Customer Reviews

War of the Worlds

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first discovered this masterpiece over 20 years ago in a record store and thought its cover was quite unique. Started playing it and my family sat in and listened as well. The music was quite haunting especially "Forever Autumn". Needless to say WOTW was played a great deal. Fast forward to this past July, I again found the CD in a Book/Record store and immediately purchased it. The young man who worked at the cash register was quite impressed with the names behind WOTW's production. I encouraged him to buy a copy and listen seriously. Two days later my sister, her seven-year-old daughter and I were on a 2-hour road trip to participate a 5K race. What better way to pump ourselves up than to "imagine" the Martians chasing us!

Hearing the opening lines of "Thunder Child" brought tears to my eyes. You cannot help but imagine seeing the tripod figures striding through the Thames bearing down upon a lone ironclad vessel which had no hope of winning such an ill balanced battle. This is a wonderful CD. I highly recommend it to everyone.

By pure chance I first heard the song "Eve of the War" some 20 years ago on German television where they happen to use it as background music to the testcard at some time during the day. It was nothing but a coincidence. Since then, I have never managed to rid myself of the enchanting music and lyrics. When I finally bought the album (in the good old ddays of vinyl) friends and I often gathered just to listen to it over a couple of bottles of wine. Although to those who know the original book by H G Wells, Jeff Wayne's adaptation may be a little disappointing, one has to bear in mind that, after all, it is an "adaptation" and that Jeff Wayne did superbly well. Not only do the lyrics catch the main and most important aspects of the original book but the accompanying music underlines the moods of the respective parts of the story extremely well. The best example is the music of "The Eve of the War" which, with its upbeat tone, almost ensures that there is hardly any possibility at all of live on Mars. This, of course, is contrasted by the almost surreal "The Red Weed" when Earth is under the rule of the Martians. It can honestly said that it is one of the best musical adaptations of literature I have ever come across which is of course helped by the fact that no other than the late but unforgotten Richard Burton reads the part of the journalists. David Essex, Justin Hayward, Phil Lynott, Chris Thompson, Julie Covington provide the voices to the songs and are extremely good. Once you have listened to it and then read the book (again?) you will always have the music in your ear. Unforgettable!

Like some other reviewers, my introduction to Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds was via a Halloween eve radio broadcast in the late 1970's. War of the Worlds is one of those incredible performances that should not be limited to the memories of the "70's generation". I'm gratified to see so many reviews from people in their 30's and younger who have discovered this masterpiece.

Like Tommy, The Wall, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and even Thick as a Brick, it is a timeless piece of theatrical work. Yes, it's a little disco-y in places, ladened with heavy guitar and waa-waa effects for the Martian "voice, the delivery is a bit overwrought at times, but these charateristics are authentic hallmarks of its progressive rock roots. To deny these aspects as part of its charm is a little like dissings Mozart's compositions because they are often dramatic, performed on outdated instruments and have too many notes.

I've always felt that WOTW is highly worthy or reintroduction every few years so that up and coming generations can experience Richard Burton's evocative storytelling, the haunting vocals of Julie Covington as Beth, the madness of Parson Nathaniel (the late Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy) and the Artillary Man (David "Rock On" Essex), and can once and for all hear Justin Hayward's lyrical Forever Autumn in its proper context. Although it was apparently not written for WOTW, it fits the story perfectly.

I have even dreamed of a WOTW revival with new artists performing - Patrick Stewart as the Journalist, and some more contemporary vocalists in the key roles - suggestions anyone?

Jeff Wayne's musical version of this great book of sci-fi is a must for fans. The Journalist is Richard Burton, who does a great job, and the two CDs come with a tiny booklet which holds both the lyrics and the script. The tiny booklet also holds a series of paintings based on the novel which have become somewhat famous from being used on both the cover of Pan Book's 'The War of the Worlds' AND also being used in the 'Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds' computer game, which also uses Jeff Wayne's music.

