“A Night at the Opera” is the fourth studio album by the
British rock band Queen, released on 21 November 1975 by EMI Records in the
United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. Produced by Roy
Thomas Baker and Queen, it was reportedly the most expensive album ever recorded
at the time of its release. The album's title is taken from the Marx Brothers
film of the same name.
“A Night at the Opera” was recorded at various studios across a four-month period in 1975. Due to management issues, Queen had received almost none of the money they earned for their previous albums. Subsequently, they ended their contract with Trident Studios and did not use their studios for the album (with the sole exception being "God Save the Queen", which had been recorded the previous year). They employed a complex production that extensively used multitrack recording, and the songs incorporated a wide range of styles, such as ballads, music hall, dixieland, hard rock and progressive rock influences. Aside from their usual equipment, Queen also utilised a diverse range of instruments such as a double bass, harp, ukulele and more.
Upon release, “A Night at the Opera” topped the UK Albums Chart for four non-consecutive weeks. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and became the band's first platinum-certified album in the US. The worldwide sales for the album are over six million copies. It also produced the band's most successful single in the UK, "Bohemian Rhapsody", which became their first UK number one. Despite being twice as long as the average length of singles during the 1970s, the song became immensely popular worldwide.
Contemporary reviews for “A Night at the Opera” were mixed, with praise for its production and the diverse musical themes, and recognition as the album that established Queen as worldwide superstars. At the 19th Grammy Awards, it received Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and Best Arrangement for Voices. Retrospective reviews have hailed it as Queen's best album, and one of the greatest albums in rock music history. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 231 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2018, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“A Night at the Opera” was recorded at various studios across a four-month period in 1975. Due to management issues, Queen had received almost none of the money they earned for their previous albums. Subsequently, they ended their contract with Trident Studios and did not use their studios for the album (with the sole exception being "God Save the Queen", which had been recorded the previous year). They employed a complex production that extensively used multitrack recording, and the songs incorporated a wide range of styles, such as ballads, music hall, dixieland, hard rock and progressive rock influences. Aside from their usual equipment, Queen also utilised a diverse range of instruments such as a double bass, harp, ukulele and more.
Upon release, “A Night at the Opera” topped the UK Albums Chart for four non-consecutive weeks. It peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and became the band's first platinum-certified album in the US. The worldwide sales for the album are over six million copies. It also produced the band's most successful single in the UK, "Bohemian Rhapsody", which became their first UK number one. Despite being twice as long as the average length of singles during the 1970s, the song became immensely popular worldwide.
Contemporary reviews for “A Night at the Opera” were mixed, with praise for its production and the diverse musical themes, and recognition as the album that established Queen as worldwide superstars. At the 19th Grammy Awards, it received Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus and Best Arrangement for Voices. Retrospective reviews have hailed it as Queen's best album, and one of the greatest albums in rock music history. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 231 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2018, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“A Night at the Opera” este al patrulea album de studio
al trupei britanice de rock Queen, lansat la 21 noiembrie 1975 de catre EMI
Records in Marea Britanie si Elektra Records in Statele Unite. Produs de Roy
Thomas Baker si Queen a fost considerat, la data lansarii, cel mai scump album
inregistrat vreodata pana atunci.
Titlul albumului este luat de la filmul cu acelasi titlu al fratilor Marx.
“A Night at the Opera” a fost inregistrat in diverse studiouri in decursul a patru luni din 1975. Datorita problemelor de management, Queen nu a primit aproape nici un ban din castigurile albumelor anterioare. Ulterior au incetat contractul cu Trident Studios si nu au mai folosit studiourile lor, cu o singura exceptie, “God Save the Queen” care fusese inregistrata cu un an inainte. Au angajat un complex de productie care a folosit in mod extins inregistrarea multipiste si cantecele au incorporat o gama larga de stiluri ca balade, music hall, dixieland, hard rock si influente de rock progresiv. In afara de echipamentul lor uzual, Queen a folosit o gama larga de instrumente ca harpa, contrabas, ukulele si multe altele.
