Every Queen Album Ranked Worst To Best
10. Hot Space
10th studio album (1982); UK #4; US #22
On the heels of the massive success they'd had with the radio-friendly The Game, Queen strayed even further away from a rock-oriented sound to make Hot Space, a record which blends disco, funk, rhythm & blues, dance music... and became one of the band's most reviled works, by critics and fans alike.
An undeserved reputation. Yes, Hot Space is quite different from anything Queen had done up to that point, but its tracks are just as infectious as always, and make for a refreshing change of pace within the context of the band's entire discography. More than anything, the record speaks for Queen's versatility.
The first track, Staying Power, is one of their best openers, and the closer, UK #1 Under Pressure (performed with David Bowie, a legend of his own right), is one for the ages.
Key Tracks: All of the above; Back Chat; Life Is Real (Song For Lennon)
Fun Fact: Mercury and Bowie recorded their parts for Under Pressure separately, as part of a game - they were each supposed to go in the studio to sing their heart out, and then see if they could fuse their vocals into a song. However, Bowie cheated by listening in on Freddie, who was pissed when he found out.