The Contrarians Panel: Dark Horse Album #3 - Queen's Hot Space

[@thecontrarians2438]

are you yay or nay on Queen "Hot Space"? Support us on Patreon and join the conversation! www.patreon.com/contrarians

[@jmacallar]

Over the years this album has grown on me….I didn’t like it much when it came out but now I enjoy it more…Body Language is probably my least favourite Queen song …..give it a 7/10…

[@ninebutterflies]

Oooops I misspoke when I credited Tower of Power for the horns on "Staying Power" (must have been the suggestiveness of the songtitle, eh!) - Andee

[@thecontrarians2438]

its all good, youre accurate about everything else!

[@rustinpolaris4074]

A classic record for me. So many good tracks that I love. I’m a die hard Queen fan and I totally fell in love with this album when I was younger. Fuck the haters.

[@dixienormous2440]

Even Brian and, especially Roger, dislike the album. Are they 'haters' too?

[@langreeves6419]

I love this album!

[@adams7405]

Same..it is so different and Freddie is on fire.

[@williamgainford9332]

The cut up technique was from william burroughs - bowie latched on to it

[@JCStorm76]

Before I even watch this I’m going to say I really like it, I do have a very open mind when it comes to music though so I can understand some that don’t. I particularly like Calling All Girls for some reason, I always have actually. I don’t think Queen have a bad album.

[@duanedibley1455]

Don't think it's not having an open mind to be honest. I think I have a reasonably wide taste in music, but if you don't like something you don't like it. End of.

[@JCStorm76]

@@duanedibley1455 Martins right. Made In Heaven is way worse, it’s boring. Apart from two songs this is just a normal late 70s early 80s sounding Queen album. Not much different to The Game at all. Lots of great songs on it. People do tend to listen with their eyes and not their ears sometimes. If some of these songs were on earlier albums I guarantee you people would like them. Very underrated album. Andy nailed it perfectly

[@wernermoritz882]

@@duanedibley1455 I guess this is about giving an album an honest shot. If you have done that (I am not talking about skipping once through the tracklist), I respect any opinion.

[@duanedibley1455]

@@wernermoritz882 OK. Bought it on the week of release. Played it regularly to try and get into it. Saw their show in Leeds that year. Great show by the way. Play it occasionally over the years but nothing. More of a fan of the heavier Queen sound of the seventies to be honest but yes I have given it every chance.

[@wernermoritz882]

@@duanedibley1455 okay, a misunderstanding here. I was trying to support your claim that it is okay to hate something and it has nothing to with not having an open mind and added: as long as you have given it an honest shot for a few spins. : )

[@christianman73]

For years, as a fan of the hard rock sound that first brought me to Queen, I was a strong "NAY" on most of this album. During the '90s, and through the 2000s, though, my musical tastes really broadened. I got into funk, soul, jazz, and many other genres, while still loving hard rock and metal. Now, I'm a "YAY" on most of "Hot Space." I still don't like "Body Language," but other than that, I enjoy this album!

[@mehernoshtarapore8902]

This was Freddie and john deacon getting their way on this album

[@pumpkinking422]

Body Language used to receive a lot of airplay on "Urban"or R&B radio in Atlanta,when it came out.I grew up listening to Rock and Funk/R&B,and I never heard it on Rock stations.

[@terrytheman3317]

This Hot Mess can be best described when narrowed down to two of the albums most "telling" lyrics... "You know i got what it takes. And i can TAKE alot...." ..Wow

[@drewrose374]

I'm a YAY! I've always liked this album, I don't mix it with the other alums, but on it's own it's good. I will admit i have to be in the right mood to play it! I crank it up when I am cleaning the house! lol,,, my ranking is 7/10

[@thecontrarians2438]

I totally agree!

[@magnuswettermark8293]

Only Queen can make albums like Hot Space and thats way i love the band and everything they did. Thanks for the debate👍

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks for the comment!!

[@paulmonahawk4921]

This is awesome!! when I was younger I had all of Queen on cassette and vinyl. I honestly can't remember any of these tracks aside from under pressure and life is real. Definitely will be listening to Hot Space this week. Thanks for such an enjoyable debate!

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks Paul!! Appreciate the comment!

[@rodmac8358]

I actually love Hot Space. Not Queen's best, but definitely not their worst. I don't care what people say about this album, I love it! 7 out of 10 for me.

