Game

Queen's first album of the 1980s entitled The Game was released in June of 1980. The album was a fresh album for the band as they had not recorded a studio album since 1978's uneven effort Jazz. First, they switched producers and engineers from Roy Thomas Baker and Geoff Workman to ELO engineer Mack. The album was recorded in Munich, Germany between the summer of 1979 and the spring of 1980. Frontman Freddie Mercury has three great song on this album starting with the opener Play the Game(a minor hit here in the US), the rockabilly sounding US #1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love(which came out months before the rest of the album) and the anti-suicide number Don't Try Suicide. Drummer Roger Taylor had the hard rocking Rock It(Prime Jive) in which he did lead vocal and the new waveish Coming Soon. Guitarist Brian May had the hard rocker Dragon Attack, the ballad Sail Away Sweet Sister in which he sang lead vocal and the closing ballad Save Me which is a great song. Bassist John Deacon contributed the mammoth #1 rock/disco hybrid hit Another One Bites the Dust (which was the reason for this album's huge success) and the rocker Need Your Loving Tonight. This album was Queen's only US chart-topper as it hit #1 and stayed for 5 weeks and sold 4 million in the US alone(tying News of the World's sales tally). This was Queen's last flawless album until 1989's The Miracle. Highly recommended!

Queen's first album of the 1980s entitled The Game was released in June of 1980. The album was a fresh album for the band as they had not recorded a studio album since 1978's uneven effort Jazz. First, they switched producers and engineers from Roy Thomas Baker and Geoff Workman to ELO engineer Mack. The album was recorded in Munich, Germany between the summer of 1979 and the spring of 1980. Frontman Freddie Mercury has three great song on this album starting with the opener Play the Game(a minor hit here in the US), the rockabilly sounding US #1 Crazy Little Thing Called Love(which came out months before the rest of the album) and the anti-suicide number Don't Try Suicide. Drummer Roger Taylor had the hard rocking Rock It(Prime Jive) in which he did lead vocal and the new waveish Coming Soon. Guitarist Brian May had the hard rocker Dragon Attack, the ballad Sail Away Sweet Sister in which he sang lead vocal and the closing ballad Save Me which is a great song. Bassist John Deacon contributed the mammoth #1 rock/disco hybrid hit Another One Bites the Dust (which was the reason for this album's huge success) and the rocker Need Your Loving Tonight. This album was Queen's only US chart-topper as it hit #1 and stayed for 5 weeks and sold 4 million in the US alone(tying News of the World's sales tally). This was Queen's last flawless album until 1989's The Miracle. Highly recommended!

By far Queens barest and simplest output, 'The Game' is also one of Queens' strongest albums released.

Queen started the new decade (1980) with a bang, but not in a way you would expect from the extravagance and bombastic that was 'Queen'. They put out material that was very laid back with basic arraingments, had great melodies, and easily sing-a-longable lyrics to accompany..

Start to finish, the album flows extremely well. The production side of the album is very strong, featuring all instruments in each song to it's full glory. In my opinion, this is the reason the album triumphs so much as a 'coherent' product. Throughout there are 3 different styles/genres of music going on all at once. It has this rockabily 50's sound, 80's New Wave, and a hint of Queens earlier triumphs (Especially in the track 'save me').

Each track features Queen sounding more as a 'unit' than on any other album. You have the basic drums, bass, guitar, and piano parts all shining on their own, each putting in their own piece of the puzzle. Of course you have an occasional synth to add to the ambience, plus an occasional multi tracked guitar solo.. BUT the gist of the album is more of your 'stripped' version of Queen. In a way, this album is the closest Queen would ever come to be considered an 'unplugged' recording. Of course what Queen would refer to unplugged would be using 24 tracks instead of 48..

This is a must have album for any music enthusiast. It is a very popular album that has definately aged well, and some of it's sound has reemerged in the new-wave/punk sound (Rock It/Prime Jive). It also helps to contain 4 hit singles, two of which were #1's!

Overall, the album is fun, effortless, melodical, and eccentric at times which is what makes this album essential music. It influences me every time I listen to it.

Buy it, this is a must own album. You will love it.
All the best, -AndyMan-