Queen's eighth studio album, The Game, was a major stylistic departure for the band. The band, now with a new look, a new sound (synthesizers!) and a new producer in Reinhold Mack, discarded the multitracked epics of the 70s and burst into the 80s with a sparser, pop sound. The album was recorded in two distinct sessions, July to July 1979 and February to May 1980 at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany. The Game was released on June 30, 1980 by EMI in the UK and a day later in the US through Elektra on July 1, 1980. The band's new direction proved to be a success, giving Queen their first and only US Billboard #1 album, selling over 4 million copies and going 4x Platinum. The album was also another #1 hit in the UK, also achieving Platinum status.

The first single, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, was released October 7, 1979 in the UK, reaching #2 in the sales chart and was supported by The Crazy Tour. Meanwhile, in the US, the single was released on December 7, 1979 and gradually gained airplay and sales, landing it atop the Billboard charts, giving the band their first US #1 single.

Save Me followed in January 1980, becoming a modest hit in the UK, reaching #11, but curiously was not released stateside. Play The Game followed in May in the UK (#14) and June in the US (#42) to modest success. The next single, Another One Bites The Dust, ended up being an entirely different story, eventually becoming their biggest selling single worldwide. Released in August 1980, the John Deacon penned single become a top ten hit in the UK, reaching #7. In the US, however, the single exploded, giving Queen their second US #1 single and topping nearly every chart imaginable. Finally, in the US, Need Your Loving Tonight followed in November, just missing the top 40, settling at #44.

A Human Body, written by Roger Taylor, was recorded and released during this period as a non-album B-Side to Play The Game. It's A Beautiful Day was recorded in April 1980 during these sessions as a spontaneous piano and vocal idea from Freddie. Roger, Brian and John finished the track some fifteen years later and included it as the opening track to the Made In Heaven album.

Depending on the pressing, some LP sleeves feature a mirrored cover, while others have flat matte gray finish. A new 5.1 surround mix was released in 2003 on the DVD-Audio format.

This album includes the first appearance of a Synthesizer (an Oberheim OBX) on a Queen album.

Play The Game (Album Version) 3:30
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: The Game, Track 1

Play The Game (Greatest Video Hits 1 Surround Mix) 3:33
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Play The Game was made for the 2002 Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD. Most of the new mixes on this DVD (including this one) were produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith with additional engineering and Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Play The Game (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 3:31
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.

Play The Game (Forever Version) 3:14
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Forever, Forever Deluxe Edition
Both editions of the 2014 compilation CD "Forever" contain this edit of Play The Game. The synth intro is nowhere to be found here. The track starts with Freddie's lead vocal and piano.

Play The Game (Video CD Version) 3:22
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: UK Greatest Flix I & II VCD
The Queen promo videos were released digitally for the first time in 1994 on video CD format. The two disc set featured Queen's most popular videos, some of which were minorly edited. Play The Game fades early, losing a large portion of the outro.

Play The Game (Karaoke Version) 3:29
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Greatest Karaoke Hits
This is a full instrumental version that does not begin with a click track.

Play The Game (with Andy Gibb)
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Unreleased
A version of Play The Game with Andy Gibb is confirmed to exist from the 1980 spring Queen Fan Club magzine. He was invited to sing on the track and Freddie apparently was impressed with his abilities. Queen producer Mack has also confirmed that the version did exist. It is still unknown if the tapes have survived over the years.


Dragon Attack (Album Version) 4:18
Written by Brian May
Appears on: The Game, Track 2

Dragon Attack (Single Version) 2:45
Written by Brian May
Appears on: South Africa Rock It 7" acetate
A rare single version of Dragon Attack appears on a South African "Rock It" 7" promo acetate. It is assumed that Rock It is the A-Side because an "A" is written on the label. Dragon Attack is edited heavily from the album version. The entire bass solo and most of the guitar solo are removed and there is an early fade-out to get the track to the desired length. This track was discovered in early 2015 when the acetate was put on eBay for sale.

