Queen – A Night At The Opera (Vinyl)
Elektra Records (1975)

2 reviews for Queen – A Night At The Opera (Vinyl)
Elektra Records (1975)

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Geoff – November 27, 2018

   A finely crafted work of pop genius, 'A Night at the Opera' is a must have for fans of classic '70s rock. The fourth album by Queen, released in 1975, proved to be their masterpiece. They unleashed their finest hard rock album ‘Sheer Heart Attack’ the year before and were beginning to get some popularity with the hit single “Killer Queen”. ‘A Night at the Opera’ however made them a household name worldwide, due to the huge success of the phenomenal, groundbreaking song “Bohemian Rhapsody”. That track is a main feature of the album — but there is plenty more on offer. There is an overwhelming richness of melody, arrangements and classic vocals on ‘A Night at the Opera’. The variety is superb, with multi-tracked hard edged rock numbers such as “Death On Two Legs” and “The Prophet’s Song” on which guitarist Brian May shines. His rousing “39” is an irresistable, acoustic good time song as well. Drummer, Roger Taylor contributes the excellent “I’m In Love With My Car” while shy bassist John Deacon supplied the catchy pop hit “You’re My Best Friend”. Freddie Mercury, of course, demands complete attention with flamboyant songs such as “Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon” and “Seaside Rendezous”. One of the finest pieces on ‘A Night at the Opera’ is the deeply moving and delicately beautiful “Love of My Life” which would become an emotional sing-a-long for crowds when Queen performed it in concert. Undoubtedly a finely crafted work of pop genius, ‘A Night at the Opera’ is a must have for fans of classic ’70s rock!
2. 

   5 out of 5

   AMG – November 27, 2018

   The appeal -- and the influence -- of A Night at the Opera is in its detailed, meticulous productions. 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 (“Death on Two Legs,” “Sweet Lady”), pop (the lovely, shimmering “You’re My Best Friend”), campy British music hall (“Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon,” “Seaside Rendezvous”), and mystical prog rock (“’39,” “The Prophet’s Song”), 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.