After getting a request to play Queen’s“Bohemian Rhapsody” at a wedding last weekend I decided to listen to the entire Night at the Opera LP. I’ve had the record since the late 70’s, but hadn’t given it a spin in a while.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is on it in all its glory near the end of Side Two, but you guys know that one already. My song of the day – “Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to…)” – starts Side One with a rather large bang! “Death” is one of the ultimate kiss-off songs and is (not so subtly) written about Queen’s former manager Norman Sheffield. Freddie Mercury‘s lyrics were so strong and venomous that some of the other band members were concerned but relented in the end. Besides caustic lyrics this song shows Queen at their dynamic best. Very few bands (Led Zeppelin and the Pixies maybe) could do the quiet/loud thing as well as Queen.

Here’s a live clip from Earls Court in London in 1977. Rock on!