Flash Gordon cover

Flash Gordon

Released

Freddie Mercury may have tersely sung “I don’t like Star Wars” in Queen’s “Bicycle Race” but they certainly weren’t opposed to ornate, over-the-top and showy science fiction, as their stint soundtracking the indulgent-in-the-best-way 1980 movie version of Flash Gordon showed. The opening “Flash” remains the standout with Brian May’s insistent piano and blazing guitar plus his and Mercury’s commanding vocals, but the whole album’s a strangely underrated treat, with various film dialogue samples interspersed with many (but not solely) electronic instrumentals.

Ned Raggett

Recommended by

Suggestions
Lifeforms cover

Lifeforms

The Future Sound of London
The Silver Tree cover

The Silver Tree

Lisa Gerrard
Trance Spirits cover

Trance Spirits

Robert Fripp, Momodou Kah, Jeffrey Fayman, Steve Roach
Gladiator [Original Soundtrack] cover

Gladiator [Original Soundtrack]

Lisa Gerrard, Gavin Greenaway, The Lyndhurst Orchestra
Dream Cell cover

Dream Cell

The Silverman
Blues cover

Blues

Lamin Fofana
Victorialand cover

Victorialand

Cocteau Twins