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Editorial Reviews
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When it was released in 1977, News of the World seemed at loggerheads with a music world that had moved beyond Queen's operatic pomprock and on to punk. In fact, the album was more in step with the punk scene than the output of most superstar acts of the time, as it contains Roger Taylor's furious "Sheer Heart Attack" and Freddie Mercury's lean, brutal "Get Down, Make Love." Of course, News is famous for its opening medley, "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions." Attend any sports event in the Western world, and you'll hear the former. If it's a championship match and the home team wins, you'll hear the latter. That's a tribute to the staying power of the music, but News of the World offers proof that, even as Queen maintained their position as rock & roll royalty, they continued to evolve and react to the times. --Daniel Durchholz
Product Description
We Will Rock You and Get Down, Make Love highlight this 1977 release.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 71 people found the following review helpful
By Samhot
Format:Audio CD
Come 1977, the rock music world took some drastic turns. We witnessed the glory days of progressive rock, which started around the late 60s, and the creativity exhibited in that period seemed to only blossom and intensify up until the mid-70s. Ambitions were the order of the day, and it seemed like many bands - more or less - were trying to outdo one another in terms of technical prowess, intelligent lyrics, orchestral ambition and/or originality. However, the hyper-ambitious, long-winded, intelligent (some would say pompous) art that was popular shortly before began to wear thin, as many music fans wanted things to return to it's raw, dirty (and simple) roots.
The punks seem to appear on the scene at the right time to bring rock back to it's dangerous and dirty roots. The Sex Pistols seemed to be the band who led the charge, and guys like Johnny Rotten (frontman of the Pistols) and Joey Ramone (The Ramones) have verbally attacked Yes, Pink Floyd, Queen, and several others of the art-rock ilk for their long-winded arrangements, grand ambitions and fantasy/cosmic/literary material. (One of the members of the Sex Pistols wore a t-shirt that read the words, "I hate Pink Floyd," while another member reportedly had a brief bit of words with Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, as a few reviews below state.)
1977 also saw genres like disco, and what many call "corporate" rock, running wild. While bands like Yes and Pink Floyd continued to release "long-winded" material, Queen took an entirely different approach. Making art-rock albums since their inception, their creativity culminated with the ambitious, diverse and operatic A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1975), and it's stripped-down, but no less ambitious companion A DAY AT THE RACES (1976). So, on NEWS OF THE WORLD, Queen wisely chose to cut down on the sophisticated operatic arrangements, and focus their attention on a more straightforward, harder-edged album -- with attitude. They basically dropped the "art" rock, and made more "hard" rock this time out. Complex arrangements are still present, but are so subtle, some may not recognize them.
But Queen's well-known diversity still remains intact. You get Latin-infused, elegant numbers like "Who Needs You," bluesy workouts like Brian May's "Sleeping On the Sidewalk," in which he also performs the lead vocal, sophisticated piano-driven pop numbers like "All Dead, All Dead," a song written for Brian May's deceased cat I believe, and an elegant late-night jazz workout on Freddie Mercury's "My Melancholy Blues." The versatility of this band was simply awe-inspiring, and possibly the envy of many.
Now that all of that's out of the way, Queen ROCKS with the rest of the tracks. Everyone knows "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions." The latter exhibits brilliant arrangements - not to mention the apparent 12/8 time (7+5?) - which may be obfuscated for it's overplaying time on the radio. "Sheer Heart Attack" (not to be confused with the album of the same name) is just a lethal super-heavy monster. A fast-paced, supercharged heavy-hitter which may be able to induce a heart attack if played too loudly. There may also be a biting jab made toward the punks in one of the lyrics ("I feel so in-ar, in-ar, in-ar...ticulate.") Written by drummer Roger Taylor, he shares the vocal with Freddie Mercury, as well as contributing bass and rhythm guitar parts, which give the track it's extra heaviness. The prog rock epic of the album, however, is "It's Late," a love tale written by Brian May, and written in three parts (or scenes), and features an explosive John Bonhamesque drum solo at the end. I'll be the first to mention that the comparisons some people (and critics) make between Queen and Led Zeppelin are atrociously ridiculous, inaccurate and shallow (Queen sounded like nobody but themselves to me), but this part of the song is the closest Queen ever got to resembling Zeppelin.
