The Game
(30 June 1980)
Tracklisting: Play the Game / Dragon Attack /
Another One Bites the Dust / Need Your Loving
Tonight / Crazy Little Thing Called Love / Rock It
(Prime Jive) / Don’t Try Suicide / Sail Away Sweet
Sister / Coming Soon / Save MePlay the Game ����
Written by Mercury after splitting from his lover at the time, ‘Play
the Game’ sees Mercury perform piano and lead vocals on this
number. Having just taken up smoking, the effects are noticeable
on Mercury’s vocals here. Commencing with a series of overlapping
rushing noises, the track heralds the band’s acceptance of synths to
their sound.
Dragon Attack ���
Featuring a funky bass solo, ‘Dragon Attack’ is a great groove
based song that captures the band playing off each other well. The
melody line is somewhat similar to ‘We Will Rock You’ – ‘take me
to the room where the red’s all red.’ Originally conceived out of a
jam session.
Another One Bites the Dust ���
The enormously bass driven ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ was
originally written by Deacon with cowboys in mind, but then
changed to make it more suitable to the band. No synths here,
the main feature is, of course, one of the most recognisable bass
grooves in pop music history. A gritty, down-to-earth rocker.
Need Your Loving Tonight ���
Influenced to the nth degree by the Beatles’ ‘Eight Days a Week’,
‘Need Your Loving Tonight’ is a John Deacon number that