A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

A funny story: When I was nine years old, I had a cardiac catherization prior to undergoing open-heart surgery. I was told to bring my "favorite" record since the procedure is done while the patient is awake. Most kids brought in 70s children's music or disco (this was in 1978); I brought in Queen's "A Night at the Opera." Though I did not remember much of the experience, the IC nurse told me that the doctor performing the operation actually demanded that the album be turned off because she was afraid the "noise" would cause her to make a mistake. (She had managed to make it through all of side 1, but apparently "Prophet's Song" was too much for her!) Since I'm still here, I cannot complain too much.

Queen was my favorite band throughout my youth. Their first four albums are as brilliant a debut as any band ever had. (IMHO, only Marillion and perhaps Utopia come close to the same degree of excellence right out of the gate.) And while Queen II is the band's progressive work, this one is their most eclectic. From the opening piano notes of "Death on Two Legs" through the closing guitar of "God Save the Queen," every song on this album is a winner. It's too bad that Queen could not sustain the brilliance of these initial works and this album especially; though they made some good records following this, ANATO was the pinnacle: it's all a downhill slide from here. But, OH! What a majestic view from this hill. This album belongs in every music fans collection, regardless of whether they're a fan of prog music or not. This album has something for everyone. (Even my mother loves this album, which says a lot!).