Flash Gordon (soundtrack)

Last updated

Flash Gordon
Queen Flash Gordon.png
Studio album / Soundtrack album by
Released8 December 1980
RecordedFebruary–March; October–November 1980
Studio
Genre Rock
Length35:11
Label
Producer
Queen chronology
The Game
(1980)
Flash Gordon
(1980)
Greatest Hits
(1981)
Singles from Flash Gordon
  1. "Flash"
    Released: 24 November 1980

Flash Gordon is the ninth studio album and first soundtrack album by the British rock band Queen, released on 8 December 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and on 27 January 1981 by Elektra Records in the US. It is one of two film soundtracks that they produced, along with Highlander . It is the soundtrack to the science fiction film Flash Gordon and features lyrics on only two tracks. "Flash's Theme" was the only single to be released from the album, under the title "Flash". The album reached number 10 on the UK charts and number 23 in the US. The album was reissued worldwide on 27 June 2011 (excluding the US and Canada, where it was released on 27 September) as part of the band's 40th anniversary. [1] [2] The reissue adds an EP of related tracks.

Contents

Unlike most soundtrack albums, audio from the film is prominently used in the theme song and the score selections of the album.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Smash Hits 2/10 [9]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Track listing

All tracks are instrumental unless noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Flash's Theme" Brian May Freddie Mercury and Brian May 3:31
2."In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme)" Roger Taylor  2:43
3."Ming's Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless)" Freddie Mercury  2:41
4."The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale)"Mercury 0:57
5."Football Fight"Mercury 1:28
6."In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)"Taylor 2:25
7."Execution of Flash" John Deacon  1:06
8."The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash)"
 1:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
9."Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men)" (listed as "Man" on the 1982 US LP, 5E-518-B)Deacon 1:42
10."Escape from the Swamp"Taylor 1:43
11."Flash to the Rescue"MayMercury2:44
12."Vultan's Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men)"Mercury 1:13
13."Battle Theme"May 2:18
14."The Wedding March" (based on "Bridal Chorus") Richard Wagner (arr. May) 0:56
15."Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching)"
  • May
  • Taylor
Mercury2:04
16."Crash Dive on Mingo City"May 1:00
17."Flash's Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)"MayMercury and May1:24
18."The Hero"
  • May
  • Blake (Film score, not credited)
Mercury3:31
Total length:35:11
Bonus track (1991 Hollywood Records CD reissue)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
19."Flash's Theme" (1991 remix by Mista Lawnge, 9.5)May6:43
Total length:41:54
Disc 2: Bonus EP (2011 Universal Music CD reissue)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Flash" (Single Version)May2:48
2."The Hero" (October 1980... Revisited)May2:55
3."The Kiss" (Early Version, March 1980)
  • Mercury
  • Blake
1:11
4."Football Fight" (Early version, no synths! – February 1980)Mercury1:55
5."Flash" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981)May2:12
6."The Hero" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981)May1:48
Total length:12:49
Bonus videos (2011 iTunes deluxe edition)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."Flash/The Hero" (live at Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo, March 1981 [11] )May3:28
8."Flash" (Alternative Promo Video)May3:17
9."Flash" (Vanguard Mix Promo Video)May3:17
Total length:22:11

Personnel

Queen

Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [27] Gold50,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [28] Gold100,000^
Poland (ZPAV) [29] Platinum20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] Gold100,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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