Enter Queen, "A Kind of Magic." While these are not the same versions, they are indeed the same songs. From the theme to Highlander (Princes of the Universe) to the Title Track, played during the closing credits, most of the songs from Highlander appear here. One Vision, featured in the Film "Iron Eagle" appears here also, along with a bonus extended version of it.

Missing from the Highlander set are Hammer to Fall, which appears on "the Works." and "New York, New York," which cannot be verified to exist, short of the clip in the movie. Enough about Highlander, on to the songs themselves.

The highlights are clear: A Kind of Magic contains entire guitar lessons and chapters of music theory in BRian's solo. Princes of the Universe contains Queen's Trademark power rock harmonies and excellent guitar. Who Wants to Live Forever shows off the sheer Beauty of Freddie's Voice. Gimme The Prize (The Kurgan's Theme) is awesome hard rock. Don't Lose Your Head is a more synth pop oriented song, but shows what the rest of the 80s musicians should have done with them (Aside from maybe the cars). Forever, an instrumental piano based version of Brian's touching ballad, delivers depths in the fashion of true masters of symphonic music.

Despite Queen's loss of popularity in the US during the 80s, all of their records have essential hits on them, even "The Game" (Which features Another One bites the Dust, Dragon Attack, and Save Me). "A Kind of Magic" is no exception, featuring many solid songs which are essentials to any Queen or serious rock collections.

I recommend this both for it being a solid Queen album, and for it being the closest you can get to a Highlander Soundtrack. I'd rather get the cuts to "Princes" and "AKoM," but I will take what I can get.

pretty good O.S.T.
A very good album with a fistful very good songs. If you like music with a hammering beat, enjoy "Don't lose your head" which has a nice meaning for the film Highlander, to which the album is soundtrack. The loud guitars go to Gimme the prize and One Vision. The hymn is "Princes of the Universe" for the heavy fraction and "Who wants to live forever" for those who love ballads. However, I don't really like "Friends will be Friends", but I have no idea why. "Magic" is just like the 80s and completes the Album as a great one. And when you listen to "Who wants to live forever", tears might come into your eyes.

Who Wants It?
This album starts with a two good tracks "One Vision" which is quite a rocking track! "A Kind of Magic" is pop music. "Friends Will Be Friends" is a peaceful track and in my opinion the best track in this album. "Who Wants to Live Forever" is a peaceful track too. It is also almost like classic music. "Gimme the Prize" is a very fast track, almost like heavy music. "Princes of the Universe" is one of the best tracks in this album too. I like the lyrics, they are so ambitious.

Queen on the upswing
After 1977's "News Of The World", there wasn't a Queen album that I really, thoroughly enjoyed. The ones since then had their high points, but "News Of The World" was the last one I really enjoyed. "A Kind Of Magic" is, for me, the beginning of Queen on the upswing -- this album, and the ones after it, are much better (IMHO) than the albums they released after 1977.

Ironically, the first time I heard "A Kind Of Magic", I didn't like it. At all. But after listening to it a bit I gained an appreciation for it, and now consider it to be one of their better albums. It's not quite up there with most of their 70's material, but it's a step in the right direction and a good piece of work. Followed by "The Miracle", the superb "Innuendo", and "Made In Heaven".

A Musicians review of this album...
Queen has always been praised for it's diverse and individualized songwriting talents and putting them together to make a 'cohesive' product. "A Kind Of Magic" is the one Queen album where that 'magic' didn't quite work out as well as it could have.

My opinion on "Magic" is that I enjoy the tracks individually... But each of them sound so completely different (drastically in style/mixing-production) that it makes the 'album' itself hard to swallow. Though each song is unique and great on their own, they unfortunately do not flow well together throughout.

As a musician, I believe the reason is due to the use of 2 different producers which made for unconsistent mixing and recording techniques. With all of Queens albums, the way the tracks were recorded was what made their diversity flourish.

Here the songs are well written and catchy... with great hooks, great vocal parts, and great instrumental work. In a way, this album would have been more effective if it were divided into two EP's.. one for the soundtrack music, and another for the album-only tracks.

So I gave this album 3 stars. I enjoy the songs themselves but I really have to be in a specific mood to listen to the whole album.

Try it out and see what you think.. No matter what, you'll like the songs! ;o)

All the best, The AndyMan!