With this album, Queen would abandon their unique brand of art rock for good. Is it ironic that the cover art of this album shows a gigantic robot killing the members of Queen? Was it a symbol that the operatic, original "queen" was no more? Or, was it purely coincidental? They would not make music resembling their 70s material for years to come (even if the small resurgences were slightly transformed.) NEWS OF THE WORLD is 70s Queen at their most straightforward and heavy. Highly recommended.
The punks seem to appear on the scene at the right time to bring rock back to it's dangerous and dirty roots. The Sex Pistols seemed to be the band who led the charge, and guys like Johnny Rotten (frontman of the Pistols) and Joey Ramone (The Ramones) have verbally attacked Yes, Pink Floyd, Queen, and several others of the art-rock ilk for their long-winded arrangements, grand ambitions and fantasy/cosmic/literary material. (One of the members of the Sex Pistols wore a t-shirt that read the words, "I hate Pink Floyd," while another member reportedly had a brief bit of words with Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, as a few reviews below state.)
1977 also saw genres like disco, and what many call "corporate" rock, running wild. While bands like Yes and Pink Floyd continued to release "long-winded" material, Queen took an entirely different approach. Making art-rock albums since their inception, their creativity culminated with the ambitious, diverse and operatic A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1975), and it's stripped-down, but no less ambitious companion A DAY AT THE RACES (1976). So, on NEWS OF THE WORLD, Queen wisely chose to cut down on the sophisticated operatic arrangements, and focus their attention on a more straightforward, harder-edged album -- with attitude. They basically dropped the "art" rock, and made more "hard" rock this time out. Complex arrangements are still present, but are so subtle, some may not recognize them.
But Queen's well-known diversity still remains intact. You get Latin-infused, elegant numbers like "Who Needs You," bluesy workouts like Brian May's "Sleeping On the Sidewalk," in which he also performs the lead vocal, sophisticated piano-driven pop numbers like "All Dead, All Dead," a song written for Brian May's deceased cat I believe, and an elegant late-night jazz workout on Freddie Mercury's "My Melancholy Blues." The versatility of this band was simply awe-inspiring, and possibly the envy of many.
Now that all of that's out of the way, Queen ROCKS with the rest of the tracks. Everyone knows "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions." The latter exhibits brilliant arrangements - not to mention the apparent 12/8 time (7+5?) - which may be obfuscated for it's overplaying time on the radio. "Sheer Heart Attack" (not to be confused with the album of the same name) is just a lethal super-heavy monster. A fast-paced, supercharged heavy-hitter which may be able to induce a heart attack if played too loudly. There may also be a biting jab made toward the punks in one of the lyrics ("I feel so in-ar, in-ar, in-ar...ticulate.") Written by drummer Roger Taylor, he shares the vocal with Freddie Mercury, as well as contributing bass and rhythm guitar parts, which give the track it's extra heaviness. The prog rock epic of the album, however, is "It's Late," a love tale written by Brian May, and written in three parts (or scenes), and features an explosive John Bonhamesque drum solo at the end. I'll be the first to mention that the comparisons some people (and critics) make between Queen and Led Zeppelin are atrociously ridiculous, inaccurate and shallow (Queen sounded like nobody but themselves to me), but this part of the song is the closest Queen ever got to resembling Zeppelin.
