A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

It was with A Night At The Opera that Queen really found themselves. The Led Zeppelin undertones of their first two records had long gone and the sound established on Sheer Heart Attack was now fully under control. Yet its more than that, pieces like the infamous Progressive Rock Opera Bohemian Rhapsody or its lesser known counterpart The Prophet's Song (featuring some of the most dense and complex vocal arrangements in popular music) are the clearest evidence possible that Queen, in one giant step, crowned themselves one of the greatest bands in history. There is a high dosage of quality running through each and every track here, the moving balladesque numbers like Love Of My Life and '39 deserve much more respect than is received from the casual Queen fan and few can argue with the fuzzy guitar-driven Rock riffing of Sweet Lady. Even the silly songs, I'm In Love With My Car (Sung by the spectacular countertenoring drummer Roger Taylor), Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon and Seaside Rendezvous deliver the goods and one can't help feel good about life while listening to You're My Best Friend. Uplifting and infectious, weird and experimental A Night At The Opera is an album never topped by Queen or many other bands at all for that matter!