Editing Queen (band) (section)

===1974–1976: ''Sheer Heart Attack'' to ''A Night at the Opera''===

In May 1974, a month into the band's first US tour opening for Mott the Hoople, May collapsed and was diagnosed with hepatitis, forcing the cancellation of their remaining dates.{{sfn|Hodkinson|2004|p=127}} May was still absent when the band started work on their third album, but he returned midway through the recording process.{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=20}} Released in 1974, ''[[Sheer Heart Attack]]'' reached number two in the UK,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/Sheer%20Heart%20Attack |title=Queen – Sheer Heart Attack |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308155506/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/sheer%20heart%20attack/ |url-status=live }}</ref> sold well throughout Europe, and went gold in the US.<ref name=RIAAC/> It gave the band their first real experience of international success, and was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Queen Discography|url=http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/queen/|quote=... and in November released Sheer Heart Attack which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.|publisher=Queen Online|access-date=28 May 2011|archive-date=26 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826182522/http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/Queen/|url-status=live}}</ref> The album experimented with a variety of musical genres, including [[music hall|British music hall]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], ballads, ragtime, and [[List of Caribbean music genres|Caribbean]]. May's "[[Now I'm Here]]" documented the group's curtailed American tour, and "Brighton Rock" served as a vehicle for his regular on-stage solo guitar spot. Deacon wrote his first song for the group, "Misfire", while the live favourite "[[Stone Cold Crazy]]" was credited to the whole band. Mercury wrote the closing number, "In the Lap of the Gods", with the intention that the audience could sing along to the chorus when played live. This would be repeated later on, more successfully, in songs such as "We Are the Champions.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=155}}

[[File:BBC TV Centre.jpg|thumb|right|Queen performed "[[Killer Queen]]" at [[BBC Television Centre]] (pictured) on the music chart show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' in December 1974. This was their second appearance on the show; their previous (performing "[[Seven Seas of Rhye]]") brought them overnight fame.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ramazzotti|first=Giorgina|title=Queen: The pivotal moment unknown band stood in for David Bowie on TV and found overnight fame – video|url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/queen/band-first-tv-gig-video-top-of-the-pops-david-bowie/|date=25 June 2020|access-date=26 April 2023|agency=Smooth Radio|archive-date=26 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426205646/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/queen/band-first-tv-gig-video-top-of-the-pops-david-bowie/|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
The single "[[Killer Queen]]" was written by Mercury about a high-class prostitute.{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=22}} It reached number two on the British charts,<ref name="bhsa"/> and became their first US hit, reaching number 12 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="bbtfh">{{Cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|year=2006|title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits|publisher=Billboard Books}}</ref> The song was partly recorded at [[Rockfield Studios]] in Wales.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |title=Queen: Album by Album |date=2018 |publisher=Voyageur Press |page=36}}</ref> With Mercury playing the grand piano, it combines camp, [[vaudeville]], and British music hall with May's guitar. "Now I'm Here" was released as the second single, reached number eleven.<ref name="Jones BBC">{{cite web|ref=none|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/xxhj|title=Queen: ''Sheer Heart Attack'' Review|author=Jones, Chris|date=7 June 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 May 2011|archive-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620113856/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/xxhj/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, ''[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'' ranked ''Sheer Heart Attack'' number 28 in "The 100 Greatest British Rock Albums Ever",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm |title=Classic Rock 'The 100 Greatest British Rock Albums Ever' |publisher=rocklistmusic |access-date=2 June 2010 |archive-date=15 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515072650/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock2.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> and in 2007, ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' ranked it No.88 in "The 100 Records That Changed the World".<ref>''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', June 2007, "The 100 Records That Changed the World"</ref> It is also the second of three Queen albums to feature in the book ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die''.<ref name="1001albums"/>

In January 1975, Queen left for a world tour with an upgraded light show. They toured the US as headliners, and played in Canada for the first time.{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=25}} Several dates were cancelled after Mercury contracted [[laryngitis]].{{sfn|Dean|1986|pp=24–27}} The band then toured Japan from mid-April to the beginning of May. They were greeted by thousands of screaming fans, and played eight times in seven cities.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=163}}{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=27}} Despite the success, Queen were still tied to the original Trident deal and wages. They were all living in relative poverty in bedsits, and Deacon was refused money for a deposit on a house. EMI contacted lawyer [[Jim Beach]], who tried to find a way of extracting them from their contract. Trident complained that they had invested £200,000 in Queen and wanted their money back first.{{sfn|Blake|2010|pp=160,165}} In August, after an acrimonious split with Trident, the band negotiated themselves out of their contract and searched for new management.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=166}} One of the options they considered was an offer from [[Led Zeppelin]]'s manager, [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]], who wanted them to sign with Led Zeppelin's own production company, [[Swan Song Records]]. The band were concerned about being a lower priority than Zeppelin and [[Bad Company]] (also signed to Swan Song) and instead contacted [[Elton John]]'s manager, [[John Reid (music manager)|John Reid]], who accepted the position.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=166}}{{sfn|Hodkinson|2004|p=166}} Reid's first instruction to the band was "I'll take care of the business; you make the best record you can".{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=168}}

