Sorry to eissek, as I've seen that he has posted quite a similar topic - but I don't mean "do you like it or not" - it's just about seeing it's chart success as what it is: a pure soundtrack record.
I really do believe that they actually did not expect "Flash Gordon" to be their most selling album ever or anything like that.
In fact, they often stated that it was recorded in the same way the old soundtracks were recorded, by playing while actually watching the movie.
And that they consider it to be the first ever real rock-soundtrack. Other than AKOM (with all songs including vocals and different versions for the album) - and even for that Bri often said he would like to see a full and proper "Highlander"-soundtrack release combined with Michael Kamens' score in the future.
The knew that it wasn't a record made of possible hit-singles, and that it was a bonus to actually HAVE a hit on it. It's an artistic statement to be seen as part of the movie IMHO.
So I think that the sales figures of that album have to be considered quite massive instead of poor. As a pure soundtrack mainly consisting of instrumental pieces in the early 80s (nowadays OST's are pumped up with hits). Without things like "Saturday night live" in consideration. Did e.g. "L'ascenseur Pour Lechafaud" sell equal numbers ? What do you think ?
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Commercially it woz a flop, also in the artistic sence...it's nothing special. But it has a cult status now because of the movie and i think that's even better.
In Austria 'Flash Gordon' reached #1. (as far as I know)
Commercially it woz a flop, also in the artistic sence...it's nothing special. But it has a cult status now because of the movie and i think that's even better.
Sorry, but I think you're wrong with both points.
Aritistically, there's not less substance to it than to anything else they did. Also, it actually was very successful and far from being a commercial flop. In Germany both single and albums belonged to their most successful records to that date, reaching no.3 and no.2 respectively. Given that it's a big market, I'd say that's quite something.
I've seen it already - but that was seven years ago, so I can't remember the plot.
Ooh come on, the 'album' is a joke! I don't see it as an Queenalbum and i can't see it as an Queenalbum! It's hiddious
Ooh come on, the 'album' is a joke! I don't see it as an Queenalbum and i can't see it as an Queenalbum! It's hiddious
Why is it a joke? It's a load of orginal recordings by a band. Not that different than all the other "studio" albums really. Just that the source of inspiration is different. Now, you might consider the quality of song writing to be inferior to other albums, but doesn't make it a joke.
I actually like listening to it now and again, even with the dialogue. You can kinda follow the film in your head while listening to it.
I listened to it ONE TIME, and I NEVER played it again! I don't even consider it part of the Queen catalog.
Think back to that point in time when hardly any rock stars were asked to do film scores. Dino Di Laurentiis picked them after hearing Bo Rhap and asked them personally to do the score for his motion picture, and Queen happily accepted.They were very proud of this effort and it is a Queen catalog item, an official release (though there aren't many "songs" on it, mostly instrumentals).
And later on they were asked to do the score for Highlander, though no official soundtrack was released (A Kind Of Magic is the "soundtrack").
And later on they were asked to do the score for Highlander, though no official soundtrack was released (A Kind Of Magic is the "soundtrack").
I enjoy listening to the soundtrack as well.
In fact I listen to Flash Gordon more than I listen to A Kind of Magic and the Works.
In fact I listen to Flash Gordon more than I listen to A Kind of Magic and the Works.
Ooh come on, the 'album' is a joke! I don't see it as an Queenalbum and i can't see it as an Queenalbum! It's hiddious
Oh really ? Well there we go again: Only because YOU can't stand listening to things that don't go verse-chorus-verse-chorus, it doesn't mean it's not serious music. Your personal tastes are not the equivalent to common rules. Apart from that it certainly does not disprove the fact that Flash Gordon WAS a commercial success...
Any album that receives gold awards in any major market IS a commercial success, no matter if you like or not.
It's certainly nothing different than to what David Bowie was putting out at the time - just listen to the instrumentals he released on Low and "Heroes".
personaly i think the albums great. Its not my favorite but i like it cos its Queen. If it wasn't Queen i probably wouldn't like it. Love all thier albums.
Actually I like the soundtrack a lot, but without the dialogues it could be much better. Mostly because I didn´t like the movie. The music alone could have made a very moody album.
Actually I like the soundtrack a lot, but without the dialogues it could be much better. Mostly because I didn´t like the movie. The music alone could have made a very moody album.
Yeah, moody, ambient kinda stuff. Thats what a soundtrack is supposed to sound like. Apart from the fact that I only wanted to measure its success as a soundtrack amongst other "no-songs" soundtracks (and yes, thus it was a success) I also like to add that I DO like it a lot.