Queen: Another Look At "Hot Space"

In 1980, Queen was coming out of a wildly successful decade.  True to their eclectic tastes, their album "The Game" not only featured a throwback rockabilly song, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", but a R&B/funk song, "Another One Bites The Dust", which ended up being an even bigger hit.

In an attempt to continue in that vein and exploring their own interests in that field, their next album, 1982's "Hot Space" featured more dance beats, new wave sounds and utilized more synthesizers than ever before.  Critical and popular reception was cool and, in some respects, resulted in long term damage.  A band which was wildly popular in England, Europe, Asia and South America, Queen had always worked and strived to "make it" in the United States.  Just as quickly as "Crazy Little Thing" and "Another One Bites The Dust" vaulted them toward that next level, the reaction to "Hot Space" slowed their momentum.

Although "Hot Space" did produce the hit, "Under Pressure", in my opinion there are a number of very good tracks that have been overlooked.  Here are two:

"Calling All Girls"




"Back Chat" (live in 1982)




Bonus:

Here is the karaoke version of "Under Pressure".