News of the World

Presented in high quality packaging, "News of the World 40th Anniversary Edition" superficially looks like a good purchase.Dig a little deeper and you will find that the music and video content make the it an extremely poor value proposition at the full RRP.The package comes with a book, press pack and replica stage pass which are all printed on high quality materials.Putting the clip on the stage pass seems a bit unnecessary as it is stored in a separate bag and the metal could potentially damage other items in the box during transit.The press pack is interesting but will probably be read once then put back in the box.The book (which houses the CD's and DVD) contains the album credits, tour dates and reprints of fan-club messages from the band. The bulk of the book contains photos from the associated tour, but is sadly missing a detailed essay about the making of the album.I cannot comment on the quality of the "all analogue" LP as I haven’t played it yet, but it is pressed on heavy weight vinyl and I can't see any no-fill.The original album CD uses the 2011 remaster, which is OK.The raw sessions CD is the main reason for purchasing the set. It is interesting and stands up to repeat playing but is ultimately a disc of demo's & rough takes so is not a replacement for the released album.The third CD is where the box set really starts to fall apart. Most of the additional tracks have been released already, either on the bonus EP from the 2011 remaster, the on-air box set or various live albums. Many of the live tracks are not from the associated tour and since they are using non-period material, the remixes from the Hollywood remasters could have been included (even though they are not great).The DVD is the real let-down of this package.The first omission is the missing promotional videos for the singles – a big oversight.The hour-long documentary is interesting, with studio and live tour footage, however it is not that informative and is too short to cover all the topics in detail.At just under 60 pounds that I paid for it, this package is expensive. The eye-watering RRP of over 100 pounds is completely unjustified. The recent price-drop suggests sales are not that great.Apart from the raw sessions disc, the type of Queen fan this is aimed at will probably have most of the other content and to justify the high RRP of this package, the following should have been considered.1. A full surround-sound mix of the album2. The full Houston 77 show on CD (audio) and if the footage exists Blu-ray or DVD (video).3. A "classic albums" type documentary on the making of the album. There is enough space on the DVD to include this.4. An essay of the making of the album in the book5. If ever issued, a replica tour programAlternatively, a cheaper double CD with the album, raw sessions and other out-takes could have been released

Initial thoughts? It's expensive, the included LP is less deluxe than the Electra LP I got back in the 70s, the main album CD is not a new remaster (ok, we didn't really need a new remaster, but still), many of tracks on the bonus tracks disc felt very much previously released, and the documentary on the DVD is much less than fans had been waiting 40 years to get. The "Raw Sessions" alternative versions CD is very good.There are a number of ways this set could have been improved, most boil down to pumping up the content or reducing the price. I would have wanted to see a full concert included, preferably Houston '77 to go with the DVD content. Hi-res or surround sound versions of the album on the DVD was expected. A 12" version of We will Rock You/We are the Champions would have been good. Fresh copies of the original 7" singles. Even a half-speed mastered, 45RPM double-LP instead of the included LP.I see this set is currently running £81.53, which is better than the original full price. Still a lot of cash for what feels like an under-delivery.

Cercherò di aggiungere qualche notizia su questo bellissimo cofanetto. Premetto che sono fan quindi il giudizio Q/P ne sarebbe un po' inficiato... ma comunque non inferiore a 3 stelline e mezzo. Vado ad esplicare.DVD: è in SD NTSC, per fortuna sono presenti sottotitoli in italiano. Un bel documentario: backstage e spezzoni di interviste, Queen in studio, in rehearsal, etc. Formato 4:3, audio ottimo si sente che è stato curato bene. Nessuna canzone completa ma vari pezzi di concerto. Veramente buono e interessante, anche sul profilo qualità video.CD1: la rimasterizzazione di Bob Ludwig del 2011 dell'album ufficiale, che ormai è considerata quella classica. Nulla di più.CD3: Bonus Tracks. Allora, qui oltre a "Feelings Feelings" che faceva parte del Bonus EP delle remaster 2011, abbiamo le 5 canzoni delle "BBC Session 6" (ottime) MA con la voce del DJ (quindi la versione del cofanetto "On Air" 6 CD non quella del 2 CD). Poi una manciata di tracce live tratte da "Live Killers", "Live Montreal", "At The Bowl" e un paio già edite come B-Sides o extra.Nulla di nuovo, quindi, a parte It's Late in versione Edit USA (mai precedentemente uscita su CD) , e 5 tracce strumentali/backing tra le quali spicca "Spread Your Wings" la cui durata differente fa pensare ad un take diverso (molto bella tra l'altro la sezione con chitarra acustica). Quindi un CD Bonus un po' ruffiano ma comunque "comodo" perché riunisce insieme tutto quanto.CD2: RAW Sessions. Qui la vera "chicca" del package. Anzitutto è stata un'OTTIMA idea avere un'intera, ma DIVERSA, versione dell'album! E vi assicuro che è MOLTO diversa.... è in pratica un nuovo album dei Queen!I vocal takes sono tutti differenti, così come gli strumenti, i passaggi, etc.... in quasi ogni canzone abbiamo prima o dopo dei carini "studio banter" che non si sovrappongono alle canzoni.Mi dispiace per chi non ha apprezzato, ma c'è veramente molto da dire: WWRY magari è "basic", ma WATC intanto è nella sua versione completa (con assoli della Red Special da brivido), SHA è quasi tutta strumentale ma con intro e outro bellissime, ADAD con Freddie alla voce (che canta anche le "parti mancanti" presenti sul testo del disco...) è tutta un'altra cosa, SYW ha un piano di Freddie con intro da brividi, la versione è superiore a quella dell'album anche a "causa" di Brian che ci mette del suo, FFTI forse la più debole ma è bello sentire Roger con vocalizzazioni improvvisate, GDML è una chicca con in mezzo una jam METAL che SPAZZA VIA letteralmente la versione noiosissima dell'album, SOTS live una gemma rara (e non è vero che dal vivo non funzionava, la chitarra di Brian in grande spolvero), WNY in versione acustica ci fa anche sentire John che parla prima in studio, IL è molto "grezza" e comunque superiore alla sua controparte su album, MMB è un take diverso ma forse la più simile alla versione classica.Solo per poter sentire tutto questo personalmente avrei pagato 50-100 Euro, mi auguro che facciano un Raw Sessions CD anche per A Kind Of Magic o Innuendo, per dire.GADGETS: tutti inseriti in un contenitore nero (a parte il pass). Abbiamo i due poster del robottone più uno pubblicitario, 3 adesivi sempre col robottone, almeno 6 foto in B/N di alta qualità lucide, 4 dei componenti singoli e 2-3 insieme. 4-5 riproduzioni della cartella stampa e 1 giornalino di 4 pagine, sempre tutto in B/N. Materiale simpatico ma alla fine ridondante, comunque vabbé, ci sta... confermo che il pass plastificato ha il fermaglio metallico e che questo purtroppo ha un po' rovinato il contenitore dei gadgets, in quanto inserito per ultimo e se il cofanetto è posato "sottosopra" (come avviene con i nostri cari spedizionieri) il peso del resto fa il danno, che comunque è MINIMO. Meglio così che sulla copertina del libro, comunque, eh...LIBRO: poco testo e molte foto, non spiega quasi nulla sulla genesi dell'album, le foto sono belle, interessanti e di qualità. Forse si poteva fare di più... ci sono i testi delle canzoni alla fine (tranne "Feelings feelings") e un po' di note di produzione. Comunque non mi ha deluso.VINILE: un "analogue cut" a sua volta incellofanato che quindi potrebbe anche diventare oggetto di collezione, nulla da dire.Ora veniamo alla fatidica domanda: li vale questi 100 Euro? Se siete fan, sì, indubbiamente. Certo, potevo scaricarmi (più o meno legalmente) il CD2 e amen, ma ho voluto comunque premiare lo sforzo. Forse 60-70 Euro era un prezzo più giusto, ma alla fine sono soddisfatto. Mi rendo conto però che non costa pochissimo, spero comunque di essere stato utile con questa mia rece. Alla prox! ;-)

