Track List: Note: once again, if you're unsure of who wrote which song or what album it originally appeared on, E ME. Click on each album title to jump to the abridged liner notes from the cd booklets.

Best Tracks: well, they're greatest hits albums, aren't they?

Notes: Both of these albums are excellent, and if you don't have any Queen albums at all, these two will give you the absolute best of their catalog. My only criticism is that there are no songs from Queen II, and only one or two songs each from Queen, Sheer Heart Attack, A Day At The Races, and A Night At The Opera. Queen's early material was their strongest, so I feel that ignoring so much of it is somewhat of a disservice. My other criticism is that they included Body Language on GH, and that is absolutely the worst song Queen ever did. Ever. What a horrible song.

The really cool thing about these albums is that there exists accompanying video compilations that match the track listings song for song. Queen did some really great videos during their 20 years in the business, and they are well worth checking out.

Greatest Hits Liner Notes (abridged to leave out songwriter & release date).

1. We Will Rock You

Double A side with We Will Rock You. It reached #1. Released in France as the B side to WATC. Reached #1 again.

2. We Are the Champions

The song was adopted as an anthem by many famous baseball and football teams throughout America -- and coupled with WWRY gave Queen their first American #1.

3. Another One Bites the Dust

A huge success on black music oriented radio throughout America. It reached #1 in that specific chart -- but also "crossed over" and reached the top on the rock/dance charts too, bringing Queen a prestigious Billboard award for Top Crossover Single. Queen's biggest selling American single.

4. Killer Queen

Represents the band's first major breakthrough in the singles charts throughout the world. Was released as a double A side with Flick of the Wrist in the USA, where it gave them their first chart entry.

5. Somebody to Love

A good example of Queen's complex multi-layered vocal arrangements. Peaked on the North American chart at 13.

6. Fat Bottomed Girls

Released as a double A side with Bicycle Race. The cover for the single featured a naked woman from the famous nude bicycle race that was staged to promote the single in the UK -- but it caused a public outcry and was altered to show that same woman, wearing painted-on panties. And the poster that came free with the album and that featured all the girls in the race was mainly made available by mail order so as not to upset retailers!

7. Bicycle Race

The song was written by Freddie whilst in France, having just watched the Tour de France pass by his hotel. When it was played live, local cycle shops sold out of bicycle bells before each gig as fans snapped them up to ring at the appropriate moment during the song.

8. You're My Best Friend

John Deacon's first single release, and although Bohemian Rhapsody was a hard act to follow, this gentle ballad became a worldwide hit. Top 20 in the US, top 10 in the UK.

9. Crazy Little Thing Called Love

The result of a completely new recording environment in Munich, Germany, this single reached #1 across the board in America. It aslo reached the top throughout Europe and in many other countries. Written by Freddie whilst languishing in a bubble bath at the Munich Hilton Hotel.

10. Now I'm Here

Never released as a single in the US. When played live, it featured a Freddie "double" flashing into view on one side of the dark stage during the opening sequence, while the real Mr. Mercury appeared on the opposite side.

11. Play the Game

This was the first ever American chart single to feature a synthesizer.

12. Seven Seas of Rhye

A "taster" for the track was featured on the band's debut album, but the full version was only heard on Queen II. The single gave them their first UK chart entry & picked up plenty of US radio airplay.

13. Body Language

Hot Space was not well received by staunch Queen fans as it heralded a completely new direction for Queen -- leaning towards the soulful, funky side of music. This first single from it reached 11 on the US charts, where it was given extensive radio play. The video was banned by MTV in the US.

14. Save Me

Not released in the US. This song represents an emotional side to Queen not often heard by singles buyers. A poignant ballad, it was a hit in Europe and Japan.

15. Don't Stop Me Now

Top 10 in most European markets, but failed to significantly dent the US charts, reaching just 86.

16. Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

Not released in the US. A track that was featured on the band's first extended-play single, which contained one track from each of the first four Queen albums.

17. I Want to Break Free

This chart single in the US featured a different B side to that of Europe, an instrumental version of the track Machines specially remixed by Brian. The band ran into their frocks for the outrageous video.

