As the century draws to a close, Hollywood Records salutes Queen, one of the greatest and most influential rock acts of all time, with Queen+ Greatest Hits Volume 3, a comprehensive collection celebrating royal hits from the late '80s and '90s.

It begins with a tribute to the majestic talent of the late Freddie Mercury, in the form of the previously unreleased Queen + Elton John version of "The Show Must Go On," and continues as a celebration of the latter years of a band that will surely be always with us in one form or another: Queen+ Greatest Hits Volume 3.

Hits 3 highlights the massive musical and songwriting strength of John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, and Roger Taylor, all powerful as Queen and individual hitmakers in their own right.

The album also assembles Queen's great collaborations, including with David Bowie on a song that began as a jam session and became an instant worldwide hit -- "Under Pressure," of course. This album version features fresh recording work by Brian and Roger and has been especially remixed for this release. George Michael joined Brian, Roger, and John at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert to perform "Somebody to Love." A seemingly unlikely pairing, Queen's collaboration with Wyclef Jean last year on a new version of John Deacon's "Another One Bites the Dust" gave them a top 5 hit around the world. Scoring particularly well with dance/R&B fans and clubgoers, it was a vivid example of Queen's genre-breaking influence.

In what must rate as one of the album's more poignant moments, Elton John is featured with John, Brian, and Roger on a previously unreleased version of "The Show Must Go On." The track was recorded live in Paris in January 1997 by Queen and Elton John on a night during which Freddie Mercury was remembered in a performance of a powerful AIDS-inspired ballet that focused on Freddie's death - as an example of the many talented lives cut short before their time. It was only the second time Queen had played live since Freddie's death, and their performance spurred Elton to say, "You guys should go out and play again. It's like having a Ferrari in the garage waiting for a driver."

The never-before-released video for "Princes of the Universe," featuring actor Christopher Lambert, will have a special Microsoft Network worldwide Internet premiere on November 4.

For now, however, Queen+ serves to remind us of the collective talent that was Queen - Mercury's fun and flamboyance on tracks like "Living on My Own," and "Barcelona" with Montserrat Caballé and dancing fountains; Deacon's unforgettable bass lines of "Under Pressure" and "Another One Bites the Dust;" May's ability to both rock and reflect, as demonstrated in "Driven by You" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You;" and Taylor, with "Let Me Live" and "Heaven for Everyone," holding it together with solid rhythm and sensitivity. A finely tuned engine indeed.

Queen's first two Greatest Hits compilations have sold more than 25 million copies around the world.