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
The American Dream cover

The American Dream

The American Dream
Low cover

Low

David Bowie
Quique cover

Quique

Seefeel
Jazz cover

Jazz

Queen
Engenderine cover

Engenderine

Aidan Baker
live1​:​Void cover

live1​:​Void

Chihei Hatakeyama
Guts cover

Guts

Olivia Rodrigo
Finisterre cover

Finisterre

The Silverman