I remember when Queen announced they were releasing this massive, truly 'deluxe' 40th anniversary edition box set of their 1977 album, 'News of the World'. I felt it was money-grabbing, and unneeded.Then, a year or so later, I found myself eyeing it up when I had the money. I took a chance and bought it. And now I see why it was released.For a start, if nothing else it provides hardcore Queen fans and avid collectors the chance to get more stuff. And you can still buy the seminal album in other, more affordable, formats.The box set (as I will refer to it) comes in a very well-made, strong fascimile box, whose top slides off very easily. The front of it is plain, glossy black, with the iconic logo and title (with Frank) upon that. It looks sleek and that's all it needs. The back of the box features a piece of large paper stuck on to the back, meaning it's secure in place (this might not sound important but other large, 'deluxe' reissues of albums have had such a track listing sheet barely hanging on - I'm looking at you, Fleetwood Mac). On this is some information as to the reason of the deluxe edition, and what it contains - track by track.Inside the box, we see our first piece of memorabillia. A very nicely made reproduction of an 'Access All Areas' press pass for Queen's 1977 U.S. winter tour of this album. It's only a little thing, but still a nice bonus, and doesn't feel like it'll break.Beneath this we have an open, file-like case, inside of which are three very large posters, three sticker versions of these, and a whole press pack. The stickers I have been using on my laptop for months now - they're very cool, large stickers. The posters are an awesome size, too, and were on the wall of my uni room for my entire first year. They depict the iconic inside and external covers of the album (featuring Frank the massive robot), as well as a promotional poster of one of the stops on their tour.The press pack contains press images of each band member, and several letters and newspaper reproductions from fan clubs and such. These are truly for hardcore fans, but they are a very nice touch, and overall really cool.Beneath this, in the main box, we have the newly cut (from the original analogue tapes) 180g black vinyl of the album. It feels very thick, sounds awesome, and features the same gatefold sleeve. The record sleeve is even a reproduction of the box the master tapes first would have appeared in. Little details like this show the band (and record companies, most likely) put a lot of time and effort into such a reissue.Finally, we have a sixty page, hardcover book, packed with information, liner notes, letters to and from fans, and hundreds of images collated into a beautiful collage of Queen. A lot of these images haven't even been previously released, which is a testament to how exclusive this thing really is. The book is amazing, and such a hearty read! In the back of this book are the 3 CD's and DVD. The DVD is a great, hour-long documentary on Queen, behind the scenes on their NotW tour. The doc has been aired around on the BBC for a little while now, but it's very nice to have it in physical form.The CD's also have a newly remastered copy of the original album, a CD packed full of alternate takes and edits, and a third with bonus material - such as demos, outtakes and early takes. There's plenty of bonus material here, from an album that's already amazing. Pretty much every installment on the track listing is a great tune here, for sure.Overall, is it worth £80? Maybe not, but somewhere around £60-£70 and I think it certainly is. Plus, you do get a lot for your money, and whether you love Queen, or just this album, it certainly fills that appetite for more of it.The guys behind this took so much energy and harnessed it into one awesome box. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Its Queen. It has We Are The Champions, We Will Rock You and Spread Your Wings on it. Its Queen. Well worth every penny my wife spent on it as a Christmas present for me. And I can't wait to listen to it again on vinyl, since my original (release day) copy was stolen in the late 80's.Strictly for die hard fans.