[@am3986]

Las Palabras de Amor is spanish, not french and its Life is Real not Life is hard!!! What's wrong with some of these guys? Not sure why there's people on this panel that had pretty much never listened to the album in the first place?

[@hardrockingtriviashow667]

No one brought up the fact that the Body Language video was banned by MTV. That’s probably the reason that song quickly left the singles chart in the U.S..

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

Great reviews! Crazy Little Thing Called Love is not a cover song, Freddie Mercury wrote it. Hot Space is now Queen's 5th best selling album, so it has done quite well. It is a very funky album more then a dance type of album. I think Cool Cat is the best song, just watch people reviewing this song on youtube everybody loves the song, I would say it might have been slightly ahead of its time. The younger generation seems to enjoy this album more. I do enjoy this album, it is not Queen's best album, but I like the experimentation on here. I actually like this album more then The Game, and I think the album cover is great. I like most songs on this album far more then something like Radio Gaga. Innuendo is very underrated as a Queen album, it is one of my favourites.

[@wernermoritz882]

Did someone in the panel actually think Crazy Little Thing Called Love was a cover song and was not even corrected by one of the 11 other Queen afficionados? I can‘t believe it…

[@Ft.Gagiano]

@@wernermoritz882 yeah. i chocked on my beer. hearing that.

[@dan-h2g]

These songs translate well live.

[@jake6887]

'Thriller' by Michael Jackson has many similar sound effects, which was released 6 months after 'Hot Space'

[@dixienormous2440]

Michael Jackson was inspired by the album.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

For Under Pressure Alone, it is off Hot Space, I hope

[@Ft.Gagiano]

I have a argentina greatest hits with under pressure onit. My dad owned. He always said. He heard under pressure a few months before hot space in south africa.

[@daicullinane7746]

Under Pressure was not on the European version of Greates Hits as they had not recorded it when pressing occurred. I like Hot Space, not too keen on Body Language or Cool Cat. But that's only 2 out of 11 songs. With The Game apart from Dragon Attack and Sail Away Sweet Sister (both by Brian), the best tracks are all on G/Hits (4 out of 10). The Works is spoilt by Man on the Prowl and Keep Passing the Open Windows (2 out of 9). A Kind of Magic was the first album I bought on release and loved it to death, but now I find Don't Lose Your Head is too long, Pain is so Close to Pleasure, One Year of Love have lost there sheen and Friends Will be Friends I really have to be in the mood for(4out of 9 ). The Miracle on the whole is pretty good, but I got irritated by The Invisible Man fairly quickly. Rain Must Fall and My Baby Does Me are OK (3 out of 10). So taking this all into consideration Hot Space is not the worst Queen album. In the UK the singles were Under Pressure, Body Language, Las Palabras de Amour and Back Chat.

[@Ft.Gagiano]

i have a Argentina copy of Greatest hits 1. it was added for the Latin america market.

[@langreeves6419]

Seems the major complaint is "That's not what i wanted from this band" Really? I had all their albums, i loved Queen. Then this ground breaker came out! One of the greatest things about Hot Space is how different it was from previous Queen albums. Why pay money to get the same music over and over? If music is great, who cares if it's not what you expected from the band? Surprises can be fun.

[@80smusicproducer]

Appreciate all that was said and commented. It is always interesting that the lens we all have is the one we have. Also found the references funny. Aretha Franklin?? Also although the Michael Jackson refs are made, Dancer for example is much more Prince than MJ. The extreme tuning down of the LM-1 kick and tambs and way the lyric meter falls is dead on PRN from Controversy and 1999.

[@deanleslie3269]

I listened to the album all the way through for the first time right after watching your podcast. This album is an 11 out of 10! IT'S THAT GOOD!!!!! .....just kidding. I actually quite enjoyed it,though. Back when it came out they played Body Language and Put out the fire on our classic rock radio station in the Montreal area,although I seem to remember the dj's being taken aback by Body Language and the album in general,not Put out the fire,though. I don't find it shockingly different than previous albums in the sense that it has all the variety of the older stuff,but because of the era they recorded it in plus,maybe Freddie's immersion into gay dance music,we have that stuff instead of the vaudeville/showtunes. The album sounds really good,the vocals are excellent,as always. Nothing on here I really dislike. 7 out of 10 for me. Looking forward to the next podcast. Take care everyone.

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thank you!!! Appreciate the comment!

[@jockmctodger]

Andy's review was excellent. I'm a huge Queen fan, my score for Hot Space is 6/10

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks Jock!

