Return Of The Champions

Album (2005)

A Triumphant Tour Legacy

Released as a limited 3×LP box set in the UK on October 24, 2005, on Parlophone Records (catalogue: 00946 3 36979 1 1), Queen + Paul Rodgers’ Return Of The Champions captured the band’s 2005 European tour — live from Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield. Produced and engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith, this 27-track set blended Queen classics with Rodgers’ soulful edge. Peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart for 4 weeks. Issued in a deluxe box with picture inners, it’s a nostalgic celebration of Queen’s enduring legacy.

Album Overview

Release Details

Label: Parlophone.

Format: 3× Vinyl LP, Album, Box Set, Limited Edition.

Full Track Listing

Side A

1. Reaching Out (1:08)

2. Tie Your Mother Down (4:30)

3. I Want To Break Free (3:59)

4. Fat Bottomed Girls (5:45)

5. Wishing Well (4:33)

Side B

1. Another One Bites The Dust (4:02)

2. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (4:35)

3. Say It's Not True (4:14)

4. '39 (4:38)

5. Love Of My Life (5:11)

Side C

1. Hammer To Fall (6:45)

2. Feel Like Making Love (6:20)

3. Let There Be Drums (3:42)

4. I'm In Love With My Car (3:36)

Side D

1. Guitar Solo (6:59)

2. Last Horizon (4:44)

3. These Are The Days Of Our Lives (4:40)

4. Radio Ga Ga (5:59)

Side E

1. Can't Get Enough (4:22)

2. A Kind Of Magic (6:07)

3. I Want It All (5:09)

4. Bohemian Rhapsody (6:18)

Side F

1. The Show Must Go On (4:33)

2. All Right Now (6:54)

3. We Will Rock You (2:35)

4. We Are The Champions (4:30)

5. God Save The Queen (1:36)

3×LP Box Set Limited – Parlophone 00946 3 36979 1 1 – UK – 24 Oct 2005

Production and Context

Produced/Engineered by Justin Shirley-Smith. Recorded live at Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield. Band: Brian May (guitar/vocals), Roger Taylor (drums/vocals), Paul Rodgers (vocals/guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar/backing), Danny Miranda (bass/backing), Spike Edney (keyboards/backing). The 2005 Queen + Paul Rodgers reunion tour.

Album Chart Performance

UK: 5 (4 weeks)

Legacy and Collectibility

Return Of The Champions is Queen + Paul Rodgers’ triumphant tour document. Original 2005 3×LP limited box sets Verify catalogue 00946 3 36979 1 1.

This box is a must-have for Queen live collectors.

Do you have Return Of The Champions in your collection? Which live anthem rocks your playlist? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube