Absolute Greatest

Absolute Greatest
Absolute Greatest
Greatest hits album by Queen
Released	11 November 2009
Recorded	1973–1995
Genre	Rock
Length	79:28
Label	Parlophone; Hollywood;
Producer	various
Queen chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Classic Rock	^[2]
Q	^[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[4]

Absolute Greatest is a 2009 compilation album by the British rock band Queen. The album contains 20 of their most famous songs, and is available in several formats, including the single CD edition, a 2 CD special edition featuring audio commentaries by Brian May and Roger Taylor, a 52-page hardback book with the 2 CDs, digital download, and an LP edition box set. Each track has been remastered from the original tapes.^[5]

A promotion running on the band's official website, Queen Online, gave fans the opportunity to guess the placings of the tracks on the album and win a prize if their answer was correct (a new track was revealed daily). The prize winner was then chosen in a random selection.^[6]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We Will Rock You" (from News of the World, 1977)	Brian May	2:02
2.	"We Are the Champions" (from News of the World, 1977)	Freddie Mercury	3:01
3.	"Radio Ga Ga" (from The Works, 1984)	Roger Taylor	5:48
4.	"Another One Bites the Dust" (from The Game, 1980)	John Deacon	3:35

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"I Want It All" (single version, from The Miracle, 1989)	Queen (May)	4:01
6.	"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (from The Game, 1980)	Mercury	2:44
7.	"A Kind of Magic" (from A Kind of Magic, 1986)	Taylor	4:25

Side three
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
8.	"Under Pressure" (with David Bowie, from Hot Space, 1982)	Queen, Bowie	4:08
9.	"One Vision" (single version, from A Kind of Magic, 1986)	Queen (Taylor)	4:04
10.	"You're My Best Friend" (from, A Night at the Opera, 1975)	Deacon	2:51
11.	"Don't Stop Me Now" (from Jazz, 1978)	Mercury	3:30

Side four
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
12.	"Killer Queen" (from Sheer Heart Attack, 1974)	Mercury	3:00
13.	"These Are the Days of Our Lives" (from Innuendo, 1991)	Queen (Taylor)	4:13
14.	"Who Wants to Live Forever" (Greatest Hits II edit, from A Kind of Magic, 1986)	May	4:55

Side five
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Seven Seas of Rhye" (from Queen II, 1974)	Mercury	2:46
16.	"Heaven for Everyone" (single version, from Made in Heaven, 1995)	Taylor	4:43
17.	"Somebody to Love" (from A Day at the Races, 1976)	Mercury	4:55

Side six
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
18.	"I Want to Break Free" (single version, from The Works, 1984)	Deacon	4:19
19.	"The Show Must Go On" (from Innuendo, 1991)	Queen (May)	4:32
20.	"Bohemian Rhapsody" (from A Night at the Opera, 1975)	Mercury	5:56

Personnel

Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards, synthesiser
Brian May - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesiser, orchestral arrangements on "Who Wants to Live Forever", co-lead vocals on "I Want It All" and "Who Wants to Live Forever"
Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, keyboards, synthesiser, electronic drums, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar, piano, guitar, keyboards, synthesiser
David Bowie - vocals, hand claps, finger snaps, keyboards on "Under Pressure"
Fred Mandel - synthesiser on "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want To Break Free"
National Philharmonic Orchestra - strings on "Who Wants To Live Forever"
Michael Kamen - conductor and orchestral arrangements on "Who Wants To Live Forever"

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	18
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[8]	10
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[9]	22
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[10]	6
French Compilations Albuns (SNEP)^[11]	11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[12]	23
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)^[13]	4
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[14]	9
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[15]	21
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)^[16]	22
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[17]	6
Portuguese Albums (AFP)^[18]	4
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[19]	3
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)^[20]	20
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[21]	5
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[22]	15
UK Albums (OCC)^[23]	3

Chart (2010)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[24]	15
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[25]	36
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[26]	6

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[27]	15

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[28]	10

Year-end charts

Chart (2009)	Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[29]	35
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[30]	34
UK Albums (OCC)^[31]	17

Chart (2010)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[32]	63
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[33]	66
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[34]	43
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[35]	68
UK Albums (OCC)^[36]	107

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[37]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[38]	Gold	15,000^{^}
Hungary (MAHASZ)^[39]	Platinum	6,000^{^}
Ireland (IRMA)^[40]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
Italy (FIMI)^[41]	Gold	35,000^*
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[42]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
Poland (ZPAV)^[43]	Gold	10,000^*
Portugal (AFP)^[44]	Gold	10,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[45]	2× Platinum	600,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Absolute Greatest at AllMusic
^ Terry Staunton. "Queen – Absolute Greatest". Archived from the original (JPG) on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
^ "The Official Queen Website". QueenOnline.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
^ "Queen: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
^ Press Release: Absolute Greatest Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online, 3 September 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
^ Tracklisting Competition Archived 13 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Danishcharts.dk – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on 20 August 2008. Find "QUEEN" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 51. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 19 November 2009". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Mexicancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Spanishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Charts.nz – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Queen: Absolute Greatest" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Queen Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 2009". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
^ "Årslista Album – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Rapports Annuels 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 2010". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
^ "Årslista Album – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "Danish album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". IFPI Danmark.
^ "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2010" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
^ "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
^ "Italian album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2010 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
^ "Portuguese album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.
^ "British album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". British Phonographic Industry.

