Jeff Wayne – The War of the Worlds (1978) Double Vinyl LP Record
£11.99
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Jeff Wayne – The War of the Worlds (1978) Double Vinyl LP Record
£11.99
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Product Description
Track Listing
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Album Introduction
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a concept album composed and produced by Jeff Wayne, released in June 1978 on CBS Records. Based on H.G. Wells' 1898 science fiction novel, the album brings the story to life through a dramatic fusion of orchestral music, rock, narration and vocal performances across its double-LP format. The album reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart and has spent over 330 weeks on the chart across multiple re-entries, making it one of the most enduring and commercially successful concept albums in British chart history. The narration is provided by Richard Burton, whose distinctive voice gives the album its dramatic spine. Vocal performances include Justin Hayward (of The Moody Blues) — whose Forever Autumn reached UK No. 5 — Phil Lynott (of Thin Lizzy), David Essex and Julie Covington. The 12-track double LP demonstrates Wayne's ability to combine orchestral ambition with rock energy and cinematic storytelling in a way that has made The War of the Worlds one of the most beloved and culturally significant concept albums ever produced.
Stand-Out Tracks
- The Eve of the War — The album's opening track and one of the most immediately dramatic and atmospherically distinctive recordings in the concept album canon; its combination of a driving, orchestral production, Burton's narration and a memorable synthesiser hook gives it a sustained dramatic tension that has made it one of the most enduring recordings of the progressive rock era.
- Forever Autumn — Sung by Justin Hayward and one of the most melodically beautiful and emotionally direct recordings on the album; its combination of a warm, orchestral production and Hayward's completely assured vocal gives it a romantic melancholy that gave the album its biggest commercial hit. UK No. 5.
- The Spirit of Man — A dramatic, multi-section piece featuring Phil Lynott and Julie Covington; its combination of driving rock energy, theatrical vocal performances and orchestral ambition gives it a sustained dramatic tension that demonstrates the album's ability to combine narrative and musical ambition with complete effectiveness.
- Brave New World — Sung by David Essex; a warm, mid-tempo track that gives the album one of its most melodically generous and emotionally direct moments and demonstrates the album's ability to sustain dramatic tension across a more reflective and intimate register.
- Thunderchild — A driving, orchestral rock track that gives the album one of its most immediately energetic and dramatically powerful moments; its combination of a driving production and Burton's narration gives it a sustained dramatic tension that has made it one of the most enduring recordings on the album.
Record Details
- Artist: Jeff Wayne
- Title: The War of the Worlds (Jeff Wayne's Musical Version)
- Year: 1978
- Label: CBS Records
- Format: Double Vinyl LP
- Pressing: UK original pressing
- Genre: Progressive Rock / Concept Album / Musical
- Decade: 1970s
- Barcode: 5099709600012
Condition
Condition: G/G — see our Condition Grading Guide. Age-related marks.
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