Ranking all of Queen’s studio albums from worst to best selling

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As a long-time fan of Queen, I find myself utterly captivated by their musical journey as I delve into the sales rankings of their studio albums. The sheer talent and creativity that this legendary band has consistently demonstrated over the years is nothing short of breathtaking.

Queenz, comprised of members Roger Taylor, Brian May, John Deacon, and Freddie Mercury, truly shone in their original lineup. Their harmonious blend of musical abilities was exceptional, spanning across 15 studio albums that encompassed a broad spectrum of musical genres over the years. Furthermore, they were not just outstanding in the studio, but also electrifying on stage, as several live albums attest to.

Back in the day, I was part of an unforgettable band known for its unique sound evolution and astonishing album diversity. Each record we released was a testament to our creativity, with every member contributing massively as songwriters, churning out hits that echoed through time. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for us; our lead vocalist, the inimitable Freddie Mercury, succumbed to AIDS in November 1991, bringing an untimely end to our extraordinary journey together.

1997 marked John Deacon’s departure from the band, but Freddie Mercury’s replacements, Brian May and Roger Taylor, continued as Queen+. Initially, Paul Rodgers served as the lead vocalist, but later on, Adam Lambert joined and delivered exceptional performances vocally. Although John Deacon is no longer with us, we continue to enjoy the fantastic records and songs from the original Queen. Their discography also encompasses multiple Greatest Hits albums, box sets, and other compilation releases.

At this moment, let’s concentrate on the fifteen studio albums and arrange them according to global sales, as reported by Bestsellingalbums.org. Interestingly, the top-selling sequence isn’t as apparent as one may assume; it presents some unexpected twists.

The best selling Queen studio albums in reverse order

15 – Queen II – 0.1 million sales

1974 saw Queen’s second studio album release, titled “Sheer Heart Attack.” Marking the end of their early phase, this album laid the groundwork for the monumental success that was yet to come. Compared to many of their subsequent releases, this album carries a heavier sound. The progressive rock and metal elements it incorporates are distinct and audible.

Instead of sticking with the traditional A and B side format, they opted for an unusual twist in the album Queen II, labeling them as Side White and Side Black. Standout tracks include “Seven Seas Of Rhye” (composed by Mercury), which marked their first UK chart single, and “The March Of The Black Queen” (also by Mercury). Fans view the former as a precursor to the iconic track “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Although it didn’t sell as much as later albums, Queen II remains highly valued by fans.

14 – Flash Gordon – 0.2 million

1980 saw the release of their ninth studio album, Flash Gordon. Unlike most of their albums, this one was primarily instrumental and served as the soundtrack for a film. Interestingly, this instrumental focus might explain why it didn’t sell as well as other releases. The most popular track on the album is “Flash’s Theme/ Flash”, which was penned by May and features the band’s vocals intertwined with snippets from the movie.

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13 – Queen – 0.6 million

In 1973, Queen introduced themselves with their first album, titled simply “Queen.” Similar in style to both heavy metal and progressive rock, this debut release was reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, as critics noted at the time. A year later, they followed up with another album, “Queen II,” which maintained a similar sound.

The album faced delays after recording, due to their difficulty in finding a record label willing to distribute it. The songs “Liar” and “Keep Yourself Alive” didn’t perform well on the charts but did manage to gain some radio play and attract attention towards Queen and their upcoming album. These tracks are the most notable ones from the album. Furthermore, there was a hint of things to come with an instrumental preview of “Seven Seas Of Rhye”, which would later be released as a single and appear on Queen II.

12 – Hot Space – 0.7 million

It’s possible that this album might have been challenging for Queen enthusiasts, as indicated by its lower sales figures and rankings. Following the massive success of the funky track “Another One Bites The Dust” (by Deacon) in 1980, they continued to evolve their musical style even more.

In 1982, Hot Space, their album, marked a significant leap towards a disco-influenced, funky dance music style by Queen, which might not have been what their primary rock audience anticipated. Looking back, the band admitted it was possibly a move too daring for them.

“The tenth studio album by Queen actually didn’t include their most popular track, as ‘Under Pressure’ was recorded during a separate session earlier on. This iconic collaboration took place in the band’s Montreux studios and, notably, included David Bowie. The lyrics for the song were jointly written by all four Queen members and Bowie himself. However, it was Freddie Mercury who orchestrated the entire composition, blending each individual contribution seamlessly, with John Deacon providing that memorable bass riff.”

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11 – Sheer Heart Attack – 0.9 million

In 1974, they released their third studio album, which signified a significant shift towards the iconic Queen sound. This record showcased an array of songs spanning different genres, from intense to playful and whimsical. It achieved chart success not only in the UK and US but also globally, propelling Queen into prominence.