With this album, Queen would abandon their unique brand of art rock for good. Is it ironic that the cover art of this album shows a gigantic robot killing the members of Queen? Was it a symbol that the operatic, original "queen" was no more? Or, was it purely coincidental? They would not make music resembling their 70s material for years to come (even if the small resurgences were slightly transformed.) NEWS OF THE WORLD is 70s Queen at their most straightforward and heavy. Highly recommended.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By steve krass
Format:Audio CD
I just got done listening to this album tonight on vinyl as I have it on cd and haven't heard it in it's original analog glory in a while. I heard people slagging it and thought I'd help defend what is one of Queen's best albums ever. Most everyone knows We will rock you/we are the champions so I won't go into that. Sheer Heart Attack is a song that must be played LOUD and with a bunch of unsuspecting friends in the room so you can see their faces when the weird noise part comes up. Always a question of what's wrong with your stereo comes up. All Dead, all dead is a great Brian May song with a nice Beatles harmony in it. Spread your wings is great but even better if you can find the BBC version of. More rocking at the end. Fight From the inside is ok but it does stick in your head. Get Down make Love is pretty good. Probably written to take advantage of the latest technology of the time. Sleeping on the sidewalk is a nice bit of boogie blues by Brian. Who needs you is a great little piece that features acoustic guitars by both Brian and John. IF you pan your speakers to one side you can hear just the spanish guitar without the vocals. It's Late is one of my all time favorite Queen songs. Great solos and and a great riff and a rocking drum fill by Roger at the end of the song. It's a great workout piece and shows the band at some of it's heaviest. The album closes with My Melancholy Blues. A bit of a Jazz/Blues piece by Freddie that makes you feel as if you are in a blues club. A nice way to end the album. Try and find a bootleg of Queen at the Beeb in 77. They play Spread Your wings which has a new ending to it (think Saturday night is alright for fighting), It's Late which samples some of Get Down Make Love in the middle. A much better version of Melancholy Blues which has Brian playing along. The version they should have used on the album! And Finally a slow and fast version of WE Will Rock you...The same that you would hear on Live Killers except in the studio. Hopefully these will be on the Box set whenever it comes out!!!! The CD also has a remix of We Will Rock You. It's worth hearing just for the extended guitar solo and also a sample of the solo from Stone Cold Crazy thrown into the mix. Overall a great cd from one of the greatest bands of all time!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Queen's sixth album News of the World was released in November of 1977 in the States.
The album was recorded in the height of the punk rock movement in the UK at Wessex Studios with the band self-producing once again with Mike Stone engineering (last time Mike would work with the band as he went on to produce albums for Journey, Asia and Styx member Tommy Shaw among others).
Aside from the graphic album cover depicting a giant robot-like creature who killed the four Queen band members (thank drummer Roger Taylor for that concept) but also meaning it was a baby robot who injured the human like a baby injuring a bug and saying "what have I done"), there are nothing but great songs throughout.
The album opens with the one-two punch of the US #4 charting "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions". The former was written by guitarist Brian May and is known for its stomp-stomp-clap beat and rally cry. The latter was frontman Freddie Mercury's victory cry which has become a victory song when sports teams would win championships. Next, is drummer Roger Taylor's answer to the punk movement "Sheer Heart Attack" (which was written for the album with the same title three years earlier but not finished until 1977). The song was as punk as Queen ever got (ironically The Sex Pistols were in the studio next door recording their only album when this track was recorded) and Roger plays drums, bass and rhythm guitar on this track. Brian's "All Dead, All Dead" is a soft beautiful ballad sung by Brian with Freddie on backing vocals. Bass player John Deacon's "Spread Your Wings" follows and is a mid-tempo rocker about one not giving up on his dreams. That track was released as a single in Europe and was the first single released where there were no backing vocals from the other Queen members. The first side closed with "Fight From The Inside" is another heavy rocker sung and written by Roger (whom also played guitar and bass on the track and did all the vocals on this track).
