Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds: The New Generation (2CD)

Where to start with this...? Some things really are best left alone, and this "re-imagination" of the seminal 70s record really is a prime example. Liam Neeson just can't cut it as the Narrator (a tough job when you're up against the great Richard Burton) and some of the new dialogue is just plain awful (the emotion isn't there - esp. the Atilleryman). As for the music, over produced digital effects ruin the original. It really is terrible. I was so disappointed. Stick the original.

It was with much trepidation that I ordered this reworking of what can only be described as one of the best musical experiences in my lifetime. However, I should have known better than to worry about such things.
I knew it was going to sound very different vocally and so I approached my first play through with an open mind and tried not to constantly compare this with the original. To my surprise, I found myself drawn into the production straight from the opening introduction by Liam Neeson. As I listened, it became clear that, apart from two or three transitions, a lot of effort has gone into every aspect of the music.
The Next Generation have proven their worth in their respective fields and deliver, almost faultlessly, superb performances. Maverick Sable and Joss Stone give confident performances as Nathaniel and Beth, as does Alex Clare as the Voice of Humanity. As for Gary Barlow, whilst I'm not his biggest fan, he has certainly gone up in my estimation, delivering Forever Autumn with the respect it deserves. Liam probably had the biggest shoes to fill. How do you deliver as successfully as the late, great Richard Burton? Answer, you take the role as if it was the first time it had been done and deliver an assured narration. The added text throws you a curve ball at first, but is very welcome. Try listening to it more than once and it becomes a wonderful addition.
But my highest praise has to go to Ricky Wilson. David Essex made this part his own and even the live shows didn't quite give what David gave to the role (sorry Alexis). But Ricky Wilson's delivery has re-written all that has gone before him. Thank the Lord he's going on tour with the ensemble. He lifts the part to new highs, portraying hope as if it was something tangible that you could reach out and touch.
Overall, Jeff Wayne has done what some would have thought impossible. He has delivered a refreshingly updated version of a masterpiece. It sounds richer and bolder without seeking to replace the original.
One last point is that it is presented in a superb CD package. The enclosed booklet contains biographies of all the players, new artwork and a full text listing of every spoken and sung word.
Overall, if you still love the original, you will, with an open mind, love this as well.
Hat's off to Jeff Wayne!!!

sorry but i dont see the point of releasing an album nearly identical to the origanal ,just with different artists,the best example of this is forever autumn by garry barlow,i heard this on the radio and i didnt realise it was a new version,whats the point if your going to rehash a concept album change it radically or whats the point .this is more like glee does war of the worlds pointless ,just a money spinner nothing else,buy the origanal and avoid this,

Wow,excellant production. having grown up with the original I felt reluctant to buy it! Pleasantly surprised how good it is after listening it today. All should give this album a go old or new fans. Seen the show twice really brings the album to life.Going to see the new show in a few weeks in Birmingham. Beats Xfactor by miles ;-)

Having been an avid fan of JEFF WAYNE'S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS since the late 1970s, and listening to this classic album many more times than I care to remember (including live on stage a couple of years ago), I was naturally thrilled to hear that it was going to be re-released with an entirely new cast.

Acclaimed Irish actor LIAM NEESON takes over narration duties from Welshman RICHARD BURTON to tell the story of an Alien invasion from Mars in the late nineteenth century. The Martians travel to Earth in huge cylinders and emerge with their terrifying heat ray weaponry and gigantic tripod war machines to wreck havoc and destruction upon Victorian England.

During his ordeal to escape the advancing Martians, a young journalist (NEESON) meets various characters including an idealistic Artilleryman (RICKY WILSON), a doubt-ridden Parson (MAVERICK SABRE) and his pragmatic wife (JOSS STONE) while at the same time witnessing key events like the destruction of the mighty Ironclad, Thunderchild.

I was extremely happy with this new recording and pleasantly surprised at how much more additional content had been included to help flesh out the story. A nice touch, too, was the water effect during the first tripod attack!

While perhaps NEESON sounds a little too calm in his narration and there is not quite the same level of intensity in the song SPIRIT OF MAN as previously expressed by JULIE COVINGTON and PHILIP LYNOTT in the original version, these are only mild criticisms in what builds convincingly on an already outstanding body of work.

The two discs come nicely packaged in a little booklet which also includes biographies of the cast, a full transcript of the entire text (with additional content in gold for easy reference) and the original pictures have been redrawn, too.

Consequently some people will hate this NEXT GENERATION edition simply because they love the original version so much, but hopefully they will still give it the chance which it so richly deserves!