QUICKLINKS : HOME DOWNLOADS PRESS RELEASE FAN FICTION SANDPIT COLLECTIBLES ONLINE CHAT MERCHANDISE

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of
The War Of The Worlds

One of the new "Official" items available soon.  Click on the above picture for a larger version of the poster/print.
ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT OLLIE RECORD PRODUCTIONS
COPYRIGHT © 2005. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

1978 CBS Records
Featuring Richard Burton, Julie Covington,
David Essex, Justin Howard, Phil Lynott,
Jo Partridge, Chris Thompson

Images are copyright Ollie Record Productions
 

The record that made Jeff Wayne a household name was his version of The War of the Worlds, which became one of the biggest-selling albums ever with its blend of rock, drama and quasi-classical arrangements.

Jeff, a son of singer/actor/musical producer Jerry Wayne, started his musical career by composing the score form his father's West End musical Two Cities. Lots of composing, arranging and producing of commercials, radio & TV themes, films and records followed, among which many hit records for David Essex. The music of The War of the Worlds was composed, orchestrated, conducted and produced by Jeff. Gary Osborne and Paul Vigrass helped out with writing the lyrics, while Doreen Wayne wrote the script, based upon Wells' novel. The person who ended up doing the narrative section in the role of 'The Journalist' was movie star Richard Burton.

Other people who played roles in the story were Julie 'Don't Cry for me Argentina' Covington (Beth), David Essex (The Artilleryman) and Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott (Parson Nathaniel). All three of these also lent their vocals to the songs on the album, while Manfred Man's Chris Thompson and Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues both also sang on the album.

As in the book, the story on the album is divided up in two pieces. The first album/CD covers 'The Coming of the Martians' in 5 songs, while the second album/CD covers 'The Earth Under the Martians' in 7 more tracks. The whole composition is build around several recurring musical themes and consists of long instrumental sections, songs with lyrics and spoken narratives. Add a powerful (string) orchestra, spooky sound effects and lots of keyboard and guitar noises. The whole forms a perfect combination, which is only intensified by the marvellous artwork and 6 coloured pictures depicting scenes from the story.

JEFF WAYNE MUSIC RE-LAUNCH

A new multi-project contract with Sony Entertainment UK includes a 5.1 Surround Sound remix and will spearhead a 2005 international re-launch of the recording, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. Since its first release in 1978, it has enjoyed worldwide sales in excess of 12 million records. The re-launch project will take effect both domestically and internationally, including the United States, and will be backed by the full weight of Sony's marketing and PR expertise in every key territory.

JEFF WAYNE COLLECTORS EDITION RELEASED THIS SUMMER

News has come in from Jeff Wayne about his forth coming album re-launch this summer of the international award winning album Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds of what the long awaited 'Collectors Edition' set(s) will include.

1. CD's 1 and 2 - SA-CD - these are 2 CD's each containing two files. One file is a brand new stereo remix built up from the original multi tracks, transferred into the digital domain - sound by sound, track by track and then ENTIRELY remixed. If you only have a stereo system it will select the stereo mix. It is a major step up in sound quality than the current stereo version. The second file is the 5.1 Surround Sound mix (not some 'enhanced' version which a lot of record companies actually do and then sell it as a surround sound remix). A true and totally new remix including ingredients never heard before. That is why Sony Hardware have backed TWOTW 5.1 remix so they can use it as a true demonstration of what the limits of this technology can produce and will promote it as such. The listener is truly 'in' the sound. Anyone with a surround sound system will have that system select the 5.1 file rather than the stereo. The new new remixes represent work started early last summer and will be completed within the next month (April 05).

2. CD 3 - The Remixes 1979-2005 - these represent the best of what has been remixed through the years, some being hits, others just being excellent renditions of different DJ/Remixers slants on the compositions with samples and Jeff's original scores having been provided to them. There are also a couple of new remixes never before heard.

3. CD's 4-6 - Contain rarities, out-takes, 'special' studio mixes of musical content never before heard, and half of CD 6 being the entire Richard Burton and other actors recorded unabridged script, much of which has also never been heard before.

4. 1 DVD - which does recount the history of the making of the recording, visual clips of rare video footage, and a host of other items you would expect on a DVD of this sort along with additional clips from the development of our CGI film not yet seen by anyone. It is also hoping to be used in a different edited form as the base for a TV documentary.

5. The booklet is also stunning and now up to 80 pages. It all comes bound and is the size of a black vinyl disc.

Also coming soon, there will be a huge range of The War Of The Worlds goodies, some 250+ at present, to satisfy all fans and collectors. You can find out more by going to this site http://www.thewaroftheworlds.com/ - so make a note of it.

With much thanks to Jeff Wayne and HC for the above information

CGI VERSION

Acclaimed musician Jeff Wayne is working on putting together an animated version of his bestselling and award-winning Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds. The $48 million feature-length animated project is in pre-production and will use state-of-the-art CGI and Motion Capture technology. His team already has a completed script and storyboard, including an original prequel explaining why the Martians leave their planet to invade Earth during the time of Victorian England.

A 15 and 60 second clip of test footage for the Jeff Wayne CGI movie has been released. Click on the above images to go to waroftheworldsonline.com from there you can view the samples.

We have been provided with another teaser from the Jeff Wayne camp, taken from the R&D material being cranked out at a rate of knots for Jeff Wayne's CGI feature film of his classic Musical Work. This is a turntable of the brilliant Handling Machine which collects humans, drains them of their blood and stores them in its basket. WMV version or Quicktime version available for download.

Copyright Ollie Record Productions 2005. All Rights Reserved.

Above are various records that were released

JEFF WAYNE WAR OF THE WORLDS OFFICIAL SITE

Click on the above image to go to the official website

Jeff Wayne PRESS RELEASE December 2004

Images are copyright Ollie Record Productions

Thanks to Jonathan (HC) for all your help with Jeff Wayne information