lists, i would like to hear some (funny)stories of your own experiences in the music industry over the years and maybe some drumming tips, your one hell of a drummer I've seen. Just a thought😄
I've got a little more into your video's and found some great drumming tips/lessons already. Great fun!
In no particular order my top five are the first five. My bottom 5 are The Cosmos Rocks, A Kind of Magic, Made in Heaven, The Game, Hot Space. This takes into account Greatest Hits etc. I love the Flash Gordon soundtrack, but not really counting it.
The best thing about "Mustapha" is how the mix makes everything feel so tiny at first, daring you to turn up the volume. Then everything suddenly bursts out of the speakers and kicks your face in 😆 Jazz is very underrated, it's such a fun yet batshit record.
There are 2 albums i can listen from start to finish: heart attack & the races.
The rest are having 2-3 bits here &there- the way it sounds to me...
Great band anyway
See what you've started already Andy!! You are pure evil 😊
Jazz is my fave. Yes. Really.
2. II
3. Sheer Heart Attack
I’m amazed at the continuing omnipresence of this band. I couldn’t get away from them as a youth, and try as I might, I still can’t!
If you can't beat 'em join 'em.
@@BBlooger No thanks.
@@andrewmacdonald3667 There must be at least one little song of theirs that you like? Maybe not.
@@BBlooger To be fair, they were consistent in their awfulness.
@@BBlooger I see what you did there ;-)
From Queen 2 to Night at the Opera they were brilliant. After that, they were done.
A very wise comment. Hey I was dissing them earlier. I like them. Just not that much. And less so since this latest and probably brief rejuvenation.
What’s wrong with A Day at the Races?
@@zachjohnson637 It's "okay" -- basically a rehashing of what they already did with Opera -- right down to using a Marx Brother movie title. .
@@NelsonMontana1234 The cover and title are a rehashing, but I don’t find the music to be all that similar. There are no cutesy pastiche songs (which is like half of A Night at the Opera) other than Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy. And the gospel style of Somebody to Love is unique. It’s certainly not any more similar musically to A Night at the Opera than A Night at the Opera was to Sheer Heart Attack.
Could you tell something about this lovely Les Paul by your wall?
My favorite album is a kind of magic.
Cheers!
I own all queen releases with fredie mercury. Queen II is their best lp i think, and Killer Queen. Hot Space is an interesting lp and not really bad, but obscure.
Here's how bad Hot Space is: Junior high pep rally, herded into the front row against my will. Cheerleader squad does routine to "Body Language." There I was, in the midst of puberty, with girls gyrating right in front of me, and the only thought going through my mind at that moment: "Damn, this song blows."
😂 backchat is da bomb as da kidz used to say. Probably
Lol! That sums up the mediocrity of Hot Space perfectly! It's not so much music as it is a form of birth control. 😁
I think Hot Space is criminally underrated.
It probably would just miss my Top 5, really!
Yeah for Jazz! Yeah for a Queen-Abba comparison video!
Tell you what though... despite the 80's production, I personally would put The Works at number two! Just love the songs on that album. Apart from that, I'd agree with much of what you say here. Cheers!
Simply brilliant Video Andy. I don't entirely agree with all your rankings, but you make a very strong case for your opinions. On the whole I still think Night at the Opera, Marx brothers title 1, is the best, but you have made me want to relisten to Jazz so we shall see if you've made me change my mind. I still hate Hot Space, apart from Under Pressure, though.
Thank you for avoiding the knee-jerk rockist reaction to Hot Space, an album I adore and return to often. I did a video with the Contrarians on this album that I recommend for those seeking different perspectives on it
Wow Andy, my favorite band when people ask such a question. Jazz huh, well just excellent.
A Kind of Magic was one of the first songs by them that grabbed my attention. I was aware of Queen and I definitely remember hearing We will Rock You and a few others but not many. Hearing that guitar riff of May on AKoM for the 1st time is what dragged me into being a fan so that album would always rate higher for me.
So pleased to see Jazz ranked so high- I thought I was the only one who rated this as one of their best !!!
Andy Edwards as someone who has been a fan of Queen since I was 11 (sadly a year after Fred died), I found your ranking refreshing. You draw attention to some heavily repeated views and flip them.
