None (though perhaps a bit dated for the younger listener)
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
On October 30th, 1938, Orson Welles directed a radio play about an invasion from mars, the play was an adaptation of the sci-fi novel by HG Wells “The War of the Worlds”. Orson Welles decided to direct the play as if it were a live news broadcast and despite telling the listener before the play began, and again at various times throughout the play that it was not a real news broadcast but a radio play, thousands of Americans packed the roads, or hid in their cellars convinced that aliens were invading from Mars.
Forty years later a new adaptation of the book came out, this time a musical album conceived and written by Jeff Wayne.
An all star cast brought credibility to the venture and War of the Worlds became a huge smash, producing great songs like Forever Autumn, sung by Justin Hayward (of the Moody Blues).
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A quick synopsis of the story.
The War of the Worlds tells the story of Aliens crashing to Earth from Mars, they emerge from their crafts with a heat ray and build great metal fighting machines that they use to administer the heat ray in an attempt to take over the planet for their own use by killing everyone in sight. Just as the world seems doomed, the aliens die off because the one thing they didn’t factor into their invasion was their inability to cope with the micro-organisms we take for granted, the tiniest of things brings the aliens to their knees where the might of the worlds armies were useless.
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Richard Burton starts the ball rolling as the narrator, telling the story. He plays the Journalist who is caught up in the excitement when the first alien cylinders fall to earth and land on the common. Burton’s voice has a mesmerising quality that draws you into the whole experience; along with Jeff Wayne’s musical composition he sets the tone of the whole album. The music is big, bold, and orchestral at times and completely in keeping with the whole venture.
The Lyrics for the songs, written by Gary Osborne and Paul Vigrass, capture the essence and romance of Well’s original story, even if Wayne has played around with the characterisation a wee bit, (in the book the narrator tells the story of his brother, the journalist, whilst here Burton plays the part of the journalist as the narrator himself) but it doesn’t matter a jot, this isn’t trying to be just an audio book, it’s a musical experience using a well known story as a theme, so a little tweaking is allowed and does no harm.
Musically this is a concept album using many different artists and styles to create a new experience for the listener. Rock mingles with strings which in turn almost melt together with disco funk to create atmosphere, and this is why “War of the Worlds” works so well.
Julie Covington, David Essex, Justin Hayward, Chris Thompson and the late, great Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) all contribute vocally and a wonderful job they do too.
For those of you who are old enough to remember this first time around give it a listen now, it’s bound to stir great memories of the seventies. For those of you, who have never heard this album at all, go get it! It’s a musical treat and a must have for any CD collection.
Richard Burton -- The Journalist Julie Covington -- Beth David Essex -- The Artillery Man Justin Hayward -- Sings 'Forever Autumn' Philip Lynott -- The Parson Jo Partridge -- The Heat Ray 'Ulla man' Chris Thompson -- Sings 'Thunderchild'
Gary Osborne -- Lyrics Paul Vigrass
Doreen Wayne -- Dramatization Jeff Wayne -- Executive Producer
Available from many stockists, Amazon, W H Smiths etc.
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