"News of the World " is Queen's 6th album and was released
in 1977. This album placed Queen way up into the American radio charts,
helping them attain new fans.
"News of the World" is one of Queen's most versatile
albums, incorporting various styles from their five previous releases, both
musically and lyrically. This album includes a good mix of rock tunes and mellodic
ballads. Queen's music is best characterized as "opera rock"
and easily recognized by Freddie Mercury's vocals and Brian May's
guitar style.
The CD opens up with probably the most popular Queen song, "We
Will Rock You"; a chant-like song with claps and heavy bass drum used
at many sporting events. It was Queen's first number one hit. This tune
goes into yet another Queen classic, "We Are The Champions",
which also went number one. This track is also used at sporting events, but
mostly championships like the Superbowl, World Series and the Stanley Cup. Freddie
Mercury sings powerfully in this song.
"Sheer Heart Attack" is the fast, upbeat punkish styled rocker
written by Roger Taylor. It's the most aggressive and heaviest track
on the album.
"All Dead, All Dead" is a Brian May ballad about the
reminiscing of a lost love and everything that she brought into his life. It's
saddening in tone.
"Spread Your Wings" is a song in which only one vocal track
is used; no backups or overdubs. It's a straight forward power rocker about
following your dreams and making an effort to be what you want to be. John
Deacon's great bass lines, as well as Mercury's strong voice
and May's guitar picking make this track a real crowd winner.
"Fight From The Inside" is another Roger Taylor track,
which is also sung by him. It is funky in style, but heavy.
"Get Down, Make Love" is the weird, psychadelic song about
a subject that's on most people's minds. The middle part of this song has chorus
and delay effects with the Queen harmoy vocal overdubs. It also has dynamic
changes in loudness and softness.
"Sleeping On The Sidewalk" is the story of a trumpet player
who learns what it's like to be in the "big time", experiencing both
ups and downs. It's bluesy in style.
"Who Needs You" sounds Spanish in style because of the acoustic
guitar and maraccas.
"It's Late" is one of my personal favorites. It's another
great power rocker with fantastic chord playing by May and another fine
vocal performance by Mercury. Deacon adds some heavy bass and
Taylor plays some great drum rolls completing the bottom end.
The CD closes out with "Melancholy Blues". This tune gives
you the feeling of sitting at a bar in N.Y.C. on a rainy night, all alone, just
you and the piano player.
I received "News of the World" when it first came out. I was
12 years old back then and still listen to this album, more than ever.
Queen will always remain top notch musically. They were innovators as
well as originators and have made their mark in rock history. They were a big
influence on alot of todays metal acts such as Rhapsody and Blind Guardian.
As good as those two bands are, no one ever has or ever will come close to sounding
like Queen, a classic act like no other!.