Queen – The Game (1980)
The Game is the eighth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 30 June 1980 by EMI Records (UK) and 1 July 1980 by Elektra Records (US). It marked a major stylistic shift for the band toward a more pop‑ and funk‑influenced rock sound and introduced synthesizers into their music for the first time.
🎤 Album Credits
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Artist: Queen
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Album: The Game
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Released: 30 June 1980 (UK) / 1 July 1980 (US)
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Recorded: June–July 1979 & February–May 1980 at Musicland Studios (Munich, Germany)
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Producer: Queen & Mack (Reinhold Mack as engineer/co‑producer)
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Label: EMI (UK), Elektra (US)
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Genre: Rock, pop, funk rock, new wave
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Length: ~35:42
Band Members:
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Freddie Mercury – lead & backing vocals, piano, guitar on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
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Brian May – guitar, backing vocals
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John Deacon – bass, backing vocals
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Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals
📀 Tracklist (Original LP)
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Play the Game
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Dragon Attack
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Another One Bites the Dust
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Need Your Loving Tonight
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Crazy Little Thing Called Love
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Rock It (Prime Jive)
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Don’t Try Suicide
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Sail Away Sweet Sister
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Coming Soon
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Save Me
📊 Commercial Performance & Legacy
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UK Albums Chart: #1 — Queen’s third UK chart‑topper.
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US Billboard 200: #1 — The Game is the only Queen studio album to reach No. 1 in the US.
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Sales & Certifications: Sold an estimated ~12 million copies worldwide, including ~4 million in the US alone (4× Platinum).
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Reception: The album was a critical and commercial success and remains one of Queen’s most widely‑known releases.
🎨 Cover Art
The cover of The Game features a reflective silver‑foil finish with a photo of the band, giving it a sleek, modern late‑1970s/early‑1980s rock aesthetic. Original pressings had a shiny metallic look that contrasted with many of Queen’s earlier elaborate illustrations, hinting at the more contemporary sound within.
🎶 Hit Singles & Most Popular Tracks
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“Another One Bites the Dust” – John Deacon’s bass‑driven anthem and one of Queen’s biggest global hits, reaching #1 in the US.
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“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Rockabilly‑styled classic that also hit #1 in the US.
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“Play the Game” – Freddie Mercury‑penned opener with synth lines and melodic flair.
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“Save Me” – Emotional ballad released as a single before the album and a UK hit.
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“Need Your Loving Tonight” – Upbeat pop‑rock track showcasing the band’s pop sensibilities.
🤩 Fun Facts
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🎸 Synths debut: The Game was the first Queen album to feature a synthesizer (Oberheim OB‑X), breaking their long‑standing “no synths” approach.
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💿 US success: It is Queen’s only studio album to reach #1 on the US Billboard 200.
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🥇 Two US #1 singles: Both “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” topped the US charts.
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🎷 Genre blending: The album mixes rock, pop, funk, new wave, and rockabilly, a contrast to Queen’s earlier orchestral and progressive styles.
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🕺 Crossover appeal: Its groove‑oriented sound helped Queen reach new audiences in the early 1980s, especially in the US.
🧠 Trivia
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📺 The Game sessions spanned two periods: part in 1979 (e.g., Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Save Me) and the rest in 1980.
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🎤 Freddie’s short hair and moustache look during this era became iconic and signaled a new Queen image.
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🎵 Some tracks like Coming Soon are fan favorites despite not being singles, and the album is often praised for tight musicianship and rhythmic focus.
