The 'List: Queen

Hello one and all.

The fall brings out my need to hear the best music from the decade I was born into. The 1970s. The 80s were fun and will indeed be resumed very soon; but there's something about the crisp fall weather that makes me long to hear the music from the decade that brought us classic movies like The Godfather, Star Wars, and Saturday Night Fever.

A decade that was wrought with political strife like The Vietnam War and Watergate. Three Presidents in one whole decade: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Television stars emerged like Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett and Flip Wilson. Fads like streaking, roller-disco-ing, mood rings, lava lamps, pet rocks and Daisy Dukes were big in that time. But, one of the decades' greatest rewards was its music.

Many artists, songwriters, bands, and yes, even artists in the genre of disco, owe their success to this decade. It also saw the rise of heavy metal as a force to be reckoned with. Rock bands emerged a dime-a-dozen in the 70s, but one of them proved to be a force of nature.

They formed in London in 1970. The early lineup: Brian May on guitar. John Deacon on bass. Roger Taylor on drums and the most flamboyant frontman they had: Farrokh Bulsara from Tanzania reared in Middlesex, England.

He was forever known as Freddie Mercury and sang lead (mostly) and played piano/keyboards and wrote many of their hit songs. He was a consummate performer known for his energy, flamboyance, and ability to command the stage with his enigmatic presence.

I remember hearing my first Queen song (to be revealed as soon as you, the reader, scroll the 'list) back in high school. I hadn't had the pleasure of remembering many of Queen's early hits, with but a few exceptions; also to be revealed in the 'list. They were known to throw many a genre into their repertoire.

They were initially known for their hard rock/progressive rock hook, but many of their early hits showed a penchant for mixing opera, showtunes, funk, pop and arena rock. The band had been a staple in stadiums and arenas. They had their US inception hit in 1974 with "Killer Queen", but made the big time with a strange 5-plus minute opus named "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1976. While the song was a top smash in their native UK, the song would only pique at number nine here in the states...but, their hit (or hot) streak would be ceaseless.

They would score their only US number ones simultaneously in 1980. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and their only disco hit: "Another One Bites The Dust". While the hits waned a little in the 1980s, they were still a powerhouse band into the late 80s and into the early 90s, until tragedy struck.

On November 24, 1991, Freddie Mercury would succumb to AIDS complications at the age of 45. The world lost one of the best singers in all of rock music. The remaining band members would field other lead singers, recently settling on American Idol winner, Adam Lambert. For me, as a band, they were always at their best with Mercury as their lead singer and performer. 300 million records sold and an induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, cemented their legacy. My buddy, Calvin "Oates" Cherry have put together our favorite Queen songs and here it is.

Cherry Picks:

A funky new wave-y hit that was their last official hit with Mercury alive and on vocals. It was known for infusing the Fritz Lang 1927 film: Metropolis in their music video. It was rumored that a popular singer named Stephanie Germanotta would adopt her stage name from this hit song, hence, she became...Lady Gaga.

A danceable pop/new wave hit that was more successful in their native UK, while unable to crack the top-40 here. The MTV video was shockingly banned due to the band "cross-dressing", despite the fact that it was tongue-in-cheek reference to a popular BBC soap opera, Coronation Street.

One of the band's successful 90s hits before Mercury's passing. The video was shot with a visibly frail Mercury acting out an array of 'psychosis' with the fellow band members.

A simple pop/rock hit that had only a simple melodic hook and harmonies along with a sweet, love song lyrical motif. Went top-20 here in the states and was used in recent commercials for PetSmart and films like School of Rock and The Secret Life of Pets. Caused some minor strife in the band as Mercury refused to play the electric piano that became its signature.

It wasn't a hit here in the states, but was a staple in their concerts and a big hit in the UK. Their most arena rock sounding hit to date, though they clearly had many others. Recently used in the Toyota Camry commercials this year — just the vocal track!

They were channeling gospel great Mahalia Jackson with this smash rock ballad. As with another smash hit, they worked closely with the harmony overdubs and gave us another rock opera-tinged hit.

A cut off their 1976 "A Day At The Races" album that never charted here, but showed the band's penchant for musical experimentation. They went for a Broadway-style ragtime vibe with this one and it's a personal favorite of mine.

Their 2-minute, 15 second masterpiece...followed by...

A dual hit released as a rare B-Side/A-Side record single back in 1978. The B-side was a hand-clapped, mostly a capella song that adds the cherry with May's killer guitar riff. Then, the arena rock A-side has been used in many sporting events and is known for its "underdog" lyrics. Actually, both songs had become sports anthems in recent years.

Bassist John Deacon wrote this smash hit that became a smash just as disco music was officially on its last legs. The famous bass-line gives the song its pulse as well as its sexy backbeat. It was believed that Michael Jackson had a hand in having it become their second US number one hit after their rockabilly hit, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" became their first pole hit here. And...no surprise here!

It was the first Queen hit I heard back in 1989 as a high school senior. It was the first song I had heard officially with the exception of "We Will Rock You" and "Another One Bites The Dust". This 5-minute rock opus starts out a cappella, a slow. ruminating rock ballad, followed by a jumpy operetta midway, a balls-to-the-wall rocker finale and then, back to its slowness again.

A rock record, unlike any other, and proof that the 70s would allow something daring on radio back then. The song was resurrected in 1992 after the success of the comedy hit movie Wayne's World, starring Saturday Night Live alumi, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, as metal head-bangers and proved to be an even bigger hit on the charts; peaking at number two. It was their signature hit and will always be their masterpiece forever and a day.

R.I.P. Freddie Mercury. A rock god among men.

Next List Pending.