'70s Rock Band Is Suddenly Climbing the Charts 51 Years After No. 1 Hit
A song released during the mid-1970s is helping Queen reach new chart milestones in 2026.
The legendary British band's compilation album Greatest Hits currently sits at No. 37 on the Billboard 200, extending one of the most remarkable chart runs in music history.
The renewed success arrives 51 years after the release of "Bohemian Rhapsody," the groundbreaking single that became Queen's first No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom and helped turn the group into global superstars.
Originally released on Oct. 31, 1975, "Bohemian Rhapsody" was unlike anything on the radio. Written by Freddie Mercury and featured on the band's fourth studio album, A Night at the Opera, the nearly six-minute song blended rock, opera, balladry and theatrical storytelling into a single recording.
The ambitious track topped the Official U.K. Singles Chart for nine consecutive weeks and later became Queen's first Top 10 hit in the United States, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable songs ever recorded and continues to drive interest in Queen's extensive catalog.
Released in October 1981, Greatest Hits collected many of Queen's most successful songs, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," "We Are the Champions," "Killer Queen," "Somebody to Love" and "Another One Bites the Dust."
The compilation has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, making it Queen's bestselling album. It is also recognized as the best-selling album in U.K. history, with more than seven million copies sold and more than 1,200 weeks spent on the U.K. Albums Chart.
In the United States, the album has become one of the longest-charting releases ever. As of June 2026, Greatest Hits has logged 701 weeks on the Billboard 200.
The album previously reached a new Billboard 200 peak of No. 8 in 2020, nearly four decades after its original release. That achievement marked one of the slowest climbs into the Top 10 in chart history.
Queen's continued success reflects the band's lasting appeal across generations. Formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor, with John Deacon joining in 1971, the group became one of the biggest rock acts in the world during the 1970s and 1980s.
The band's influence extends far beyond record sales. Queen has sold an estimated 250 million to 300 million records worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2018, the group received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2025 they were honored with the Polar Music Prize.
Few songs have enjoyed the longevity of "Bohemian Rhapsody." The track was named the best British single of the previous 25 years by the British Phonographic Industry in 1977. It later entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004 and was added to the National Recording Registry in 2022.
Its popularity has repeatedly surged through film, television and digital platforms. Following Freddie Mercury's death in November 1991, the song returned to No. 1 in the United Kingdom and spent an additional five weeks atop the chart.
In 1992, its appearance in the comedy film Wayne's World sparked a major resurgence in the United States, helping the song climb to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Another wave of success arrived in 2018 with the release of the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Starring Rami Malek as Mercury, the film grossed more than $900 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing music biopic in history. The movie's success introduced Queen's music to a new generation and helped "Bohemian Rhapsody" return to the Billboard Hot 100 for a third time.
The song has also set major streaming records. In 2018, it became the most-streamed song from the 20th century. Its official music video surpassed one billion views on YouTube in 2019, making it the oldest video to reach that milestone on the platform.
In 2021, the Recording Industry Association of America certified "Bohemian Rhapsody" Diamond for 10 million combined sales and streams in the United States, making it the only song from the 1970s to earn that distinction.
As Greatest Hits continues its latest Billboard run, Queen remains proof that truly timeless music can connect with audiences long after its original release.
Related: 1974 Rock Classic With Iconic Guitar Riff, Never a No. 1 Hit, Became a Glam Rock Anthem
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 8:24 AM.