Queen: A Night at the Opera

A Night at the Opera is the fourth studio album by British rock group Queen, released in November 1975. Co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen, it was the most expensive album ever recorded at the time of its release. A commercial success, A Night at the Opera has been voted by the public and cited by music publications as one of Queen’s finest works.

The album takes its name from the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera, which the band watched one night at the studio complex when recording. The album was originally released by EMI in the UK, where it topped the UK Albums Chart for four non-consecutive weeks, and Elektra Records in the US, where it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and became the band’s first platinum selling album in the US.

At the time the most expensive album ever recorded, May has asserted in subsequent years that, had A Night at the Opera not been successful, Queen would have disbanded. Upon release, the album was a commercial success, debuting at No. 1 in the UK and topping the charts for four non-consecutive weeks. In the US, it debuted at No. 4, the band’s strongest showing at that time. Rolling Stone wrote, “Like all heavy-metal groups, Queen’s most easily distinguished trait is a knack for manipulating dynamics. But what sets them apart is their selection of unlikely effects: acoustic piano, harp, acapella vocals, no synthesisers. Coupled with good songs. Queen’s obviously the strongest contender in its field.” Melody Makercalled the album a “must-have”, encouraging listeners to “turn it up loud and enjoy”, while the Winnipeg Free Press wrote, “The group’s potential is practically limitless, indicating that Queen is destined to finally take its place among the small handful of truly major acts working in rock today.”Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, felt that the album “doesn’t actually botch any of a half-dozen arty-to-heavy ‘eclectic’ modes … and achieves a parodic tone often enough to suggest more than meets the ear.” However, he questioned what “that more is”.

In a retrospective review, Allmusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that “it’s prog rock with a sense of humour as well as dynamics, and Queen never bettered their approach anywhere else”; Allmusic chose “Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to…)”, “Sweet Lady” and first single “Bohemian Rhapsody”, as the best tracks on the record. Mojo called the album “An imperial extravaganza, a cornucopia; a band of hungrily competitive individualists on a big roll of friendship and delight.” Q were similarly receptive, writing, “[Queen] never came close to bettering their fourth album…A Night at the Opera remains glorious, monumental. It is British rock’s greatest extravagance.” The magazine opined that the eight-minute “Prophet’s Song” is “almost as inspired as Bohemian Rhapsody.” Uncut noted “the extent of the band’s barmy diversity.” Pitchfork said that, “No punches pulled, no expense spared: A Night at the Opera was Queen at the top of the mountain.” Rhapsody’s Mike McGuirk wrote, “Generally considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time, A Night at the Opera’s overlaying of heavy metal, genius stereo gimmickry, Broadway swish and British pomp is as vital and riveting to listen to today as when it was released in 1975.” The BBC said of the record, “Christmas 1975 was to be forever remembered as Queen’s. And A Night at the Opera remains their finest hour.” In 1977 “Bohemian Rhapsody” received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and Best Arrangement for Voices.

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