🔘 We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You – Single: Oct. 1977

Released: October 14, 1977 (UK)

Label: EMI Records

Catalogue Number: EMI 2708

Format: 7" Vinyl Single

Queen’s definitive stadium‑anthem double‑A‑side — pairing the triumphant We Are The Champions with the stomping We Will Rock You.

Issued on EMI, the single became one of the most iconic releases of the band’s career.

🔘 Overview

We Are The Champions / We Will Rock You was released on October 14, 1977 as a major UK double‑A‑side from Queen’s album News of the World. Designed as companion pieces, the two tracks formed a powerful one‑two punch: Freddie Mercury’s soaring, emotional Champions paired with Brian May’s minimalist, percussive Rock You.

The single arrived in a picture sleeve and quickly became a cornerstone of Queen’s global identity, dominating radio, sports arenas, and popular culture for decades.

🔘 Track List (Common Configurations)

7" Vinyl — EMI 2708

A. We Are The Champions

AA. We Will Rock You

Written by: Freddie Mercury (A) / Brian May (AA)

Produced by: Queen, Mike Stone

🔘 Release Details

Label: EMI Records

Formats: 7" Vinyl

Country: UK

Year: 1977

Notes:

- Double‑A‑side single from News of the World

- Two of Queen’s most iconic tracks

- Issued in picture sleeve

- Designed as companion pieces on the album and single

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – EMI – EMI 2708 (1977)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Paper Label)

Variant 2

UK – EMI – EMI 2708 (1977)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Injection‑moulded label, select pressings)

🔘 Chart Data (BBC / Official Charts Company)

Peak Position: UK — No. 2

Weeks on Chart: 12

Chart Run (Official Charts):

22 Oct 1977 — No. 21

29 Oct 1977 — No. 12

05 Nov 1977 — No. 7

12 Nov 1977 — No. 4

19 Nov 1977 — No. 2

26 Nov 1977 — No. 3

03 Dec 1977 — No. 5

10 Dec 1977 — No. 8

17 Dec 1977 — No. 13

24 Dec 1977 — No. 20

31 Dec 1977 — No. 28

07 Jan 1978 — No. 39

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

Champions features Mercury’s towering vocal and layered arrangement, while Rock You strips everything back to stomps, claps, and May’s explosive guitar solo — a perfect contrast.

Collector Notes

Original picture sleeves are highly collectible. Early paper‑label pressings are especially prized.

Legacy

One of the most famous double‑A‑sides in rock history — anthemic, universal, and permanently woven into global culture.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Single

Good Old‑Fashioned Lover Boy (1977)

Next Single

Spread Your Wings (1978)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

We Are The Champions — 1977

We Will Rock You — 1977

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

Oct. 14, 1977 — UK double‑A‑side released

Nov. 1977 — Peaks at UK No. 2

🔘 Glam Flashback

Two anthems, one single — triumphant, thunderous, and unmistakably Queen.

🔘 Sources

EMI Records

Discogs

Official Charts Company

Queen archival documentation

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UK Releases

Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress, Promo

Country: UK

Released: 1977

This single only contains on both sides "We will rock you"

This is a mispress of a promo

The labels are correct

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Label: EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Label:EMI – EMI 2708

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Four-Prong Centre

Country: UK

Released: 1977

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Country Variations (many territories used the same picture sleeve image)

Argentina - EMI - 1977

Australia - Elektra - 1977

Belgium - EMI - 1977

Bolivia - EMI International - 1977

Brazil - EMI - 1977

Canada - Elektra - 1977

Chile - EMI - 1977

France - EMI - 1977

Germany - EMI - 1977

Guatemala - EMI - 1977

Ireland - EMI - 1977

Italy - EMI - 1977

Italy - EMI - 1977

Japan - Elektra - 1977

Netherlands - EMI - 1977

New Zealand - Elektra - 1977

Peru - EMI - 1977

Philippines - EMI - 1977

Portugal - EMI - 1977

South Africa - EMI - 1977

Spain - EMI - 1977

USA - Elektra - 1977

USA - Allied Record Company - 1977

USA - PRC Recording Company - 1977

Yugoslavia - EMI - 1977

Hungary - Pepita - 1978

Mexico - EMI - 1978

USA - Elektra Spun Gold -

Chart Peak Position

Australia 8

Austrian Singles Chart 12

Belgium 10

Belgium 8

Canadian RPM Top Singles 3

German Singles Chart 13

Irish Singles Chart 3

Netherlands 2

Netherlands 2

New Zealand 8

Norwegian Singles Chart 6

Swedish Singles Chart 14

UK Singles 2

US Billboard Hot 100 4

US Cash Box Top 100 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY

Sources

Wikipedia: We Are The Champions

Wikipedia: We Will Rock You

Wikipedia: News of the World

Wikipedia: Queen Discography

YouTube: We Are The Champions Official Video (2008 upload, 500M+ views)