News Of The World

UK #4 US #3

hit singles:
"We Are The Champions"/"We Will Rock You" UK #2 US #4
"Spread Your Wings" UK #34
"It's Late" US #74

Another album I really like although I feel it was a slight step down from A Day At The Races. Much genius here including the stunning "It's Late", "Sheer Heart Attack", "Get Down, Make Love", "My Melancholy Blues", "Spread Your Wings" and of course THOSE 2 songs we've all heard to death! They had to have gotten chills when creating both cuts however, as they resonate so well and are amazing compositionally, even the simplistic sounding "We Will Rock You".
No question-they were consistently writing inventive, unique albums each and every year and almost always delivering the goods to quote Judas Priest.
Just an amazing band.

for me this was their last great studio effort

Interesting, Pete, how we both view this and the previous album in reverse. But that's what makes these threads so great -- the differences in opinion and perspective.

And thanks Pete for throwing in the chart data -- it adds some nice historical perspective to things!

I think songwriting-wise A Day at the Races and News of the World are just about equal. Both are all over the board in terms of being a cohesive listen, but A Day at the Races works just slightly better for me. It's just crazy to go from We Are the Champions to Sheer Heart Attack to All Dead, All Dead. But overall the songs on this are just great as they were with the previous few titles.

What surprises me a bit is that these albums that I always thought of as "big" Queen albums are not really hit-laden. About three songs each, which wasn't bad in the pre-"Thriller" era.

Alan

Besides the obvious "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions", three songs from this album "Spread Your Wings", "Get Down Make Love", and "It's Late" all received considerable airplay on album-rock radio at the time (at least the station in my area played them back in 1977)

The two big hits were very big in 77. Played often during that Summer as I worked in a country club in Queens NY.

I like this album but still prefer A Day At The Races.

This was the beginning of a change for Queen, the songs or should I say "hits" got bigger but the albums smaller.

Chris:
No problem-I love doing the chart stuff. I think we agree both albums are great in many spots, but I think the whole 1975-81 era of Queen is pure majesty (pun intended)! Especially in the live arena.
I'm just glad others like A Day At The Races as much as I do-wasn't sure if I was on an island there!. But I think the trifecta of Opera, Races and News is frickin' awesome. I just can't believe the writing, playing and producing they acheived in such a short span while also putting on all those amazing live shows!

"It's Late" is a great rock track, including a fantastic half-minute jam at the end...in my top 4 or 5 favorite Queen songs. And News of the World has a terrific album cover.

I would imagine that I am in the minority here, but News of the World and Jazz are my two favorite Queen albums.

For me the height of Queen was ANATO and A Day At The Races but I did also enjoy News Of The World and the next one Jazz which is alot of fun.

News of the World was part of the soundtrack of my family's roadtrip to Florida, the week after Christmas 1977. Along with Skynyrd's Street Survivors and some other cassettes.

I couldn't have asked for a better seque into...



JAZZ
(1978)

1. Mustapha
2. Fat Bottomed Girls
3. Jealousy
4. Bicycle Race
5. If You Can't Beat Them
6. Let Me Entertain You
7. Dead on Time
8. In Only Seven Days
9. Dreamer's Ball
10. Fun It
11. Leaving Home Ain't Easy
12. Don't Stop Me Now
13. More of the Jazz

I love this album. My third favorite after A Night At The Opera and Sheer Heart Attack. One last go-round with returning producer Roy Thomas Baker and the last album of the classic Queen era, IMO. The sound would get more pop and less layered with subsequent releases.

Yes, some of Jazz is over the top, but it sounded like Queen was having fun in the studio and there's a great energy to this album. I have no idea what Freddie is singing on "Mustapha," but it sure sounds great. Of course, the immortal "Fat Bottomed Girls" is on here, but there are also great deep cuts like "Let Me Entertain You" and "Dead On Time."

And if you were lucky enough to have gotten it on vinyl back in the day, you got the nude bicycle race poster.

The album closer, "More Of The Jazz" even has a aural montage in the middle of the song that samples bits and pieces of some of the other songs and sums up the album quite nicely.

Jazz seems to divide fans, but I like it.

Ah, yes, the album that inspired this famous crazy-ass review from Rolling Stone.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/album ... z-19790208

My third favorite Queen album (after ANATO/ A Day At The Races). By this point Queen was a well established force with 5 solid albums in a row (including Sheer Heart Attack and News of The World).

The album contains 2 of Queen's most fun songs in "Bicyle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls" with its great videos.

"Bicycle Race" and "Fat Bottomed Girls" were released in 1978 as a double A-side; the band staged a famous nude, all-female bicycle race to promote the single. The bicycle race took place on 17 September 1978 at Wimbledon Stadium in London. The picture sleeve showed a rear view of one of the ladies on her bicycle, but a pair of red panties were painted on to avoid public outcry. Legend has it that the band borrowed the bicycles from a store ("Halfords," according to the liner notes), but upon returning them were informed that they would have to purchase all the seats, as they had been used in an improper manner (i.e. without clothing). Fat Bottomed Girls also contains one of Roger Taylor's most memorable drum fills at about 2:52 on the album Jazz, but at 2:16 on greatest hits.

Jazz also evoked one of Robert Christgau's most memorable reviews, in his trademark pithy style:

The LP included that infamous poster too.

You know what? The '70s were awesome.

yep, you'd never see that today.