News Of The World is a Queen album released on October 28, 1977. Containing such hit songs as "We Will Rock You", "We Are the Champions", and "Spread Your Wings," the album went four times platinum in the United States alone. It is considered one of Queen's strongest albums. It was recorded at Sarm West and Wessex Studios, United Kingdom, and engineered by Mike Stone.

The album's infamous cover was a painting by American sci-fi artist Kelly Freas. Taylor had the issue of "Analog" (October 1953) whose cover-art depicted a giant intelligent robot holding the dead body of a man. The caption read: "Please...fix it, Daddy?" to illustrate the story 'The Gulf Between' by Tom Godwin. The painting inspired the band to contact Freas, who agreed to alter the painting for their album cover, by replacing the single dead man with the four "dead" band members (Roger and John falling to the ground). The original painting (also called 'The Gulf Between') features on the cover of Freas's collection of art 'As He Sees Its' (Paper Tiger, 2000)

"We Will Rock You" was not released as a single in its own right, but as the B-side to "Champions". Despite this, it became one of Queen's biggest songs worldwide, and a staple of arena and stadium sports everywhere. It was a conscious decision by May to make the song so simple and anthemic (stomp, stomp, clap!), so that the audience at their concerts could be more directly involved in the show. Queen were always looking to connect with their audiences and fans at live shows, to make their experience that much better.

"Sheer Heart Attack" was a song begun in 1974 for the album of the same name, but was not completed and subsequently abandoned. Taylor revisited it for this album and it was completed in the short recording period the band allotted itself between tours.

"All Dead, All Dead" was written about the sadness May felt as a child from the death of his cat, though the lyrics were kept somewhat ambiguous and generalized.

"Sleeping On The Sidewalk" was written and recorded on the day, as a live take, with band simply performing it together in the same room with little to no rehearsal. After three or four takes, the band realized the takes were getting successively worse, and that they'd nailed it pretty much on the first go. That was the take they used on the album, warts and all.

Track listing

1. "We Will Rock You" (May) - 2:01 *
2. "We Are the Champions" (Mercury) - 2:59 *
3. "Sheer Heart Attack" (Taylor) - 3:24
4. "All Dead, All Dead" (May) - 3:09
5. "Spread Your Wings" (Deacon) - 4:32 *
6. "Fight from the Inside" (Taylor) - 3:03
7. "Get Down, Make Love" (Mercury) - 3:51
8. "Sleeping on the Sidewalk" (May) - 3:07
9. "Who Needs You" (Deacon) - 3:07
10. "It's Late" (May) - 6:27 *
11. "My Melancholy Blues" (Mercury) - 3:29
12. "We Will Rock You (1991 Remix Ruined by Rick Rubin)" (May) - 4:47

(*Singles)

Singles

• We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions released October 7, 1977 in the UK as a Double A side, it reached number 1.
• Spread Your Wings followed as the second single from the album. This poignant ballad, written by John Deacon and released in the UK on February 10, 1978, reached number 34.
• It's Late

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury - Piano, Vocals
• Brian May - Banjo, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
• Roger Taylor - Drums, Vocals
• John Deacon - Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Bass)
• Mike Stone - Producer, Engineer, Assistant Producer
• Kevin Metcalfe - Remastering
• Frank Kelly Freas - Artwork
• Peter Brown - Coordination