Album - Hot Space

Hot Space was the tenth studio album to be released by Queen in May 1982. The album displays a noticeble shift in style and direction in comparison to their earlier work. Queen employed many elements of disco, pop music, R&B and dance music into the album, being partially influenced by the success of their 1980 hit Another One Bites the Dust. On it's release the album did not make a significant impact due to fans preferring the traditional rock style they had come to associate with Queen.

Under Pressure, a song which Queen collaborated on with David Bowie, was released in 1981 and became the band's second #1 hit in the UK. The song was a separate project and recorded ahead of the album, therefore prior to the controversy over Queen's new disco-influenced sound.

In July 2004, Q magazine listed Hot Space as one of the top fifteen albums where great rock acts lost the plot. Most of the album was recorded in Munich during the most turbulent period in the band's history. Drummer Taylor and Guitarist May lamented the new sound, with both being very critical of the influence Mercury's manager Paul Prenter had on the singer. Sales of the album are currently estimated to stand at only five million copies.