The Works (album)
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| The Works | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missing image Queen_The_Works.jpg The Works | ||
| LP by Queen | ||
| Released | 27 February 1984 | |
| Recorded | month year | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 37 min 11 sec | |
| Record label | EMI (UK), Hollywood Records (US) | |
| Producer | Queen and Mack | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| AMG | 2 stars out of 5 | link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040403251443301584&sql=A31o20rnal48j) |
| Queen Chronology | ||
| Hot Space (1982) | The Works (1984) | A Kind of Magic (1986) |
The Works is a rock album by British band Queen originally released in 1984.
After a two year break, Queen returned to the studio. Much had changed in the music world since their previous album "Hot Space", which was something of a commercial failure and a poorly received album by many fans. In the two years following, Mercury, May and Taylor indugled in solo projects, taking the chance to stretch in individual directions.
The album's title comes from a comment Roger Taylor made as recording began for the new album, "Let's give them the works!" And the band did just that, with a fusion of synth and hard rock, hailing back to the early days of their career. All of Queen's trademarks are present, from rich arrangements, powerhouse vocals and catchy guitar riffs, and the band pull no punches.
"Keep Passing The Open Windows" was written originally for a proposed film of the novel "The Hotel New Hampshire". Queen were to write songs for film, but the project fell through. This song was already completed and band liked it so much, they included it on the album. When the film was eventually made, Queen had already moved on and this song was not used.
For the first and only time in their career, all the songs (and two non-album tracks, "I Go Crazy" and "Thank God It's Christmas") from the album are used as either A-Sides or B-Sides on singles.
Track listing
- "Radio Ga Ga" (Taylor) *
- "Tear It Up" (May) -
- "It's A Hard Life" (Mercury) *
- "Man On The Prowl" (Mercury) -
- "Machines (or Back to Humans)" (Taylor/May)
- "I Want To Break Free" (Deacon) *
- "Keep Passing The Open Windows" (Mercury)
- "Hammer To Fall" (May) *
- "Is This The World We Created?" (May/Mercury)
- "I Go Crazy" (May) (Bonus Track on 1991 Hollywood Records reissue)
- "Radio Ga Ga (Extended Mix)" (Taylor) (Bonus Track on 1991 Hollywood Records reissue)
- "I Want To Break Free (Extended Mix)" (Deacon) (Bonus Track on 1991 Hollywood Records reissue)
(*Singles)
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano
- Brian May - lead guitar, vocals
- John Deacon - bass
- Roger Taylor - drums, vocals