Also available in a
7-disc Collector's
Edition version.- Watch the
TV trailer for
this album.
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Product details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 |
|---|
| 1. The Eve Of The War - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton And Justin Hayward |
| 2. Horsell Common And The Heat Ray - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton |
| 3. The Artilleryman And The Fighting Machine - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton And David Essex |
| 4. Forever Autumn - Featuring Richard Burton And Justin Hayward |
| 5. Thunder Child - Featuring Richard Burton And Chris Thompson |
| Disc: 2 |
| 1. The Red Weed (Part 1) - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton |
| 2. The Spirit Of Man - Featuring Richard Burton, Phil Lynott And Julie Covington |
| 3. The Red Weed (Part 2) - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton |
| 4. The Artilleryman Returns - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton |
| 5. Brave New World - Featuring Richard Burton And David Essex |
| 6. Dead London - Jeff Wayne Featuring Richard Burton |
| 7. Epilogue (Part 1) - Featuring Richard Burton |
| 8. Epilogue (Part 2) (Nasa) |
Product Description
Album Review
This is the 5.1 surround/stereo remixed and remastered double album. Released 40 years after Orson Welles' 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
This title is in SACD Hybrid format, it will play in 5.1 surround on a SACD player and in normal stereo on CD and DVD players.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First things first. If you`ve read the other reviews that are here and they say that the 5.1 audio track will not play in their DVD players, there is a simple reason for that... They don`t support the Super Audio CD format, that`s all. These DVD players should be able to playback the 2 channel remastered version that is also on the disc. And Blimey is it good! Jeff Wayne is a total Genius and 30 years on this new remix of the album is sounding as fresh as if it was recorded recently. The 5.1 works really well and the story is captured so beautifully on this album.
One major piece of advice, if you can afford it, do order the "Collectors Edition", comes with superb book, the new mix, and a couple of other cds with remixes, and outtakes, there is even a version of Richard Burton`s speech without music, which reads like a talking book. Adding to that, a DVD about the history of the album this represents excellent value for money. A must buy!
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I remember this album when I was a kid back in '78 I believe. It captured my imagination then and still does.
Obviously it has been re-released to capitalise on the new movie, however it is not a cheap shot.
This SACD 5.1 re-master and re-mix is one of the best SACD's I've heard.
Many people may not like the rather Prog-Rock music, but to those who do this album has it all.
The 5.1 sound is jaw dropping. I have never heard the music so sharp and clearly defined. Vocals stand out, guitar parts that were once hidden deep in the stereo mix now have more intensity (listen to The Heat-Ray). The synths sound as if they are plugged straight into your amp and whirl around the room. There is a lot of dramatic use of panning, front to back, left to right etc and whilst this would ruin most music in TWotW it is all part of the drama. At times the music thunders through your speakers at others it is soft and rolling (The Red Weed). Maybe my only complaint is that at times the change between soft and loud is quite abrupt. However it adds to the overall effect.
If you own an SACD player and have like this wonderfully eccentric Concept album them you must buy this. Worth every penny!!
Obviously it has been re-released to capitalise on the new movie, however it is not a cheap shot.
This SACD 5.1 re-master and re-mix is one of the best SACD's I've heard.
Many people may not like the rather Prog-Rock music, but to those who do this album has it all.
The 5.1 sound is jaw dropping. I have never heard the music so sharp and clearly defined. Vocals stand out, guitar parts that were once hidden deep in the stereo mix now have more intensity (listen to The Heat-Ray). The synths sound as if they are plugged straight into your amp and whirl around the room. There is a lot of dramatic use of panning, front to back, left to right etc and whilst this would ruin most music in TWotW it is all part of the drama. At times the music thunders through your speakers at others it is soft and rolling (The Red Weed). Maybe my only complaint is that at times the change between soft and loud is quite abrupt. However it adds to the overall effect.
If you own an SACD player and have like this wonderfully eccentric Concept album them you must buy this. Worth every penny!!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album when I was 17 on double cassette and that was before the arrival of CD's and I am still playing it. Rushing out to the shops to get this new version on CD and hope to be playing it again for another 20 years. Definetly a desert island album !!!!!!!!!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Do not buy second hand!
I knew I wasn't expecting much for the price, as it was a pre-owned copy, but I was at least expecting both CDs to be in fully working order regardless of the condition of the box. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sarah-J
very happy, arrived in good time in perfect order
very happy, arrived in good time in perfect order. Not heard this for years, still brilliant, what more can I say
Published 7 months ago by Ms. E. Stevenson
Deep LIstening
War Of The Worlds has to be one of the best story and music cd's I have listened to.(Its basicaly about an alian invasion) Someone once told me that when it was first played on air... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Happy J
brilliant,just buy it
trully @mazing sound quality,the sound on this hybrid alien is gobsmacking.you notice the difference if you have this on normal cd,it plays om my pc/cd system no problem. Read more
Published 7 months ago by S. Ditta
Excellent
No other version of The War of the Worlds has done more to popularise H. G. Wells' story of Martian invasion than that created in 1976 by Jeff Wayne. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Bernard Boyland
An all-time classic
I love this album and have done so since I bought the double cassette tape back in the 80s. I haven't listened to it for years, but got the CD and, since then, it hasn't left my... Read more
Published 11 months ago by JulesB
A worthy repackage
Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds will never be hard to find-the vinyl has been littering car boots and charity shops for 30 years. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Richard
AMAZING!!!
This was is my first SA-CD an i have to say that this is AMAZING!!! "NO Nathaniel" sounds better than never:)"
Published 13 months ago by Greg
awesome album
pure class,richard burton, justin haywood, phill lynott, david essex all coming together to take you on a fantasy adventure. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mn Fumarola
perfect after a busy day
Wonderful recording , close your eyes and immerse yourself in the sound of Richard Burton's voice ; magical .
Published 16 months ago by johnny
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