With
Queen officially enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Hollywood Records reintroduces the band yet again with the release of
Platinum Collection, Vols. 1-3. While Vols. I & II are full of
Queen classics you already know by heart, the third cobbles together odds and sods from the far corners of
Queen's canon along with solo cuts from
Freddie Mercury and
Brian May. Opening with the operatic rock classic "Bohemian Rhapsody," it's easy to hear not only how this British quartet achieved the kind of global acclaim that ensured they'd be enshrined alongside the likes of
the Beatles and
Led Zeppelin. When they weren't dabbling in playful, '50s-flavored rock & roll ("Crazy Little Thing Called Love"), catchy glam ("Killer Queen"), or hard-edged funk ("Another One Bites the Dust"),
Queen was capable of delivering heartfelt love letters ("You're My Best Friend"). The band's '80s output is equally intriguing, ranging from the hard-hitting "Headlong" to duets with
David Bowie ("Under Pressure") and soaring movie anthems ("One Vision"). The third volume features more movie themes ("Princes of the Universe"),
Freddie Mercury covering
the Platters ("The Great Pretender"), and cameos by contemporary artists like
Wyclef Jean,
George Michael, and
Elton John.