Flash Gordon (soundtrack)

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 on the US Billboard 200.^[2]

Flash Gordon
Studio album / Soundtrack album by Queen
Released	8 December 1980
Recorded	February–March; October–November 1980
Studio	Townhouse (London) Music Center (London) Advision (London)
Genre	Rock
Length	35:11
Label	EMI Elektra
Producer	Brian May Reinhold Mack
Queen chronology
The Game (1980) Flash Gordon (1980) Greatest Hits (1981)
Singles from Flash Gordon
"Flash" Released: 24 November 1980

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]
MusicHound Rock	woof![11]
Record Mirror	[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[13]
Smash Hits	2/10[14]
Uncut	[15]

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, São Paulo, March 1981[16])	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^[17]
• Brian May – electric guitar, backing vocals, synthesisers, piano, organ,^[18] co-lead vocals on "Flash's Theme"^[19]
• Roger Taylor – drums, timpani, backing vocals, synthesisers
• John Deacon – bass guitar, electric 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)[20] 29 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[21] 1 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[22] 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] 7 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 2 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[25] 12 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[26] 25 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 29 UK Albums (OCC)[28] 10 US Billboard 200[29] 23

Year-end Chart (1981) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[30] 13 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[32]	Gold	50,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[33]	Gold	100,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[34]	Platinum	20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	Gold	100,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.