Hot Space

if you listen to any live material from 1982, some of the songs from Hot space were the best live songs ever played. i.e Action and Staying Power

Actually I hated this album when it came out, but it really grew on me threw the years. It's not that bad of a album after listening to it recently.

Hot Space was a risky album at the time...like 5 to 10 years before it's time ?

Cause that's about how much time it took me too appreciate it ;)

Queen was a about trying new sounds.

Gregsynth wrote: skip wrote: "Staying Power"  - Shite.
"Dancer"  - Shite.
"Back Chat"  - Shite.
"Body Language"  - Shite to the tenth power.
"Action This Day"  - Shite
"Put Out the Fire"  - Just o.k.
"Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)"  - Shite.
"Calling All Girls"  - Shite.
"Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)"  - Just o.k.
"Cool Cat" - Shite.
"Under Pressure" - Great song.

Skip, get your Hot Space ON! LOL

I'll pass.

master marathon runner wrote: skip wrote: "Staying Power"  - Shite.
"Dancer"  - Shite.
"Back Chat"  - Shite.
"Body Language"  - Shite to the tenth power.
"Action This Day"  - Shite
"Put Out the Fire"  - Just o.k.
"Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)"  - Shite.
"Calling All Girls"  - Shite.
"Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)"  - Just o.k.
"Cool Cat" - Shite.
"Under Pressure" - Great song.

Would you consider re-assessing the songs ?

Master Marathon Runner

Why?  If you want me to listen to the cd again then re-assess each track you'd get the same results.
I didn't like the cd since first listen.  I did listen to the cd either last year or the year before, because
I had forgotten a few of the songs.  That was a major chore to get through.  When the cd finished the
thought was "this cd sucks and that's why it always collects dust."

Holly2003 wrote:"Picture this...

Side 1
1. Under Pressure --- 4:02
2. Need Your Loving Tonight — 2:48
3. Another One Bites the Dust — 3:03
4. Dragon Attack — 4:15
5. Don't Try Suicide — 3:52

Side 2
6. Play the Game — 3:32
7. Rock It (Prime Jive) — 4:32
8. Crazy Little Thing Called Love — 2:44
9. Sail Away Sweet Sister — 3:32
10. Save Me (May) — 3:42"

I'm not sure. Putting aside the songs themselves, why would you put Play The Game as the first song on the second side? Wouldn't it be better if, assuming Under Pressure had to open the album, it was the second track?

Amazon wrote: Holly2003 wrote:"Picture this...

Side 1
1. Under Pressure --- 4:02
2. Need Your Loving Tonight — 2:48
3. Another One Bites the Dust — 3:03
4. Dragon Attack — 4:15
5. Don't Try Suicide — 3:52

Side 2
6. Play the Game — 3:32
7. Rock It (Prime Jive) — 4:32
8. Crazy Little Thing Called Love — 2:44
9. Sail Away Sweet Sister — 3:32
10. Save Me (May) — 3:42"

I'm not sure. Putting aside the songs themselves, why would you put Play The Game as the first song on the second side? Wouldn't it be better if, assuming Under Pressure had to open the album, it was the second track?

I agree with amazon that UP fits only on the hot space album, but how about this for the game

play the Game
Dragon attack
Another one bites the dust
Need your loving tonight
Under pressure
Crazy little thing
prime Jive
Sail away
Don't try suicide (i was pretty harsh on this one, but it's still a cool tune because of the middle section)
Save me

mickyparise wrote: Actually I hated this album when it came out, but it really grew on me threw the years. It's not that bad of a album after listening to it recently.

Me too, it took me a few years to get past the first few songs.  It's a fun listen for me these days.  Still in my top 3 least favorite list.  My least favorite queen album is the miracle.

I admit that when I bought it in May of 82 I was really confused as to what the hell they were up to. Under Pressure came out first and it really set the anticipation for a great album. But then I put it on the turntable (yeah, we had them back then) and couldn't  figure out if I was to like or loathe it. I've been a fan since 77 and had all the albums up to that point. So us fans back then loved everything they did up to that point. After Another One Bites The Dust came out I think they must have thought that if they had such success with that track they could probably have more with more funky stuff. Nah, it repelled us. You younger guys out there may have felt the same way had you been born earlier BUT in your defense it's interesting to hear your comments and you're more accepting of it than we were back then. And I WAS one of those fans that kind of dismissed Queen a little after that record. Still dedicated but not as interested until The Works album. Then my love for the band was restored. But those tracks were powerful when they brought them to the stage.

