The novel The War Of The Worlds by British writer HG Wells, published in 1898, is the mother of all science fiction books, films and comics in which the Earth is under threat from aliens. The double album on which American composer and producer Jeff Wayne converted the story into a musical radio play - a combination of melodic and orchestral bombast, tight disco and strong pop songs sung by a star
… cast - was the hit of 1978. From 2006 this musical spectacle also went live. performed which led to this new studio version. Old-time vocalists like Phil Lynott and Julie Covington are now sung by Joss Stone and Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs), among others. The original narrator, the late Richard Burton with his cracked voice and restrained drama, is replaced by the much kinder-sounding actor Liam Neeson. The latter is actually the biggest difference from the original. In terms of tension and imposingness, both versions are not inferior. (MR)more