Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

"Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, is one of the most successful single releases in UK chart history and from one the UK's most successful bands too.
It has been number 1 twice and has sold very nearly 6 million copies overall. On both occasions it was number 1 at Christmas time. A feat that nobody else has managed.

"Bohemian Rhapsody", written by Freddie Mercury, was first released on 31st October 1975 and was number 1 for nine weeks. This is the version you see in the photo above.
It also featured on Queen's 4th studio album "A Night At The Opera", also released in 1975, just after "Bohemian Rhapsody".
The album "A Night At The Opera" was number in the UK for 4 weeks.

The B Side of "Bohemian Rhapsody" has also become well known in its own right. Written and sung by drummer Roger Taylor, "I'm In Love With My Car" was also a track from the "A Night At The Opera" album and has become a bit of a favourite amongst dedicated Queen fans.
Don't forget that the B Side of a single received the same amount of royalties as the A Side, so Roger Taylor has done well out of the sales of this original version.

The re-release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1991, to commemorate the death of Freddie Mercury, had the track "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" coupled with it to make a double A sided single.
"These Are The Days Of Our Life" was credited to Queen, thereby sharing the royalties this time around.

Apparently, "Bohemian Rhapsody" was very nearly not released as a single at all back in 1975. Running at nearly 6 minutes, it was considered by EMI label executives to be too long for radio play and consequently was unlikely to be a hit. But, radio DJ Kenny Everett got hold of a copy and started playing it, getting a huge reaction from listeners. After that, it was only a matter of time before an official release happened.

The famous video of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was, i'm sure, a big factor in the success of the song. A pretty revolutionary idea at the time and one that is thought to have help kick start the whole video promo idea. It certainly had an effect on me and many other people at the time, as we'd not seen anything like it before.
Apparently the video was only made because the band realised that they wouldn't be able to appear on the tv show Top Of The Pops. They also weren't happy with having to mime such a complicated song either.
Give me that video over a band miming in a tv studio anyday.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" was not the first Queen single that i bought. I already had and still have, previous singles "Now I'm Here" and "Killer Queen". I remember hearing Queen's very first single "Keep Yourself Alive" on the radio back in 1973 and had followed their progress since then. Both via the radio and the weekly music press. For me, that was easily their best period, but i know that many might disagree with that?
I did buy several of their future singles releases, but not their albums. I don't think i've ever owned an album by Queen, i'm not sure why?
I think it may be due to the fact that Queen have never been a favourite band of mine. I have friends who rave about them, but they just never had the same effect on me. Don't get me wrong, they've released some great music, especially in those earlier days. But, for me, Queen have never quite touched the parts that other bands have managed to reach.

Although, on this occasion, i don't actually remember buying "Bohemian Rhapsody", i did get to see Queen live at a free concert in Hyde Park in the September of 1976. Only 9 months after it was number 1 in the charts.
I remember "Bohemian Rhapsody" being played at that gig, but seem to recall Queen playing it in parts throughout the show, rather than as a complete song. One thing i do remember though is Brian May's guitar playing on "Brighton Rock".
It was the only time i ever saw Queen live.
Amazingly enough, i have just come across video footage of that entire 1976 gig! The wonders of the Internet eh? The quality isn't very good, but what do you expect?

As for other personal memories of the band Queen?
Well, for those of us who were lucky enough to see it, who can forget their appearance at Live Aid in July 1985? As i've said elsewhere, i wasn't a huge fan of the band, but what an epic performance that was. It still looks good today and could serve as a lesson in crowd control and participation to any aspiring frontman, or woman out there today.

Then, of course, there's that scene in the movie Wayne's World, which i'm sure brought "Bohemian Rhapsody" to the attention of a whole new group of potential fans.

There aren't that many songs that have managed to span the decades and have the same effect as "Bohemian Rhapsody, has. Like so many of those songs from the 1970's, it still sounds great today.

Not bad for a song that was thought to be too long to be a single, or a hit.
What do "the suits" know eh?