Flash Single Release : 1980

Queen blast off with the ultimate superhero anthem – Flash! Aaa-ah!

Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK on November 24, 1980, on EMI Records (catalogue: EMI 5126), Queen’s “Flash” — the theme from Flash Gordon — was written by Brian May (A-side) and Freddie Mercury (B-side).

Produced by Brian May & Mack for Queen Productions Ltd., this bombastic rock anthem backed with “Football Fight” peaked at No. 10 on the Official Singles Chart for 13 weeks. Issued in solid centre, 4-prong push-out centre, misprint, and white label promo variants, with worldwide releases. A heroic Queen classic.

Single Overview

Release Details

Label: EMI Records.

Formats: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single (solid centre / 4-prong push-out centre / promo white label).

Full Track Listing

Side A

Flash (2:47) – Written-By: B. May

Side B

Football Fight (1:29) – Written-By: F. Mercury

Variants

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, 4-Prong Centre – EMI EMI 5126 – UK – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre – EMI EMI 5126 – UK – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint – EMI EMI 5126 – UK – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label – EMI EMI 5126 – UK – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Argentina – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI International – Bolivia – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Brazil – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Chile – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – France – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Germany – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Hong Kong – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Ireland – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Italy – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Netherlands – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Philippines – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Portugal – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – South Africa – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Spain – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – EMI – Sweden – 1980

- 7", 45 RPM, Single – Elektra – USA – 1980

Production and Context

Produced by Brian May & Mack for Queen Productions Ltd. From *Flash Gordon* soundtrack (EMC 3351). Executive-Producer: Queen.

Official Singles Chart Data

Peak position: 10

13 weeks – 06/12/1980 to 28/02/1981

30 → 20 → 12 → 15 → 15 → 10 → 10 → 10 → 14 → 24 → 41 → 63 → 69

Legacy and Collectibility

“Flash” is Queen’s heroic *Flash Gordon* anthem. Original UK EMI pressings (solid/4-prong centre) fetch £5–£20 on eBay/Discogs, promos £15–£40. Verify catalogue EMI 5126. Streams on Spotify preserve the cosmic thunder. This single is a must-have for Queen soundtrack collectors.

Do you have Flash in your vinyl stack? Ah-ah, saviour of the universe? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube