- Audio CD (21 Nov 2005)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: EMI
- ASIN: B000BEPLSQ
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | DVD | UMD Mini for PSP
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 38,957 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
Although Queen’s, previous album, Sheer Heart Attack, had yielded two hits, reached number one in the UK and even gone gold in the US it’s a testament that EMI were prepared to let them then create what was, at the time, the most expensive album ever made. A Night At The Opera, borrowing its title from the Marx Brothers’ film could so easily have been an enormous folly.
The aforementioned Sheer Heart Attack had seen their patent methodology of multi-layered recording producing a lush and yes, operatic, ambience produce something that had never been heard before. Combining these swathes of Freddie Mercury and the band’s vocals (both Brian May and Roger Taylor were also perfectly adequate singers) with a thousand guitar lines and Taylor’s Zeppelinesque drums had crossed the pop/rock divide with ease. But this was a band with ambition in spades. …Heart Attack had hinted at a working knowledge of 19th century parlour balladry, 20s ragtime and Jimi Hendrix. A Night At The Opera was to add opera, trad jazz, heavy metal and more to the mix.
Opening with a thinly veiled attack on their previous manager, “Death On Two Legs” the album then careens through a gamut of styles. With the writing divided fairly equally between Mercury and May (with John Deacon and Roger Taylor getting one number apiece as well) it veers between high camp and west coast rock with aplomb. May’s “The Prophet’s Song” serves up a slice of high concept sci fi, while his “39” is amiable country hoke. Mercury, of course, is far more in-yer-face with the frippery of “Seaside Rendezvous” and “Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon”.
Deacon, always the underrated member, may have had only one number, but it was a doozy. “You’re My Best Friend” was the second hit from the album and remains a pop classic; frothy but enduring. Naturally, no coversation about the album is complete without mentioning Mercury’s crowning moment. The multi-part epic, “Bohemian Rhapsody” took months to construct. Beginning as piano ballad, morphing into cod-Mozart and then stomping monster rocker and back to ballad, goodness knows how the band must have felt when he first unveiled it at the keyboard. Hats must also ome off for the executive at EMI who had the faith to release it as a single, following Kenny Everett’s championing of it on Capital Radio. As history records, it went to number one…for ever. Christmas 1975 was to be forever remembered as Queen’s. And A Night At The Opera remains their finest hour. --Chris Jones
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Album Description
A fully-remastered release of Queen’s eternal and essential album. Over 30 years after its original release, A Night At The Opera remains a fascinating and essential record, from a powerhouse group at the very top of their game.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a wonderful addition to the excellent "Classic Albums" collection. This was truly a ground breaking album in late 1975 and is broken down on this DVD in order of the original track listing. I am consistently pleased with the quality of sound and video of the "Classic Album" DVD's (this being my 4th; the others: Pink Floyd, Deep Purple & Stevie Wonder). This, like the others brings back key individuals that helped to make the album a success and a notch above others (i.e.: original engineers, music critics, fellow musicians and DJ's). They describe how no synthesizers were used for their sound. Multi-tracking, piano flourishes, a harp, a ukulele, and multi-layered guitars all combine for a great and unique sound.
A few highlights:
* A frustrated Freddie Mercury taking out his aggressions lyrically on their previous management in the opening song "Death on Two Legs". They had been taken advantage of financially previous to this album.
* A tale of the very shy bassist John Deacon who contributed very few songs in his career but they were critical and outstanding ones to the group. Brian and Roger tell of how he sheepishly introduces "You're My Best Friend" to them and Freddie. Of course they loved it and Freddie making it a classic vocal with John on keyboards.
* "'39". A "great" Brian May song that he revisits in great detail and sings in a new full acoustic version and in some original archived footage. This has always been one of my favorite songs by anyone but never realized it was about space travel. Now I know why it has some similarities to the Moody Blues "To Our Children's Children's Children" album also about space travel a few years earlier in 1970.
* "Love of My Life". Also one of my personal favorites and an incredibly beautiful song. This was a song Freddie had written about a "woman" he loved which it also explains in pictures. Not only is there some great footage on this but also some great bonus footage of him (appears to be at Wembley where he sings acoustically to a few 100 thousand people. What an incredible performance and performer! A MUST SEE! Also a touching new acoustic version by Brian on this track too.
* In depth details on "Bohemian Rhapsody". Music video footage, sound board separations and great archival live performances.
* Audio: 5 stars (new footage & studio recordings); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Video: 5 Stars (new footage); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Bonus Features: 5 Stars
Song List (as presented here):
* Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to ...)
* Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
* I'm in Love with my Car
* You're My Best Friend
* '39
* Sweet Lady
* Seaside Rendezvous
* The Prophets Song
* Love of my Life
* Good Company
* Bohemian Rhapsody
* God Save the Queen
A few highlights:
* A frustrated Freddie Mercury taking out his aggressions lyrically on their previous management in the opening song "Death on Two Legs". They had been taken advantage of financially previous to this album.
* A tale of the very shy bassist John Deacon who contributed very few songs in his career but they were critical and outstanding ones to the group. Brian and Roger tell of how he sheepishly introduces "You're My Best Friend" to them and Freddie. Of course they loved it and Freddie making it a classic vocal with John on keyboards.
* "'39". A "great" Brian May song that he revisits in great detail and sings in a new full acoustic version and in some original archived footage. This has always been one of my favorite songs by anyone but never realized it was about space travel. Now I know why it has some similarities to the Moody Blues "To Our Children's Children's Children" album also about space travel a few years earlier in 1970.
* "Love of My Life". Also one of my personal favorites and an incredibly beautiful song. This was a song Freddie had written about a "woman" he loved which it also explains in pictures. Not only is there some great footage on this but also some great bonus footage of him (appears to be at Wembley where he sings acoustically to a few 100 thousand people. What an incredible performance and performer! A MUST SEE! Also a touching new acoustic version by Brian on this track too.
* In depth details on "Bohemian Rhapsody". Music video footage, sound board separations and great archival live performances.
* Audio: 5 stars (new footage & studio recordings); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Video: 5 Stars (new footage); 3-4 Stars (old footage)
* Bonus Features: 5 Stars
Song List (as presented here):
* Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to ...)
* Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
* I'm in Love with my Car
* You're My Best Friend
* '39
* Sweet Lady
* Seaside Rendezvous
* The Prophets Song
* Love of my Life
* Good Company
* Bohemian Rhapsody
* God Save the Queen
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Probably Queen's most realised studio album, A Night At The Opera is certainly ambitious. Unlike a lot of Queen studio albums, there isn't really a weak track, although Sweet Lady isn't one of my favourites. Obviously you know about Bohemian Rhapsody and You're My Best Friend, but just as impressive are Death On Two Legs, 39 and the fabulous Love Of My Life. Many people are said not to enjoy the whimsical side of the album, but I think it fits in nicely with the style of the album and who couldn't love Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon. Well worth purchasing along with the even better Sheer Heart Attack.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Obviously the biggest thing to mention on this CD is Bohemian Rhapsody, but apart from that, this album on the whole is fantastic! The album moves as one long song and constantly changes mood and tempo from fast paced rock like Death on Two Legs to great guitar tracks like '39 and brilliant inventiveness like seaside rendevouz! This album is Queen and their revolutinary best!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic
Fantastic DVD, especially at the price i bought it, not sure they make this version anymore so was really happy to get it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P Jacko
30th Anniversary night at the Opera DVD
I have held off buying this 30th anniversary edition of Night at the Opera as I have seen the making of on the TV, I wished I'd bought it earlier as disc 1 is a great documentary... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. I. Massey
BUY IT!!!
Im gonna keep it simple!!
This is an amazing "masterpiece" of an album
heart and soul has been poured into every song
as said in previous coments there really is a... Read more
This is an amazing "masterpiece" of an album
heart and soul has been poured into every song
as said in previous coments there really is a... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Squiggle
Item not received yet
Hi! I haven't received yet this item although the estimated data was the 15th. What di you suggest me to do? How can I find out?
Published 17 months ago by Giuseppe Seminara
An excellent video documentary!
This is an excellently presented and edited support to this great iconic album. The footage and interviews are really interesting and it's pretty cool to see and hear Brian play... Read more
Published 20 months ago by G.
Not quite the all time classic suggested elsewhere.
This album is certainly very good and among Queen's best. But be aware that it contains several very lightweight and light-hearted tracks which for me preclude it from classic... Read more
Published 21 months ago by MR K J DOWNING
A Night At The Opera
This was a gift for My Daughter In Law and she was thrilled with it.
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by Mrs. S. M. Sandon
An iconic album
Although this is a good album, notable for many great songs, including the indefatigable "Bo Rhap", for me the album never hung together quite as well as it should with some... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by Fireblade
First Hearing of a Successful 1975 Album
There will be thousands of Queen fans who will hate me for this, but it's the first time I've heard this album and I want to be objective. Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2009 by Jikky
Tis excellent,
Full of fantastically eclectic, wonderfully composed music. One of Queens finest moments. The only mystery about it is why the first track, 'Death on two legs', is not on any of... Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2009 by N. J. Rodgers
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