Flash Gordon (soundtrack)
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Flash Gordon is the first soundtrack album and ninth studio 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 on the US Billboard 200.
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. The reissue adds an EP of related tracks.
Unlike most soundtrack albums, audio from the film is prominently used in the theme song and the score selections of the album.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Guardian | |
| MusicHound Rock | woof! |
| Record Mirror | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Smash Hits | 2/10 |
| Uncut |
Track listing
All tracks are instrumental unless noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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)" | MercuryHoward Blake (Film score, not credited) | 1:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men)" | Deacon | 1:42 | |
| 2. | "Escape from the Swamp" | Taylor | 1:43 | |
| 3. | "Flash to the Rescue" | May | Mercury | 2:44 |
| 4. | "Vultan's Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men)" | Mercury | 1:13 | |
| 5. | "Battle Theme" | May | 2:18 | |
| 6. | "The Wedding March" | Richard Wagner (arr. May) | 0:56 | |
| 7. | "Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching)" | MayTaylor | Mercury | 2:04 |
| 8. | "Crash Dive on Mingo City" | May | 1:00 | |
| 9. | "Flash's Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)" | May | Mercury and May | 1:24 |
| 10. | "The Hero" | MayBlake (Film score, not credited) | Mercury | 3:31 |
| Total length: | 35:11 |
- Track 1 listed as "Man" on the 1982 US LP, 5E-518-B
- Track 6 based on "Bridal Chorus"
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19. | "Flash's Theme" (1991 remix by Mista Lawnge, 9.5) | May | 6:43 |
| Total length: | 41:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Flash" (Single Version) | May | 2:48 |
| 2. | "The Hero" (October 1980... Revisited) | May | 2:55 |
| 3. | "The Kiss" (Early Version, March 1980) | MercuryBlake | 1:11 |
| 4. | "Football Fight" (Early version, no synths! – February 1980) | Mercury | 1:55 |
| 5. | "Flash" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981) | May | 2:12 |
| 6. | "The Hero" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981) | May | 1:48 |
| Total length: | 12:49 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | "Flash/The Hero" (live at Morumbi Stadium, São Paulo, March 1981) | May | 3:28 |
| 8. | "Flash" (Alternative Promo Video) | May | 3:17 |
| 9. | "Flash" (Vanguard Mix Promo Video) | May | 3:17 |
| Total length: | 22:11 |
Personnel
Personnel taken from Flash Gordon liner notes.
Queen
- Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, synthesisers
- Brian May – lead guitar, vocals, synthesisers, piano on "Flash's Theme" and "The Hero", organ on "The Wedding March"
- John Deacon – bass guitar, guitar, synthesisers
- Roger Taylor – drums, vocals, synthesisers
Additional personnel
- Brian May – production
- Mack – production, mix-down engineering, original recordings on "The Hero"
- Alan Douglas – mix-down engineering, original recordings (all except "The Hero")
- Howard Blake – additional orchestral arrangements, conducting
- John Richards – orchestra recordings
- Eric Tomlinson – orchestra recordings
- Neil Preston – Queen photos
- Cream – artworks
Charts
| Chart (1980–81) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Flash Gordon Chart (1980–81) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 29 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 1 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 7 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 2 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 12 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) 25 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 29 UK Albums (Official Charts) 10 US Billboard 200 23 | Year-end Chart (1981) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 13 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 15 |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 29 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 1 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 11 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 7 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 2 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 12 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 25 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 29 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts) | 10 |
| US Billboard 200 | 23 |
| Chart (1981) | Position |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 13 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 15 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Platinum | 20,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| * Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
External links
- : includes lyrics of "Flash's Theme" (all versions) and "The Hero".
- (YouTube)