Interestingly, the artwork is reminiscent of Queen’s 1974 album, Queen II, yet both tracks were first released on the 1975 album A Night At The Opera. Perhaps what is most intriguing about this release is that artwork, while claimed to be a replica of the original release, isn’t. While I don’t have the original to provide an accurate comparison, if you look at the history of releases on Discogs, this release simply doesn’t fit into the category of replica artwork. This kind of discrepancy will drive me insane until I figure out what I’m missing. If anyone knows, please put me out of my misery. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic addition to my collection and will be cherished for many years to come.

So how does it sound?

Dynamic, bold, and as if you’re the only guest in a private audience, that has been transported back to 1975, to listen to the band play live in the studio. Of course, you’ve got to change your turntable settings to 45 before you begin. Yes, dear reader, naively I put on the record, 12” in size, on at 33.3rpm, instead of 45rpm. Perhaps I should have known better, given it’s a single, but there is no information relating to the playback speed on the packaging, or the label, and that irritates me. One reason I collect records is for the additional information presented in liner notes and via the label. When this information is missing, I can only assume that the production was rushed and quality control is not as stringent as I would like it to be.



Nevertheless, Brian May’s guitar riff on Bohemian Rhapsody will have you reaching for that air guitar as you morph into Freddie Mercury’s lyrical odyssey.

Equally as stunning is the B-Side, I’m In Love With My Car. While I prefer Mercury’s vocals, I can’t falter the performance of Roger Taylor as his voice is gritty and perfectly suited to the song and instrumental accompaniment.

This re-issued single is certainly worth owning, especially for dedicated Queen fans and vinyl aficionados. For everyone else, A Night At The Opera has you covered.

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