Side two began with the lyrically dirty "Get Down Make Love" and is one of the few blatant sexual anthems that Freddie wrote with raunchy guitar playing by Brian (lets see Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera and/or Beyonce sing (let alone attempt to write) something like that). Brian steps out in front on "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" which is a bluesy shuffle track with some great guitar work and was recorded without overdubs (save Brian's harmony vocals). John's "Who Needs You" is another great track with Freddie's elegant vocals and featuring Brian and John on acoustic guitars. Brian's "It's Late" is almost in the same vein as some of the epics they wrote in the past, but alot heavier and not strange. The ending is great as Roger goes into this insane Bonham/Peart like drumming, if not better. It was released as a heavily edited single in the US and flopped but the song rocks. The lyrically depressing but superb "My Melancholy Blues" is an all-out jazz song featuring Freddie's sorrowful vocals which is a great song for those whom have had either broken hearts or bad days and ends the album in a relaxing fashion (and like "Spread Your Wings" has no backing vocals on it).
News Of the World peaked at #3 in the US and sold over 4 million in the US alone to date because of the songs and not the personalities in the band and News of the World became Queen's best American selling album until The Game in 1980 tied this.
In September of 2011, Queen re-releases this classic masterpiece as well as the next four studio albums (Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon Soundtrack and Hot Space) as all newly remastered as 2-CD Deluxe Editions painstakingly remastered by Bob Ludwig (who did a remaster of A Night at the Opera for its 30th Anniversary in 2005) for most of the world (the outside US release was in July) and these new remasters buries any previous CD version of the back catalog.
The bonus CD for News Of The World contains a nice outtake of the fabled "Feelings Feelings" which was recorded for News but scrapped. Then you get BBC versions of "Spread Your Wings" and "My Melancholy Blues" done a month before News Of The World's release. Then you get a live recording of "Sheer Heart Attack" recorded in Paris in 1979 (different from the Live Killers take). Then a live version of the fast version of "We Will Rock You" recorded in Japan in 1982. The booklet that comes with this has just about everything that came with the original LP artwork, lyrics and credits plus extra photos of the band.
Some will say why buy again but I say go for it because of the remastering!
This album is highly recommended!
The album was recorded in the height of the punk rock movement in the UK at Wessex Studios with the band self-producing once again with Mike Stone engineering (last time Mike would work with the band as he went on to produce albums for Journey, Asia and Styx member Tommy Shaw among others).
Aside from the graphic album cover depicting a giant robot-like creature who killed the four Queen band members (thank drummer Roger Taylor for that concept) but also meaning it was a baby robot who injured the human like a baby injuring a bug and saying "what have I done"), there are nothing but great songs throughout.
The album opens with the one-two punch of the US #4 charting "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions". The former was written by guitarist Brian May and is known for its stomp-stomp-clap beat and rally cry. The latter was frontman Freddie Mercury's victory cry which has become a victory song when sports teams would win championships. Next, is drummer Roger Taylor's answer to the punk movement "Sheer Heart Attack" (which was written for the album with the same title three years earlier but not finished until 1977). The song was as punk as Queen ever got (ironically The Sex Pistols were in the studio next door recording their only album when this track was recorded) and Roger plays drums, bass and rhythm guitar on this track. Brian's "All Dead, All Dead" is a soft beautiful ballad sung by Brian with Freddie on backing vocals. Bass player John Deacon's "Spread Your Wings" follows and is a mid-tempo rocker about one not giving up on his dreams. That track was released as a single in Europe and was the first single released where there were no backing vocals from the other Queen members. The first side closed with "Fight From The Inside" is another heavy rocker sung and written by Roger (whom also played guitar and bass on the track and did all the vocals on this track).