Queen started work on their fourth album ''[[A Night at the Opera (Queen album)|A Night at the Opera]]'', taking its name from the popular [[Marx Brothers]] movie. At the time, it was the most expensive album ever produced, costing £40,000 and using three different studios.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=177}} Like its predecessor, the album features diverse musical styles and experimentation with stereo sound. Mercury wrote the opening song "[[Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)|Death on Two Legs]]", a savage dig at perceived wrongdoers (and later dedicated to Trident in concert){{sfn|Blake|2010|p=178}}{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=25}} and the camp vaudeville "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" and "Seaside Rendezvous".{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=178}} May's "[[The Prophet's Song]]" was an eight-minute epic; the middle section is a [[canon (music)|canon]], with simple phrases layered to create a full-choral sound. The Mercury penned ballad, "[[Love of My Life (Queen song)|Love of My Life]]", featured a harp and overdubbed vocal harmonies.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=179}}
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 | quote = He knew exactly what he was doing. It was Freddie's baby. We just helped him bring it to life. We realized we'd look odd trying to mime such a hugely complex thing on TV. It had to be presented in some other way.
 | source = —Brian May on Mercury writing "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" and the groundbreaking music video.<ref name="Black">{{cite web|last=Black|first=Johnny|year=2002|title=The Greatest Songs Ever! Bohemian Rhapsody|publisher=Blender|url= http://www.blender.com/guide/66831/greatest-songs-ever-bohemian-rhapsody.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125102734/http://www.blender.com/guide/66831/greatest-songs-ever-bohemian-rhapsody.html|archive-date=25 January 2010|access-date=12 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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The best-known song on the album, "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]", originated from pieces of music that Mercury had written at Ealing College. Mercury played a run-through of the track on piano in his flat to Baker, stopping suddenly to announce, "This is where the opera section comes in".{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=170}} When the rest of the band started recording the song they were unsure as to how it would be pieced together. After recording the backing track, Baker left a 30-second section of tape to add the operatic vocals. Reportedly, 180 overdubs were used, to the extent that the original tape wore thin.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=170}} EMI initially refused to release the single, thinking it too long, and demanded a radio edit which Queen refused. Mercury's close friend and advisor, [[Capital London]] radio DJ [[Kenny Everett]], played a pivotal role in giving the single exposure.<ref name="Everett">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/kenny-everett--the-best-possible-way-to-remember-a-true-pioneer-8191316.html|title=Kenny Everett – The best possible way to remember a true pioneer|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=24 January 2015|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925163508/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/kenny-everett--the-best-possible-way-to-remember-a-true-pioneer-8191316.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He was given a promotional copy on the condition he didn't play it, but ended up doing so fourteen times over a single weekend.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=173}} Capital's switchboard was overwhelmed with callers inquiring when the song would be released.<ref name="Everett"/> With EMI forced to release "Bohemian Rhapsody" due to public demand, the single reached number one in the UK for nine weeks.<ref name="bhsa"/>{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=174}} It is the [[List of best-selling singles in the United Kingdom|third-best-selling single]] of all time in the UK, surpassed only by [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]]'s "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" and [[Elton John]]'s "[[Candle in the Wind 1997]]", and is the best-selling commercial single (i.e. ''not'' for charity) in the UK. It also reached number nine in the US (a 1992 re-release reached number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for five weeks).<ref name="bbtfh"/> It is the only single ever to sell a million copies on two separate occasions,<ref name="Queen Online">{{cite web|title=Queen Discography: A Night at the Opera|url=http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/night-opera/|publisher=Queen Online|access-date=28 May 2011|archive-date=18 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518040434/http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/night-opera/|url-status=live}}</ref> and became the [[List of Christmas number one singles (UK)|Christmas number one]] twice in the UK, the only single ever to do so. It has also been voted the greatest song of all time in three different polls.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1974538.stm|title=Queen rock on in poll|access-date=16 December 2007|date=8 May 2002|work=BBC News|archive-date=29 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129102116/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1974538.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bohemian-rhapsody-top-chart-topper/|title='Bohemian Rhapsody' Top Chart Topper|access-date=16 December 2007|date=9 November 2002|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-date=2 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402224251/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/09/entertainment/main528777.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maxtv.com.au/queens-bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-song-of-all-time|title=Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' greatest song of all time|access-date=18 November 2018|archive-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119080202/https://www.maxtv.com.au/queens-bohemian-rhapsody-greatest-song-of-all-time|url-status=dead}}</ref>

