Queen's "The Works" Turns 42

The release of "The Works" followed a band hiatus in 1983, during which members pursued solo projects. The album's title reportedly came from a comment by drummer Roger Taylor, who, as recording began, declared, "Let's give them the works!" The album has sold over six million copies worldwide. The album was recorded in Los Angeles and Munich. It marked Queen's first time recording in the United States. Sessions in Los Angeles were augmented by Canadian keyboardist Fred Mandel, who added a new layer to the band's sound. The music video for "I Want to Break Free," featuring the band members in drag as a parody of the British soap opera *Coronation Street*, caused considerable controversy in the United States. MTV banned the video, which negatively impacted the single's commercial success in the US and the band decided not to tour North America. In the UK, however, the video was understood as a joke and became immensely popular. Despite the US controversy, the songs from "The Works" became pivotal to Queen's legendary 1985 Live Aid performance. The setlist included "Radio Ga Ga" and "Hammer to Fall," and the performance is widely regarded as one of the greatest in rock history. Freddie Mercury's call-and-response with the massive crowd became an iconic moment.