Queen – Jazz (1978)
Jazz is the seventh studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 10 November 1978 by EMI Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US. Despite its title, the album does not feature jazz music; instead, it showcases Queen’s genre‑hopping style, mixing rock, pop, hard rock and quirky pop songwriting across 13 tracks.
🎤 Album Credits
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Artist: Queen
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Title: Jazz
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Released: 10 Nov 1978 (UK) / 14 Nov 1978 (US)
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Recorded: July–October 1978 at Super Bear Studios (Nice, France) and Mountain Studios (Montreux, Switzerland)
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Producers: Queen & Roy Thomas Baker
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Label: EMI (UK), Elektra (US)
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Genre: Rock / hard rock / pop / stadium rock
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Length: ~44:39
Band Personnel:
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Freddie Mercury – vocals, piano
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Brian May – guitars, vocals
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Roger Taylor – drums, percussion, vocals
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John Deacon – bass guitar
📀 Tracklist (Original LP)
Side One:
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Mustapha
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Fat Bottomed Girls
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Jealousy
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Bicycle Race
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If You Can’t Beat Them
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Let Me Entertain You
Side Two:
7. Dead On Time
8. In Only Seven Days
9. Dreamer’s Ball
10. Fun It
11. Leaving Home Ain’t Easy
12. Don’t Stop Me Now
13. More Of That Jazz
📊 Commercial Performance & Ratings
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UK Albums Chart: Peaked at #2 and stayed on the chart for many weeks.
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US Billboard 200: Reached #6.
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Certifications: Platinum in the UK and US.
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Ratings: Critic score ~76/100; user score ~74/100 (AlbumoftheYear.org).
Although it includes some of Queen’s most enduring songs, Jazz received mixed reviews on release and remains divisive among fans.
🎨 Cover Art & Packaging
The Jazz cover famously features an abstract, sometimes difficult‑to‑interpret design with the album title embossed in large letters and a collage of small figures in motion. The concept was suggested by drummer Roger Taylor after he saw a similar mural on the Berlin Wall — an image idea that’s reflected in the energetic, almost chaotic feel of the artwork.
In many original vinyl pressings a detachable “Bicycle Race” poster was included, showing cyclists — a collectible feature that draws attention among fans and collectors.
🎶 Most Popular Tracks
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“Don’t Stop Me Now” – A Freddie Mercury‑penned upbeat classic that has grown into one of Queen’s most beloved songs.
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“Fat Bottomed Girls” – A hard‑rocking anthem with strong vocal interplay.
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“Bicycle Race” – A quirky, instantly memorable Queen single released as a double A‑side with Fat Bottomed Girls.
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“Jealousy” – A melodic gem featuring subtle, sitar‑like guitar textures.
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“Mustapha” – An unconventional, multi‑lingual opening track.
🤩 Fun Facts
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🚲 Iconic poster: Many original copies included a detachable Bicycle Race poster, making Jazz memorable as much for its packaging as its music.
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🎤 Genre mix: The album includes pop, rock, disco‑funk (“Fun It”), vaudeville (“Dreamer’s Ball”), and hard rock — a true Queen eclectic collection.
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🇦🇷 Middle eastern flavour: “Mustapha” blends English with Arabic‑influenced singing — a rare and playful Queen experiment.
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🥁 Final Baker reunion: It was the last Queen album to feature longtime producer Roy Thomas Baker until later collaborations.
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🎹 Growing legacy: “Don’t Stop Me Now” wasn’t a huge hit at first but became one of Queen’s most popular songs over time.
🧠 Trivia
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📀 Despite the album’s title, it contains almost no actual jazz music, a point often noted by critics.
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🎤 The double A‑side single “Bicycle Race / Fat Bottomed Girls” climbed to high chart positions in the UK.
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🎧 The album’s eclectic style shows Queen broadening their musical palette, even if that shift led to divided opinions.
