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38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very underrated, January 3, 2004
Because it was released between their classic albums A Night At The Opera and News Of The World and because it didn't have a huge hit single, A Day At The Races isn't usually mentioned among Queen's finest work. That's a shame because it is one of their best albums and is a more consistent album overall than the excellent A Night At The Opera.It does appear they were trying to make A Night At The Opera II here with its mix of hard rock and schmaltzy pop, sometimes in the same song. "Somebody To Love" was the hit single here and remains one of their most enduring tracks. Brian May's tracks are all great, whether it's the hard rockers "Tie Your Mother Down" and "White Man" or the melodic tracks "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)" and "Long Away." Freddie Mercury's excellent operatic vocals and arrangements are on full display here on "The Millionaire Waltz", which sounds similar to "Bohemian Rhapsody", and "Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy." John Deacon's "You and I" is great as well. Although Roger Taylor tends to write the weakest material of the four members, his track "Drowse" is one of his better compositions. But the best track here and worth the price of the album alone is Freddie Mercury's "You Take My Breath Away", one of the most beautiful ballads ever recorded in rock music. No, there isn't an all-time classic here like "Bohemian Rhapsody" but there isn't anything as long-winded as "The Prophet's Song" either. If you like Queen and only know them for their classic albums and/or hit singles, this album will surprise you. Highly recommended.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Title is Neccessary to Get Your Review Noticed, January 15, 2005
Ah. There are a lot of underrated queen albums out there which are truly phenomenal. This album is no exception in the least. Only one year after their mega-hit "Night at the Opera," Queen released "Day at the Races." By most it was seen as a good follow up to a terrific album, but not on the same level. This is indeed a shame. Consider that the tracks on this album were for the most part recorded at the same time as the songs on "Night." Also, these songs represent Queen at the same level of their artistic development. They have a very similiar feel to the previous albums songs as well, and are equally as grand and majestic. The album truly should have been released as a double album with "Night" as Freddie always wanted, but never saw happen.
Regardless of this album's history, it does become necessary for what it is. Which, simply put, is a masterpiece. It's a masterpiece if you like terrific lyrics, terrific instrumentals, and breathtaking vocals. This is an album bursting with excessiveness. Queen went all out on this album and ended up with each song being a seperate powerful entity on its own, and all together producing a wonder. It also includes three of my favorite queen songs which are all truly breathtaking. This is easily one of my favorite Queen albums, and I enjoy it almost every bit as much as "Night." Now for some track by track review.
1. Tie Your Mother Down - Opens up with a couple gong-blasts courtesy of Taylor and some fine guitar orchestration by May - which you'll note is to the tune of "White man". Then into a 20 second or so clip that almost reminds me of carnival music, and does indeed provoke a feeling of granduer and infinity. And then, May's rocking guitar comes in. Personally I think this song is a little overrated. It was Brian's attempt at surpassing "Death on Two Legs" and while it is very good, it's not quite as good. Still a great effort. 8/10
2. You Take My Breath Away - Chances are you've never even heard this song if you're not a big Queen fan. What a shame. This is beyond all doubt the most beautiful song that Freddie Mercury ever wrote - and quite possibly the most beautiful song I have ever heard. Piano based, with Freddie's overdubbed vocals it succeeds on so many levels. It's much like "Love of My Life", except even sadder and more beautiful. The vocals and lyrics are absolutely incredible. He puts an unbelievable amount of passion into this piece. A Masterpiece. 10/10
3. Long Away - Basically this is, "'39" part two. May vocals which are very light and some more nice guitar work. It's very catchy and the overdubbed vocals are also very good on this one. You'll be singing along with it pretty soon. 8.5/10
4. The Millionaire Waltz - Again, lesser known in Queen's category. However this song quite possibly the best on the album. It takes some time to grow on you. A long time. I didn't get it when i first listened to it so don't be surprised if you don't get it. But eventually you do. It's a combination of waltz and rock. The Piano is terrific in this song showcasing what terrific piano lines Freddie could create. The bassline is also amazing. Whether Freddie is singing by himeself or with his self-made choir, the vocals are excessively wonderful. And the guitar solo really rocks. Masterpiece number two. 10/10
5. You and I - John Deacon always was the most underrated member of this band, which is a shame because both his basswork and songwriting talent were huge. This song is simply a feel-good love song, poppy and catchy. Everything about it is enjoyable. One of his better songs. 8.5/10
6. Somebody to Love - Well, nobody really underates this song. If you've ever heard of the band queen you should know this song. Again, truly amazing. Some of his best vocals ever are on this song from the beggining "Can" to the climax at "looove." The gospel choir of Freddie, Roger, and Brian May is also terrific, and so well accompanies the lead line it's really something else. You can really hear him pleading for someone to love in this song! The bassline is another terrific one (I'm a bassist in case you haven't guessed, so I'm partial to a good bassline.) And the progression of this song is amazing. The song builds so nicely up to the guitar solo, and by the time it gets there I get shivers. The true climax though is off course amazing and features another terrific buildup. Masterpiece number three. 10/10.
