A Night at The Opera (Queen Album) - Reception and Legacy

Reception and Legacy

At the time the most expensive album ever recorded, May has asserted in subsequent years that, had A Night at the Opera not been successful, Queen would have disbanded. Upon release, the album was a commercial success, debuting at #1 in the UK and topping the charts for four non-consecutive weeks. In the US, it debuted at #4, the band's strongest showing at that time. Rolling Stone wrote, "Like all heavy-metal groups, Queen's most easily distinguished trait is a knack for manipulating dynamics. But what sets them apart is their selection of unlikely effects: acoustic piano, harp, acapella vocals, no synthesisers. Coupled with good songs. Queen's obviously the strongest contender in its field."Melody Maker called the album a "must-have", encouraging listeners to "turn it up loud and enjoy", while the Winnipeg Free Press wrote, "The group's potential is practically limitless, indicating that Queen is destined to finally take its place among the small handful of truly major acts working in rock today." Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic, giving the album a "B-" rating.

Reviews in notable publications such as Allmusic, Mojo and Q Magazine, have seen the album receive five-star ratings. Allmusic, who chose the record as an "album pick", wrote, "It's prog rock with a sense of humour as well as dynamics, and Queen never bettered their approach anywhere else"; Allmusic chose "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)", "Sweet Lady" and first single "Bohemian Rhapsody", as the best tracks on the record. Mojo called the album "An imperial extravaganza, a cornucopia; a band of hungrily competitive individualists on a big roll of friendship and delight." Q were similarly receptive, writing, "It's a record to which all four contributed fine songs, and one of extremes – among the crashing rock and proggy wigouts were love songs, acoustic whimsy, a trad-jazz pastiche and a brace of vaudeville show tunes." The magazine opined that the eight minute "Prophet's Song" is "as good as Bohemian Rhapsody". Uncut awarded the album only 3/5 stars, but offered a mostly positive review, commending "the extent of the band's barmy diversity." Pitchfork awarded the album a rating of 8.9/10, writing, "No punches pulled, no expense spared: A Night at the Opera was Queen at the top of the mountain." Rhapsody's Mike McGuirk wrote, "Generally considered one of the greatest rock albums of all time, A Night at the Opera's overlaying of heavy metal, genius stereo gimmickry, Broadway swish and British pomp is as vital and riveting to listen to today as when it was released in 1975." The BBC said of the record, "Christmas 1975 was to be forever remembered as Queen’s. And A Night at the Opera remains their finest hour."