Jeff Wayne's Musical - The War Of The Worlds

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JEFF WAYNE'S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

A Look Into The Multi Million Selling Science Fiction Album

By Jonathan Smith (aka Horsell_Common)

In June 1978, sci-fi and music fans the world over were introduced to an extraordinary musical masterpiece that rocked the world and some 30 years later is still loved by millions. Based on the 1898 novel by British author H.G.Wells, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds is still largely regarded as the 'definitive' telling of the chilling story of a Martian invasion upon the world during Victorian times. The album captures the powerful essence that H.G.Wells brought over in the novel, a chilling realistic tale of Victorian society bought down to it's knee's as monstrous Fighting Machines armed with deathly Heat Rays set about the English Country side, heading towards the London capitol in the quest to take over the world.

Like the book, Jeff Wayne needed to have a storyteller and this was given to the late great Richard Burton who still haunts and captivates our senses to this day with his presence on the recordings. It is common for many fans of the album to dim the lights, close the doors and play Richard Burton's haunting opening narration that is quickly followed by the sudden burst of orchestral strings - chilling, moving, effective and above all just so right.


The Martian cylinder lays in the sand pits upon Horsell Common - Painting By Peter Goodfellow.

Joining the vast array of talented musicians and song writers such as Paul Vigrass and Gary Osbourne, guitar work from such artistes as Jo Partridge, Herbie Flowers and Chris Spedding, drums by Barry Morgan, George Fenton upon Autoharp, Santur and Tar, Ken 'Prof' Freeman on synthesisers, percussion by Barry De Souza, Ray Jones and Ray Cooper, Paul Hart as the piano on 'The Red Weed' and Jeff Wayne on piano and harpsichord, from the outset this was always going to be something special, but that was not the end of it. Joining them were the vocal talents David Essex as 'The Artilleryman', Phil Lynott as 'Parson Nathaniel', Julie Covington as 'Beth' the Parsons wife, Justin Hayward and Chris Thompson.

With the music covered and lyrics now in place, the album needed on more ingredient in the form of the story that was superbly written by Doreen Wayne, a full time writer. Her first novel The Love Strike set in her home town of Hull was followed by the best-seller Love Is A Well Raped Word in 1968. She also wrote for newspapers, magazines and television as well as rewriting the script for the West End musical Two Cities, based upon the Charles Dickens A Tale Of Two Cities.


Man Vs Martian as the brave Thunder Child meets her destiny - Painting by Michael Trim

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds follows the tale of the journalist (Richard Burton) after a 'Falling Star' lands upon Horsell Common in Woking, Surrey, during the first disc, named like the books first section 'The Coming Of The Martians'. Quickly we learn it's a cylinder containing an invading army of creatures from Mars. After the cylinder has opened disgorging its alien contents, the creatures set about building vast machines that walk upon three legs. A tremendous battle unfolds on Horsell Common and a single Artilleryman (David Essex) survives to tell the tale of Fighting Machines armed with Heat Rays that wiped the army out. Another falling star is observed, landing London way so the Journalist and his new companion set off, the journalist hopes of reaching London in time to find the love of his life - Carrie. Arriving at Weybridge, they are greeted by the advancing Martian invaders as they set about destroying the towns. The journalist and the Artilleryman are separated as a Martian Fighting Machine is bought down by the guns of the British army, quickly being destroyed by the invaders. Having escaped, the journalist reaches London to find Carrie has fled the capital. As he heads for the docks he see's the mass exodus from London, millions fleeing at the Martians rampage across the city. Upon reaching the coast and seeing the paddle steamer that's taking Carrie to safety, another battle unfolds between man and Martian. The vast Fighting Machines plunge out into the sea as the pride of the Royal Navy awaits, the H.M.S Thunder Child. As the battle commences, victory cheers turn to horror as the brave Thunder Child is lost to the oceans depths, her hull being pierced by the deathly Martians Heat Rays.


