Flash Gordon

1980 studio album / Soundtrack album by Queen

Flash Gordon is the first soundtrack album and ninth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 8 December 1980 by EMI Records in the UK and on 27 January 1981 by Elektra Records in the US.[1] It is one of two film soundtracks that they produced, along with Highlander. It is the soundtrack to the science fiction film Flash Gordon and features lyrics on only two tracks. "Flash`s Theme" was the only single to be released from the album, under the title "Flash". The album reached number 10 on the UK charts and number 23 in the US.[2]

The album was reissued worldwide on 27 June 2011 (excluding the US and Canada, where it was released on 27 September) as part of the band`s 40th anniversary.[3][4] The reissue adds an EP of related tracks.[5]

Unlike most soundtrack albums, audio from the film is prominently used in the theme song and the score selections of the album.[6]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Chicago Tribune	[8]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
The Guardian	[10]
Record Mirror	[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[12]
Smash Hits	2/10[13]
Uncut	[14]

Track listing

All tracks are instrumental unless noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Flash`s Theme"	Brian May	Freddie Mercury and Brian May	3:31
2.	"In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme)"	Roger Taylor		2:43
3.	"Ming`s Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless)"	Freddie Mercury		2:41
4.	"The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale)"	Mercury		0:57
5.	"Football Fight"	Mercury		1:28
6.	"In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise)"	Taylor		2:25
7.	"Execution of Flash"	John Deacon		1:06
8.	"The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash)"	Mercury Howard Blake (Film score, not credited)		1:45

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Arboria (Planet of the Tree Men)"	Deacon		1:42
2.	"Escape from the Swamp"	Taylor		1:43
3.	"Flash to the Rescue"	May	Mercury	2:44
4.	"Vultan`s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men)"	Mercury		1:13
5.	"Battle Theme"	May		2:18
6.	"The Wedding March"	Richard Wagner (arr. May)		0:56
7.	"Marriage of Dale and Ming (And Flash Approaching)"	May Taylor	Mercury	2:04
8.	"Crash Dive on Mingo City"	May		1:00
9.	"Flash`s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)"	May	Mercury and May	1:24
10.	"The Hero"	May Blake (Film score, not credited)	Mercury	3:31
Total length:				35:11

• Track 1 listed as "Man" on the 1982 US LP, 5E-518-B
• Track 6 based on "Bridal Chorus"

Bonus track (1991 Hollywood Records CD reissue)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
19.	"Flash`s Theme" (1991 remix by Mista Lawnge, 9.5)	May	6:43
Total length:			41:54

Disc 2: Bonus EP (2011 Universal Music CD reissue)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Flash" (Single Version)	May	2:48
2.	"The Hero" (October 1980... Revisited)	May	2:55
3.	"The Kiss" (Early Version, March 1980)	Mercury Blake	1:11
4.	"Football Fight" (Early version, no synths! – February 1980)	Mercury	1:55
5.	"Flash" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981)	May	2:12
6.	"The Hero" (Live at the Montreal Forum, November 1981)	May	1:48
Total length:			12:49

Bonus videos (2011 iTunes deluxe edition)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Flash/The Hero" (live at Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo, March 1981[15])	May	3:28
8.	"Flash" (Alternative Promo Video)	May	3:17
9.	"Flash" (Vanguard Mix Promo Video)	May	3:17
Total length:			22:11

Personnel

Queen

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, synthesisers[16]
• Brian May – lead guitar, backing vocals, synthesisers, piano, organ,[17] co-lead vocals on "Flash`s Theme"[18]
• Roger Taylor – drums, timpani, backing vocals, synthesisers
• John Deacon – bass guitar, guitar, synthesisers

Additional personnel

• Howard Blake – additional orchestral arrangements

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Flash Gordon Chart (1980–81) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[19] 29 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[20] 1 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[21] 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] 7 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[23] 2 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24] 12 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[25] 25 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 29 UK Albums (OCC)[27] 10 US Billboard 200[28] 23

Year-end Chart (1981) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[29] 13 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[31]	Gold	50,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[32]	Gold	100,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[33]	Platinum	20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[34]	Gold	100,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.