[@wernermoritz882]

Finally we can all find out whether it is the best or the second best Queen album.

[@jukeboxcowboy]

Andy nails it. I'm with him and Marco on this one. 8ish? B minus? Glad they didn't just make the same cookie cutter album again and again. There was a British rockabilly revival going on for some time before Queen recorded crazy Little thing called love. (The stray cats actually moved to the UK to join an already happening scene). I reckon Mercury would have been hip enough to pick up on that. How did body language wind up that high on the charts? Crazy little thing called 'independent promoters'.

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks JB! Always a pleasure to read your comments! Accurate as usual!

[@kimberlywalker3970]

I remember the song "Body Language" and Queen fans hating it. I like the song but, I'm not a hardcore Queen fan. Having said that, I understand why Queen fans hate this album because it's not what they're use to. The first song reminded me of the WHAM song Young Guns. Put Out The Fire reminds me of Billy Squier's Lonely Is The Night. I enjoyed the first half because it was a pretty interesting funk album. The second half was okay. It feel as if they may've said we're going to far in one direction and tried to go in another. As far as Under Pressure goes, it doesn't feel tacked on to me because it has a similar funk energy as the first half. I don't hate this album but, it's not one I'd add to my collection. So, on its merits, I'd give it a seven because the musicianship and Freddie's singing was good. So, I'm a Yay on this album. Enjoyed the segment👌

[@thecontrarians2438]

Thanks for the comment Kimberly! Good points, its very of the time but it's a great album, especially if you dont mind the pop or funkier elements

[@lateramae]

I don't think 'Hot Space' is Queen's worse album (that's 'Made in Heaven'), but I think that "Body Language" is their worst song ever!

[@dixienormous2440]

Yes, I agree. It's awful, especially with that sound effect of something 'rising to the occasion'.

[@Carlos-xz3vi]

This is one Queen album I have never listened to. I love Queen and I have most of their discography in vinyl and cd (Sheer heart attack being my favorite), but never got myself to listen to this. Not even in streaming platforms.

[@michaelcolvin9799]

interesting thoughts, although i feel there were some missed. The end of seventies Queen was the Jazz album where Roy came back to produce and Queen threw everything but the sink at it. A short revision of the five years of recording history if you will. The seeds for the game and hot space appear on Jazz with fun it and more of that jazz. The game the marking of the new queen, and for me an album known for dragon attack the game and save me and lots of silly fillers. i think it is the weakest album of the Jazz to hotspace period. The clue to Hot Space is it was the year of thriller, also an all about album made up of ballads, rock, disco funk and even a ballad with a beatle. every song on thriller is different, something MJ was influenced by with hanging out with Queen. Hot Space wasnt given time to grow as thriller came out three months later and blew the world up. Hot space has great playing, crafty songs of great variety delivered with the same, trust us attitude as most queen albums something that kind of vanished after it, with the works being a great collection of singles that have aged "like some kind of cheese" and Magic being a half arsed soundtrack yet has strong tracks like pain and pleasure, one year of love mixed in with the king rocker princes of the universe. Both of these not only sound rushed they sound dated where i feel the warmth and honesty of hot space is the same as News of the world Jazz and day at the races. it would take a miracle to return us to a Queen album that sounded like it was wanted to be made.. Hot space is well crafted, has staying power and ranks very high in my list of Queens best albums. 8.5

[@terrytheman3317]

Hot Space killed Queen here in America.

[@purplejonathan2011]

Queen were an English Rock Band and not an American Band, Maybe you just didn't get it?

[@wernermoritz882]

I am still not 100 % sure if I would rate it a 3 or a 4.

[@thecontrarians2438]

3.5!

[@inmyhouse11]

For a disco record it is really good 8/10

[@63mckenzie]

I was a Queen fan from the moment I heard their first single Keep Yourself Alive on the radio in 1973, but I will never never never never never never buy Hot Space. Even Roger Taylor hates it!

[@davidjorda-manaut308]

At first I absolutely refused to even give it a listen... but then I thought I was being completely ridiculous. Now it's become one of my personal favourite Queen records! While not a masterpiece, it's still very enjoyable, it has a nice variety of sounds, and some of the songs like Back Chat and Cool Cat l found very catchy ! So overall it's a Yay for me! I give it an 8/10.

[@BigSwifty500]

What's with the ads every 3 minutes? Time for a KZbin ad blocker!

