On this day February 23 1980 Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen became the number one song in America. This rockabilly inspired track, written by Freddie Mercury, marked Queen’s first number one hit in the United States. It held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from February 23 to March 21 and also reached number one in Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia.
Freddie Mercury famously wrote Crazy Little Thing Called Love in just a few minutes while soaking in a bathtub at the Munich Hilton. Inspired by Elvis Presley’s rock and roll style, the song showcased a different side of Queen, featuring a stripped-down sound with Mercury playing rhythm guitar for the first time on a studio recording. The track was released as the lead single from their 1980 album The Game, which would later produce another massive hit, Another One Bites the Dust.
With its catchy rhythm and vintage rock feel, the song quickly became a fan favorite and remains a staple in Queen’s live performances.
80s insight: Queen recorded Crazy Little Thing Called Love at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, and finished the entire song in less than an hour.