Freddie Mercury and the band Queen were more than ready to try something new when it came time for the group to record its eighth studio album, The Game. They conquered the globe with 1977 album, News of the World, followed by the wildly successful Jazz LP in 1978.
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Fans knew they were in for something radically different with the album's first single, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The rockabilly homage to Elvis Presley was an immediate hit, soaring to #1 on the Hot 100 for the week of February 23, 1980. It held the top spot until March 21, 1986, when it was replaced by Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)."
While "Play the Game" had an average chart run, peaking at #42, it would be "Another One Bites the Dust" that would come to all but define the album. Hitting #1 for the week of October 4, 1980, the song held the #1 position until October 24, replaced by Barbra Streisand's "Woman in Love."
The last single from The Game, John Deacon composition "Need Your Loving Tonight," peaked at #44 for the week of December 27, 1980. The #1 song in the country that week: John Lennon's "(Just Like) Starting Over."
Released on June 30, 1980, The Game went on to become Queen's one and only #1 album in America, peaking at the top slot for the week of September 20, 1980. It took until October 24 for The Game to be toppled by Barbra Streisand's Guilty on October 24, 1980.
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