A special box set of Queen's landmark 1977 album News of the World is here, marking the 40th anniversary of the original release.
The new package includes the original album on CD, plus two further CDs of recently unearthed out-takes and rarities from the band's archives, one of which is a newly created ‘alternative’ version of the whole album – Raw Sessions.
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A special box set of Queen's landmark 1977 album News of the World is here, marking the 40th anniversary of the original release.
The new package includes the original album on CD, plus two further CDs of recently unearthed out-takes and rarities from the band's archives, one of which is a newly created ‘alternative’ version of the whole album – Raw Sessions.
For many Queen devotees, this Raw Sessions CD will be the most intriguing component of the new release. Mined deep from long-vaulted studio multi-track tapes, this extraordinary parallel album brings to light never-before-heard alternative versions of each of the album’s 11 tracks. Every lead vocal is different, as are most of the lead guitar parts and a great many other instrumental details. Here we experience We Are The Champions anew, with many unfamiliar vocal and instrumental elements, and for the first time at its full-recorded length rather than the edited 1977 album cut. Here also is the chance to discover peak era Freddie Mercury vocals on a track that nobody outside Queen’s inner circle has heard him sing before at all – Brian May’s All Dead, All Dead. The original album version features May himself on vocals. Roger Taylor’s Sheer Heart Attack can be heard with its original long-lost guitar intro and uncut ending. Taylor’s other song, Fight From The Inside, is more remarkable in that we hear his demo vocal worked on in his home studio in preparation for the next sessions.
Another outstanding feature of this weighty 40th anniversary box is a pure analogue re-cut of the original vinyl LP, direct from the unmastered analogue master mix tapes. There is also a rich selection of NOTW related memorabilia including three posters and a 60-page book of images, mostly previously unseen.
The package is completed with a brand new one-hour DVD documentary, Queen : The American Dream, created from backstage material filmed during Queen’s 1977 USA News of the World tour.
New Pure Analog Cut | |||
A1 | We Will Rock You | 2:01 | |
A2 | We Are The Champions | 2:59 | |
A3 | Sheer Heart Attack | 3:24 | |
A4 | All Dead, All Dead | 3:09 | |
A5 | Spread Your Wings | 4:32 | |
A6 | Fight From The Inside | 3:03 | |
B1 | Get Down, Make Love | 3:51 | |
B2 | Sleeping On The Sidewalk | 3:07 | |
B3 | Who Needs You | 3:07 | |
B4 | It's Late | 6:27 | |
B5 | My Melancholy Blues | 3:29 | |
Bob Ludwig 2011 Master | |||
CD1-1 | We Will Rock You | 2:01 | |
CD1-2 | We Are The Champions | 2:59 | |
CD1-3 | Sheer Heart Attack | 3:26 | |
CD1-4 | All Dead, All Dead | 3:10 | |
CD1-5 | Spread Your Wings | 4:34 | |
CD1-6 | Fight From The Inside | 3:03 | |
CD1-7 | Get Down, Make Love | 3:51 | |
CD1-8 | Sleeping On The Sidewalk | 3:06 | |
CD1-9 | Who Needs You | 3:05 | |
CD1-10 | It's Late | 6:26 | |
CD1-11 | My Melancholy Blues | 3:29 | |
Raw Sessions | |||
CD2-1 | We Will Rock You (Alternative Version) | 2:29 | |
CD2-2 | We Are The Champions (Alternative Version) | 4:33 | |
CD2-3 | Sheer Heart Attack (Original Rough Mix) | 4:17 | |
CD2-4 | All Dead, All Dead (Original Rough Mix) | 3:08 | |
CD2-5 | Spead Your Wings (Alternative Take) | 4:56 | |
CD2-6 | Fight From The Inside (Demo Vocal Version) | 3:08 | |
CD2-7 | Get Down, Make Love (Early Take) | 4:02 | |
CD2-8 | Sleeping On The Sidewalk (Live In The USA 1977) | 3:49 | |
CD2-9 | Who Needs You (Acoustic Take) | 2:46 | |
CD2-10 | It's Late (Alternative Version) | 6:44 | |
CD2-11 | My Melancholy Blues (Original Rough Mix) | 3:36 | |
Bonus Tracks | |||
CD3-1 | Feelings Feelings (Take 10, July 1977) | 1:55 | |
CD3-2 | We Will Rock You (BBC Session) | 1:36 | |
CD3-3 | We Will Rock You (Fast) (BBC Session) | 2:52 | |
CD3-4 | Spread Your Wings (BBC Session) | 5:33 | |
CD3-5 | It's Late (BBC Session) | 6:39 | |
CD3-6 | My Melancholy Blues (BBC Session) | 3:13 | |
CD3-7 | We Will Rock You (Backing Track) | 2:03 | |
CD3-8 | We Are The Champions (Backing Track) | 2:59 | |
CD3-9 | Spread Your Wings (Instrumental) | 4:23 | |
CD3-10 | Fight From The Inside (Instrumental) | 3:02 | |
CD3-11 | Get Down, Make Love (Instrumental) | 3:49 | |
CD3-12 | It's Late (USA Radio Edit 1978) | 3:52 | |
CD3-13 | Sheer Heart Attack (Live In Paris 1979) | 3:35 | |
CD3-14 | We Will Rock You (Live In Tokyo 1982) | 2:55 | |
CD3-15 | My Melancholy Blues (Live In Houston 1977) | 3:48 | |
CD3-16 | Get Down, Make Love (Live In Montreal 1981) | 4:35 | |
CD3-17 | Spread Your Wings (Live In Europe 1979) | 5:20 | |
CD3-18 | We Will Rock You (Live At The MK Bowl 1982) | 2:08 | |
CD3-19 | We Are The Champions (Live At The MK Bowl 1982) | 3:32 | |
Documentary | |||
DVD | Queen : The American Dream (Documentary) | 56:00 |
This classic opens with the familiar thunder of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions". Then they rip into "Sheer Heart Attack" a hyperactive classic. Next is May's sentimental "All Dead All Dead" which I have heard is written about the loss of his pet cat. Other outstanding songs are "Fight From The Inside" one of Taylor's rowdiest and best efforts. "Get Down Make Love" is one of Mercury's most amazing and sexy songs. May's "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" is a catchy song about a musical icon who goes back to his roots. "Who Needs You" is a latin style tune with clever lyrics by John Deacon, and equally clever guitar courtesy of May. "It's Late" is one of my favorite Queen songs and it rocks! This incredible album closes with Mercury's genius and gorgeous piano on "My Melancholy Blues". This is the album that got me hooked many years ago (when it was new) and made me the Queen addict I will always be.
- Mark
- Karl