120,000+ Classic Rock Album Covers Database (1948-2026): Queen - Flash Gordon (1980)

Queen - Flash Gordon (1980)

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**Queen – Flash Gordon (1980)**

Flash Gordon is the ninth studio album by British rock band Queen and their first soundtrack album, released on 8 December 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and on 27 January 1981 by Elektra Records in the US. It serves as the official soundtrack to the science‑fiction film Flash Gordon directed by Mike Hodges and based on the classic comic strip.

🎤 Album Credits

Artist: Queen
Album: Flash Gordon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Released: 8 December 1980 (UK) / 27 January 1981 (US)
Recorded: February–March & October–November 1980
Studios: The Town House, The Music Centre, and Advision (London)
Producers: Brian May & Reinhold Mack
Label: EMI (UK), Elektra (US)
Genre: Rock / Soundtrack

Band Personnel:

Freddie Mercury – Vocals, synthesizer
Brian May – Guitar, synthesizer
John Deacon – Bass, synthesizer
Roger Taylor – Drums, vocals, synthesizer

📀 Tracklist (Original LP)

Flash’s Theme – 3:29
In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme) – 2:42
Ming’s Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless) – 2:40
The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale) – 0:57
Football Fight – 1:28
In The Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise) – 2:24
Execution of Flash – 1:05
The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash) – 1:44
Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men) – 1:41
Escape From the Swamp – 1:43
Flash to the Rescue – 2:44
Vultan’s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men) – 1:12
Battle Theme – 2:18
The Wedding March – 0:56
Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching) – 2:04
Crash Dive on Mingo City – 1:00
Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations) – 1:23
The Hero – 3:31

(LP length: ~35 min)

📊 Commercial Performance & Impact

UK Albums Chart: #10
US Billboard 200: #23
Key Single: Flash (single version of Flash’s Theme) released 24 November 1980 — reached #10 in the UK and #42 in the US.
Legacy: The album achieved Gold sales in both the UK and US, and while it’s not a typical Queen studio record, it remains a cult favourite among fans and sci‑fi soundtrack collectors.

🎨 Cover Art & Visuals

The cover artwork uses bold science‑fiction imagery connecting directly to the Flash Gordon movie franchise. Unlike Queen’s usual elaborate sleeve art, this soundtrack packaging reflects the cinematic sci‑fi theme and was designed to tie visually with the film’s promotional material and futuristic aesthetic.

🎶 Notable Tracks

“Flash’s Theme” – The main theme and only single, famous for its shouted “Flash! ⚡” hook by Freddie Mercury.
“The Hero” – One of the few tracks on the album with lyrics, used prominently in the film’s epilogue.
“Football Fight” – A quirky instrumental driven by synthesizers and rock attitude.

Most of the album is instrumental or atmospheric, interspersed with effects and themes tied to the movie’s scenes.

🤩 Fun Facts

🎛️ Soundtrack first: This is Queen’s first official soundtrack album, blending rock with cinematic scoring elements.
⚡ Iconic “Flash!” line: The theme’s shouted “Flash! Ah‑ah!” became one of Queen’s most recognisable vocal hooks.
📽️ Synth‑heavy score: Unlike most of their previous albums, the soundtrack leans heavily on synthesizers and instrumental cues tailored to film scenes rather than pop/rock song structures.
🚀 Movie tie‑in: The Flash Gordon film itself wasn’t a huge hit in the US but became a cult classic in later years, with the soundtrack appreciated for its retro‑futuristic feel.

🧠 Trivia

🎬 Many of the instrumental cues incorporate dialogue clips or sound effects directly from the movie in certain editions of the album.
🎸 Brian May and producer Reinhold Mack worked closely on the score, making it one of the few Queen releases with a single band member co‑producing.
📀 The album was reissued in 2011 as part of the band’s 40th anniversary, including bonus tracks and expanded material.