7. White Man - Prophet's Song Part Two. Very different of course, but certainly in the same vain. It's even more of a rocker than "Prophet's". The guitar line is pounding, the drumming is terrific and the vocals are angry and loud. This song is best listened to very loud. It suprises you at parts too. Overall a very good May effort, but not his best. 8.5/10
8. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy. What can I say? This is pure Freddie Mercury. Quite like "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" or "Seaside Rendevous" and every bit as good. Funny lyrics, great piano, great bass, it all adds up. Another terrific song. 9.5/10
9. Drowse - Roger Taylor's only contribution to this album, and it's pretty good. Roger's vocals are particullary good here, though he always had some great vocals. The song as a whole isn't amazing, but still is very good telling of earlier simple days. Possibly the weakest song on the labum, but still quite good! 8/10
10. Teo Torriatte - Pure May Magic right here. His best song on the album, no doubt about it. Very pretty introduction, and a chorus that is so catchy you will have it stuck in your heads forever. Plus the interlude section is also very powerful. A choir of children finish singing it and the effect is very good. After the song is over, the carnival-esque guitar orchestration that started the album closes it up, lasting for around a minute. This is also a very good transition into the next album, the first song being "We Will Rock You." Just in case you ever wanted to listen to them in close succession. (9.5/10, by the way)
So. Where does this album stand compared to "Night at the Opera"? To be absolutely honest, it is not quite as perfect as "Night" was. It must be noted, however, that "Night" is one of the greatest rock cds of all time - and therefore, the fact that "Day at the Races" is not as good doesn't really say much. This cd, as judged by itself, is indeed a terrific work of ART (yes, art) and a wonderful chapter in the Book of Queen (corny, yet effective, no?) Highly recommended.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Compare This To A Night At The Opera., May 23, 2001
By A Customer
This is a great cd, but I would advise many people not to compare this to the previous album. It's best to just look at it as A Day At The Races, on it's own. It starts off with a 1-minute theatrical guitar orchestration then segues into "Tie Your Mother Down", the heavy rocking hit, which I'm personally not too in love with like many others. "You Take My Breath Away", is a soft piano track, almost in the same vein as Love Of My Life, featuring Freddie's sensous vocals and vocal overdubs. "Long Away", is another stunner on this album. More pop oriented, but beautiful and almost Paul McCartney-like. "The Millionaire Waltz", is Queen at their operatic, pomp rock best featuring classical like orchestrations guitar wise, piano wise and vocal wise. One of my favorites, if not my favorite on the disc. "You and I", mixes pop/rock, and hard rock together. "Somebody to Love", is amazing, and nevertheless became a hit, featuring the overdubbed three-man gospel choir. "White Man", is good but if I had to compare it to The Prophet's Song, it falls flat. "Good Old Fashoned Lover Boy", is the typical artsy Queen/Freddie Mercury that I love. Very playful, quirky and somewhat operatic. "Drowse", is very catchy, yet acquired, as it features Roger Taylor on lead vocals, and it features slide guitar. "Teo Torriate", is arguably the highlight of the disc, as it is a soft, beautiful singalong type song sung in english and in japanese. The cd ends with the guitar orchestration that opened the cd.Overall, this is a great cd from Queen and should be looked at on it's own rather than a 'sister' or a part II of A Night At The Opera, although in some respects it is. After this, Queen would drift away from the art rock they started doing in the beginning, and change their sound drastically years later.
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