Jazz

I actually rate this 4.5 but they don't have half stars. This album rocks, is charming and absurd, and is very musically diverse! Not perfect perhaps, but it reminds me a little bit of 'Sheer Heart Attack' for it's fun energy and eclectic nature - albeit different production and style. I did have a couple of problems with this album though: 'Let Me Entertain You' didn't make sense in the middle - it should open the album; 'Fun It' didn't sound very good isolated amongst slow acoustic pieces on side 2; and there are a couple of songs I just don't really like all that much (If You Can't Beat 'Em, & More Of That Jazz). Can't do much about the last complaint but here is a good solution to the other 2 (mix and match as needed):

1) Let Me Entertain You
2) Fat Bottomed Girls
3) Jealousy
4) Bicycle Race
5) Fun It
6) Dead On Time

7) Mustapha
8) Leaving Home Ain't Easy
9) Dreamer's Ball
10) If You Can't Beat 'Em
11) In Only Seven Days
12) Don't Stop Me Now
13) More Of That Jazz

Possibly 'Leaving Home Ain't Easy' & 'In Only Seven Days' could switch places. 'Let Me Entertain You' gets to open the show as it should, followed by some fun 'Fat Bottomed Girls', and more fun like 'Bicycle Race' and 'Fun It' which sounds funky and a lot livelier in this context. I like how the thunder at the end of 'Dead On Time' ends the first half. 'Mustapha' still gets to open side 2 and the rest of that side is much more subdued as if it's needed after the wild partying on side 1. 'Don't Stop Me Now' is the knockout punch after this breather. It's hard to get this album's order right because it's such a mish-mash of styles but the best songs here are some of Queen's best and most creative. Only a few songs I don't like all that much and even they aren't terrible: OK 'If You Can't Beat 'Em' is pretty bad (except for Freddie's singing); and 'More Of That Jazz' has a good crunchy guitar groove going (I just don't like the sample of all the album's songs they put in the middle to try to tie it all together). Queen took risks here and Mr Mercury is dazzling. This album has loads of energy, style and panache (and rocks!) unlike their safer, bland 80's material.

Jazz (1978) is seventh album by Queen and their last of the decade.

I just don't see why so many people bash this album? So maybe this isn't quite "ANATO" or "ADATR" or "II", but nevertheless a solid, good, coherent album by Queen. Filled mostly with upbeat songs, Queen is having pure fun.

Mustapha: Our attention is grabbed right from the start. Freddie sings in several languages, but that doesn't stop us from singing along. An uptempo song, it probably keeps playing in your head for the rest of the day.

Fat Bottomed Girls: This version of the song might surprise those who are used to the single one. The song to dance to. I always connect this to Bicycle Race.

Jealousy: Time to cool things down. A Beautiful, genuine ballad about...jealousy. Nice to have a song about this feeling too.

Bicycle Race: When my mom first heard this, she said "Strange music." Well, it isn't structured like usual songs, but I like that. Fun lyrics, and the bikebell -solopart in the middle either is to your liking or not.

If You Can't Beat Them: John Deacon's first contribute on this album. A positive song.

Let Me Entertain You: No, this isn't the Robbie Williams -song. A rockier Freddie-song. Fun.

Dead On Time: Another rocker, this time by Brian. Thunderbolt in the end "courtesy of God" like we are informed on the liner notes.

In Only Seven Days: John's holiday romance -song, simply beautiful both melodically and lyrically.

Dreamer's Ball: This is song is by Brian, not by Freddie as the style of this might let you believe. Tongue in cheek.

Fun It: Roger provides vocals (along with Freddie, I enjoy these duets) to his first song for this album. Roger-songs here seem the reason people often dislike the whole album, but I find for example this song...quite listenable and fun.

Leaving Home Isn't Easy: Brian sings, at last. His vocals are as gentle as ever, and so is this beauty of a song, too.

Don't Stop Me Now: My favourite on this album. Upbeat, this song just commands you to dance along.

More Of That Jazz: This Roger-piece contains bits from other songs on this album. Roger sings as raspy and raunchy as ever. I quite like this, but I can see that some may find this just irritating. Fun lyrics, though, even if the melody-structure doesen't offer any surprices.

So. Keep your ears open and listen to this for sheer fun. This is good and well worth adding to your collection as a Queen-fan.

Although the album doesn't provide us any jazz...

...this is RECOMMENDED with a jazzy heart!

This album is just fantastic! The first track "Mustapha" has strange lyrics! F.M. Sings "ibrahii, allahii, ibrahii etc." The next track is really funny and has a great chorus. "Jealousy" is quite peaceful track and has great lyrics! "Bicycle Race" is my favourite track from this album. It is so great, I'd like to take my clothes off and run in the fields. "If You Can't Beat Them" and "Let Me Entertain You" are great tracks too. They are very rocking. "Dead on Time" is really fast and heavy. "In Only Seven Days" is a very peaceful track. "Dreamers Ball" is the only weak link in this album. It is so weird that it makes me sick when I'm listening to it. "Fun It" is a quite funny track. It is also very heavy. "Leaving Home Ain't Easy" is quite a slow track. "Don't Stop Me Now" has a bad start but after an half a minute it starts really and it is very good. "More of That Jazz" is a slow and heavy track.