Concieved in 1972, written and recorded over a three-year period with some of the finest rock musicians of all time, Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds stands at the pinnacle of the symphonic rock genre. This work builds on the tradition of the Moodies Days of Future Past, Procol Harum, Rick Wakeman's Journey to the Center of the Earth and Myths and Legends of King Aurthur to tell a story that is timeless in a recording that has also proved to be timeless. The performances by Sir Richard Burton, Justin Hayward, et. al. are superb and the recording sounds as if it were recorded in 1998, not 1974/1975. I have listened to this over a thousand times and have never tired of it. This is the one "must have" in any serious rock music-lover's collection.

I first heard Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds" in a borrowed company car stuck in heavy traffic on the way back from a business trip to London in the late 1970's. There was nothing much on the radio so I pushed in the cassette to see what my colleague (whose car it was) had been listening to. . . Wow! What a presentation! What a great adaptation! I was so impressed that I pulled the car off the road as I neared my company's premises so that I could hear all of it without interruption.

What can one say? Justin Hayward's "Forever Autumn" brings back great memories of his other Moody Blues work and Phil Lynott and Julie Covington put their hearts into the part of Parson Nathaniel and Beth, his wife. David Essex is a fine Artilleryman and what can one say about Richard Burton's narration as the journalist? Terrific!

I bought the double cassette tape back then and was able to get the large booklet that went with the 12' vinyl LP's. 20 years later I'm here in Hollywood and bought the double CD. . . the music is as fresh as ever. Jeff Wayne has created a timeless masterpiece that I would recommend to anyone. . . buy it now, you won't regret it!

I remember when I first I heard this album back in '76. I was just about to go to sleep and reached up to shut off my radio when I heard the DJ announce this album and mention Justin Hayward. Now that got my ears perked up. I waited and the station played cuts from this album including Justin's song "Forever Autumn". I staid up way past my bed time and listened to all the cuts they played and fell in love with it. The next day I went and bought it. It is one of the best things ever recorded. Unfortunately it disappeared rather quickly so if you didn't buy it right away you lost out. When the CD came out, while visiting England I bought it since I couldn't find it here. (It was released on CD in the USA in the early 90's but once again if you didn't get it right away you lost out). It's so good to see it back out now and remastered. The music, the singing and the dialog read so well by Richard Burton make it a classic and a gem to own. You will never get tired of it. I only wish Jeff Wayne had put out other recordings like this.

It's hard to add much to what others have already said. I feel a little sorry for those who never got this on vinyl (which was superbly mastered and recorded), because the artwork that comes with it is much more impressive when it's LP rather than CD sized. Still, this belongs in Every collection. One tip, though: Do not buy the Japanese import version with the "extra tracks". The sound is not much better, certainly not worth the extra cost. The "extra tracks" are just remixes of some of the music done to try and make them danceable and more "'90s". If you know and love this work, they'll just tick you off.

This is an incredible audio experience!

I discovered this piece when I was but a lad in the early 80's. The original double LP had great artwork, a collectors piece if you can find it.
I have found, across the past 20 years, that this piece of music never tires or gets dull. Other reviews of this piece have made comments such as ham voice acting, and criticisms of celebrity status. All these comments do not apply - these elements are one of its strengths.
The great charm of this piece is that it is of the era. All overproduction is in the ham voice acting and musical construction, not the production. This is absolutely it strength.
As a piece of music, it has no pretentions despite being very dramatic and indulgent, this contrast strongly with modern music and the values that come from this Album are refreshing in the modern musical era. It sounds very honest and refreshing, with no axe to grind but to deliver a clever and sensitive adapation of a classic novel.
This is a classic in British prog rock and theatre rock. It has very diverse instrumentation and orchestration and lots of energy. It is timeless and never dull. All the performances are honest and strong, Richard Burton is simply amazing.
I understand that people may find it hard to penetrate this music, but if so, perservere, most people who have reviewed this appear to need to get to know it, but when they do...
I would absolutely recommend others to do so, as the effort it may require is well worth the end result.
I disagree with some of the views expressed for this album. For me Thunderchild is my least favourite song, Brave New World, performed by David Essex is excellent, with one of the best soliloquies on record.
Buy it, take your time with it if need be. This is great.

A great album just got better!.

War of the Worlds has just been remixed in 5.1 surround for an SACD release in June 2005. It has been done by Jeff Wayne himself and will be available as a 2 disc or 7 disc set (the 7 disc set has DVD extras, club mixes, never before heard versions and outakes.

No-one would have belived...........