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The War of the Worlds
 
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The War of the Worlds

~ David Essex, Phil Lynott, Justin Hayward, Jeff Wayne, Julie Covington, et al.
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
Price: £12.48 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Frequently Bought Together

The War of the Worlds + The War of the Worlds (Orson Welles) + The War of the Worlds: Special Edition (1953) [DVD] [1954]
Price For All Three: £19.74

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The War of the Worlds (Orson Welles)

The War of the Worlds (Orson Welles)

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Jeff Waynes The War of The Worlds 30th Anniversary Edition [DVD]

Jeff Waynes The War of The Worlds 30th Anniversary Edition [DVD]

DVD ~ Jeff Wayne
4.6 out of 5 stars (33)  £10.98
The War of the Worlds: Special Edition (1953) [DVD] [1954]

The War of the Worlds: Special Edition (1953) [DVD] [1954]

DVD ~ Gene Barry
4.5 out of 5 stars (19)  £3.98
The War Of The Worlds Live [DVD]

The War Of The Worlds Live [DVD]

DVD ~ Jeff Wayne
4.5 out of 5 stars (23)  £4.98
The War Of The Worlds (Remixed & Remastered Double Album)

The War Of The Worlds (Remixed & Remastered Double Album)

~ Jeff Wayne
4.5 out of 5 stars (50) 
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Product details

  • Audio CD (28 Feb 2000)
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Label: Columbia
  • ASIN: B00004SKNF
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Mini-Disc  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,037 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #7 in  Music > Pop > Disco
    #81 in  Music > Pop > Dance Pop
    #82 in  Music > Dance & Electronic

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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 Description

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

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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews
5 star:
 (24)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
123 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic piece of the 1970s British music, 8 Mar 2003
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?

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86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE!!!!! modern day classic, 31 Jul 2003
By Mr. B. R. J. Fanson "luminova" (Bodmin, Cornwall, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars war of the worlds, 24 April 2004
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
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Album
This is an absolutely brilliant album. It has some excellent music and songs on there as well as a very haunting bass intro which has stuck with me from the time this record came... Read more
Published 6 months ago by I. M. Knight

3.0 out of 5 stars It's not ageing well
I've had this album (in one form or another) for just over twenty years - I'm pretty sure I wanted it when it first came out, but it's original release price was very high at the... Read more
Published 7 months ago by David Ryman

5.0 out of 5 stars If Carlsberg made music
then they would not have done as good a job as Jeff Wayne and Co did on this EPIC piece, digitally remastered and now available as an MP3 download. Read more
Published 7 months ago by J Molloy

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect
From Jeff Wayne's haunting and unforgetable wailing soundtrack to Richard Burton's chocolate tones, this is just the finest audio work imaginable. Read more
Published 19 months ago by C. Cubbin

5.0 out of 5 stars War of the Worlds Musical
A friend recently loaned me his CD set. I now have to buy a set for myself because I can't get enough. The more I listen to it, the more I like it.
Published on 14 Sep 2007 by Jennifer French-jurgens

4.0 out of 5 stars war of the worlds....yes!
i agree with the many positive reviews here as i too have
owned and loved this album since i got it on vinyl 25 years
ago. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2005 by lisa fremont

5.0 out of 5 stars AS TIMELESS AS ABBA!
Like all of the other people that have given their review of this album, It is a "one off" If you love the "early eighties era" then this is for you. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2004 by Ryan

5.0 out of 5 stars No one could have believed that in the last years...........
Everytime I hear it it sends goosebumps across my flesh! What a sheer work of absolute genius Jeff Wayne's 'The War of the Worlds' is!! Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2004 by Gavin Moore

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless masterpiece! (warlockb@hotmail.com)
I first heard some of the music when I was in my teens and it was all very mysterious and exciting. I found the novel, read it, re-read it in English and bought the album and... Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2004 by B. Jonsson

5.0 out of 5 stars first music i ever knew
My father played this for me when I was a young child I am now 31 and its still one of the the most moving pieces of music I know. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2004

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The War of the Worlds 4.9 out of 5 stars (27)
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The War of the Worlds
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