Side two began with the lyrically dirty "Get Down Make Love" and is one of the few blatant sexual anthems that Freddie wrote with raunchy guitar playing by Brian (lets see Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera and/or Beyonce sing (let alone attempt to write) something like that). Brian steps out in front on "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" which is a bluesy shuffle track with some great guitar work and was recorded without overdubs (save Brian's harmony vocals). John's "Who Needs You" is another great track with Freddie's elegant vocals and featuring Brian and John on acoustic guitars. Brian's "It's Late" is almost in the same vein as some of the epics they wrote in the past, but alot heavier and not strange. The ending is great as Roger goes into this insane Bonham/Peart like drumming, if not better. It was released as a heavily edited single in the US and flopped but the song rocks. The lyrically depressing but superb "My Melancholy Blues" is an all-out jazz song featuring Freddie's sorrowful vocals which is a great song for those whom have had either broken hearts or bad days and ends the album in a relaxing fashion (and like "Spread Your Wings" has no backing vocals on it).
News Of the World peaked at #3 in the US and sold over 4 million in the US alone to date because of the songs and not the personalities in the band and News of the World became Queen's best American selling album until The Game in 1980 tied this.
In September of 2011, Queen re-releases this classic masterpiece as well as the next four studio albums (Jazz, The Game, Flash Gordon Soundtrack and Hot Space) as all newly remastered as 2-CD Deluxe Editions painstakingly remastered by Bob Ludwig (who did a remaster of A Night at the Opera for its 30th Anniversary in 2005) for most of the world (the outside US release was in July) and these new remasters buries any previous CD version of the back catalog.
The bonus CD for News Of The World contains a nice outtake of the fabled "Feelings Feelings" which was recorded for News but scrapped. Then you get BBC versions of "Spread Your Wings" and "My Melancholy Blues" done a month before News Of The World's release. Then you get a live recording of "Sheer Heart Attack" recorded in Paris in 1979 (different from the Live Killers take). Then a live version of the fast version of "We Will Rock You" recorded in Japan in 1982. The booklet that comes with this has just about everything that came with the original LP artwork, lyrics and credits plus extra photos of the band.
Some will say why buy again but I say go for it because of the remastering!
This album is highly recommended!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent LP, very poor cd
I've got this one on LP, which I bought in 1979. Recently I thought: "I still like this record very much, it's excellent, so I'll buy the cd". Read more
Published 6 days ago by Arthur von Legger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Bought for my Husband. It was of good Quality and came as stated. In the plastic- Very cool. Loved it.
Published 24 days ago by Ashley Koffron
4.0 out of 5 stars
Champion of the world
I wanted the song, we are the champion, so I got the CD. I was in high school when this song came out. Brings back the good old days memories.
Published 1 month ago by John
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome
this is a great album by a great band and i have the vinyl but I wanted it on cd and finally got around to getting it.
Published 1 month ago by David Dalton
5.0 out of 5 stars
~Great Album, Keeper For The "We Will Rock You" Remix~
I see about 130 reviews here, so I'll keep this brief and to the point: This is one of my favourite Queen albums and I have not only this remaster but the 2011 deluxe 2 CD edition... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kurt Leith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Straight forward QUEEN
This has always been one of my favorite Queen offerings. A little less bombastic but a great rock album. Was originally panned by the "critics" - what morons! LOL
Published 5 months ago by t_shirtterry
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best!
One of my favorite all time Queen albums. Got this digital download to replace broken CD. Play it all the time.
Published 5 months ago by Bill S
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This review is for the shm-sacd. This release is fantastic. The clarity on this shm-sacd is great and flows through all tracks equally. I highly recommend this remastered version.
Published 9 months ago by Deadhead since the 80s
5.0 out of 5 stars
News of the world!
News of the World is an excellent CD. I had the record growing up and wanted to update my media. Every song is worth it! Love Queen!
Published 10 months ago by teribear
5.0 out of 5 stars
You're Just 17, all you wanna do is disappear!
This album will ROCK YOU. Including all of the songs on the EP. Be sure to find the Remix of "We Will Rock You" from the 1991 CD as well. Read more
Published 13 months ago by r3d5
Listmania!
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