Queen & a Night at the Opera: 50 Years

Authoritatively written and featuring rare photography and memorabilia, this beautiful slipcased hardcover is the only illustrated gift book to examine Queen’s most iconic album, A Night at the Opera.

In 1975, Queen released what would become their best-selling album, which also happened to introduce their most enduring song, ＂Bohemian Rhapsody.＂ A Night at the Opera has gone on the sell over 11 million copies worldwide and counting. In Queen and a Night at the Opera, rock historian Gillian Gaar takes a deep dive into the legendary English band’s most famous album on its 50th anniversary. Chapters cover:

• Queen’s formation and history up to A Night at the Opera, including the three albums that preceded it
• The recording sessions that resulted in the album
• Track-by-track analyses of each side
• The tour to support the album, and awards and accolades
• The band’s career after the album--and after the death of Freddie Mercury

In addition, numerous sidebars cover topics such as the ＂Bohemian Rhapsody＂ video, producer Roy Thomas Baker, Brian May’s ＂Red Special＂ guitar, and more. There are even capsule bios of Mercury and May, as well as bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor.

IIlustrated with performance and off-stage photography as well as rare memorabilia, Queen and A Night at the Opera is a definitive and beautifully produced tribute to a legendary album from a legendary performer and artist.

The Great Albums series presents authoritative explorations of rock’s most revered records, beautifully packaged for fans to treasure. Delve into even more groundbreaking releases with: Pink Floyd and The Dark Side of the Moon, The Who & Quadrophenia, Prince and Purple Rain, and Bruce Springsteen and Born to Run, with more to come.

Gillian G. Gaar has written for numerous publications, including Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. Previous books include She’s a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll; Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana; Return of the King: Elvis Presley’s Great Comeback; Elton John at 75; and Bruce Springsteen at 75. She lives in Seattle.