[@briandunlap8534]

I give it a 5. Queen are my favorite band, but this album is weak. As usual with me, the songs written by Brian May stand out as the best on offer. Las Palabras De Amor is my favorite on the album. The live versions of some of these songs were drastically better (especially Staying Power). Hot Space was definitely a horrible misstep.

[@terryjohnson5275]

Its not totally horrible but isn’t close to their best - Id give it a solid 6, and its my least faovurite alongside Made in Heaven - Flash Gordon doesnt count because its a movie soundtrack. To me all the best tracks reside on the old side 2 with Put out the Fire, Life is Real, Las Palabras De Amor and Under Pressure, Calling all Girls is ok but a bit disposable and Cool Cat is ok but would have been better received if there hadn’t been all the discopopfunkification on side 1. On the old side 1 Back Chat is ok, but is much better on the Live at the Bowl album, and Dancer isn’t too bad - saved by a nice guitar solo. The rest it I’m not a fan of - Action this Day is too new wavy, never liked it. There were a couple of tracks on their Complete Works vinyl box set that would have made the album better if they’d been on - like Soul Brother and A Human Body in place of Staying Power and Body Language. Not enough Brian, too much John and Freddie in nightclubbing mode. A Kind of Magic is far better because it balances out the r&b and motown inflected songs with more of the guitar driven hard rock. Though as I think Martin has said in the past, after The Game Brian wasn’t the same as he was on the albums up to that point - maybe he suffered a bit from the exclusion he felt on Hot Space?

[@janerikmellesdal3868]

Yay. Disco? Maybe, but good disco

[@danielhornbeck6588]

I'm late to this party and it disgusts me. My lateness, not your party.

[@thecontrarians2438]

haha welcome to the party! sorry you didnt get the invitation!

[@battleshipnewhook]

Half the album is decent (mostly side 2). It isn’t nearly as good as anything that came before it. But it’s better than anything that came out after. 🤘🇨🇦

[@grooveyerbouti]

A yay from me love it there are low points but against most opinions love staying power and body language low point for me against type put out the fire mainly the "guns don't kill people" line) and life is real. As a side note under pressure was not on UK greatest hits although yes it was in some European territories not sure about USA.

[@dixienormous2440]

'Under Pressure' was on Greatest Hits 2 in the UK.

[@nelsonmaud1]

Not one of my faves by far but not the worst album either I'm in the minority liking body language under presser but overall a 5 thought good moments but not great

[@themusicexpress8904]

"Queen is a greatest hit band" Wtf!! Just go and listen to Ogre battle,March of the black queen , Prophet song ,Liar,Son and daughter ,Dead on time ,Jesus, My fairy king , just to name a few

[@Ft.Gagiano]

i think what he was saying. the general puplic only know Queen for the hits. Us die hards know the deep cuts. Which he clearly was not

[@pjones8404]

First of all, you can't talk about "Hot Space" without talking about "Flash Gordon". Just can't. They were riding high with "The Game" and rightly so. It's a great album. Even the deeper tracks.."Dragon Attack", "Rock It (Prime Jive)", "Need Your Loving Tonight" and "Play the Game" are great tracks. Clearly "Another One Bites the Dust" was the monstrous success and one of their biggest hits ever. So they were in a great place to follow up with something amazing. But what fans got next was the Soundtrack to "Flash Gordon". Now, I love the movie. It's campy, funny and mindlessly entertaining. And the music, in the context of the movie works just fine! But without the film to go with it, it's unlistenable in my opinion. To the North American audience..who was slowly souring on Queen anyway...jumped ship! So there was already a bad taste in their mouth. Now..the thing about having something awful in your mouth is you want to spit it out and taste something good right away to get rid of that horrible, lingering effect! But...there wasn't anything to replace it with! From December 1980 - May 1982...THAT was the taste people had of Queen. ICK!! Also....just think of all the massive albums that were released in hard rock / metal from 1980 - 1982!! There were TONS of alternatives to the once heavy and mighty Queen. So when "Hot Space" did finally drop, many had already forgotten or written them off. And as soon as you heard the open track to "Staying Power", our worst fears came to full bloom. Queen was gone and this was something completely foreign and not worth a second listen. It's awful...completely and totally awful. Money, ego, fame, power, drugs ....all impacted this album for the worse. It's unlistenable and I will never play another track from it again.

[@thecontrarians2438]

i agree with you about Flash Gordon, i like the movie too!