Jazz 78 wrote: Under Pressure came out first and it really set the anticipation for a great album. But then I put it on the turntable (yeah, we had them back then) and couldn't  figure out if I was to like or loathe it.

Very true. Under Pressure is not a funk-dance track, like a lot of Hot Space (Staying Power, Dancer, Back Chat, Cool Cat, Body Language). It is more 'New Wave', like Calling All Girls, Action This Day, or Coming Soon (from The Game). As such, even if one ignores that it was released as a single seven months before Hot Space was released and had already appeard on some Greatest Hits LPs, stylistically Under Pressure is a bit 'between albums'.

Regarding Hot Space, I dont know if it was as much Queen moving away from their fanbase as it was the poor quality songwriting on the album. Only one or two songs really stand out. Only one or two would've made it onto, for example, The Game. They simply made an album that wasn't very good, and which didn't connect with their core audience or the wider public. Many other bands were doing funk-soul better than Queen. They ended up looking like imitations of these artists. It's nice that MJ said it influenced Thriller, but let's be honest, Thriller is a classic, whereas HS is a dud.

Holly2003 wrote:

 It's nice that MJ said it influenced Thriller, but let's be honest, Thriller is a classic, whereas HS is a dud.
Perhaps it influenced him like: "alright, so I should not be doing something like that".

Hot Space is no masterpiece, however I think it's one of Queen's most enjoyable albums. I recently relistened to in full, and I was stunned at how fun it is. There aren't any duds on the album. Body Language isn't great, but I don't consider it to be among Queen's weakest songs, and unlike in previous albums (such as Queen II, SHA and Jazz), there aren't any songs which I would skip over. They are all, at the very least, enjoyable, with Freddie in extraordinary form. He's simply incredible.


Staying Power, Put Out the Fire and Las Palabras de Amor are IMO the three best songs on the album, with Staying Power being among my favourite Queen songs. Other songs like Dancer, Life Is Real and Under Pressure are very good. Most of the other songs, such are Back Chat, are pretty good. There are two or three songs that I'm not a big fan of, but I would take any song on Hot Space over several 70's songs.


If I were to divide Queen's recording career into eras, I would have the first 8 albums as the classical period; The Works and AKOM as Queen's dark ages; The Miracle, Innuendo and Made In Heaven as Queen's mature golden era; and I would have Hot Space in an era all by itself. Unlike any other Queen album, I love that they made it, it gives me incredible pleasure, I am a very proud owner of it, yet I wouldn't describe it as Queen's very best albums. A terrific album.

The_CrY wrote: Holly2003 wrote:

 It's nice that MJ said it influenced Thriller, but let's be honest, Thriller is a classic, whereas HS is a dud.
Perhaps it influenced him like: "alright, so I should not be doing something like that".

I don't know about that....i don't think hot space really influenced michael jackson..Maybe a little.....I think the queen album that influenced him was the game IMO. the songs had a funky feel like dragon attack and bites the dust, and like thriller the songs were perfect...  Maybe a little of dancer the way a dance song has a rock guitar solo.  michael did it right though...that's not a put down on queen at all....Imagine if michael jackson tried to make an album like the classic rockers of the 70's?....trying too do a night at the opera or who's next?....He would be a fish out of water like Queen was with hot space, only much much worse. Queen at least did a decent Job at dance music.   Let me say this, i'm no fan of michael...he was just an updated version of the great smoky robinson (and not as good as smoky) i don't care how many albums he sold....they're is nothing brilliant about the music, it's just basic pop music.  early queen smokes him in creativity.  All the elements Queen music had is underappreciated.   They did more styles on one album than michael had in his whole career.  Album sales don't mean everything....I bet brittany spears will out sell queen worldwide by the time she's 40.....what does that prove?....a pop star will usually out sell a rock band.

Technically, nobody's been able to find (here on QZ at least) a direct quote from MJ saying 'Hot Space' influenced 'Thrilller'. All there is consists of hearsay, speculations, conjectures and what's been implied by Dr May.

yea, and Dr. May knew micheal Personally. We don't, so maybe we should listen to the man.