Studio Album · No. 10
The Works Songwriting Credits by Queen
Produced by Queen, Reinhold Mack · Engineered by Reinhold Mack, Mike Beiriger, Stefan Wissnet
Queen wrote 9 of 9 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Queen carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
The Works rehabilitated Queen after Hot Space, and tellingly its two biggest hits come from the band's less dominant writers: Roger Taylor's synth-driven "Radio Ga Ga" and John Deacon's "I Want to Break Free." Brian May added "Hammer to Fall," so three of the four members carry the singles, with Freddie Mercury still threaded throughout. Every song keeps an individual-member credit, underscoring how all four were capable hit writers by this point.
Queen's eleventh studio album, released February 27, 1984, produced by Queen and Reinhold Mack. The Works was a commercial and critical rehabilitation following the divisive Hot Space, returning to a rock sound while incorporating the synthesizers and production polish of the early 1980s. Roger Taylor writes 'Radio Ga Ga,' one of the album's biggest hits, which reached number one in nineteen countries. John Deacon contributes 'I Want to Break Free,' which became iconic, particularly in the UK and parts of Europe, despite its relatively modest US performance due to the controversial music video in which the band dressed in women's clothing. Brian May contributes four tracks including 'Hammer to Fall' and the closing ballad 'Is This the World We Created...?,' the latter co-written with Mercury. The album is sometimes cited as the start of Queen's imperial phase as a stadium act, particularly following their legendary Live Aid performance in July 1985.