In performances, popular tracks such as “Brighton Rock” (from May) and “Now I’m Here” (also from May) are regularly played. The former provides an opportunity for May to showcase his extraordinary extended three-minute guitar solo, which becomes even more impressive in a live setting. The standout track on the album is undeniably “Killer Queen,” one of the band’s many iconic songs. Its success as a single significantly boosted the album’s sales.

10 – A Day At The Races – 1.6 million

As a diehard fan, I might say: While “A Day At The Races,” sitting in tenth place, significantly outperforms “Sheer Heart Attack” at the eleventh spot on sales, it’s still surprising to find it towards the bottom of the list. It’s an outstanding album, but there are just so many other remarkable ones too. Following the phenomenal success of “A Night At The Opera” in 1976 wasn’t easy – quite a hard act to follow indeed.

As a diehard music enthusiast, I’ve got to say that among the many stellar tracks on Queen’s albums, two really stand out for me. “Tie Your Mother Down” (by Freddie Mercury) is one of them, showcasing Queen at their peak rock performance. However, it’s eclipsed by another iconic song – “Somebody To Love” (also by Freddie). The powerful gospel-style harmonies, the electrifying guitar riffs, and Freddie’s unparalleled vocal prowess make this song an absolute delight for me.

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9 – Jazz – 1.7 million

If finding “A Day At The Races” in tenth place leaves me astonished, it’s because “Jazz” is at the front, and I find it hard to believe that other albums above it as well. Released in 1978, this was the band’s seventh studio album, and I was taken aback when it came out, as I felt it fell far short of expectations. It had a rushed or hasty vibe to it.

Queen indeed had popular tracks on their jazz album, including “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Mercury, along with “Fat Bottomed Girls” by May and “Bicycle Race” also by Mercury. I enjoyed those songs and consider the first one to be excellent. However, I would rather not listen to “Mustapha”. Despite my feelings about that song, the album was still a chart success and helped maintain Queen’s reputation.

8 – The Works – 1.8 million

On this latest album, the band underwent several shifts from their previous work. Following the release of “Hot Space,” they opted to return to a rockier foundation for their songs. However, they didn’t shy away from incorporating a few playful and pop-influenced tracks as well, while retaining some electronic elements in the mix.

The blend of tunes significantly contributed to the band’s rebound following a slump with their previous album. However, their humorous video for hit single “I Want To Break Free” (Deacon) wasn’t favorably received in the US. Yet, popular tracks such as “Radio Ga Ga” (Taylor), a fan favorite, and the hard rock anthem “Hammer To Fall” (May) managed to counteract that setback, boosting sales figures.

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7 – Innuendo – 2.2 million

14th studio album from the band, titled Innuendo, was released in the year 1991. This album stands as a unique milestone, being the last one Queen put out during Freddie Mercury’s lifetime. Although his AIDS diagnosis was kept confidential, whispers abounded. Recording sessions were challenging for Mercury, leading to delays in the album’s release until February 1991. Sadly, he passed away nine months later.

It’s possible that Mercury was going through a tough time during the creation of this album, but it remains as impressive as ever. His voice, surprisingly, is quite powerful. The album, titled Innuendo, has a timeless Queen-like quality to it, with its diverse range of songs and distinctive style. Notably, the top tracks are “These Are the Days of Our Lives” (Taylor) and “The Show Must Go On” (May).

6 – A Kind Of Magic – 2.4 million

The Queen had an extraordinary public relations success with their album titled A Kind Of Magic, which was released in June 1986. This release came following their spectacular performance at the Live Aid concert the year prior, though it wasn’t known then that this would be the band’s final album to be supported by a live tour. Tragically, Mercury received an AIDS diagnosis the year after the album’s release.

It’s a super album to release at this stage. The band was rejuvenated by that Live Aid success and also tied it in with the movie Highlander. Top tracks are the title song “A Kind Of Magic” (Taylor), “Friends Will Be Friends” (Mercury and Deacon), and the haunting “Who Wants To Live Forever” (May). And yes, it really is “Fried Chicken” in the lyrics at the end of  “One Vision”(All Queen)!

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5 – The Game – 4.6 million

As a dedicated Queen fan, I’m proud to say that we’ve made it into the top five best-selling studio albums of all time by Queen! Coming in at fifth place is their incredible album, “The Game,” which was released way back in 1980. After spending two years touring across North America and Europe, they had amassed an impressive fan base and decided to take a break from the road to record this masterpiece. To top it off, they also released their first live album, “Live Killers,” in 1979, which was a massive success and further solidified their status as one of the greatest bands of all time!

The Game Tour, which began in early 1981, saw Queen venturing to South America to set new records. For the first time for a rock band, they filled enormous stadiums. One remarkable night in Buenos Aires, Argentina attracted an astounding audience of 300,000. This tour undoubtedly contributed to further boosting the album’s sales.

Fittingly, the chart-topping album “The Game” by one of the top-five Queen ranked records delivers another fantastic dose of music. Notably, it achieved tremendous success in the US, serving as their highest-selling studio album there and the sole one to reach number 1 on the US album charts. As expected, there are numerous hit tracks on “The Game”. Among them, notable mentions include “Another One Bites The Dust” (composed by Deacon), “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “Play The Game” (both penned by Mercury), and “Save Me” (written by May).

4 – News Of The World – 5.3 million

The sixth album of the band, titled “News Of The World,” released in 1977, earns the fourth position. This album is my personal preference due to its excellent tracks and the thrill of witnessing Queen perform during their tour for it. As with many of their albums, a diverse array of songs make up this release. Unlike their previous two albums, “A Night At The Opera” and “A Day At The Races,” which were quite pompous, this album adopts a more straightforward approach, yet it still contains rock, pop, and anthemic tunes.

Many tunes by Queen are easily identifiable due to their distinctive opening chords. Two of their most famous tracks, “We Are The Champions” (by Freddie Mercury) and “We Will Rock You” (by Brian May), can be found on the same album. Remarkably, they were initially released together, with “We Will Rock You” as the B-side. What a memorable moment that was! Another standout track is an early funk-inspired song called “Get Down, Make Love” (also by Freddie Mercury), which features him incorporating numerous seductive sounds into his lyrics.

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3 – A Night At The Opera – 6 million

It might seem unexpected considering its significant influence on their career and musical legacy, but Queen’s groundbreaking album “A Night At The Opera” ranks as their third-best selling studio album. Released in 1975, this was their fourth studio production that garnered widespread acclaim. Known for being one of the most costly albums to produce during its time, the extensive work done in the studio to create the songs on it certainly justified the expense. The renowned producer Roy Thomas Baker collaborated with the band to ensure success with an impressive collection of music.

Without a doubt, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, penned by Freddie Mercury, stands out as an unparalleled masterpiece. Moving on, other standout tracks include “Love Of My Life,” another classic from Mercury, now featuring Brian May accompanying a video of Mercury’s live performances. Additionally, “You’re My Best Friend” by John Deacon is another crowd favorite. Lastly, I’d suggest adding the intricately vocalized and distinctively sounding “Prophets Song,” a creation of Brian May.

2 – The Miracle – 9.5 million

The second-best selling among the band’s studio albums is “The Miracle,” which they released in 1989. Surprisingly for some, this album doesn’t contain as many chart-topping hits compared to others. However, the tunes it does offer are still top-notch, and it’s evident that the album was widely appreciated and successful among fans.

During the process of recording the album, Freddie Mercury’s HIV diagnosis was already known among the band members. Despite his health status not affecting their ability to record at that time, additional stressors such as Mercury’s diagnosis, marital problems for both May and Taylor, all contributed to an increased pressure. Remarkably, none of these challenges impacted the quality of the music on the album, as all four band members delivered exceptional performances.

Among the standout tracks on “The Miracle” are “I Want It All” (penned by May), “Breakthru” (co-written by Mercury and Taylor), and “The Invisible Man” (also penned by Taylor). The latter track showcases Queen’s funk and electro side, featuring some complex guitar work from May. Interestingly, it was around this time that the band decided to credit all songs to all four members as ‘Queen’, regardless of who originally wrote them.

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1 – Made In Heaven – 20 million

1995 saw Queen’s fifteenth and last studio album, “Made In Heaven,” become their biggest seller, with over 20 million copies sold. This record-breaking success can be attributed to both the unique circumstances surrounding its release and the timing of when it came out. However, it might not be the favorite among Queen fans when it comes to choosing their best album.

Four years following Freddie Mercury’s passing, the album was unveiled, a product of extensive labor by May, Taylor, and Deacon. They skillfully combined numerous original vocal and piano recordings that Mercury had made during his solo projects and with Queen. Through meticulous editing, they refined these recordings into the album’s final versions. They also created new songs to complement Mercury’s material, recording their music and vocals to harmonize seamlessly.

As a dedicated fan, every album by the unparalleled Freddie Mercury was a must-have on my shelf. Made In Heaven, with its songs carrying an undeniable emotional depth, felt particularly special. The track “Mother Love” holds a unique significance as it features his last ever recorded vocals, adding an extra layer of poignancy to the listening experience. It’s no surprise that this album became such a massive success, with standout tracks like “Heaven For Everyone” (Taylor) and “Too Much Love Will Kill You” (May, Frank Museker, and Elizabeth Lamers).

In certain editions of the album, there’s an unnamed track at the end. This is an unusual piece for the band, but it makes this record stand out. Over 22 minutes in length, it has a dreamy atmosphere combined with snippets of Mercury throughout. It aligns nicely with the narrative and context of the album.

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2024-08-20 13:01