Recorded July to September 1977 at Sarm West and Wessex Studios
UK release: Friday 28th October 1977
Highest Chart Position: 4 (20 weeks on chart)
Award status: Gold
USA release: 1st November 1977
Highest Chart Position: 3 (36 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 3 (20 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 1
Highest Italian Chart Position: 16 (7 weeks on chart)
Produced by Queen and Mike Stone
Engineered by Mike Stone
Cover Concept by Roger. Based on 1953 picture by Frank Kelly Freas

Queen didn't seem to want to stop topping the charts, and 'News Of The World' wasn't the exception. The album has some heavy song and a couple of ballads too, but the highlight of this album were two song that were destined to become the biggest sport anthems in history. On different stadiums and arenas around the world, you will always listen the tune of 'We Will Rock You' or 'We Are The Champions'.

ALBUM AVERAGE RATING: 8.4

We Will Rock You

Words and music by Brian May
Released on October 7th 1977
Highest UK Chart Position: 2
Highest USA Chart Position: 4
Highest French Chart Position: 1
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 12 (7 weeks on chart)

The recording session for this song was made by the members of the band by stomping their hands against the board twice and clapping them once. After doing it several times they mixed them all together, and recorded the vocals and the music apart. Perhaps the reason why this song has become one of the most popular anthems ever, is because instruments are not really necessary to play it. You just need a bunch of people to make it sound nicely and sing all along. The more people you find the better it sounds... personally, we used to do it in high school to have fun for a while. To this date, this song has become part of almost every single major sport event in the world.

Rating: 9.6
Buddy you're a boy make a big noise
Playing in the street gonna be a big man some day
You got mud on yo' face, you big disgrace
Kicking your can all over the place

Singing
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shouting in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face, you big disgrace
Waving your banner all over the place

We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

Buddy you're an old man poor man
Pleading with your eyes gonna make you some peace some day
You got mud on your face, you big disgrace
Somebody better put you back into your place

We will we will rock you... singing
We will we will rock you... everybody
We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you

We Are The Champions

Released on October 7th 1977
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Highest UK Chart Position: 2 (11 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 4
Highest French Chart Position: 1 for 12 weeks
Highest Australian Chart Position: 11 (17 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 72 (9 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 2 (13 weeks on chart)
Highest French Chart Position for the 1998 World Cup: 11

Another inmortal sports anthem just like 'We Will Rock You'. Played usually when champions from different sports are receiving their trophy. Very poignant and exciting for all those sport fans who dream to be champions of the world. Since it's release it has become the song that closes every single Queen concert, before the 'God Save The Queen' finale.

Rating: 9.6
I've paid my dues, time after time
I've done my sentence, but committed no crime
And bad mistakes, I've made a few
I've had my share of sand, kicked in my face
But I've come through

And I need to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions, We are the champions
No time for losers 'cos we are the champions of the world

I've taken my bows, and my curtain calls
You've bought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it... I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose

And I need to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions, We are the champions
No time for losers 'cos we are the champions of the world

We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions, We are the champions
No time for losers, 'cos we are the champions

Sheer Heart Attack
Words and music by Roger Taylor
Roger: bass and rhythm guitars

Roger originally started work on a song of this name during the sessions for the "Sheer Heart Attack" album, but was unable to finish the song. The name was good enough to use for the album, but a song with this name wasn't completed until three years later. It is not known whether there is any relationship between the original prototype song and the final released song except the name. Musically, they could have been very similar or very different - only Roger knows for sure.

Rating: 8.2
Well you're just seventeen and all you want to do is disappear
You know what I mean there's a lot of space between your ears
The way that you touch don't feel no nothing
Hey, hey, hey, hey, it was the D.N.A.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, that made me this way
Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?
Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?

Sheer heart attack, Sheer heart attack
Real cardiac

I feel so in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar-tic-u-late
Gotta feeling gotta feeling gotta feeling like a paralyse
It ain't no it ain't no it ain't no it ain't no surprise
Turn on the TV let it drip right down in your eyes
Hey, hey, hey, hey, it was the D.N.A.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, that made me this way
Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?
Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?

Sheer heart attack, Sheer heart attack
Real cardiac

I feel so in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar in-ar-tic-u-late
Just how I feel
Do you know, do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?
Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?
Do you know, do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?

Sheer heart attack, Sheer heart attack
Real cardiac

All Dead, All Dead
Words and music by Brian May

A very curious thing about this song is that in the lyrics sheet the first lines of the song that say: -"Memories, my memories, How long can you stay, to haunt my days"- and these lines can't be heard on the song. At least not on the CD from 'The Crown Jewels'. I don't know if I got another version of the song on this box set, but still I wonder if I'm wrong or not.... Oh, I almost forgot... good song!

