Queen: Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano); Brian May (guitar, harp, ukulele,
background vocals); John Deacon (electric piano, acoustic & electric
basses); Roger Taylor (percussion, background vocals).
Recorded at Sarm Studios, Roundhouse Studios, Olympic Studios, Scorpio Studios,
Landsdowne Studios, London, England and Rockfield Studios, Wales.
Though they began their career practicing an artier, more theatrical variant on
the Led Zeppelin heavy rock sound, Queen was always capable of much more.
Ultimately, Freddie and the boys were popsters at heart, and capable ones to
boot. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA is where they begin to show their eclecticism and
compositional facility. The album title is probably a reference to the FM rock
anthem “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which begins as an existential ballad before
moving into a mock-operatic section featuring scores of overdubbed Freddie
Mercurys.
“Rhapsody” is just the tip of the iceberg here. “Lazing on a Sunday
Afternoon” is a music hall ditty that owes a debt to the Kinks. “‘39” is
a surprisingly poignant folk-rocker written and sung by Brian May. “You're My
Best Friend” is pure '70s AM melodic pop. Queen even ventures into vaudeville
territory (given Mercury's show biz leanings, not as much of a stretch as one
might think) on the fatalistic, old-timey “Good Company.” There are several
souped-up rockers here as well, but it's A NIGHT AT THE OPERA's winning
stylistic experimentation that makes it a milestone in Queen history.
What the critics say…
Q (6/00, p.72) – Ranked #41 in Q's “100 Greatest British Albums”
Q (12/93, p.143) – 3 Stars – Good – “…Even 'Bohemian Rhapsody’
pales into significance next to the epic eight-minute toss of ‘The Prophet
Song’…”
Mojo (Publisher) (7/02, p.27) – “…An imperial extravaganza, a cornucopia;
a band of hungrily competitive individualists on a big roll of friendship and
delight…”