A Kind of Magic is the twelfth album by the English rock band Queen, released in 1986. It was the band’s first studio album to be recorded digitally, and is based on the soundtrack to the film Highlander, the first in a series directed by Russell Mulcahy.
Although Queen would release another three albums with Freddie Mercury (including the posthumous “Made in Heaven”), “A Kind of Magic” would turn out to be the band’s last ever album promoted with a concert tour, because of Mercury’s diagnosis with HIV the following year and his eventual death from AIDS in 1991. For the first time in their career, the band allowed filming of them while they were in the recording studio. The video for One Vision shows them in various stages of writing and recording the song.
“A Kind of Magic reached” #1 in the UK, selling 100,000 copies in its first week, and remained in the UK charts for 63 weeks. The album spawned three hit singles: the album’s title track A Kind of Magic , One Vision and Friends Will Be Friends . The sixth track on the album, Who Wants to Live Forever , features an orchestra conducted by Michael Kamen, while the last track, Princes of the Universe , is the theme song to Highlander.
Critical reaction to the album was mixed, but it has, in recent years, been cited by music publications and fans as one of Queen’s best records of the 1980s. The 1994 edition of the Guinness All Time Top 1000 Albums listed “A Kind of Magic” #171 in the all-time greatest rock and pop albums, and in 2007, Classic Rock ranked it the 28th greatest soundtrack album of all time. Estimates of the albums sales currently stand at fourteen million copies.
Tracklist:
One Vision
A Kind of Magic
One Year of Love
Pain Is So Close to Pleasure
Friends Will Be Friends
Who Wants to Live Forever
Gimme the Prize
Don’t Lose Your Head
Princes of the Universe
Legend: Side A / Side B – Record Company – Catalogue number – Country (Year) ~ Notes
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI QUEEN7 UK (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1C 016 20 1116 7 GERMANY (1986) ~ First edition with “QUEEN 7” catalogue number visible on back cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1C 016 20 1116 7 GERMANY (1986) ~ Second edition with “QUEEN 7” catalogue number rendered invisible on back cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 006 20 1116 7 HOLLAND (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 FRANCE (1986) ~ MacLeod on cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 FRANCE (1986) ~ MacLeod on cover. “Vente interdite au public – Réservé au Juke-Box” sticker on cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 FRANCE (1986) ~ Kurgan on cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 FRANCE (1986) ~ Kurgan on cover. “Vente interdite au public – Réservé au Juke-Box” sticker on cover
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 06 2011167 ITALY (1986) ~ Promotional copy. “Campione gratuito” on Front
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 06 2011167 ITALY (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 06 2011167 ITALY (1986) ~ “ES” printed on the back sleeve
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 006-2011167 SPAIN (1986) ~ Promo
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 006-2011167 SPAIN (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 PORTUGAL (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 2011167 SOUTH AFRICA (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI EMS-17632 JAPAN (1986) ~ Black label promo
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI EMS-17632 JAPAN (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / Gimme The Prize – CAPITOL B-5590 USA (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / Gimme The Prize – CAPITOL B-5590 CANADA (1986) ~ No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – CAPITOL B-5590 USA (1986) ~ Wrong B side on back (no vinyl) – Front
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – CAPITOL B-5590 USA (1986) ~ Wrong B side on back (no vinyl) – Back
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1721 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ Promo
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1721 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1721 AUSTRALIA (1986)
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 908 NEW ZEALAND (1986) ~ No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 1721 NEW ZEALAND (1986) ~ No PS. Alternative catalogue number
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI EMIJ 2011167 ZIMBABWE (1986) ~ No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Kind Of Magic – CAPITOL P-B-5590 USA (1986) ~ Promotional copy – No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Kind Of Magic – EMI SEC-342 MEXICO (1986) ~ Promotional copy – No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Kind Of Magic – EMI DIF 402 ARGENTINA (1986) ~ Venta Prohibida – Promocional – Titles in Spanish – No PS
A Kind Of Magic / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – EMI 73-X-327 PHILIPPINES (1986) ~ No PS
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 2013157 FRANCE (1986) ~ Promo stamp on front
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 2013157 FRANCE (1986)
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 2013157 FRANCE (1986) ~ “Vente interdite au public – Réservé au Juke-Box” sticker on cover (no vinyl)
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 006-2013157 SPAIN (1986) ~ Different back sleeve. White label promo – Front
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 006-2013157 SPAIN (1986) ~ Different back sleeve. White label promo – Back
One Year Of Love / Gimme The Prize – EMI 006-2013157 SPAIN (1986)
One Year Of Love / Don’t Lose Your Head – EMI 73-X-340 PHILIPPINES (1986) ~ No PS
Princes Of The Universe / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – CAPITOL B-5568 USA (1986)
Princes Of The Universe / Princes Of The Universe – CAPITOL P-B-5568 USA (1986) ~ No PS. White label promo
Princes Of The Universe / A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling – CAPITOL B-5568 CANADA (1986)
Princes Of The Universe / Who Wants To Live Forever – EMI EMS-17663 JAPAN (1986) ~ White label promo
Princes Of The Universe / Who Wants To Live Forever – EMI EMS-17663 JAPAN (1986)
Princes Of The Universe / Gimme The Prize – EMI 1801 AUSTRALIA (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI QUEEN8 UK (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI QUEENP8 UK (1986) ~ Picture disc
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI QUEEN8 IRELAND (1986) ~ No PS
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 1C 006 201308 7 GERMANY (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 06 2013087 ITALY (1986) ~ “ES” printed on the back sleeve