Dragon Attack (Mexico Promo Edit) 3:00
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Mexico Dragon Attack 7" vinyl promo
This rare edit only appears on a hard to find Mexican 7" promo vinyl. The song fades out shortly after the lyrics "low down - I gotta make my way". The same edit is repeated on the B-side.

Dragon Attack (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 4:19
Written by Brian May
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.

Dragon Attack (Early Instrumental Demo) 3:09
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 19th International Fan Club Convention in Prestatyn. Possibly from the Jazz sessions, this demo is mostly instrumental with some shouts, little guitar, and the Dragon Attack bass loop.

Dragon Attack (R.A.K. and Jack Benson Remix) 4:22
Written by Brian May
Appears on: The Game Hollywood Remaster (1991), BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
The 1991 Hollywood Records remasters included bonus tracks like this remix by R.A.K. and Jack Benson. The track starts with audio samples, sounds effects, and a Freddie vocal loop. The remix adds a pretty neat backbeat that fits the song well. Brian's guitar solos are removed and a rap section is added.

Dragon Attack (Dave Ogilvie Instrumental Remix) 4:25
Written by Brian May
Appears on: BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
This is by far the highlight of the BASIC Bootlegs promo CD. Basically it is the album take with the vocals removed and some minor tweaks here and there. This is a lot of fun to listen to and preferred to the instrumental version that appears on The eYe

Dragon Attack (The eYe Version) 4:22
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Queen: The eYe
From the Electronic Arts videogame, Queen: The eYe. A full instrumental of the album version with some remixing of drum and bass bits.

Vocal Improv/Dragon Attack (Live at Morumbi Stadium, 1981) 5:02
Written by Brian May
Appears on: UK 2011 The Game iTunes Video Download
A great rare performance from Queen's South American tour. We begin with Freddie's doing some vocal improving with the audience after Now I'm Here, and then going straight into Dragon Attack. The track ends abruptly at the end of a guitar chord, presumably because it would go back into Now I'm Here from that point onwards.


Another One Bites The Dust (Album Version) 3:35
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: The Game, Track 3

Another One Bites The Dust (Columbian Extended Version) 7:00
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: Columbian Another One Bites The Dust 12" vinyl
Given that this is an official EMI release, this extended version of Another One Bites The Dust is going to be counted here as official. Just before the song plays the whole way through, this extended version restarts the track from the beginning.

Another One Bites The Dust (Greatest Video Hits 1 Surround Mix) 3:38
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Another One Bites The Dust was made for the 2002 Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD. Most of the new mixes on this DVD (including this one) were produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith with additional engineering and Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Another One Bites The Dust (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 3:36
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.

Another One Bites The Dust (1998 Karaoke Version) 3:33
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: Greatest Karaoke Hits DVD, 1998 Greatest Karaoke Hits CD
The original 1998 Karoake Version of Another One Bites The Dust fades a few seconds earlier, making it not quite a full instrumental version. The audio for this version was later used on the DVD release.

Another One Bites The Dust (2004 Karaoke Version) 3:36
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: 2004 Greatest Karaoke Hits CD
A full instrumental version.

Another One Bites The Dust (Dave Ogilvie Alternative Mix) 6:00
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: Hollywood Records Freakshow Sampler
Dave "Rave" Ogilvie, producer and remixer of various acts including Skinny Puppy and Marilyn Manson, remixed Another One Bites The Dust for Hollywood Records in 1991. For some reason this remix was omitted from The Game 1991 re-release. This is an Electronic/Dance remix of the song that includes samples of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Another One Bites The Dust (Phase 5 Long Dusted B-Boy Version feat. Raw Fusion) 10:40
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: BASIC Beats Sampler promo CD
This sampler was issued to promote the then-forthcoming (ultimately unreleased) collection of remixes called Queen: The BASIC Bootlegs. A very, very long remix which is just wild, sampling everything you could think of (radio commercials, other Queen songs, old funk and soul songs) and adding some rap segments while also redoing the backing track. At times it drifts far away from the original, sounding entirely different, and then it somehow makes its way back. This mix is not for purists, but is strangely decent while not being very repetitive.

