SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 41 Min.
In 1991, Hollywood Records issued this re-release of Queen’s 1980 movie soundtrack, now including a bonus re-imagining of the title theme by Mista Lawnge. Sampling dialogue clips from the movie, the nineteen tracks are:
Title: Time:
- Flash’s Theme 3:29
- In the Space Capsule (The Love Theme) 2:42
- Ming’s Theme (In the Court of Ming the Merciless) 2:40
- The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale) 0:57
- Football Fight 1:28
- In the Death Cell (Love Theme Reprise) 2:24
- Execution of Flash 1:05
- The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash) 1:44
- Arboria (Planet of The Tree Men) 1:41
- Escape from the Swamp 1:43
- Flash to the Rescue 2:44
- Vultan’s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men) 1:12
- Battle Theme 2:18
- The Wedding March 0:56
- Marriage of Dale & Ming (and Flash Approaching) 2:04
- Crash Dive on Mingo City 1:00
- Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations) 1:20
- The Hero 3:01
- Flash’s Theme (re-mixed by Mista Lawnge, 9.5) 6:43
Note: Foretelling Queen’s 1986 Highlander movie soundtrack, actor Brian Blessed’s gleeful Vultan rhetorically ponders mid-battle in Track 13: “Who wants to live forever?”
REVIEW:
It’s like an audio highlight reel of the film. Queen’s wildly energetic efforts is ideal for Flash Gordon’s deliberately campy approach. The group’s instrumental work (i.e. The Wedding March) alone is superb entertainment. Yet, it’s the magic of Freddie Mercury’s distinctive vocals that completes this album. The only detriment is the awful Track 19 re-imagining, as an instrumental reprise of Flash’s Theme would have been preferable. Ultimately, Tracks 1-18 delivers some top-flight Queen for the movie’s fans.
PACKAGING:
The tracks and their running times are listed on the case’s back cover and in the booklet. The fold-out insert provides lyrics for Flash’s Theme and The Hero; song credits; production credits; and, shaped like a record, movie stills of Flash; Dale & Zarkov; Barin; Aura; Ming; one of Vultan’s Hawkmen; and a Ming disciple.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
