FLASH GORDON

Queen: Freddie Mercury (vocals, synthesizer), Brian May (guitar, synthesizer, vocals), John Deacon (bass, guitar, synthesizer), Roger Taylor (drums, synthesizer, vocals).

All songs written by members of Queen.
FLASH GORDON was the motion picture soundtrack for the 1980 movie, released just a few months after one of Queen's most commercially successful albums, THE GAME. More synthesizer-heavy than previous releases, FLASH GORDON is comprised mostly of short instrumentals, with a pair of more traditional Queen songs bookending the album. With dialogue from the movie inserted throughout, it is easy for the listener to grasp the storyline, and to tell which scenes the songs represent.
"Flash's Theme" was the soundtrack's anthemic single, which begins the album on a high note. Then the onslaught of instrumentals begins. The majority can be appreciated outside the story's context--such as "Football Fight" and "Vultan's Theme (Attack Of The Hawk Men)." Others are closely linked to the storyline--"In The Space Capsule," "In The Death Cell," "The Kiss" and "Marriage Of Dale And Ming"--but are still enjoyable. Although it doesn't quite match the majesty of an official Queen album, FLASH GORDON contains plenty of first-rate compositions, including one of their most underrated tunes, "The Hero," which closes the soundtrack.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• RSD Release Date: n/a
• Released: 10/02/2015