HOT SPACE

"Hot Space" is the tenth studio album of Queen and that was released in 1982. This musical phase is marked by many changes, a notable shift in the direction from their earlier works. The band employed on it, many musical elements from pop, disco, rhythm and blues and dance music. By the other hand, the band included the use of synthesizers and electronic drums on albums and concerts. So, the final result was a very different style adopted by them in the 70's. It made of "Hot Space" less popular with fans that preferred the traditional rock style that was associated with the band.

"Hot Space" has eleven tracks. The first track "Staying Power" written by Freddie Mercury was released as a single in Japan and United States only. It's the only Queen's song, in all history of the band, to have a horn section. It's a song driven by a funky styled synthesizer bass riff that sounds as an electro-disco song. This is a very weak song. It's an awful way to open the album. The second track "Dancer" written by Brian May is a kind of a fusion between rock and disco. It searches to fuse heavy elements with danceable ones. It sounds as a Bee Gees' song they could have written during their disco phase. The third track "Back Chat" written by John Deacon was also chosen to be released as a single. It's the song on the album most influenced by the black music. It has a rock funky tune made to be dance music. The main interesting thing on it is a nice Brian May guitar solo. The fourth track "Body Language" written by Freddie Mercury was the second single of the album. This is a typical Queen's song of this musical period inspired in disco, funk and soul music, when the band temporarily abandoned their glam and experimental rock roots. It was a big dance hit that received an extensive radio play at the time. The fifth track "Action This Day" written by Roger Taylor, is clearly influenced by the style of the new wave, so in vogue at the time. It's a song driven by a pounding electronic drum machine. The only interesting things on it are the vocal duets and the chorus sung by Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor. The sixth track "Put Out The Fire" written by Brian May, is the most traditional Queen's song here. It was chosen to be released as the B side of their single "Calling All Girls". It has lead vocals by Freddie Mercury with Brian May singing lead vocals in falsetto at the end of the verse. It has a nice guitar solo by Brian May. It isn't a bad song, but it's a bit repetitive and I don't like of the Bee Gees' vocal parts. This isn't one of Brian May's best songs. The seventh track "Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)" written by Freddie Mercury, was chosen to be released as the B side of the single "Body Language". As it indicates, it's a tribute to John Lennon who was murdered in 1980. As most of John Lennon's songs, it features a piano based musical arrangement and a melancholic tone. It's a nice ballad that shows a different song from the preceding ones. I like this song that represents one of the few positive points on the album. The eighth track "Calling All Girls" written by Roger Taylor, was the fourth song chosen to be a single. He composed the song on guitar, playing feedback noises during the break. It's a tolerable pop song nice and pleasant to hear. It isn't a bad song, but I can't see anything special on it. The ninth track "Las Palabras De Amor" written by Brian May was the third single of the album. It's a rock ballad with vocals provided by Freddie Mercury with Brian May on the high vocal harmony. It's a good and beautiful song, a fine Brian May's ballad, beautifully sung, some good acoustic guitar work and a nice synthesizer performance. It's one of the few highlights on the album. The tenth track "Cool Cat" written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon was chosen to be the B side of the single "Las Palabras De Amor". All instruments are played by John Deacon. It's a pop song with some rhythm and blues influence and where Freddie Mercury sings on the top of his voice. Some says this is a good song, but this isn't my cup of tea. The eleventh track "Under Pressure" written by David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor, was released as a single and was a big hit. It's a collaboration work between Queen and David Bowie. The song was largely played live by the band, was included on some of their "Greatest Hits" and is one of the best known songs worldwide. This is song with some great musical moments, especially the excellent and unforgettable vocal duet between Freddie Mercury and David Bowie.

Conclusion: "Hot Space" is, without any doubt, the worst album ever made by Queen. It has, in my humble opinion, only three real good musical moments, "Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)", "Las Palabras De Amor" and "Under Pressure". The rest of the album is average or even really bad. Overall, we can't really say that "Hot Space" is the worst album ever, but certainly is a very low point in the band's discography, the lowest point, in my humble opinion. In reality, "Under Pressure" is the only reason that most listeners remember this album, which is as much a testament to the song's strength as it is to the rather desultory nature of the rest of "Hot Space". Although for different reasons, unfortunately it comes to my mind another album, "Giant For A Day" of Gentle Giant, which is also an awful album. These are two of the very few albums I rated with only 1 star. And since I like both bands it was painful for me to do so.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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