Queen: Mojo magazine ranks their best albums

It was a special Christmas for Queen fans, who received a special gift: the previously unreleased "Not For Sale (Polar Bear)", a recording that until now had remained locked away among the band's vintage tapes. Presenting the track during a radio special broadcast on Planet Rock, guitarist Brian May explained that it dates back to 1974, a crucial period when the band was working first on "Queen II" and then on "Sheer Heart Attack".

Meanwhile, British magazine Mojo has decided to pay tribute to Freddie Mercury's band by publishing its ranking of what it considers the group's 15 best albums.

"In 2005," Mojo writes in its introduction, "it was calculated that Queen had become the most successful band of all time on the British album chart, with a total of 1,322 weeks on the chart, while the Beatles stopped at 1,293. Fans clearly love Queen for the melodies, the compositional scope and Freddie Mercury's stage presence. However, looking more closely at the band's individual albums, even the most fervent supporter might admit that they sometimes lack the gravitas that accompanies a rock classic like, say, 'Led Zeppelin IV'. Queen, of course, can be as much Elaine Paige as Jimmy Page. On most albums they push towards extremes of kitsch, pastiche and schmaltz on at least a couple of tracks. But anyone who knows how to appreciate joy in a pop song can only listen in wonder to the tracks collected on 'Greatest Hits I'. The albums are also striking for their thrilling combination of individual talent and studio craft, with the songs moving from ragtime to rock (via disco, funk, skiffle and gospel along the way). As the Queen canon unfolds, only the stoniest of hearts could fail to beat a little faster", Mojo concludes.

So here is Mojo's ranking of Queen's best albums (full feature here)

15. The Miracle (1991)

14. Hot Space (1982)

13. Flash Gordon (1980)

12. A Kind Of Magic (1986)

11. Made In Heaven (1995)

10. Innuendo (1991)

9. The Game (1980)

8. News Of The World (1977)

7. Queen (1973)

6. The Works (1984)

5. Jazz (1978)

4. A Day At The Races (1976)

3. Sheer Heart Attack (1974)

2. Queen II (1974)

1. A Night At The Opera (1975)

Regarding the unreleased "Not For Sale (Polar Bear)", May explained: "It's a very old song, but as far as I know this version has never been heard by anyone", recounted the musician, Freddie Mercury's longtime collaborator. May also confirmed that "Not For Sale (Polar Bear)" will be included on a future reissue of "Queen II", expected in 2026.

Listen to "Not For Sale (Polar Bear)" below.

The track was recorded during the “Queen II” sessions but failed to make the album's final tracklist. Over the years only an unofficial version had circulated, credited to Smile, the pre-Queen band in which May himself played. Originally released on March 8, 1974, “Queen II” is universally regarded as a pivotal step in shaping the band's aesthetic and musical language. It's no coincidence that, on the occasion of its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the album was hailed as a true cornerstone in the British band's history.

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