The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III cover

Released 26 years ago this November

The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III

Queen · 2000

208 min · 51 tracks · hard rock

A vibrant anthology showcasing Queen's eclectic fusion of rock, pop, and theatricality through timeless anthems and heartfelt ballads.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Bohemian Rhapsody Start here — This groundbreaking track blends operatic elements with rock, showcasing the band's innovative approach to songwriting and structure.
  • →
    Somebody to Love — Displaying Freddie Mercury's vocal prowess, this song intertwines gospel influences with rock, enhancing its emotional depth and appeal.
  • →
    We Will Rock You — An anthem of resilience, its iconic stomp-stomp-clap beat has made it a fixture in sports and popular culture worldwide.
  • →
    Under Pressure — A collaboration with David Bowie, this track addresses social issues while blending rock with a powerful bassline that defined a generation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

71 /100
Alpine
Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

This compilation highlights Queen's diverse catalog but lacks the cohesive flow of a studio album.

What we noticed

  • The album features 51 tracks, including many of Queen's most famous songs, spanning various styles from rock anthems to ballads.
  • Several tracks feature complex arrangements with layered harmonies and instrumental sections that showcase the band's musical versatility.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
9/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 8/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic collection of hits
  • wave-like pacing for varied moods
  • sing-along anthems with friends
  • epic ballads for emotional moments
  • celebratory energy for gatherings

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer concise, single-track focus
  • dislike nostalgic or theatrical styles

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Starting Point — This compilation provides a comprehensive introduction to Queen's most iconic tracks.
Themes
Freddie Mercury's legacy· operatic rock· societal pressure
Career context
Released in 2000, The Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II & III arrives at a reflective moment for Queen, following the band's resurgence in popularity after the release of the biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 2018. This compilation highlights their extensive catalog while emphasizing their enduring legacy in rock music, serving as a capstone to their career post-Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991.

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Bohemian Rhapsody Start here 5:58
  • 2 Another One Bites the Dust 3:36
  • 3 Killer Queen 3:02
  • 4 Fat Bottomed Girls 3:24
  • 5 Bicycle Race 3:03
  • 6 You’re My Best Friend 2:52
  • 7 Don’t Stop Me Now 3:31
  • 8 Save Me 3:48
  • 9 Crazy Little Thing Called Love 2:43
  • 10 Somebody to Love 4:57
  • 11 Now I’m Here 4:15
  • 12 Good Old‐Fashioned Lover Boy 2:55
  • 13 Play the Game 3:33
  • 14 Flash 2:48
  • 15 Seven Seas of Rhye 2:50
  • 16 We Will Rock You 2:02
  • 17 We Are the Champions 3:01

Disc 2

  • 1 A Kind of Magic 4:22
  • 2 Under Pressure 3:56
  • 3 Radio Ga Ga 5:43
  • 4 I Want It All 4:01
  • 5 I Want to Break Free 4:18
  • 6 Innuendo 6:27
  • 7 It’s a Hard Life 4:09
  • 8 Breakthru 4:09
  • 9 Who Wants to Live Forever 4:57
  • 10 Headlong 4:33
  • 11 The Miracle 4:54
  • 12 I’m Going Slightly Mad 4:07
  • 13 The Invisible Man 3:58
  • 14 Hammer to Fall 3:40
  • 15 Friends Will Be Friends 4:08
  • 16 The Show Must Go On 4:23
  • 17 One Vision 4:02

Disc 3

  • 1 The Show Must Go On (live) 4:35
  • 2 Under Pressure (Rah mix) 4:08
  • 3 Barcelona 4:25
  • 4 Too Much Love Will Kill You 4:18
  • 5 Somebody to Love (live) 5:07
  • 6 You Don’t Fool Me 5:22
  • 7 Heaven for Everyone 4:37
  • 8 Las palabras de amor (The Words of Love) 4:29
  • 9 Driven by You 4:09
  • 10 Living on My Own 3:37
  • 11 Let Me Live 4:45
  • 12 The Great Pretender 3:26
  • 13 Princes of the Universe 3:31
  • 14 Another One Bites the Dust 4:20
  • 15 No‐One but You (Only the Good Die Young) 4:11
  • 16 These Are the Days of Our Lives 4:22
  • 17 Thank God It’s Christmas 4:19

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata