Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Eve Of The War
2. Horsell Common And The Heat Ray
3. The Artilleryman And The Fighting Machine
4. Forever Autumn
5. Thunder Child

Disc 2:

1. The Red Weed (Part 1)
2. The Spirit Of Man
3. The Red Weed (Part 2)
4. Brave New World
5. Dead London
6. Epilogue (Part 1)
7. Epilogue (Part 2) (Nasa)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2304 in Music
• Released on: 2000-02-28
• Number of discs: 2

Album Review
Released 40 years after Orson Welle's infamous radio version of the HG Wells tale, Jeff Wayne's musical version of War of the Worlds straddles old-style radio drama and contemporary orchestrated narratives by Rick Wakeman and David Bedford. And while it lacks the sophisticated arrangements of, say, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, it does boast an impressively odd cast--this may be the only time that a member of Thin Lizzy worked with Richard Burton. Indeed, it's Burton's sonorous tones that sustain this work; his frequent solo narrations are eminently listenable, whereas sections featuring dialogue with other characters often come off as a bit stilted. The music is competent studio rock, and "Horsell Common and the Heat Ray" does strike just the right balance between Burton's narration and an accompaniment built around a buzzsaw guitar riff. Overall, it's pleasant as a period piece, and still a fine way to introduce younger listeners to Wells' classic tale. (And if you can find it in a vinyl, it comes with a nicely produced narrative booklet with gloriously lurid illustrations by Geoff Taylor.) --Paul Collins, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Fantastic piece of the 1970s British music
I love this album! It was the first album I ever bought in about 1979. I'd been badgering people for some money towards it for my eighth birthday and then, when the day finally came, I remember coming back on the bus with it proudly tucked under my arm. The original had a large picture booklet with some fascinating paintings of the Earth under the rule of the martians - I particularly remember the one of the crows picking at the flesh of hoods of the martian tripods and these are faithfully reproduced in the new CD booklet.

This is a very unusual record that is quite unlike anything else before or since. It features superb musicianship with classic thumping 70s basslines from the excellent Herbie Flowers and top vocal performances from the likes of Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott and David Essex. Richard Burton's narration is hypnotic and the words are strangely poetic in a way HG Wells' original book isn't.

The recording still sounds just as good to me today and the CD remastering brings it to life in new ways I hadn't heard before.

If you have never come across this album, I would highly recommend it as a strange and satisfying listening experience. If you had it years ago, why not renew your acquaintance with this 70's classic?

A MUST HAVE!!!!! modern day classic
I studied this piece of musical genius for my music G.C.S.E. in the late eighties and fell in love with it.BR>The remastered translation to CD can only be described as AWESOME! Jeff Waynes musical vision of H.G. Wells novel now makes my spine tingle like my old worn copies used to,only more so.
Richard Burtons opening dialogue is amazingly convincing,and you can understand why Orson Welles original broadcast caused such widespread panic in America in the early part of the last century,especially when you consider that the aeroplane was still really in its infancy,interplanetary travel really was in the realm of science fiction.
If you like instrumental music,especially with a '70's rock synthesiser twist,this is a must have CD. Yet although it is very much a product of its era it is a unique piece of musical history and as a result is timeless.
The War Of The Worlds should be part of your musical collection along with Rick Wakemans musical vision of Jules Vernes "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" another unique '70's instrumental classic.

war of the worlds
This album has haunted me for the past 25 years. It scared the hell out ofme and still to this day sends a shiver down my spine when i listen to it.the music is excellent and the combination or Richard Burton's hauntingnarratio mixed with justin heyward, phill lynott and jeff waynes superbproduction, the album still to this day sounds fresh. Go buy it