The Works (Queen album)

***The Works*** is the eleventh studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on February 27, 1984 by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and by Capitol Records in the United States. After the synth-heavy Hot Space (1982), the album saw the re-emergence of Brian May and Roger Taylor's rock sound, while still incorporating the early 80s retro futuristic electro pop of the German electronic underground (Freddie Mercury) and New York funk scenes (John Deacon). Recorded at the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California and Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany from August 1983 to January 1984, the album's title comes from a comment Taylor made as recording began – "Let's give them the works!" During the decade, after a conservative reaction against and ban of the music video for "I Want to Break Free" in the United States, the band decided not to tour in North America and lost the top spot in U.S. sales, but sales around the world (especially Europe) would be even better. The Works has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

Following the release of and subsequent touring for their 1982 album Hot Space, the four members of Queen opted to take a break from the band the following year. While a spring tour of South America had been an early possibility, especially in light of the band's success there two years earlier, equipment and promotional problems brought an end to these plans. Brian May worked with Eddie Van Halen and others on the Star Fleet Project, while Roger Taylor and Freddie Mercury began work on their own solo albums (Strange Frontier and Mr. Bad Guy, respectively). By August 1983, however, the band had reunited and begun work on their eleventh studio album. It would be Queen's first album for EMI (and its U.S. affiliate Capitol Records) worldwide after the band nullified its recording deal with Elektra for the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Listen to The Works on Deezer.

### Singles

The Works opens with ***"Radio Ga Ga"***. It was composed on keyboards, after Roger Taylor heard his son Felix (three years old at the time) saying "radio ca ca". He wrote it in Los Angeles and locked himself in the studio with a Roland Jupiter 8 and a drum machine. Afterwards John Deacon came up with a suitable bass line. Freddie Mercury reconstructed the track, both musically and lyrically. It was still credited to Taylor since Mercury was an arranger rather than a co-writer. Fred Mandel, their session keyboardist, put together an additive track with piano, synth and a temporary bass part. Brian May used a glass slide for his guitar solo. Taylor sang all the backing vocals, and used a Vocoder throughout the song. Most of the song is made out of electronics and synthesisers. Released as a single on January 23, 1984, it entered the UK Singles Chart on February 4, 1984 for a run of a total of 11 weeks, peaking at No 2.

The second single, ***"I Want to Break Free"*** was written by John Deacon. This pop song is best known because of its video, featuring all four Queen members dressed up as women, in a parody of the British soap opera Coronation Street. The idea for the clip was Taylor's. Mercury commented that 'Everybody ran into their frocks'. Deacon, the song's author, insisted he didn't want a guitar solo on the track so a synth solo was played by Mandel – live, however, May played the solo on guitar. The version used for the single and the promotional video includes an opening and instrumental bridge (after the synth solo) not part of the original mix. Released on April 2, 1984, it entered the UK Singles Chart on April 14, 1984 for a run of 15 weeks, peaking at No 3.

The third single, and third song on The Works, ***"It's a Hard Life"***, is one of May and Taylor's favourite songs of Mercury's (although they admitted that they hated the video). May contributed with some of the lyrics, and the intro was based on Ruggiero Leoncavallo's "Vesti la giubba", an aria from his opera Pagliacci. Mercury played piano and did most of the vocals, and instructed May about the scales he should use for the solo, described by May in the guitar program Star Licks as very "Bohemian Rhapsody"-esque. Released on July 16, 1984, it entered the UK Singles Chart on July 28, 1984 for a run of nine weeks, peaking at No 6.

The fourth and final single, ***"Hammer to Fall"***, features synths played by Mandel and most of vocal harmonies were recorded by May, particularly in the bridge (save for "oh no" which is Taylor). The song harks back to the Queen of old, with a song being built around a hard angular and muscular riff. The song features Mercury on lead vocals, doing a call and response with May, who sings the chorus. The song's music video directed by David Mallet, contains footage of a performance of the song in Brussels. "Hammer to Fall" was a concert favourite, and was the third song the band performed at Live Aid in 1985. The song also features in both the setlist of the band's Works Tour and Magic Tour in 1986. Released on September 10, 1984, it entered the UK Singles Chart on September 22, 1984 for a total run of eight weeks, peaking at No 13.

officialcharts.com