Queen – News Of The World – Yesteryear Vinyl
News of the World – takes its album title from the British Newspaper of the same name – and is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Queen. The album was released in October 1977 by EMI Records in the United Kingdom and by Elektra Records in the United States. News of the World was the band’s second album to be recorded at Sarm West and Wessex Sound Studios, London. It was pressed by EMIAL S.A. records in Greece.
The album went 4x platinum in the United States, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and number 4 in the UK Albums Chart, going Gold. It has sold over 10 million copies and remains one of the band’s best-selling studio albums to date. Its lead single, “We Are the Champions”/”We Will Rock You”, reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
This 140gram rock album is the original 1977 release by EMI 14C 064-60033.
Tracks:
Side 1:
- We Will Rock You
- We Are The Champions
- Sheer Heart Attack
- All Dead, All Dead
- Spread Your Wings
- Fight From The Inside
Side 2:
- Get Down, Make Love
- Sleeping On The Sidewalk
- Who Needs You
- It’s Late
- My Melancholy Blues
The pressing looked great after a cleaning with my Nitty Gritty, showed no scratches and was perfectly flat and concentric. Coming in at a 4 for vinyl surface noise this album didn’t quite “cut the mustard”. Remember, this is not a comment on the musical performance just the audio quality and mix.
I found this album somewhat of a mixed bag with regards to its sonics, generally preferring side two. While the overall dynamic range was respectable there were large differences between the mix balances, particularly with regard to the kit and bass. The guitars seemed to “dual it out” on a couple of tracks and the lead vocals while showing no sibilance, had excessively hard upper mid-range in many of the tracks. Several vocals, S2T2, S2T3 and S2T5, did provide a pleasant open rendition with clean up-front central or RHS placement. These same tracks also had some very good kit solos with solid bass lines with the kick drum and electric bass finally taking their rightful place in the mix.
Overall the album mix was open with good stereo imaging but limited depth perspective. Reverb was generally short and at times almost non-existent. The kit was well set back and cleanly imaged with bright detailed cymbals and hi-hat. The snare on side one often sounded hollow like the kick drum, which was barely noticeable at times just like the bass line. When the electric bass did raise its head it was solid and tight, if a little thick, while the kick drum tended to be a muffled thud on side one. The snare drum was tight with a short decay just like the toms, which were very prominent in several of the tracks. S2T5 providing well detailed brush work on the snare. Guitars were always clean and bright if not a little overpowering on several tracks, especially by comparison to the open sound and fret work of the acoustic guitar on S2T3. The piano was well detailed having good dynamics. Several percussive instruments were noted to include, cow bell, vibra slap and maracas all of which sounded open and natural.
While the album is generally well recorded I am not enamored by the mixes. The occasionally overpowering guitar riffs, less than stellar kick drum and bass lines, not to mention the rather pronounced mid-range of the vocals don’t provide an audiophile level of performance. However, the albums first two tracks on side one say it all about the albums success.
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