Rating: 8.4
She came without a farthing, a babe without a name
So much ado about nothing, is what she's try to say
So much ado my lover, so many games we played
Through every fleeted summer, through every precious day

All dead, all dead, all the dreams we had
And I wonder why I still live on
All dead, all dead, and alone I'm spared
My sweeter half instead, All dead, and gone, all dead

All dead, all dead, at the rainbow's end
And still I hear her own sweet song
All dead, all dead, Take me back again
You know my little friend's, all dead and gone

Her ways are always with me, I wander all the while
But please you must forgive me, I am old but still a child

All dead, all dead, but I should not grieve
In time it comes to everyone, all dead, all dead
But in hope I breathe, of course I don't believe
You're dead and gone, all dead and gone

Spread Your Wings

Words and music by John Deacon
Released on Febraury 10th 1978
Highest UK Chart Position: 34 (4 weeks on chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 20 (6 weeks on chart)

This is a poignant ballad with a very nice message. Later we could see that positivism was a very important thing for Queen to transmit through their songs. Keep your dreams and don't ever give up.

Rating: 9.0
Sammy was low, just watching the show
Over and over again, knew it was time
He'd made up his mind, Tto leave his dead life behind
His boss said to him, 'Boy you'd better begin
To get those crazy notions right out of your head
Sammy who do you think that you are?
You should've been sweeping up the Emerald bar'

Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Pull yourself together
Because you know you should do better
That's because you're a free man

He spends his evenings alone in his hotel room
Keeping his thoughts to himself he'd be leaving soon
Wishing he was miles and miles away
Nothing in this world, nothing, would make him stay

Since he was small, had no luck at all
Nothing came easy to him
Now it was time he'd made up his mind
'This could be my last chance'
His boss said to him... 'now listen boy
You're always dreaming
You've got no real ambition you won't get very far
Sammy boy, don't you know who you are?
Why can't you be happy at the Emerald bar?'

So honey Spread your wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Spread your little wings and fly away
Fly away, far away
Pull yourself together
Because you know you should do better
That's because you're a free man
Come on honey

Fight From The Inside
Words and music by Roger Taylor

I think every Queen album has a heavy song by Roger, but this album has two. Sheer Heart Attack was quite good, but this one is pretty much the same thing but not as good.

Rating: 7.7
Hey you boy, hey you, hey you boy
Think that you know what you're doing?
You think you're gonna set things to rights
You're just another picture on a teenage wall
You're just another sucker ready for a fall

You gonna fight from the inside
Attack from the rear, fight from the inside
You can't win with your hands tied
Fight from the inside, fight from the inside
Right down the line

Hey you boy, hey you, hey you boy
Think that you know what you're doing?
You think that out in the streets is all true
You're just another, money spinner tool
You're just another, fool

You gotta fight from the inside
Attack from the rear, fight from the inside
You can't win with your hands tied
Fight from the inside, fight from the inside
Right down the line

Get Down, Make Love
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

I can imagine how drunk was Freddie when writing this song. Basically a song about sex, dirty as a porno video , and which in my opinion is the worst Queen song ever. Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, loves this song, and he made a solo version of it. I hate to say this, but this song sucks!

Rating: 6.9(Am I being too tough?)
Get down make love, get down make love
Get down make love, get down make love
You take my body, I give you heat
You say you're hungry, I give you meat
I suck your mind, You blow my head
Make love, Inside your bed - everybody
Get down make love, get down make love
Get down make love, get down make love
Every time I get hot, You wanna cool down
Every time I get high, You say you wanna come down
You say it's enough, in fact it's too much
Every time I get a... get down, get down, get down, make love

(Get down) I can squeeze - (make love) you can shake me
(Get down) I can feel - (make love) you can break me
(Get down) Come on so heavy (make love)
(Get down) When you take me (make love)
You make love, you make love, you make love, you make love
You can make everybody get down make love... get down make love

Every time I get high, you wanna come down
Every time I get hot, you say you wanna cool down
You say it's enough, in fact it's too much
Every time I wanna get down get down get down
Get down make love, get down make love
Get down make love, get down make love

Every time I get hot, you wanna cool down
Every time I get high, you say you wanna come down
You say it's enough, In fact it's too much
Every time I wanna, Get down get down, Get down make love

Sleeping On The Sidewalk
Words and music by Brian May

A blue styled song by Brian. It's kind of a story about how to become famous and rich out of nothing

Rating: 7.9
I was nothing but a city boy, my trumpet was my only toy
I've been blowing my horn, Since I knew I was born
But there ain't nobody wants to know

I've been sleeping on the sidewalk, rolling down the road
I may get hungry, but I sure don't want to go home

So round the corner comes a limousine, and the biggest grin I ever seen
Here sonny won't you sign, right along the dotted line
What you saying are you playing, sure you don't mean me?

