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Flash Gordon
Studio album / Soundtrack album by Queen
Released	8 December 1980
Recorded	February–March; October–November 1980
Studio	Townhouse (London) Music Center (London) Advision (London)
Genre	Rock
Length	35:11
Label	EMI Elektra
Producer	Brian May Reinhold Mack
Queen chronology
The Game (1980) Flash Gordon (1980) Greatest Hits (1981)
Singles from Flash Gordon
"Flash" Released: 24 November 1980

Flash Gordon is the first soundtrack album and ninth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 8 December 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and on 27 January 1981 by Elektra Records in the US. It is one of two film soundtracks that they produced, along with Highlander. It is the soundtrack to the science fiction film Flash Gordon and features lyrics on only two tracks. "Flash's Theme" was the only single to be released from the album, under the title "Flash". The album reached number 10 on the UK charts and number 23 in the US.

The album was reissued worldwide on 27 June 2011 (excluding the US and Canada, where it was released on 27 September) as part of the band's 40th anniversary. The reissue adds an EP of related tracks.

Unlike most soundtrack albums, audio from the film is prominently used in the theme song and the score selections of the album.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Guardian
Record Mirror
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Smash Hits	2/10
Uncut

Track listing

All tracks are instrumental unless noted.

• Track 1 listed as "Man" on the 1982 US LP, 5E-518-B
• Track 6 based on "Bridal Chorus"

Personnel

Queen

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, synthesisers
• Brian May – lead guitar, backing vocals, synthesisers, piano, organ, co-lead vocals on "Flash's Theme"
• Roger Taylor – drums, timpani, backing vocals, synthesisers
• John Deacon – bass guitar, guitar, synthesisers

Additional personnel

• Howard Blake – additional orchestral arrangements

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Prato, Greg, "Flash Gordon (OST) review", allmusic.com, retrieved 12 September 2024
2. Ross, Daniel (27 April 2009). "Flash Gordon, Queen And The Art Of The Rock OST". The Quietus. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
3. "Press Release: Second Five Albums Re-Issued on 27th June". Queen. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
4. Second Set of Re-issues: Out This Week! Queen. Retrieved 7 July 2011
5. Snow, John (8 June 2021). "Queen – 'Flash Gordon' (1980) – Album Review (The Studio Album Series)". 2 Loud 2 Old Music. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
6. Petridis, Alexis (15 December 2011). "Queen: Jazz; The Game; Flash Gordon; Hot Space – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
7. "Flash Gordon (soundtrack)". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
8. Kot, Greg (19 April 1992). "An 18-record, 80 Million-copy Odyssey". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
9. Larkin, Colin (2011). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2248. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
10. Petridis, Alexis (15 December 2011). "Queen: Jazz; The Game; Flash Gordon; Hot Space – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
11. "1980.12.13 – Record Mirror – UK – Wham! Bam! Thank you Ma'am! - QueenCuttings.com – Welcome on board!". QueenCuttings.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
12. "Queen: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
13. Ellen, Mark. "Albums". Smash Hits (8 January 1981): 25.
14. "Queen – Flash Gordon Soundtrack CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
15. "Queen Miscellaneous Live Song Lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.
16. "Flash Gordon :: Queen Songs". Archived from the original on 2 February 2019.
17. May, Brian (22 April 2003). "Jena, Lady Mercy, Playing piano on early albums, Mr Pavarotti". Letters. Archived from the original on 29 March 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2007. Flash and The Hero (Flash Gordon) (plus organ on the WEDDING)
18. "Songwriting Analysis :: Queen Songs".
19. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 283. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
20. "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack / Queen – Flash Gordon" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
21. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0302". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Queen – Flash Gordon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / Queen – Flash Gordon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
24. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
25. "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Queen – Flash Gordon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack / Queen – Flash Gordon". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
27. "Queen | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
28. "Queen Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
29. "Jahreshitparade 1981" (in Austrian). Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
30. "Official German Charts: Album–Year Charts 1981". Offzielle Charts. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
31. "Queen - Freddie Mercury's commemorative Canadian in-house sales award - 'Queen Rules Canada', 1992". 18 August 2023.
32. "Queen – Freddie Mercury's Japanese in-house presentation awards". 18 August 2023.
33. "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2009 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. 8 July 2009.
34. "British album certifications – Queen – Flash Gordon – OST". British Phonographic Industry.

External links

• Queen official website: Discography: Flash Gordon: includes lyrics of "Flash's Theme" (all versions) and "The Hero".
• Official Video (YouTube)

• Queen (band) soundtracks
• Science fiction film soundtracks
• Single-artist film soundtracks
• Flash Gordon
• Albums produced by Reinhold Mack
• 1980 soundtrack albums
• Elektra Records soundtracks
• Hollywood Records soundtracks
• EMI Records soundtracks
• Parlophone soundtracks
• Albums recorded at Townhouse Studios