Another One Bites The Dust (Phase 5 Dusted B-Boy Version feat. Raw Fusion) 4:19
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
This is the short version of the Long Dusted B-Boy Version; which apparently has been edited by Dave Ogilvie. Like the Long Version, this is absolutely all over the place, but being shorter, it is slightly more focused.

Another One Bites The Dust (Chyskillz Remix feat. Ice Cube, Hi-C, & Chyskillz) 3:27
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
Rather than a remix, this seems to me more of an original rap song that has samples of Another One Bites The Dust mixed into it. Chyskillz is a producer of artists such as Onyx and L.L. Cool J. It is really hard to pick out if any of the original song was used; maybe just some of Freddie's vocal was included. Regardless, it is not very representative of Queen's work.


Need Your Loving Tonight (Album Version) 2:48
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: The Game, Track 4

Need Your Loving Tonight (South African Acetate Edit) 2:41
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: South Africa Play The Game 12" acetate
The extremely rare South African Play The Game acetate edits a few seconds from the beginning of the song; editing the opening through Freddie's "hey, hey, hey" lines.

Need Your Loving Tonight (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 2:49
Written by John Deacon
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.


Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Album Version) 2:44
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: The Game, Track 5

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Greatest Video Hits 1 Surround Mix) 2:50
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Crazy Little Thing Called Love was made for the 2002 Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD. Most of the new mixes on this DVD (including this one) were produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith with additional engineering and Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 2:44
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The surround mix of Crazy Little Thing Called Love that was used on Greatest Video Hits 1 has again been used on the DVD-Audio release.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (US Greatest Hits Video Version) 2:39
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: US Greatest Hits VHS
This edit from 1992's Greatest Hits VHS features an early fade out of the song.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Original Guitar Solo Version)
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Unreleased
It has been confirmed by Brian May in a 2008 Guitar & Bass magazine and by producer Mack that the original version of Crazy Little Thing Called Love had Freddie playing a solo that later got replaced by Brian's.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Karaoke Version) 2:42
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: Greatest Karaoke Hits
A full instrumental version that does not begin with a click track.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Saturday Night Live, 1982) 4:02
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: UK 2011 The Game iTunes Video Download
From the 1982 season of Saturday Night Live, this was Queen's only US network appearance. Freddie was not in fine vocal form that night (as can be heard on Under Pressure), but was able to perform this track well.


Rock It (Prime Jive) (Album Version) 4:31
Written by Roger Taylor
Appears on: The Game, Track 6

Rock It (Prime Jive) (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 4:33
Written by Roger Taylor
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.


Don't Try Suicide (Album Version) 3:52
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: The Game, Track 7

Don't Try Suicide (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 3:51
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.

Don't Try Suicide (Grandmaster Muggs Remix) 3:38
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: BASIC Queen Bootlegs promo CD
I'm assuming that Grandmaster Muggs is DJ Muggs, who was Cypress Hill's producer and DJ. This is a very strange remix; it is more of an original rap song with samples of Don't Try Suicide vocals mixed throughout.


Sail Away Sweet Sister (Album Version) 3:32
Written by Brian May
Appears on: The Game, Track 8

Sail Away Sweet Sister (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 3:32
Written by Brian May
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. This version is remixed from the original multi-track tape to make use of the 5.1 channels.

Sail Away Sweet Sister (Take 1 With Guide Vocal) 2:32
Written by Brian May
Appears on: UK 2011 The Game Deluxe CD
Another interesting gem from 2011's Deluxe edition CDs, this first take of Sail Away Sweet Sister is an interesting work-in-progress version of the song. According to the liner notes, this take features all four members on instrumentation. Brian provides a guide vocal. Freddie's middle vocal part had yet to be made part of the song at this point.

Sail Away Sweet Sister (Early Instrumental Take - a.k.a. Sister) 3:30
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 19th International Fan Club Convention in Prestatyn. This is an entire instrumental take of the song. The instrumentation is very close to what was used on the final version.


