Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds
Discussion
I've had a copy of this in one form or another just about my entire life. Having been born in 83, when the record was only 5 years old, I grew up listening to it. I used to have it on a green tape as a kid, then CD and lately via Spotify.
It's probably my desert island disc of choice. I love the music and the storytelling equally. I never get bored of listening to it. Richard Burtons voice is incredible too.
Thankfully I managed to get tickets to the live show in March and am very much looking forward to it.
This got me thinking about the album's original reception. I wasn't born at the time, but how was it received critically? Are there any reviews of the time, I've had a search but cannot find anything.
It's clearly stood the test of time and is very much loved 44 years later, just wondering how it was thought of in 1978.
It's probably my desert island disc of choice. I love the music and the storytelling equally. I never get bored of listening to it. Richard Burtons voice is incredible too.
Thankfully I managed to get tickets to the live show in March and am very much looking forward to it.
This got me thinking about the album's original reception. I wasn't born at the time, but how was it received critically? Are there any reviews of the time, I've had a search but cannot find anything.
It's clearly stood the test of time and is very much loved 44 years later, just wondering how it was thought of in 1978.
It's an early musical memory for me - it was released when I was about 9 and my next-door neighbour's parents had bought it. He and I listened to it in wonder, it was fantastic. The opening "No-one would have believed" monologue in Burton's silky tones still make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Since then I've owned it on most formats, in some cases more than once, and the gatefold LP has been studied repeatedly. The remaster with Liam Neeson as the journalist has nowhere near the presence, but some of the additions were welcome. The original has been listened to again and again, it never gets dull for me, except the Brave New World song (David Essex) goes on a bit.
It's an interesting question. It seems very polarising, everyone I know of my generation either loves or hates it...
Since then I've owned it on most formats, in some cases more than once, and the gatefold LP has been studied repeatedly. The remaster with Liam Neeson as the journalist has nowhere near the presence, but some of the additions were welcome. The original has been listened to again and again, it never gets dull for me, except the Brave New World song (David Essex) goes on a bit.
It's an interesting question. It seems very polarising, everyone I know of my generation either loves or hates it...
I was 21 when it was released, it was loved by me and all my mates. We were into Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin ect and this was right up there with them on our play list, normally in a smoky room with a strange smell.
It now sits with Tubular Bells, 666, Greasy Truckers Party as being one of those LP types in my house.
Eleven year old grandaughter loves it and knows all the words, i bought her the CD for Christmas but she prefers to listen to the LP with me, minus the strange smelling smoke of course.

Eleven year old grandaughter loves it and knows all the words, i bought her the CD for Christmas but she prefers to listen to the LP with me, minus the strange smelling smoke of course.
I used to think it was written by that bloke in ELO...

But if you want to see a real Martian and alien pod from War Of The Worlds rock down to Woking town centre.
https://www.celebratewoking.info/visit/heritage/le...
No. No no no. Nothing to do with the dreadful Tom Cruise nonsense.

