Listening to this great CD today, I can remember why it was one of my favorite albums in my senior year in HS. Queen really knew how to produce a cohesive album. This album is so eclectic in styles and yet somehow it all fits together so well I can't imagine the album without all of the songs and in the order they were placed. Now this CD offers alternative versions of two of the songs, well I wouldn't have done that, but in the wonderful digital age we can make the albums we own into any order of presentation we want, so that is a trifling issue.

At the time I remember the Brian May disclaimer on the bottom that no synthesizers were used to create this album. In 1975 I didn't get that, but by the early 80's I completely understood. Finally, in 2008 it seems that music for the most part (Cher and Paula excepting) have gotten back to real instruments and real musicians playing real music. But much of that seems to be the old guys on "comeback tours" so I may be over hopeful.

In any case here's the deal,

If you don't own A Night at the Opera, you should it is amazing!

I just finished downloading this album, one of my all time favorites, and I noticed that there are 14 tracks instead of 12. The Queen discography states 12. Amazon has included a repeat of I'm in love with my car @ 3:28 and You're my best friend @2:51. One is a second shorter and one is a second longer? Any idea why they would add tracks to this album?

Looking back at the 1970s, sometimes many forget how big the band Queen was. Even as Queen moved into the 1980s, while their popularity did slightly decline in the United States, it continued to be very high in Europe. Their performance at Live Aid is widely considered one of the greatest of all-time and their subsequent "Magic" tour is considered one of the all-time greatest concert tours. If it weren't for Freddie Mercury's death in 1992, we might still be talking about Queen being as big a band as the Beatles. When Queen released their 1973 self-titled debut album, it showed all of the signs of greatness to come. This album would show how the band embraced a "theatrical" feel to their music as well as embrace a sound that would evolve into what would become Heavy Metal. The next two albums, "Queen II" and "Sheer Heart Attack" continued down the road of the theatrical sound. It was that third album, "Sheer Heart Attack" that would not just become a commercial breakthrough album for Queen, but also become an album that would showcase Mercury's abilities as a Hall of Fame vocalist. On "A Night at the Opera", while the band moves slightly away from the theatrical sound at times, they continue to progress with as a band. We also see the other members take it up a notch from already a high level of musicianship.

Queen is an example of the sum of the parts actually being greater than the whole. However, if you take each of the four members of Queen, they easily stand on their own as a top musician in their profession. Freddie Mercury is easily known to be the emotional and flamboyant lead vocalist of Queen who indeed has a legendary voice. Brian May is the legendary lead guitarist and probably the second most popular member of the band. Roger Taylor and John Deacon go extremely underrated. Listen to Taylor's thundering drumming in the studio or live and one can easily understand why he was asked to participate in an All Star Drum Jam (The S.O.S. All-Stars) at the Live Earth concert. As for John Deacon, he might be one of music's all-time underrated bass players. Many of his bass lines have proven to be the foundation for Queen's musical sound. In addition to being top musicians, all four members play integral roles in the songwriting.

Here is a track by track synopsis of this collection:

"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To...)": This track was written as a "hate letter" to Norman Sheffield, Queen's former manager. The opening lines of the track really back this up with lines such as "You suck my blood like a leach....you've taken all my money - and you still want more". There is definitely anger that comes out in this song - thus giving it a feeling of true emotion.

"Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon": This is the first of three "vaudeville/ragtime" feeling song. The song is highlighted by a combination of Mercury's piano and a wrap-up guitar solo by May.

"I'm in Love with My Car": Queen fans know Taylor is more than just a drummer and this song shows it. Once again, Taylor proves he is a top-rate lead vocalist. Taylor's higher octaves almost give this song what I would consider an early heavy metal feel to it.

"You're My Best Friend": Deacon is often the forgotten member of Queen, but this song proves he is as talented as anything - writing this track as well as playing electric piano and bass. Freddie Mercury's vocals give this song a three dimensional feel in terms of emotion (Deacon wrote this song as a tribute to his wife). Quiet as always, Deacon's bass also proves to be a foundation for this song - also synchronizing well with Taylor's percussion.

"'39": This might be one of the most underrated tracks in Queen's catalog. May handles songwriting, acoustic guitars and adds some amazing lead vocals. This song is tribute to the year 1939. Great background vocals by both Taylor and Mercury. I also give credit to Deacon for some great use of the double bass.

"Sweet Lady": This song has a classic hard rock/heavy metal feel that Queen had now become famous for. Mercury's vocals combined with May's guitars once again gel perfectly.

"Seaside Rendezvous": This is the second of the "vaudeville/ragtime" songs on this collection. I think this is the best of three. The amazing thing is how both Mercury and Taylor simulate woodwind and brass instrument sounds with vocals.

"The Prophet's Song": This is a darker song than the rest of the album. It also has more of a theatrical feel as a throwback to the earlier days of Queen.

"Love of My Life": This has become a popular ballad by Queen - and Mercury in particular. I always felt it was a bid overrated, but the use of the Harp in this song by May once again shows how this group just finds new ways to broaden musically.

"Good Company": This is the third of the "vaudeville/ragtime" songs on this collection. This song is highlighted by May strumming a ukulele on this track combined with some Jazz guitar.

"Bohemian Rhapsody": This is just a legendary song. Music fans are well familiar with this song. I particularly love the three distinct parts to the song: 1) The Theatrical sounding ballad; 2) The Opera-tic choir performed by Mercury, May, and Taylor; and 3) The Heavy Metal-sounding jam led by May's guitars (my personal favorite).

"God Save the Queen": This is the album's wrap-up song as Queen covers the national anthem of the United Kingdom. May's guitars are done in the style of Jimi Hendrix's "Star Spangled Banner". This song would become the trademark finale at live Queen shows.

Overall, this fourth album by Queen shows why they are a Hall of Fame band. This album is definitely worth checking out. Highly recommended.

I found this album a bit difficult to get into... at first... but once I did it proved to be a work of unspeakable genius. This is, quite simply, one of the best rock albums of all time!

When I first heard this album in a friend's car several years ago I knew I had to get it! Lively, tongue-in-cheek capering by a group that had so much to offer. Freddie Mercury's early death was a tragedy! At least we have this to remember just how versatile he was!