A most amazing album cover presented itself, entitled Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. The artwork includes a full width color fold-out front and back and interior cover, a four-page insert with artwork,and the full script from each of four sides. Pictured on the back page is the cast with bios and photos.
By far and away, the stand out are the paintings (prints) by artist Geoff Taylor. If you are into it, you can still by reproductions on Taylor’s site.
This 1978 beauty is one that exemplifies that which we have lost without album cover art today. Sorry, but CD size art, or worse, tiny icons just pale by comparison.
The 1978 recording includes a group of eight actors and musicians, including Richard Burton noted for his portrayal of Hamlet (and his marriage to Liz Taylor.) Julie Covington, star actress and singer of the Broadway hit Godspell including the single, Day by Day, who later performed in The Rocky Horror Show, and Don’t Cry for Me Argentina in Evita plays Beth. David Essex, renown for the collaborative hit single “Rock On,” with Jeff Wayne stars as The Artillery Man.
Musical appearances include Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Phillip Lynott, front man for Thin Lizzy, who plays Parson Nathaniel, Jo Partridge (The Heat Ray), guitarist and singer for Kiki Dee, Elton John, the Beach Boys and Steely Dan, Chris Thompson of Manfred Man’s Earth Band, and New York pianist and musical producer, Jeff Wayne.
I do miss the album cover art!