Classic Queen Liner Notes (abridged to leave out songwriter & release date).

1. A Kind of Magic

The song was commissioned by director Russell Mulcahy to provide the score for his feature film Highlander. The track was a major hit throughout the world, reaching #3 in the UK but dominating the charts at #1 in no less than 35 countries. Mulcahy himself directed the video for the single using many special effects and computer animation.

2. Bohemian Rhapsody

The release of Freddie's 5.55 magnum opus signalled the band's first entry into the US top 10 singles chart. Critical acclaim went hand in hand with press hostility towards these "pompous British glam rockers" as the TV stations coast to coast aired the band's pioneering promotional video. The fans knew what they liked & radio airplay was constant without the track ever being edited.

3. Under Pressure

The song was the result of an impromptu recording session at Mountain Studios in Montreaux and marked the band's first collaboration with another recording artist. It was a huge success and gave Queen their second UK #1; it was also #1 in Argentina.

4. Hammer to Fall

Features Queen in their heaviest rock guise. Gave the band a European wide top 20 hit, peaking at #13 in the UK.

5. Stone Cold Crazy

Although never released as a single, this was the first track all four members collaborated on. It was a popular track during live shows, with the innovative use of strobe lights. In 1991 it was covered by American heavy metal band Metallica.

6. One Year of Love

This gentle ballad was only released as a single in 1 or 2 European countries and Australia. Written for Highlander.

7. Radio Ga Ga

The track was inspired by MTV, and itself inspired a video based on Fritz Lang's Metropolis. Queen purchased parts of that film from the German government to use in the video. #16 in the US & reached #1 in 19 countries. It was the first to feature the band's personal catalogue number in the UK.

8. I'm Going Slightly Mad

A complete change of pace & mood for this second single from Innuendo, typical Queen eccentricity with tongues planted very firmly in cheeks. The monochrome video features the band interacting with live penguins and a gorilla. Reached #22 in the UK & charted in the top 20 all over Europe. Found its way to #1 in Hong Kong.

9. I Want It All

After a 2 year hiatus from the European charts, Queen returned with a classic rock track and a performance video. Peaked at #3 in the UK; reached #1 in many other European territories. The song has been heard as a rallying song for black American youths.

10. Tie Your Mother Down

The video was filmed in Nassau during Queen's 1977 US tour. Charted at #49 in the US but was popular on call-in request shows.

11. The Miracle

One of 5 singles from the album of the same name (a first for EMI & Queen). Peaked at #21 in the UK, reached the top 40 all over Europe. The video featured 4 young lookalikes who performed in a perfectly executed mini Queen stage show -- leaving the real Queen to make a mere cameo appearance during the finale.

12. These Are the Days of Our Lives

Released on its own in the US, then re-released as a double A side with Bohemian Rhapsody in the UK, where it stayed at #1 for 5 weeks. The video, filmed on 30 May 1991, proved to be Freddie's last performance on film.

13. One Vision

Recorded after the band's triumphant appearance at Live Aid (1985) and climbed into the top 10 in most European countries. Reached #7 in the UK. The video marked the first collaboration between Queen and the Torpedo Twins (Rudi Dolezal & Hannes Rossacher), the Australian director & producer team who have been responsible for many Queen films since. Featured in the film Iron Eagle.

14. Keep Yourself Alive

Queen's first worldwide single. It attracted a lot of media attention & many radio airplay requests, but it had no chart success. Re-released in the US in 1975 to capitalize on the band's growing popularity.

15. Headlong

A characteristically fast-paced Queen rocker, it was the first release in the US for the band's new label, Hollywood Records (owned by the Walt Disney Company). The performance video was shot in the London studio where much of the album had been recorded. Climbed to #14 in the UK & was a big seller in the rest of Europe.

16. Who Wants To Live Forever

This poignant ballad was composed in the back of a car after the band had first viewed the rough cut of the film Highlander and became one of the central themes of the movie. The video featured the full National Philharmonic Orchestra, 40 choirboys, and 2000 candles. Climbed to #24 in the UK.

17. The Show Must Go On

Signalled the band's 40th UK single release. Combines everything inherently Queen. The video depicts the best of Queen on film from the 1980s.

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