Inside the Master Tapes: Queen - We Are The Champions -Multitrack- Analysis

Deep into the multitrack, buried on Track 24 (usually reserved for time code or notes), there is a bizarre audio clip. It is a 2-second recording of a crowd cheering and clapping—recorded by the band during a live show at Earls Court earlier in 1977.

When you solo John Deacon’s bass track, you realize the song’s power isn't just in the vocal. Deacon plays a melodic, almost walking bass line that anchors the swing of the chorus. Without the bass, the verses (which are very piano-heavy) sound hollow and floating. The isolated track reveals how much space Deacon leaves; he isn't constantly thumping root notes. He slides into the chords just before the downbeat, giving the song its "swagger."

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The driving force behind the entire arrangement is Freddie Mercury’s grand piano. The multitrack shows that the piano was recorded with a bright, percussive edge to help it cut through the heavy layers of bass, drums, and electric guitars. Mercury plays with a driving, jazz-influenced syncopation in the verses, using elegant chord inversions that create a sense of tension and yearning before resolving into the triumphant, straight-ahead chords of the chorus. The Art of 24-Track Analog Engineering

For those interested in exploring these themselves, multitracks have surfaced through various channels:

Without the backing instruments, you can hear Mercury's flawless breath control, his razor-sharp pitch accuracy, and the subtle rasp he introduces deliberately to add emotional grit as the song builds.

Deep Dive: Inside the Multitrack of Queen’s "We Are The Champions"

"We Are The Champions," released on Queen's 1977 masterpiece News of the World , is arguably the ultimate rock anthem. While millions have heard the final mix, the (individual recorded tracks) reveal a different story—one of meticulous arrangement, sonic layering, and incredible vocal prowess.

: Played on a concert grand, the track features Freddie’s signature driving triplets in the left hand.

The story of Queen's multitracks is not without its share of mystery and loss. It has been widely reported, including by Brian May himself, that many of the original multi-track master tapes for the News of the World album have gone missing. This has posed significant challenges for potential high-fidelity re-releases, such as a 5.1 surround sound mix. This fact makes any existing multitrack stems or "Raw Session" materials all the more valuable, as they represent some of the most direct surviving connections to the band's original studio work for this era.

Hearing the piano alone reveals how it dictates the song's key changes and emotional pacing. 2. The Isolated Vocals (Freddie Mercury) This is the heart of the multitrack .

A track-by-track of the 24-track tape