QUEEN the game EMS-81778

Queen’s Funk-Rock Pivot: ‘The Game’ Rare Reissue (EMS-81778)

Today’s entry highlights a notoriously difficult-to-find pressing of Queen’s chart-topping eighth studio album. We are examining the 1987 Japanese Promo Sample reissue of The Game, released on the EMI label with the catalog number EMS-81778.

A Radical Sound Shift

Originally released in 1980, The Game marked a definitive stylistic departure for the band. Recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich with producer Reinhold Mack, the album stripped away the dense, multi-layered “wall of sound” production of their 70s output in favor of a punchier, tighter, and more direct pop-rock sound. It famously broke the band’s long-standing “No Synthesizers” rule, introducing the Oberheim OBX on the opening track “Play The Game.” The album conquered the globe on the strength of two massive, disparate singles: Freddie Mercury’s Elvis-inspired rockabilly hit “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and John Deacon’s chic-influenced funk monster “Another One Bites The Dust.” It remains the band’s only album to reach #1 in the United States.

The Elusive 1987 Reissue

While the original 1980 Japanese pressing (P-10875E) is relatively common, this 1987 reissue (EMS-81778) is a true rarity. By 1987, the Japanese music market had aggressively shifted toward the Compact Disc format, meaning vinyl pressings from this period were manufactured in significantly smaller quantities. Finding a copy from this specific run is a challenge for any Queen completist.

Promo Collector’s Specs

This specific copy is a Promo Sample, elevating its rarity even further. It is distinguished by a numbered “Sample” sticker affixed to the back cover, indicating it was distributed for broadcast or review purposes rather than retail sale. The album is housed in the classic silver/grey sleeve and comes complete with the specific reissue Obi strip and a lyric insert. Manufactured by Toshiba EMI, this pressing offers the audiophile-grade playback quality that makes Japanese vinyl so desirable, serving as a pristine document of the moment Queen embraced the 80s.