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 06 2013087 ITALY (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 1A 006-20 1308 7 HOLLAND (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 006-2013087 SPAIN (1986) ~ White label promo. It contains an A4 3 pages flyer with tour dates and tour info in Spanish – Front
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 006-2013087 SPAIN (1986) ~ White label promo. It contains an A4 3 pages flyer with tour dates and tour info in Spanish – Flyer
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 006-2013087 SPAIN (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 2013087 PORTUGAL (1986)
Friends Will Be Friends / Gimme The Prize – EMI EMIJ 2013877 SOUTH AFRICA (1986) ~ Different back sleeve
Friends Will Be Friends / Seven Seas Of Rhye – EMI 73-X-334 PHILIPPINES (1986) ~ No PS
Friends Will Be Friends / Gimme The Prize – EMI 1786 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ Promotional copy. “Sample not for sale” on label
Friends Will Be Friends / Gimme The Prize – EMI 1786 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ Promotional copy – No PS. “Sample not for sale” on label
Friends Will Be Friends / Gimme The Prize – EMI 905 NEW ZEALAND (1986) ~ No PS
Friends Will Be Friends / One Year Of Love – EMI DIF 424 ARGENTINA (1986) ~ No PS. Promo. Labels in Spanish
Friends Will Be Friends / A Kind Of Magic – EMI 103-0277 – S-38915-EMI-45 ECUADOR (1986) ~ No PS. Promo. Labels in Spanish
Friends Will Be Friends / Dancing On The Ceiling (Lionel Richie) – MUSIC BOX USE E 430 MALAYSIA (-) ~ Promotional copy – No PS. “Not for sale” on label
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Don’t Lose Your Head – EMI 1C 006 201610 7 GERMANY (1986)
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Don’t Lose Your Head – EMI 1A 006-20 1610 7 HOLLAND (1986)
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Don’t Lose Your Head – CAPITOL B-5633 USA (1986)
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Don’t Lose Your Head – CAPITOL B-5633 CANADA (1986)
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Who Wants To Live Forever – EMI 1896 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ Promotional copy – No PS
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure / Pain Is So Close To Pleasure – CAPITOL P-B-5633 USA (1986) ~ No PS. Promotional copy “Not fot sale” on label
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI QUEEN9 UK (1986) ~ Black label. Front
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI QUEEN9 UK (1986) ~ Black label. Side A
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI QUEEN9 UK (1986) ~ Silver label
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI QUEEN9 IRELAND (1986) ~ No PS
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 1C 006-20 1439 7 GERMANY (1986)
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 006-2014397 SPAIN (1986) ~ Promo
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 006-2014397 SPAIN (1986) – Front
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 006-2014397 SPAIN (1986) – Back
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 06 2014397 ITALY (1986) ~ Promotional copy. “Campione gratuito” on Front
Who Wants To Live Forever / Killer Queen – EMI 06 2014397 ITALY (1986) ~ “ES” printed on the back sleeve
Who Wants To Live Forever / Don’t Lose Your Head – EMI 900 NEW ZEALAND (1986) ~ No PS
Who Wants To Live Forever / Notorious (Duran Duran) – EMI 00 1793217 ITALY (1986) ~ Jukebox – No PS
Who Wants To Live Forever / Notorious (Duran Duran) – EMI 00 1793217 ITALY (1986) ~ Jukebox. SPER promo cover
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI QUEEN6 UK (1985) ~ Hard cover
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI QUEEN6 UK (1985) ~ Soft cover
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI QUEEN6 IRELAND (1985) ~ Red inner sleeve
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI QUEEN6 IRELAND (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 006-20 0886 7 HOLLAND (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 006-20 0886 7 SPAIN (1985) ~ Promotional copy with textured sleeve
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 006-20 0886 7 SPAIN (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 1C 006 20 0886 7 ITALY (1985) ~ “ES” printed on the back sleeve
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 1C 006 20 0886 7 ITALY (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 1C 006 20 0886 7 GERMANY (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 2008867 FRANCE (1985) ~ Red inner sleeve
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 2008867 PORTUGAL (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – CAPITOL B-5530 USA (1985) ~ With “Iron Eagle” details under the title on front. Back with “Iron Eagle” adv. Front
One Vision / Blurred Vision – CAPITOL B-5530 USA (1985) ~ Without “Iron Eagle” details under the title on front. Back with “Iron Eagle” adv.
One Vision / Blurred Vision – CAPITOL B-5530 CANADA (1985)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI EMS-17594 JAPAN (1986) ~ Promo sticker on front
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI EMS-17594 JAPAN (1986)
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 1653 AUSTRALIA (1985) ~ Promotional copy. No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 1653 AUSTRALIA (1986) ~ Promotional copy
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 5535 NEW ZEALAND (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 103-0258 ECUADOR (1986) ~ No PS. Promo. Labels in Spanish and English
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 103-0258 ECUADOR (1986) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 4686 GUATEMALA (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI BO-1473 BOLIVIA (1985) ~ No PS. 33 RPM
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI QUEEN 6A/B BARBADOS (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 4686 PANAMA (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 01.21.2543 PERU (1986) ~ No PS. Labels in Spanish and English
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI EMIJ 2008867 SOUTH AFRICA (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI 73-X-319-A/B PHILIPPINES (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / Blurred Vision – EMI EMIJ 2008867 ZIMBABWE (1985) ~ No PS
One Vision / One Vision – CAPITOL PRO-9547 USA (1985) ~ Promotional copy – No PS
One Vision / One Vision – EMI SEC-300 MEXICO (1985) ~ No PS. Promo
One Vision / Lavanda (Marillion) – EMI DIF 384 ARGENTINA (1985) ~ No PS. Promo
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