Wednesday 14 January 2009

Things What Are Great #1 - Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds

Editor's Note:- Here's the first in a (probably occasional) series of blogs about things that I've liked for so long that I kind of take them granted - so much so that I assume everyone else has this as a reference point until they look at me funny and I realise it's just me. Don't expect them to be unbiased...

In A Nutshell:- It's orchestral yet synthy 20th century prog rock meets the grandaddy of 19th century science fiction. How could it not be great?

The Basics:- Recorded in 1976-77 and released in 1978, the double LP of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds is that rare thing - a concept album that actually really works. For those of you who haven't heard it, it's a faithful retelling of the novel combining narration from Richard Burton as the unnamed narrator form the book alongside instrumental tracks and songs featuring artists such as Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues and David Essex.

Why's It So Great, Then?:- It's always hard to pinpoint why something works but, somehow, the mixture of Burton, the musicians and Wayne's music itself all come together to create something that's such a ridiculous idea that it really shouldn't work but somehow manages to be brilliant. I first heard it when I was about six or seven and had to be bought the LP which was then played incessantly (along with a taped version for the car so that I could imitate the Martian war machines in the back of the car to my little heart's delight - "Ulla!"). The LP itself came with a massive fold-out booklet containing the narration and lyrics and some gorgeous painted artwork - my favourite being the picture of ravens picking the dead flesh of the Martians from their crashed machines at the end (I was always a morbid child). Plus Lynott and Essex put in some great powerhouse performances as Nathaniel the priest and the Artilleryman respectively.

Surely Some Of It Must Be Rubbish... :- Well, if I have to pinpoint something, I'd have to say I'm not overly fond of the music for The Red Weed - it's sounds a bit like a cross between comedy drunkard music and something a Mogwai would sing. I get what's trying to do but, for me, it just doesn't work. Other than that, though, it's all good.

So We Should Seek Out This thing Of Which You Speak? :- If you like H.G.Wells' work and you like a bit of operatic-tinged prog rock then definitely, yes. If you don't, well, give it a try anyway. It might just surprise you. Wayne is currently touring with a full live show based on the album. I've missed it a couple of times so I may have to go this time. It would be rude not to. Altogether now:-


"The chances of anything coming from Mars
Are a million to one
But still they come...."

8 comments:

Belle said...

Is this your way of getting back at me for writing about my vagina?

That Baldy Fella said...

Come on, War Of The Worlds, it's great!

"Dum dum der, doo doo doo, doo doo doo. Dum dum der, doo doo doo, doo doo doo"

No? OK, just me then....

Belle said...

No I like it. I really do...
I was just thinking if you came across the buggy-lady again, you could tell her why you like War of The Worlds.
I'm just saying....

Irish Gumbo said...

'Vagina' and 'War of the Worlds' are not two things that should go together...wait, I meant 'Musical' and 'War of the Worlds'.

Richard Burton and Phil Lynott: from the outside that is either completely nuts or a real stroke of genius. Sounds like it worked, though.

'The Boys Are Back In Town' indeed!

That Baldy Fella said...

Belle - Pah! That's nothing. If I really want to deter her, I'll demonstrate my near-encyclopedic knowledge of DC Comics. That's truly frightening.

IG - It's that careful combination of nuts yet genius. Although I may be a bit unbiased on this one...

That Baldy Fella said...

...or biased even...

Anna Russell said...

Erm... well, it doesn't have Tom Cruise and it does have Richard Burton, so that's 2 points in its favour.
Not having Tom Cruise in it is usually a selling point for me on anything.

Hugs
Anna xxx

That Baldy Fella said...

Maybe they could use as a selling point for more things.

"Son, take your medicine"
"Don't want to"
"Come on now, it could be worse, it could have Tom Cruise in it"