Queen have announced plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 1975 album, 'A Night At The Opera' and their iconic hit 'Bohemian Rhapsody' with special new editions.
The band have confirmed that A Night At The Opera will be released on clear vinyl with gold labels. This edition will arrive on October 18 in the UK as part of National Album Day, and October 17 to the rest of the world.
Following its original release, the album reached No1 in the UK charts, and was the first album from Queen to reach platinum in the US, selling over 11 million copies.
Bohemian Rhapsody will arrive on transparent blue vinyl in both 7" and 12" editions, as well as being available as a direct-to-consumer 12" picture disc and blue cassette single via the official Queen website. It will arrive on October 31.
The track also hit top spot in the UK, staying there for nine weeks following its release. It also hit top spot in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Holland and New Zealand.
"A Night At The Opera was a hugely important album for us," Brian May said of the album earlier this year. "It opened up the world for us. We truly felt like we could try anything at that point. As songwriters, we were challenging each other and competing with each other in the best possible way.
"It really was a watershed album for us. Thanks in a large part to Bohemian Rhapsody, people knew who we were – not just in the UK, but in America, Australia, everywhere.”
"We were at the peak of our confidence," Roger Taylor added, "It felt like there wasn’t anything we couldn’t do, and it shows on that album.
“It’s such an eclectic album. It’s mad and it’s wonderful and it’s got a bit of everything in it".
Both A Night At The Opera and Bohemian Rhapsody are available to pre order now.
Back in July, former Queen star John Deacon made his first contribution to the band in almost 30 years. Find out more on this here.
