Absolute Greatest
Absolute Greatest | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | 11 November 2009 | |||
Recorded | 1973–1995 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 79:28 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | various | |||
Queen chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Classic Rock | [2] |
Q | [3] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
Absolute Greatest is a 2009 compilation album by the British rock band Queen. The album contains 20 of their most famous songs, and is available in several formats, including the single CD edition, a 2 CD special edition featuring audio commentaries by Brian May and Roger Taylor, a 52-page hardback book with the 2 CDs, digital download, and an LP edition box set. Each track has been remastered from the original tapes.[5]
A promotion running on the band's official website, Queen Online, gave fans the opportunity to guess the placings of the tracks on the album and win a prize if their answer was correct (a new track was revealed daily). The prize winner was then chosen in a random selection.[6]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "We Will Rock You" (from News of the World, 1977) | Brian May | 2:02 |
2. | "We Are the Champions" (from News of the World, 1977) | Freddie Mercury | 3:01 |
3. | "Radio Ga Ga" (from The Works, 1984) | Roger Taylor | 5:48 |
4. | "Another One Bites the Dust" (from The Game, 1980) | John Deacon | 3:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
5. | "I Want It All" (single version, from The Miracle, 1989) | Queen (May) | 4:01 |
6. | "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (from The Game, 1980) | Mercury | 2:44 |
7. | "A Kind of Magic" (from A Kind of Magic, 1986) | Taylor | 4:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
8. | "Under Pressure" (with David Bowie, from Hot Space, 1982) | Queen, Bowie | 4:08 |
9. | "One Vision" (single version, from A Kind of Magic, 1986) | Queen (Taylor) | 4:04 |
10. | "You're My Best Friend" (from, A Night at the Opera, 1975) | Deacon | 2:51 |
11. | "Don't Stop Me Now" (from Jazz, 1978) | Mercury | 3:30 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Killer Queen" (from Sheer Heart Attack, 1974) | Mercury | 3:00 |
13. | "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (from Innuendo, 1991) | Queen (Taylor) | 4:13 |
14. | "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Greatest Hits II edit, from A Kind of Magic, 1986) | May | 4:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
15. | "Seven Seas of Rhye" (from Queen II, 1974) | Mercury | 2:46 |
16. | "Heaven for Everyone" (single version, from Made in Heaven, 1995) | Taylor | 4:43 |
17. | "Somebody to Love" (from A Day at the Races, 1976) | Mercury | 4:55 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
18. | "I Want to Break Free" (single version, from The Works, 1984) | Deacon | 4:19 |
19. | "The Show Must Go On" (from Innuendo, 1991) | Queen (May) | 4:32 |
20. | "Bohemian Rhapsody" (from A Night at the Opera, 1975) | Mercury | 5:56 |
Personnel
[edit]- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer
- Brian May - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, orchestral arrangements on "Who Wants to Live Forever", co-lead vocals on "I Want It All" and "Who Wants to Live Forever"
- Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer, electronic drums, backing vocals
- John Deacon - bass guitar, piano, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer
- David Bowie - vocals, hand claps, finger snaps, keyboards on "Under Pressure"
- Fred Mandel - synthesizer on "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want To Break Free"
- National Philharmonic Orchestra - strings on "Who Wants To Live Forever"
- Michael Kamen - conductor and orchestral arrangements on "Who Wants To Live Forever"
Charts and certifications
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[37] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[38] | Gold | 15,000^ |
Hungary (MAHASZ)[39] | Platinum | 6,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA)[40] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[41] | Gold | 35,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[43] | Gold | 10,000* |
Portugal (AFP)[44] | Gold | 10,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ Absolute Greatest at AllMusic
- ^ Terry Staunton. "Queen – Absolute Greatest". Archived from the original (JPG) on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "The Official Queen Website". QueenOnline.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ "Queen: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ Press Release: Absolute Greatest Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online, 3 September 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ Tracklisting Competition Archived 13 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on 20 August 2008. Find "QUEEN" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 51. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 19 November 2009". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Mexicancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen: Absolute Greatest" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Queen Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2009". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ "Årslista Album – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2010". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ "Årslista Album – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". IFPI Danmark.
- ^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2010" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Absolute Greatest" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2010 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "Portuguese album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.
- ^ "British album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". British Phonographic Industry.
External links
[edit]- Queen official website: Discography: Absolute Greatest (no lyrics included)
- Television ad (official video)