THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

As I go into this one, which is a little bit of an odd duck. I've never listened to it in its entirety, but have heard several tracks more than once, because it's been in my streaming library for several years, and I often have it on shuffle. So I have a fairly good idea as to what I am about to hear. This is not a traditional album by a prog band. It's Jeff Wayne's musical vision, brought to life with some excellent musicians brought in to achieve that vision. Who's Jeff Wayne? Prior to this album, he was primarily known as the producer of David "Rock On" Essex (who appears on this album). He grew up in the musical theater world, as his father was an actor/singer/producer. Hw wrote the score for his father's production of "West Side Story" in the mid-60s. On the other hand, he played keyboards with Folk Rock band The Sandpipers. So with his experience in musical theater and his rock and roll background, he had the concept for this album, and was able to bring in people from both worlds to work together.

The cast of characters is as follows:

Richard Burton ? George Herbert, The Journalist

Justin Hayward ? The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist

David Essex ? The Artilleryman

Chris Thompson ? The Voice of Humanity

Phil Lynott ? Parson Nathaniel

Julie Covington ? Beth (Parson Nathaniel's wife)

Jo Partridge ? The Heat Ray

Jerry Wayne ? The Voices of NASA

Along with a host of session musicians:

Chris Spedding ? guitars

Jo Partridge ? guitars, mandolin

Herbie Flowers ? bass guitar

Barry Morgan ? drums

Barry de Souza ? percussion

Roy Jones ? percussion

Ray Cooper ? percussion

Ken "Prof" Freeman ? synthesisers, organ, electric piano[15]

Jeff Wayne ? piano, jangle piano, harpsichord,[15] conductor

Paul Hart ? piano on "The Red Weed"

George Fenton ? tar, santoor, zither

Billy Lawrie ? backing vocals

Gary Osborne ? backing vocals

Chris Thompson ? backing vocals

Paul Vigrass ? backing vocals

Geraldine "Pest" Wayne ? sound effects[9]

(The lists above are copied from the Wikipedia page about the album.)

So without further ado, here is my review:

Track 1 - The Eve of War (Featuring Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)

We begin with the regal voice of Sir Richard Burton setting the scene for the story, leading into dramatic synth-led music. At about 4:30 the music pauses slightly, before the rhythm returns and Burton resumes his narration. At approximately 6:15, Hayward sings the refrain for the first time, it alternates with the narration until the 8:10 mark when we get "spooky, eerie sounds" and Burton resumes the narration. The sounds lead us into?

Track 2 - Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)...

A bit of suspenseful musical sounds at the beginning with a nice little grooving riff. Sound effects along with Burton's narration. A electric sitar-like guitar comes in with a musical theme. Enjoying the track quite nicely. As with the opening track the narration alternates with instrumental passages. Lots of cool synth effects accent the musical theme.

Track 3 - The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)...

This track begins with nature sounds, with a synth bass beginning to establish a rhythm. It builds up until he says "I realized I'd seen this awful thing before?" when themes from the first track come back.

Track 4 - Forever Autumn (Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)

This one sounds like it could be a lost Moody Blues track. A moderately tempoed ballad that suits Hayward to a T. The whole instrumentation, featuring flutes, and musical style screams Moodies. Even Burton's narration is not that far removed from some of Greame Edge's spoken-word parts on MB songs. The recurring theme (which reminds me of Styx's "Borrowed Time" chorus) comes back in. This song transitions directly into:

Track 5 - Forever Child (Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton and Chris Thompson)

Even though there is no pause between tracks 4 and 5, the listener can definitely discern that a new song has begun. The lead vocalist on this one is Chris Thompson from Manfred Mann's Earth Band (voice of "Blinded by the Light"). Dramatically, the narration ends on this track with the pronouncement that "Earth belongs to the Martians!" On the original release this would have been the close of Side 2 of record #1?.the track fades out with sound effects like one would have heard on a "flying saucer" in science fiction of the time??.setting us up for?.

Track 6 - The Red Weed, Pt. 1 (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)

The second record would begin with the same sound effects that closed out record 1.

Somber realization of the fate of the human race after the Martians took over. Melancholy sounding music. This track segues into ?

Track 7 - The Spirit of Man (Jeff Wayne. Richard Burton, Phil Lynott and Julie Covington)

The narrator decides to give a Parson a "proper burial." But, it turns out "He was alive!" Phil Lynott and Julie Covington give spirited performances as the Parson and his wife.

Track 8 - The Red Weed, Pt. 2 (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)

Although not shown on the version I am listening to, Phil Lynott continues as the Parson?.well for a moment anyway?.lol About halfway into the track, the music dramatically changes. After a moment or 2, the narration resumes with Richard Burton.

Track 9 - Brave New World (Jeff Wayne, Richard Burton and David Essex)

Essex, as the Artilleryman, has a plan! They will make a whole new world, underground. He sure is optimistic! He just needs a handful of men?.they'll start all over again! (He might need some women, too?) There's a bit of a Pinball Wizard groove to this track.

Track 9 - Dead London (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)

A melancholy intro, led into slightly more hopeful music as the narration resumes. Feeling survivor's guilt?When "abruptly the sound ceased." The music drops out and the Narrator is rady to "give himself to the Martians"...The main theme has returned and time to Boogie-oogie-oogie to the disco beat! The Martians began to be killed off by bacteria!

Track 10 - Epilogue, Pt. 1 (Jeff Wayne & Richard Burton)

Beginning with a rhythmic shuffling sound, then a triumphant musical theme. The humans begin to recover, although fears remain of another attack.

Track 11- Epilogue Pt. 2. (NASA) (Jeff Wayne)

This features radio discussions amongst NASA officials?.Not sure if this is what happened prior to the story, or if Mars is launching another attack. The track, and album, end abruptly.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

Well that was a bit of fun! It felt more like a musical drama (which is what it is promised in the title) than a true prog album. Sure, there are prog elements, as well as a few prog musicians. But a true prog album? I guess it's in the ear of the beholder. Still, as I said, it was a fun listen, with some inspired moments. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.