A Right Royal Rocker

 

Album: A Night At The Opera
Artist: Queen
Label: EMI, Parlophone (Europe) Elektra, Hollywood (US)
Release Date: November 21, 1975
Chart position/sales: (UK) Platinum / (US) 3x Platinum

English rock/pop group Queen was formed in 1971 and originally consisted of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (vocals, guitar), John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). A Night At The Opera was their third album, and the springboard that catapulted their music into the spotlight. Aside from the fact that I knew this was one of Queen’s best-known albums, I really picked A Night At The Opera because of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I still remember the first time I heard it at about age 8 and how it blew. my. mind. If you haven’t yet listened to it, I refuse to believe that you have a life. I suggest you rectify that problem ASAP. Anyway, I was curious to see what else Queen were writing at the same time as they produced that bit of genius and I was pleased to discover that although no other song can ever measure up to the epicness of “Rhapsody”, the rest of the track listing came pretty darn close.

Clearly Queen don’t do polite introductions – or fond farewells. Track 1 throws us into a dramatic Classical-style piano intro  that suddenly erupts into the most ferocious hate-letter of a song, “Death On Two Legs (Dedicated to)”. Thought to be dedicated to Queen’s ex-manager Norman Sheffield, who abused his position and mistreated the band, this song caused Sheffield to attempt to sue them. He failed, as his name is never mentioned in the song – but it’s not hard to see why he got upset. Blast after blast of pure vindictiveness that holds your attention captive in slight shock and horror, and just when you think the worst must be over, Mercury blasts out “You can kiss my ass goodbye” with such venom I admit I giggled. And listen carefully, you wouldn’t want to miss the support of the backing vocals: “Do you feel like suicide?/ I think you should”. Let’s just say that this is the ultimate career-wrecking revenge tactic, with a good dose of Awesome thrown in.

You would be forgiven for wondering whether the rest of the album will follow a similar vein, but the mood instantly does a 360 with the comical airs of “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon” (Random side note: Every time I mention this song, people starting singing The Kinks instead…try it and see :P) and then the absolutely epic but cleverly hilarious “I’m In Love With My Car” (even Queen didn’t take it seriously and almost didn’t record it at all!). By this time you’ve quite forgotten Freddie’s verbose insult-hurling and the album rocks along with sweet lyrics (“You’re My Best Friend”) and amazing, playful and often childish-sounding riffs that are startlingly gutsy when they come screaming out of Brian May’s electric. It’s not all comedic though - “Sweet Lady” and “Love Of My Life” provide gutsy rock outbursts and a hard rock rendition of “God Save The Queen” closes the album with a patriotic bang.

What I love most about this album is that there is absolutely no mistaking that this is Queen. The curiously complex guitar riffs that were designed by Mercury on piano before they were ever rent from a guitar by Brian May, the over-the-top extravagance of Mercury’s piano parts, the colourful harmonies, big rock melodies and the freely changing themes  and tempos that create a complex tapestry of musical layers which has to be listened to more than once so as not to miss a note of its sophistication. By turns furious and gutsy, deliciously comical and chilled and sentimental, A Night At The Opera reeks of talent that said “This is us”, threw the rules out and got it so right. An invigoratingly rocking album that deserves its place in the classics. 4/5 stars

Listen to: Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon, Bohemian Rhapsody

Is It Worth My $$$? -  I discovered after the fact that A Night At The Opera features in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - and there is no doubt that this is an iconic album full of first class rock/pop music. Definitely worth the moolah and having it on your shelf or iPod will scream ‘music buff’ to the world. Personally though, I may be opting for a ‘Best of Queen’ compilation as I’m rather partial to their later work as well.