Panic in the streets as the Martians advance upon Weybridge - Painting by Geoff Taylor

The second chapter on disc two 'The Earth Under The Martians' see's how the world has fallen to the Martians as the planets surface has no been taken over by an unearthly plant, the Red Weed. As the journalist wades through this spongy mass of growth he happens upon the body of a Parson (Phil Lynott). In the distance comes the cries of the Parsons wife (Julie Covington) as they take shelter from an approaching Fighting Machine spraying a poisonous vapour called The Black Smoke, death to all that breaths. The Parson believes the Martians are demons sent to the Earth by the Devil and feels it should be him who must confront them. With a green flash, the house they are taking shelter in collapses as a huge Martian cylinder falls from the sky, burying them under the ruins. Beth is found dead as the Parsons cries of anguish fill the air. The journalist and the Parson fight, the journalist scarred that the Parsons outcries could invite the Martians to them after they witness the Martians feeding upon humans and the arrival of a new machine, a six legged metallic giant with huge claws and a human capturing basket upon it's back. After a fight, the Parson is knocked unconscious by the journalist as a Martians claw comes into the ruins. The Parson body is dragged away and the journalist, scarred, buries himself amongst the coal and wood in the cellar. After many days of imprisonment, the journalist flee's the ruined house and finds no living souls for days. Approaching London again, he stumbles upon a familiar face, the Artilleryman and learns of a new life that seems to be starting, according to the Artilleryman. A new life that will exist - underground. The delusional dreams of the solider unnerve the journalist as he slowly watches man's empire being taken away by these creatures from another world, so after some time he leaves the Artilleryman and heads off towards the great city.


Earth becomes Mars as the Martian vegitation The Red Weed takes control - Painting by Geoff Taylor

He finds London in ruins, blackened by the Black Dust, empty streets, mankind slain by the Martians, not a living soul to be seen, but the air filled with the haunting cry of a Martian Fighting Machine, calling out to it's companions. As time passes, the journalist, weary, hungry, his mind wondering, follows the Martians cry as desperation take control. He decides his only chance now is to give his life to the Martians. Scrambling to the summit of Primrose Hill, he is greeted by a stupendous site, the great city covered with Fighting Machines and there Martian inhabitants - dead. And so we learn of there demise, these invaders, so intelligent that on Mars there are no diseases, but Earth has plenty and they are overcome by Bacteria. Joyfully, the journalist tells of the triumphant return of human life in the streets again, but grave thoughts fill upper minds as questions arise on another attack from Mars. And as the journalist tells us, 'Maybe the future belongs not to us, but to the Martians'.


The end of Martian life as the earthly diseases claim the invaders from Mars - Painting by Geoff Taylor

And so ends this great story. But no, its doesn't stop there, moving years ahead to almost present times, a landing upon Mars see's lights of some kind, green flares spurting from Mars, trailing a green mist. Each flare is observed leaving the red planet, getting closer and closer, heading towards Earth. What are they?, who are they?, our worst fears have come apparent . . . . .

Since 1978, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds has sold over 13 million copies of the disc's, stayed in the albums charts for 5 years, seen numerous hit singles including 'The Eve Of The War' and 'Forever Autumn'. The album has won Jeff Wayne two Ivor Novello Awards, the ultimate accolade for writers in the U.K. Released a best selling games for both the P.C and Playstation. In 1985 the album was released on compact disc. Remastered in 1995 to include 4 remixes. Remixed in 2000 and released as 'UllaDubUlla' that contained 7" and 12" mixes and now after almost 30 years, the album is back on top again and this time entering the top 10 album charts with this classic and much loved album, bringing us bang up to date with musical technology, the album has been mixed and placed into SA-CD 5.1 Surround Sound format, giving the listener the 'ultimate' playback experience, putting 'you' into the music. But it does not stop there. Now in production and with an expected release of early 2008, we will see a fully animated and very long awaited movie version of Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds coming to cinema's world wide. Indeed, with all the fascination with this ground breaking album, re-launch and CGI movie - the Earth really does belong to the Martians.

Written by Jonathan Smith[/center]