External links

Queen official website: Discography: Absolute Greatest (no lyrics included)
Television ad (official video)

[allmusic-1] Absolute Greatest at AllMusic

[2] Terry Staunton. "Queen – Absolute Greatest". Archived from the original (JPG) on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2010.

[3] "The Official Queen Website". QueenOnline.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2011.

[4] "Queen: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 June 2012.

[5] Press Release: Absolute Greatest Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online, 3 September 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.

[6] Tracklisting Competition Archived 13 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Queen online. Retrieved 1 January 2010.

[ac_Australia_Queen-7] "Australiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Austria_Queen-8] "Austriancharts.at – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Wallonia_Queen-9] "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Denmark_Queen-10] "Danishcharts.dk – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[11] "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on 20 August 2008. Find "QUEEN" under the drop-down menu to see statistics.

[ac_Germany_Queen-12] "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Hungary_-13] "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2009. 51. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[14] "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 19 November 2009". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2022.

[ac_Italy_Queen-15] "Italiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Mexico_Queen-16] "Mexicancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Norway_Queen-17] "Norwegiancharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Portugal_Queen-18] "Portuguesecharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Scotland_-19] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Spain_Queen-20] "Spanishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Sweden_Queen-21] "Swedishcharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Switzerland_Queen-22] "Swisscharts.com – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_UK2_-23] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Flanders_Queen-24] "Ultratop.be – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Netherlands_Queen-25] "Dutchcharts.nl – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_New_Zealand_Queen-26] "Charts.nz – Queen – Absolute Greatest". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_Finland_Queen-27] "Queen: Absolute Greatest" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[ac_BillboardCanada_Queen-28] "Queen Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2020.

[29] "Top Selling Albums of 2009". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 February 2022.

[30] "Årslista Album – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[31] "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[32] "Jaaroverzichten 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[33] "Rapports Annuels 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[34] "Top Selling Albums of 2010". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 6 February 2022.

[35] "Årslista Album – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[36] "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 21 May 2021.

[AustraliaQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-37] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

[DenmarkQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-38] "Danish album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". IFPI Danmark.

[HungaryQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-39] "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2010" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.

[IrelandQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-40] "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.

[ItalyQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-41] "Italian album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.

[New_ZealandQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-42] "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.

[PolandQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-43] "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2010 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2021.

[PortugalQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-44] "Portuguese album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010.

[United_KingdomQueenAbsolute_GreatestalbumCertRef-45] "British album certifications – Queen – Absolute Greatest". British Phonographic Industry.

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v t e Queen
Brian May Roger Taylor Freddie Mercury John Deacon
Studio albums	Queen Queen II Sheer Heart Attack A Night at the Opera A Day at the Races News of the World Jazz The Game Flash Gordon Hot Space The Works A Kind of Magic The Miracle Innuendo Made in Heaven
Live albums	Live Killers Live Magic At the Beeb Live at Wembley '86 Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl Queen Rock Montreal Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest Live at the Rainbow '74 A Night at the Odeon On Air
Compilations	Greatest Hits Greatest Hits II Classic Queen The 12″ Collection Queen Rocks Greatest Hits III Stone Cold Classics The A–Z of Queen, Volume 1 Absolute Greatest Deep Cuts, Volume 1 (1973–1976) Deep Cuts, Volume 2 (1977–1982) Deep Cuts, Volume 3 (1984–1995) Icon Queen Forever Greatest Hits in Japan
Box sets	The Complete Works Queen CD Single Box The Crown Jewels The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III The Singles Collection Volume 1 The Singles Collection Volume 2 The Singles Collection Volume 3 The Singles Collection Volume 4 On Air
Extended plays	Queen's First E.P. Five Live (with George Michael)
Soundtracks	Flash Gordon Bohemian Rhapsody
Videography	We Will Rock You Live in Rio Queen at Wembley We Are the Champions: Final Live in Japan The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Greatest Video Hits 1 Queen Rocks Greatest Video Hits 2 Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl Queen Rock Montreal Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest Live at the Rainbow '74 A Night at the Odeon
Tours	A Day at the Races Tour News of the World Tour Jazz Tour Crazy Tour The Game Tour Hot Space Tour The Works Tour The Magic Tour
Tributes	One Night of Queen Queen at the Ballet Queen Extravaganza Tour Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen A Night at the Hip Hopera God Save the Queen Tie Your Mix Down: A Queen Tribute
Related	Discography Songs Awards and nominations Concert tours The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody Queen + Paul Rodgers (The Cosmos Rocks) Queen + Adam Lambert Smile The Cross The Brian May Band Queen: The Eye We Will Rock You (musical) We Will Rock You: 10th Anniversary Tour Deacy Amp Mercury Phoenix Trust Mountain Studios Red Special Spike Edney Jim Beach John Reid List of "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover versions SingStar Queen Bohemian Rhapsody (film) accolades The Queen Family Singalong
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