I've been sleeping on the sidewalk, rolling down the road
I may get hungry, but I sure don't want to go home
(Now I tell you what happened...)
They took me to a room without a table, they said 'blow your trumpet into here'
I played around as well as I was able, and soon we had the record of the year
I was a legend all through the land, I was blowing to a million fans
Nothing was a missing, all the people want to listen
You'd have thought I was a happy man

And I was sleeping like a princess
Never touch the road, I don't get hungry
And I sure don't want to go home (Have to have some fun...)

Now they tell me that I ain't so fashionable
And I owe the man a million bucks a year
So I told them where to stick the fancy label
It's just me and the road from here

I'm back to playing and laying, I'm back on the game
I'm sleeping on the sidewalk, rolling down the road
I sure get hungry and, I sure do wanna go home (Yeah)

Who Needs You
Words and music by John Deacon
Freddie: cowbell
John: acoustic guitar
Brian: maracas

Once again here's Queen adopting a different music style different from their usual. I wonder what inspired John to write this nice latin bolero, it sounds like Queen playing 'Los Panchos' for those hispanic people who know who they are.

Rating: 8.7
I make it half past six you come at seven
Always try to keep me hanging round
You little spoilt thing girl you kept me waiting
Never contemplating my point of view
This comes as no surprise
I'm a fool for I believed your lies
But now I've seen through your disguise
Who needs, well I don't need, who needs you?

Oh I believed you, went on my knees to you
How I trusted you, but you turned me down
But it's dog eat dog in this rat race
And it leaves you bleeding lying flat on your face
Reaching out, reaching out for a helping hand
Where is that helping hand?

(Oh muchachos.... I like it, I like it)

Well I don't need you, how I was pushed around
Don't let it get you down, you walked all over me
But don't you ever give in
Taking one step forward, slipping two steps back
There's an empty feeling that you can't forget
Reaching out, for a helping hand

When I met you you were always charming
Couldn't sleep at night 'till you were mine
You were oh so, so sophisticated
Never interested in what I'd say
I had to swallow my pride
So naive, you took me for a ride
But now I'm the one to decide
Who needs, well I don't need, who needs you?

It's Late

Released on April 25 1978
Words and music by Brian May
Highest USA Chart Position: 74

This is a very cool song. It seems to be divided in different acts, just like a play. At the end, the song takes a heavy Zeppelin style.

Rating: 8.8
You say you love me, and I hardly know your name
And if I say I love you in the candlelight
There's no-one but myself to blame
But there's something inside, that's turning my mind away
Oh how I could love you, if I could let you stay

It's late, but I'm bleeding deep inside
It's late, is it just my sickly pride?
Too late, even now the feeling seems to steal away
So late, though I'm crying I can't help but hear you say
It's late, it's late, it's late
But not too late

The way you love me, is the sweetest love around
But after all this time, the more I'm trying
The more I seem to let you down
Now you tell me you're leaving, and I just can't believe it's true
Oh you know that I can love you, though I know I can't be true
Oh you made me love you, don't tell me that we're through

It's late, but it's driving me so mad
It's late, yes I know but don't try to tell me that it's
Too late, save our love you can't turn out the lights
So late, I've been wrong but I'll learn to be right
It's late, it's late, it's late
But not too late

I've been so long - You've been so long
We've been so long trying to work it out
I ain't got long - You ain't got long
We gotta know what this life is all about

Too late much too late

You're staring at me
With suspicion in your eye, you say what game are you playing?
What's this that you're saying?, I know that I can't reply
If I take you tonight, is it making my life a lie?
Oh you make me wonder, did I live my life alright?

It's late, but it's time to set me free
It's late, yes I know but there's no way it has to be
Too late, so let the fire take our bodies this night
So late, so let the waters take our guilt in the tide
It's late, it's late, it's late, it's late
It's late, it's late, it's all too late

Melancholy Blues
Words and music by Freddie Mercury

This album couldn't be complete without a Freddie ballad, which in fact is a very soft blue in a piano solo. If you get easily depressed by songs, listen to this one under your own risk.

Rating: 8.6
Another party's over, another cold sober
My baby left me for somebody new
I don't wanna talk about it
Want to forget about it
Wanna be intoxicated with that special brew

So come an get me... let me
Get in that sinking feeling
That says my heart is an all time low
So... don't expect me
to behave perfectly, and wear that sunny smile
My guess is I'm in for a cloudy and overcast
Don't try and stop me
'Cos I'm heading for that stormy weather soon

I'm causing a mild sensation, with this new occupation
I'm permanently glued, to this extraordinary mood
So now moveover, and let me take over
With my, melancholy blues

I'm cuasing a mild sensation
With this new occupation
I'm in the news, just getting used to this new exposure
And meet my... Melancholy blues