Coming Soon (Album Version) 2:50
Written by Roger Taylor
Appears on: The Game, Track 9

Coming Soon (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 2:52
Written by Roger Taylor
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Game was released on DVD Audio format in October 2003. The disc featured the original stereo album mix and an all new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix produced by Justin Shirley-Smith. Unfortunately, the original multi-track tape for Coming Soon had been lost; without the original tapes, a 5.1 channel mix of the album version with the necessary effects would have been impossible. So instead, Brian found recordings from another session to replace the missing tape. The infamous missing tape was of Roger's backing vocal at the beginning of the track. This new version of the song is exactly the same as the old album version except for Roger's opening vocals (which were taken from another take). This is a neat curiosity and quite surprising if you don't expect it.


Save Me (Album Version) 3:48
Written by Brian May
Appears on: The Game, Track 10

Save Me (Original Single Mix) 3:48
Written by Brian May
Appears on: UK Save Me 7" vinyl, UK Greatest Hits vinyl, UK Greatest Hits CD (1984 - red disc, pressed in Japan), Japan Greatest Hits CD (1st Pressing)
The Save Me 7" was released 6 months before The Game in the UK. As a result, the single has the same performance but a slightly different mix compared to the final version that appeared on the album. You can really hear the differences in the way Freddie's vocals are mixed in places. The cymbals are buried in the mix and the guitar part around 1:30 is mixed differently as well. The song was a hit in the UK, reaching number 11.

Save Me (Greatest Video Hits 1 Surround Mix) 3:54
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD
A new 96/24 DTS 5.1 surround mix of Save Me was made for the 2002 Greatest Video Hits 1 DVD. Most of the new mixes on this DVD (including this one) were produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith with additional engineering and Pro Tools HD by Kris Fredriksson. The mixes were done at Sphere Studios, London. A few seconds of silence are added to the beginning of the track for the video title card on the DVD.

Save Me (DVD-Audio 5.1 Surround Mix) 3:52
Written by Brian May
Appears on: US/UK The Game DVD-Audio
The Surround Mix of Save Me from Greatest Video Hits 1 was reused for the release of The Game DVD-Audio.

Save Me (Video CD Version) 3:41
Written by Freddie Mercury
Appears on: UK Greatest Flix I & II VCD
The Queen promo videos were released digitally for the first time in 1994 on video CD format. The two disc set featured Queen's most popular videos, some of which were minorly edited. Save Me loses the words "it started.." at the opening to a fade-in and a few of the closing piano notes are edited off at the end.

Save Me (1998 Karaoke Version) 3:53
Written by Brian May
Appears on: 1998 Greatest Karaoke Hits
A full instrumental version that begins with a click track.

Save Me (2004 Karaoke Version) 3:52
Written by Brian May
Appears on: 2004 Greatest Karaoke Hits
The 2004 Karaoke Version has a different click track than the 1998 version. There are now keyboard notes to accompany the click.

Save Me (Live at Seibu Lions Stadium, 1982) 4:05
Written by Brian May
Appears on: UK 2011 The Game iTunes Video Download
Freddie begins this live performance by introducing Brian on piano. This performance is just as strong as the rest of their 1982 Seibu Lions Stadium performances from Japan.


A Human Body 3:42
Written by Roger Taylor
Appears on: US Play The Game 7" vinyl, UK Play The Game 7" vinyl, UK The Singles Collection Volume 2, UK 2011 The Game Deluxe CD
Play The Game was released in mid-1980 and became a modest hit (UK 14, US 42). The B-side was the Roger Taylor penned track, A Human Body. Roger provides lead vocals, drums, and guitar; Brian and Freddie assist Roger with backing vocals. It has been rumoured that the song fell out of favor with Roger. As a result, it did not appear on subsequent CD remaster catalogue campaigns for Hollywood Records' 1991 releases or the 1994 Digital Master Series from EMI. Finally, the track entered the digital age with 2009's The Singles Collection Volume 2 and 2011's Deluxe Edition of The Game.


Sandbox (Instrumental Demo) 3:12
Written by Brian May
Appears on: Unreleased
This track premiered at the 2004 UK and Dutch Fan Club Conventions. This is an Instrumental demo from 1979 which eventually became the basis for Coming Soon.