October 4th, 1980
Reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart today was the world-wide hit Another One Bites The Dust by Queen.
After stalling for two weeks at #3 (behind the Australian duo Air Supply [All Out Of Love] and Motown diva Diana Ross [Upside Down]), the record overtook both on this date.
A track from their 8th studio album The Game, ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ was bookended at #1 by two superstar female recording artists; first superseding Ms. Ross, then after enjoying 3 weeks of its own at #1, being surpassed by Barbra Streisand’s Woman In Love on October 25th.
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Formed in the UK in 1970, Queen was comprised of lead vocalist Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara, in Zanzibar, Tanzania), lead guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon (who wrote “Dust”) and drummer Roger Taylor.
Says Deacon about his song – “I’d been wanting to do a track like Another One Bites The Dust for a while, but originally all I had was the line and the bass riff. Gradually, I filled it in and the band added ideas. I could hear it as a song for dancing but had no idea it would become as big as it did.” And he claims it was Michael Jackson who suggested the band release it as a single.
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
Queen
[1980]
The platinum-selling AOBTD (over 7 million copies) was their 13th charted record, and was preceded by two million-selling singles, Bohemian Rhapsody (1975 • #9) and the rockabilly-flavored Crazy Little Thing Called Love (1980 • #1 [4 weeks]. Also previously, the sports arena anthem We Will Rock You b/w We Are The Champions had become their first hit to attain platinum status (1977 • #4).
“Dust” has also been certified Gold for digital download.
https://youtu.be/EltGv6cN0ss
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Other Top 30 hits by Queen include their debut single Killer Queen (1975 • #12), You’re My Best Friend (1976 • #16), Somebody To Love (1977 • #13), Bicycle Race b/w Fat Bottomed Girls (1978 • #24), the vocal collaboration with David Bowie, Under Pressure (1981 • #29), Body Language (1982 • #11) and Radio Ga-Ga (1984 • #16)
In addition, after being featured in the movie Wayne’s World, Bohemian Rhapsody re-charted in 1992. And although not selling a million copies as it did in early ’76 during it’s first run, it peaked seven points higher in ’92 on Billboard, reaching #2.
And on July of 2002, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was named “Favorite UK Single of All-Time” in a poll conducted by the music charts book Guinness Hit Singles. (See the HOTH Original Presentation from July 17, 2015).
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[Note] As usual, to give you your money’s worth, I’m including three more Queen hits (including one with a vid) – there are so many from which to select, but, because I’m the disc-jockey here, I did the choosing, LOL.
BONUS TRAK!
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
Queen
[1980]
From Queen’s fifth studio album called The Game. And, although lacking the complexity of most of their other songs, this one’s an interesting departure from the norm by Queen; it’s Freddie and the boys’ tribute to the great genre of music from the late 50’s-early 60’s known as ‘rockabilly’ (one of the first incarnations of true rock and roll, which was rooted in R&B and country music).
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Along with the traditional beat, it features another trademark of the rockabilly sound – a prominent bass line. In those days it was done using that large, stand-up “slap-bass”, where its strings are pulled away from the fingerboard until they snap back onto it, then slapped back against same.
Bassist John Deacon does a great job with his traditional electric bass – and, as seen on the record sleeve, Freddie (especially) has really got that rockabilly “look” down!
[Note] My favorite part of the record is Deacon’s 2-second bass bridge at 1:56-1:57 … love it!
https://youtu.be/Ycwi-LNxSAE
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Queen’s record producer on five of their first six albums – Queen, Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack (includes the single Killer Queen), A Night At The Opera (with Bohemian Rhapsody, You’re My Best Friend), A Day At The Races (includes Somebody To Love) and Jazz (with Bicycle Race, Fat Bottomed Girls) – was Roy Thomas Baker, who later worked with The Cars, The Darkness, The Smashing Pumpkins and many others.
DEEP TRAK!
FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS
(Single Version / B-side of Bicycle Race)
Queen
[1978]
Written by guitarist Brian May, and the B-side of Bicycle Race (the song that’s notable for its video featuring a bicycle race with nude women – see below).
https://youtu.be/R1uNPn0AX6Y
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DEEP(er) VIDEO TRAK!
BICYCLE RACE
(Video)
Queen
[1978]
Here’s the audio of the hit single – written by Freddie Mercury – accompanied by the video of a bicycle race with nude women, which was filmed at London’s Wembley Stadium. Despite being edited, the vid was still banned in several countries.
Freddie Mercury died of AIDS on November 24th, 1991 at only 45. Almost 10 years later, Queen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
