Hollywood Records
Hollywood RecordsIn October 1977, Queen released News of the World, the album that introduced the planet to “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” Now the band has announced plans to release an expanded 40th anniversary reissue of the album on November 17.
The News of the World — 40th Anniversary Edition box set features three CDs, a DVD and a vinyl LP cut directly from the original album’s analog master mix tapes.
The first CD features a version of News of the World remastered in 2011 by acclaimed engineer Bob Ludwig. The second CD, titled Raw Sessions, is a collection of previously unreleased alternate renditions of the album’s 11 songs, including alternate takes, rough mixes, demos and live performances.
The third CD contains various rare bonus tracks, including BBC sessions, performances from various Queen concerts, instrumental versions and backing tracks from News of the World songs.
The DVD boasts an hour-long documentary titled Queen: The American Dream that features onstage and behind-the-scenes footage of the band from its 1977 U.S. tour in support of News of the World that initially was intended for an unfinished profile of the group. The film includes performances from a December 1977 concert in Houston.
The box set comes packaged with a 60-page book, three posters and themed memorabilia.
In addition to the box set, Queen will be releasing a limited-edition News of the World vinyl picture disc.
News of the World peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, and has gone on to sell more than 4 million copies in the U.S. The album kicks off with the one-two punch of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” which were issued as a two-sided single that reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Here’s the track list of the box set:
CD 1: News of the World (Bob Ludwig 2011 master)
“We Will Rock You”
“We Are the Champions”
“Sheer Heart Attack”
“All Dead, All Dead”
“Spread Your Wings”
“Fight from the Inside”
“Get Down, Make Love”
“Sleeping on the Sidewalk”
“Who Needs You”
“It’s Late”
“My Melancholy Blues”
CD2: News of the World: Raw Sessions
“We Will Rock You” (Alternative Version)
“We Are the Champions” (Alternative Version)
“Sheer Heart Attack” (Original Rough Mix)
“All Dead, All Dead” (Original Rough Mix)
“Spread Your Wings” (Alternative Take)
“Fight from the Inside” (Demo Vocal Version)
“Get Down, Make Love” (Early Take)
“Sleeping on the Sidewalk” (Live in the USA, 1977)
“Who Needs You” (Acoustic Take)
“It’s Late” (Alternative Version)
“My Melancholy Blues” (Original Rough Mix)
CD3: News of the World: Bonus Tracks
“Feelings Feelings” (Take 10, July 1977)
“We Will Rock You” (BBC Session)
“We Will Rock You” (Fast)” (BBC Session)
“Spread Your Wings” (BBC Session)
“It’s Late” (BBC Session)
“My Melancholy Blues” (BBC Session)
“We Will Rock You” (Backing Track)
“We Are the Champions” (Backing Track)
“Spread Your Wings” (Instrumental)
“Fight from the Inside” (Instrumental)
“Get Down, Make Love” (Instrumental)
“It’s Late” (USA Radio Edit 1978)
“Sheer Heart Attack” (Live in Paris 1979)
“We Will Rock You” (Live in Tokyo 1982)
“My Melancholy Blues” (Live in Houston 1977)
“Get Down, Make Love” (Live in Montreal 1981)
“Spread Your Wings” (Live in Europe 1979)
“We Will Rock You” (Live at the MK Bowl 1982)
“We Are the Champions” (Live at the MK Bowl 1982)
LP: The original News of the World album (new pure analog cut)
DVD: Queen: The American Dream
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