But if you want to see a real Martian and alien pod from War Of The Worlds rock down to Woking town centre.
https://www.celebratewoking.info/visit/heritage/le...
No. No no no. Nothing to do with the dreadful Tom Cruise nonsense.
When it came out I was working as a HiFi salesman... the bit where the top of the cylinder falls off and the Martians start to ululate sold more (and more expensive!) systems than any other demo record with the possible exception of the helicopter in Floyd's The Wall.
I still love it all these years later and have seen the live show twice - you'll have a blast.
I still love it all these years later and have seen the live show twice - you'll have a blast.
I've had this since I was a kid in the early 80s, every family seemed to have it. I still listen to it now and then, the start with Richard Burton as someone already said still sends shivers down my spine, as does Julie Covington on The Spirit of Man. I've always felt the whole thing tailed off a bit though and probably only listen to the whole thing half the time.
I've got tickets to the immersive experience, but haven't been yet 'cos Covid..
I've got tickets to the immersive experience, but haven't been yet 'cos Covid..
Dad had this on LP when I was little in the 80’s - huge fan of it. Couple of versions on CD as well as his old vinyl.
Always fancied the live show but they do sell out really fast.
There is a live immersive WOTW experience that has been running in London for the past few months and is booked for some time ahead.
It’s my go to for long drives on my own. No one else I know seems to get it.
Thunderchild is a personal favourite.
Always fancied the live show but they do sell out really fast.
There is a live immersive WOTW experience that has been running in London for the past few months and is booked for some time ahead.
It’s my go to for long drives on my own. No one else I know seems to get it.
Thunderchild is a personal favourite.
I'll say thanks for the heads up on this, didn't realise the show was touring this year... 'no one would have believed...'
I'm another old codger on here. I bought the original vinyl when it came out in 78, mainly because of the cover artwork and I knew Justin Hayward was singing on it (chosen by Jeff Wayne, because of Hayward's singing 'Nights in White Satin' - Moody Blues). I think I've still got 3 CDs of it hanging around too. Forever Autumn was released as a single and it flew up the charts, top 6 if I recall. I still have loads of singles, so prob have that too - if its not among the many I've sold over the years.
Waynes WOTW was just so different to anything, and Burton's haunting voice - I didn't know anyone who didn't like it.
One of those things that comes along and stands the whole test of time.
I'd seen the Moody Blues at the Isle of Wight Festival in Aug 70 - several days of utter magic, sunburnt in the day, wonderful evenings into early mornings. I was heading towards 21 then - into rock, blues, the usual Fleetwood Mac, Zeppelin, anything good back then there was soooo much to choose from, and gigs and concerts seemed to be on relentlessly, so much to choose.
But nothing ever matched the IofW Festival for the attendance - some said nearly 3/4million! Over double that of the previous year's attendance at Woodstock in the USA .
Sooo much freedom back then, some groups played well into the small hours, sod restrictions. I look at today in despair in comparison.
The Moody Blues set at the IoW is still all over youtube. Hayward was 24 then, you can see from this old clip of him singing Nights in White Satin why J. Wayne chose him.
I just mentioned it to my wife... that's it, she's looking for tickets already!
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I'm another old codger on here. I bought the original vinyl when it came out in 78, mainly because of the cover artwork and I knew Justin Hayward was singing on it (chosen by Jeff Wayne, because of Hayward's singing 'Nights in White Satin' - Moody Blues). I think I've still got 3 CDs of it hanging around too. Forever Autumn was released as a single and it flew up the charts, top 6 if I recall. I still have loads of singles, so prob have that too - if its not among the many I've sold over the years.
Waynes WOTW was just so different to anything, and Burton's haunting voice - I didn't know anyone who didn't like it.
One of those things that comes along and stands the whole test of time.
I'd seen the Moody Blues at the Isle of Wight Festival in Aug 70 - several days of utter magic, sunburnt in the day, wonderful evenings into early mornings. I was heading towards 21 then - into rock, blues, the usual Fleetwood Mac, Zeppelin, anything good back then there was soooo much to choose from, and gigs and concerts seemed to be on relentlessly, so much to choose.
But nothing ever matched the IofW Festival for the attendance - some said nearly 3/4million! Over double that of the previous year's attendance at Woodstock in the USA .
Sooo much freedom back then, some groups played well into the small hours, sod restrictions. I look at today in despair in comparison.
The Moody Blues set at the IoW is still all over youtube. Hayward was 24 then, you can see from this old clip of him singing Nights in White Satin why J. Wayne chose him.
I just mentioned it to my wife... that's it, she's looking for tickets already!

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I watched the live show on Sky Arts channel a few weeks back, with Liam Neeson.
It’s the relationship of the instruments (and musicians) to the familiar sounds of the album is what had me mesmerised. Something that watching it from the audience you might not get, depending where you’re sat.
It’s the relationship of the instruments (and musicians) to the familiar sounds of the album is what had me mesmerised. Something that watching it from the audience you might not get, depending where you’re sat.
Edited by JustGREENI on Saturday 5th February 06:50
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