"Bohemian Rhapsody" was promoted with a music video directed by [[Bruce Gowers]], who had already shot several of Queen's live concerts. The group wanted a video so they could avoid appearing on the BBC's ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', which would clash with tour dates, and it would have looked strange miming to such a complex song.<ref>Directed by Carl Johnston (4 December 2004). ''The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody''. (Television production). BBC. Retrieved 9 March 2019</ref> Filmed at [[Elstree Studios]] in Hertfordshire, the video cost £3,500, five times the typical promotional budget, and was shot in three hours. The operatic section featured a reprise of the ''Queen II'' cover, with the band member's heads animated.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=174}}{{sfn|Dean|1986|p=28}} On the impact of the "Bohemian Rhapsody" promotional video, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' states: "Its influence cannot be overstated, practically inventing the music video seven years before MTV went on the air."<ref name="BR music vid">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/party-on-queens-brian-may-remembers-bohemian-rhapsody-on-40th-anniversary-20151030|title=Party On: Queen's Brian May Remembers 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on 40th Anniversary|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Mark|last=Sutherland|date=30 October 2015|access-date=4 January 2016|archive-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104221635/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/party-on-queens-brian-may-remembers-bohemian-rhapsody-on-40th-anniversary-20151030|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ranking it number 31 on their list of the 50 key events in rock music history, ''[[The Guardian]]'' stated it "ensured videos would henceforth be a mandatory tool in the marketing of music".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hann|first1=Michael|title=Queen herald the age of the music video|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/12/queen-herald-the-age|work=The Guardian|date=12 June 2011|access-date=17 December 2016|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311172655/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/12/queen-herald-the-age|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio broadcaster [[Tommy Vance]] states, "It became the first record to be pushed into the forefront by virtue of a video. Queen were certainly the first band to create a 'concept' video. The video captured the musical imagery perfectly. You cannot hear that music without seeing the visuals in your mind's eye."{{refn|1={{harvp|Jones|2012|pp=150, 151}}<ref name="Jones-2012"/>}}

''A Night at the Opera'' was very successful in the UK,<ref name="bhsa">{{Cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |year=2006 |title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]] |place=London |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited}}</ref> and went [[Music recording sales certification|triple platinum]] in the United States.<ref name=RIAAC/> The British public voted it the 13th-greatest album of all time in a 2004 [[Channel 4]] poll.<ref>{{cite web|title=100 Greatest Albums |publisher=Channel 4 |url=http://channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/albums/results.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429165349/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/albums/results.html |archive-date=29 April 2009 |access-date=21 November 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It has also ranked highly in international polls; in a worldwide [[Guinness World Records|Guinness]] poll, it was voted the 19th-greatest of all time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-22769595-oasis-album-is-greatest-ever.do |title=Guinness poll |work=London Evening Standard |location=UK |access-date=2 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225150021/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/article-22769595-oasis-album-is-greatest-ever.do |archive-date=25 December 2010}}</ref> and an [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] poll saw the Australian public vote it the 28th-greatest of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritealbum/top100.htm |title=ABC poll |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205092304/http://abc.net.au/myfavouritealbum/top100.htm |archive-date=5 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''A Night at the Opera'' has frequently appeared in "greatest albums" lists reflecting the opinions of critics. Among other accolades, it was ranked number 16 in ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine's "The 50 Best British Albums Ever" in 2004, a poll done in collaboration with British music and entertainment retailer [[HMV]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Q Magazine 50 Best British Albums Ever |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/2004/2004/06/01/db-on-q-cd-plus-q-and-nme-dogs-reviews-and-more |access-date=9 December 2023 |website=David Bowie.com |archive-date=9 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209160305/https://www.davidbowie.com/2004/2004/06/01/db-on-q-cd-plus-q-and-nme-dogs-reviews-and-more |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also placed at number 230 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]" in 2003.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/a-night-at-the-opera-queen-19691231|title=230 – A Night at the Opera|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522113344/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/a-night-at-the-opera-queen-19691231|archive-date=22 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''A Night at the Opera'' is the third and final Queen album to be featured in the book ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die''.<ref name="1001albums">{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/1001albums.htm |title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die |publisher=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=2 June 2010 |archive-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130151506/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker//1001albums.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The second single from the album was Deacon's "[[You're My Best Friend (Queen song)|You're My Best Friend]]", which peaked at number sixteen on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref name="bbtfh"/> and went on to become a worldwide top-ten hit.<ref name="Queen Online"/> The band's [[A Night at the Opera Tour]] began in November 1975, and covered Europe, the US, Japan, and Australia.{{sfn|Dean|1986|pp=27–31}} On 24 December, Queen played a special concert at the Hammersmith Odeon which was broadcast live on the BBC show ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'', with the audio being later broadcast on BBC Radio 1. It became one of the band's most popular [[bootleg recording]]s for decades before being [[A Night at the Odeon – Hammersmith 1975|officially released]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/103237/queen-a-night-at-the-odeon-hammersmith-1975-film-to-be-released-on-dvd|title=The most bootlegged gig of Queen's career is being released as a film.|work=GigWise|date=12 October 2015|access-date=1 December 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208112323/http://www.gigwise.com/news/103237/queen-a-night-at-the-odeon-hammersmith-1975-film-to-be-released-on-dvd|url-status=live}}</ref>