Chiar de la lansare “A Night at the Opera” a urcat in varful topurilor pentru patru saptamani neconsecutive. A atins un loc 4 in US Billboard 200 si a devenit prima trupa cu un album de platina in Statele Unite. Vanzarile in lumea larga au depasit sase milioane de copii. A produs de asemenea cel mai mare succes al trupei in Marea Britanie, single-ul “Bohemian Rapsody”,care a devenit primul lor loc 1 aici.
In ciuda faptului ca era de circa doua ori mai lung decat media timpului pentru un single, acesta a avut un succes imens in toata lumea. Recenziile timpului pentru “A Night at the Opera” au fost amestecate, cu laude pentru productie si diversitatea temelor muzicale si recunoasterea ca albumul i-a facut pe cei de la Queen superstaruri. La a nouasprezecea editie a Premiilor Grammy au primit nominalizari pentru cea mai buna performanta vocala a unui duo, grup sau cor si cel mai bun aranjament pentru voce. Recenziile retrospective l-au declarant cel mai bun album Queen si unul dintre cele mai bune albume din toate timpurile. In 2003 Rolling Stone l-a plasat pe locul 231 in lista celor mai bune 500 de albume din toate timpurile. In 2018 albumul a fost introdus in Grammy Hall of Fame.
Titlul albumului este luat de la filmul cu acelasi titlu al fratilor Marx.
“A Night at the Opera” a fost inregistrat in diverse studiouri in decursul a patru luni din 1975. Datorita problemelor de management, Queen nu a primit aproape nici un ban din castigurile albumelor anterioare. Ulterior au incetat contractul cu Trident Studios si nu au mai folosit studiourile lor, cu o singura exceptie, “God Save the Queen” care fusese inregistrata cu un an inainte. Au angajat un complex de productie care a folosit in mod extins inregistrarea multipiste si cantecele au incorporat o gama larga de stiluri ca balade, music hall, dixieland, hard rock si influente de rock progresiv. In afara de echipamentul lor uzual, Queen a folosit o gama larga de instrumente ca harpa, contrabas, ukulele si multe altele.
Chiar de la lansare “A Night at the Opera” a urcat in varful topurilor pentru patru saptamani neconsecutive. A atins un loc 4 in US Billboard 200 si a devenit prima trupa cu un album de platina in Statele Unite. Vanzarile in lumea larga au depasit sase milioane de copii. A produs de asemenea cel mai mare succes al trupei in Marea Britanie, single-ul “Bohemian Rapsody”,care a devenit primul lor loc 1 aici.
In ciuda faptului ca era de circa doua ori mai lung decat media timpului pentru un single, acesta a avut un succes imens in toata lumea. Recenziile timpului pentru “A Night at the Opera” au fost amestecate, cu laude pentru productie si diversitatea temelor muzicale si recunoasterea ca albumul i-a facut pe cei de la Queen superstaruri. La a nouasprezecea editie a Premiilor Grammy au primit nominalizari pentru cea mai buna performanta vocala a unui duo, grup sau cor si cel mai bun aranjament pentru voce. Recenziile retrospective l-au declarant cel mai bun album Queen si unul dintre cele mai bune albume din toate timpurile. In 2003 Rolling Stone l-a plasat pe locul 231 in lista celor mai bune 500 de albume din toate timpurile. In 2018 albumul a fost introdus in Grammy Hall of Fame.
List of tracks
Side 1
1."Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" 3:43
2."Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" 1:08
3."I'm in Love with My Car" 3:05
4."You're My Best Friend"
2:50
5."'39" Brian
May 3:30
6."Sweet Lady" 4:01
7."Seaside Rendezvous" 2:13
Side 2
1."The Prophet's Song" 8:21
2."Love of My Life" 3:38
3."Good Company" 3:26
4."Bohemian Rhapsody" 5:55
5."God Save the Queen" 1:11
Personnel
Queen
Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, backing vocals, piano
Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals, acoustic
guitar, lead vocals, koto, harp, ukulele
Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals, percussion, lead
vocals, electric guitar
John Deacon – bass guitar, electric piano, double bass
Production
Roy Thomas Baker – production
Mike Stone – engineering
Gary Lyons – engineering
John Harris – equipment supervision
David Costa – art direction
Rick Curtin and Brian Palmer – special thanks
John Reid – management
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