Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds

[Keith]

Didn't know exactly where to drop this one in, but I was wondering if anyone else out there in the kingdom of Sword and Laser has ever heard Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds. I just finished a long article about it and am thus obsessed with it right now. It's sort of a prog rock opera adaptation of Wells, from 1978, and featuring none other than Richard Burton, at the end of his career and apparently fueled with a lot of Coors.

I think the whole thing is fantastic. And despite the weirdness, the synths, and Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott, it's still the most faithful adaptation of the book.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

I remember it being a big deal when it came out. I was 16 at the time. It was on top of the Australian album charts for a couple of months.

It includes one of my all time favourite songs, "Forever Autumn", which was a hit here. I still have the 45 single on vinyl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9aJyk...

I did have the whole album, but it was on tape and eventually got chewed up.

There is an animated version coming out, it was supposed to be out in time for the 30th anniversary (2008) but it is still in production, and more stage versions are being planned.
http://www.thewaroftheworlds.com/

[Mark]

I still have the CD around somewhere, I bought it on a whim some years ago. On the whole it's cheesy as hell but I really used to like the song Thunderchild when I was a kid.