Personally, I listen to Hot Space way more than albums like the Miracle (it's not that bad). People always put NATO at the top, occasionally it's SHA (my fave) but you rightly hold up Jazz, which is a bit Marmite (but this means that half the fan base absolutely adores it). I find Jazz to be that rare forgotten gem, a rich puddingy treat to be enjoyed once in a while. Lastly, thank you for championing Made in Heaven. Came out in my teens and was an unexpected treat. I didn't really know the solo material that they reworked so all those tunes were new to me but Sweet Mother Love and Winter's Tale are sublime vocal tracks.
Loving the videos, only just found you, CAR and Prog Corner through the algorithm. Keep up the great work!
I remember listening to Jazz when it came out. I’ve heard all the other albums but it’s still my favourite. From Mustapha to all that jazz it’s perfection.
17.) Flash
16.) A kind of Magic
15.) The Works
14.) Innuendo
13.) with Adam Lambert "We will Rock you (The Musical Journey)"
12.) Hot Space
11.) The Cosmos rocks
10.) Sheer Heart Attack
09.) Jazz
08.) Queen II
07.) A Day at the Races
06.) A Night at the Opera
05.) Made in Heaven
04.) Queen
03.) News of the World
02.) The Game
01.) (my first Queen Album) The Miracle
🤭 This is just *my* Opinion and also I got ranked these Compilations:
05.) Greatest Hits III
04.) Queen Rocks
03.) Greatest Hits
02.) Queen Forever
01.) Greatest Hits II
Interesting ranking and insight in your thinking. Totally different from how I would put together the list. For example Jazz would be much lower for me because of the week side 2. On top for me definitely Queen II and News of the World (and Sheer Heart Attack). NotW for me is one the most perfect albums ever made - consistent even when it is so diverse and the only one without a week song. I was never and never will be a fan of the overblown mishmash of Night of the Opera (I like Day at the races more). At the bottom definitely The Miracle, Hot Spaces, Kind of Magic, and Flash Gordon. The Workl was my first Queen album as a teen so I naturally rank it higher..
I love the production of "Sheer Heart Attack"! Plus it has Brian May doing proto-thrash riffs doesn't it?! Wow! Amazing.
1. Jazz
2. Sheer Heart Attack
3. A Day at the Races
4. News of the World
5. The Miralce
6. Hot Space
7. The Game
8. The Works
9. Queen II
10. A Night at the Opera
11. Queen
12. Innuendo
13. A Kind of Magic
14. Made in Heaven
15. Flash Gordon
Crazy little thing called Love was a weird 180 switch up, who would have expected them to do a rockabilly song in 1980 after all of what they had before that was a colossal bust out
Agreed love Jazz Mustapha is my alarm call
Incredible...like the esoteric heart of Bohemian Rhapsody.
A Night At The Opera for me - perfect album and The Prophets Song is my fave Queen track.
much like your favourite Dr Who or Bond, the albums you love tend to be the ones you grew up with/first heard. (not always).
my first gig was the first night at wembley on the magic tour. managed to get to just a few feet from the front. they played the Lap of the Gods part 2 which was super rare at that point. i was a very happy 15 year old. i used to play night at Opera and Heart Attack in my head to get to sleep when i was preteen. those two albums are the sweet spot for me.
who wants to live forever is a great tune
passing the open windows off Works is great.
Brian hates Hot Space. and i agree with him.
Brilliant Andy. Getting dtuck in to 1986 crap production, DX7's and drum programming. All totally spot on. Keep up the great work and ignore the moaners...
Thanks, will do!
I love Hot Space! Under Pressure, Life is Real (song for Lennon), Cool Cat .. well, I did grow up with it at home (my sister had the CD)
"Prophet Song" is THE Queen track. Amazingly, when they featured the making of the album on "Classic Albums", they covered every track except Prophet Song!
You put The Miracle that low and below Flash Gordon and Hot Space (although l do agree with you about this album)... My mind has just blown💥
Queen were always a popular music band and not an avant garde one. I yearned for them to go left-field but they never did. They were essentially a "Good Times" band. But they were a very accomplished good times outfit.
I always loved Jazz more than any of my friends.