[@delorangeade]

I had my doubts about The Game and this was the album where Queen lost me, and they never really won back my support, even after Live Aid. I know The Works has some great tracks but then came the Sun City debacle and that really didn't sit well with me in the climate of the times.

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

As a South African, although to young for this period. I would say that Queen is extremely popular in South Africa. Something to remember is that just because you do not agree with government of a country, it does not mean that the normal citizens should be punished. Measures such as sanctions is almost never effective against the actual government, Venezuela is great example today. Being a South African I have never heard that Sun City was somehow a front for the government, no one here has ever heard of that idea, strangely I have only heard it in relation to Queen. Concerts are still being held at Sun City to this very day. Queen and all big artist really, have played in countries with bad governments, it is hypocritical to only be concerned with one specific country. The Olympics was held in China, that should have raised concerned, for people who is concerned by these issues, but it went over without much of issue.

[@parishofrock2963]

I was so disappointed when it came out. I haven’t listened to it since other than Under Pressure (which I love) and Las Palabras De Amor (which I like). Listened to it again today, still don’t like. So it’s a nay from me. 3 out of 10 purely for those 2 songs.

[@thecontrarians2438]

I understand completely!

[@keithleeuwen877]

SUXX an opinion.

[@Popmetalj]

Hot Space side 1 is hard to love - some good songs but when Body Language is the turd you have to go through and the smell climbs. Back Chat is cheesy but I love it! Side 2 is mediocre to good depending on the song. It’s a 5/10 album for me.

Backchat is a great song...the rest ...........not so much. 4 out of 10

[@alessandrodeviterbo6717]

One of the worst records in history. Out of 10 "Hot Space" receives 0. Every song is terrible. Shame for a band who gave us some of the most beautifull masterpieces in Rock. So sad..

[@williamgainford9332]

yeh went from innovators to imitators of bad funk / disco - its also one of the worst albums of all time lol - not just by queen

[@dixienormous2440]

This is YOUR opinion. I like some of the tracks on the album. 'Under Pressure' is terrible is it? It's on the 'Greatest Hits 2' album'

[@Norshammar72]

I think it’s pure and utter shite! It’s just a disaster. The production is so off. Who in the right mind could have listened to Body Language and go “hey let’s release this one. This kicks ass” That said Side 2 is ok but not ok. The cover is awful. It really tells there is somethings wrong. The disco songs worked much better live on the On Fire dvd. My rating is 2 at best.

[@williamgainford9332]

lol cant disagree

[@digmacdiggydoo]

Iy was not very good.

[@duanedibley1455]

Terrible album and concept. That the band returned with a 'traditional' sound with 'The Works' after this album showed that the band knew they'd screwed up. Having said that I think Queens golden period was in the seventies and the eighties were generally bland and not in the same league.

[@dixienormous2440]

I like some of the tracks on the album, 'Under Pressure' 'Life Is Real', 'Cool Cat', 'Calling All Girls', and 'Dancer'.

[@dantewhiterose1958]

What is it with you guys? I’ve been a Queen fan since Queen ll, Hot Space is the complete opposite of what Queen stands for. There’s a reason why they couldn’t play America anymore. WAKE UP! I give it a minus 100!!!!!!

[@KowankoMusic]

You'll have to enlighten us as to what Queen "stands for". Previous to Hot Space, they made metal, opera, gospel, prog, cocktail jazz, music hall, calypso, blues, funk, disco, even a soupcon of punk. Seems to me Queen "stands for" playing whatever music they choose.

[@dantewhiterose1958]

Because they do one disco song makes them disco? Check your data and let me know how many shows they did in the u.s. after hot space. I rest my case!

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

They could easily play in America, they decided not to do it. They also faced some other issues in America. Queen did fine without America. They are 2nd best selling band behind The Beatles, and the 4th best selling artist of all time.

[@dantewhiterose1958]

I’m sorry my friend, I agree with you in a lot of things but not that they decided they wouldn’t play America anymore, they couldn’t, I lived it. When Hot space didn’t certify And they had to stick under pressure to save it, they knew they were done here. No band alive doesn’t play America by choice. At that time, America was where all the money was. They weren’t wanted anymore by the fan base.

[@dixienormous2440]

Americans didn't get the 'I Want To Break Free' video. The humour was totally lost on them. It was the video that did it for them in America.

[@williamgainford9332]

its not only queens worst album - its the worst album ever lol

[@hardrockingtriviashow667]

No one brought up the fact that the Body Language video was banned by MTV. That’s probably the reason that song quickly left the singles chart in the U.S..