Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds
by Doc on Dec.05, 2009, under Audio
It seems to be PBS Pledge Week around here, and one of the items I haven’t seen before that proved to be very interesting is [asin=B000J10LC2]Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War Of The Worlds[/asin] (currently discontinued but available – also available as a [asin=B0009MAPUO]Hybrid SACD[/asin]). This originally started as a concept album in 1978 and featured the talents of Justin Hayward (Moody Blues), Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy), David Essex and Julie Covington, and Richard Burton narrating the story. On stage, it isn’t a play so much as an orchestra plus video and a light show, but with a few actor/singers playing parts – plus a giant disembodied head using Burton’s original narration, and still features Justin Hayward singing. If you like the 1970s psychedelic rock style and the story, this may be of interest to you. But beware…the two lines Hayward sings at the beginning in “The Eve of the War” tend to stick in your head…
December 5th, 2009 on 2:59 pm
Not to mention Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, whose performance as the Parson Nathaniel is, frankly, the best thing on the album.
December 5th, 2009 on 3:33 pm
Thanks, that was an error in editing – I added him in. The most recent tour also had Jennifer Ellison (Meg Giry in Phantom Of The Opera) (which may be what they are showing on PBS…I have to go back and check, but it looked like her)