Sounds of Darkness

For me, this is the one that started it all.

One year while I was in college, the local classic rock station began promoting their Halloween night broadcast of the musical version of the War of the Worlds. I didn’t know what to expect … perhaps the original Orson Welles broadcast? With some musical accompaniment thrown in for good measure? I fired up the tape recorder to get it tape it off the radio (anybody else remember those days?), and was pleasantly surprised by what I heard.

They played only the first disc, but from the moment the strings kicked in on “The Eve of the War”, I was hooked. It was a terrific blending of progressive rock, pop music, and sci-fi .. the love-child of the Moody Blues, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and 50’s British science fiction. I treasured that Memorex tape for a couple of years before a friend found the 2 CD set and picked up a copy for me. Only then did I understand the scope of the project. Richard Burton! Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues! Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy! It was like the all-star original cast recording of a musical that never really happened.

From what I can tell, this recording has had a much greater impact on the rest of the world than it ever had in America. 290 weeks in the UK album charts, #1 in 11 countries, top 10 in 11 more countries. It’s been released and re-released several times. Remixes, computer games, a movie (possibly), a tour, a 7-disc box set of CDs and DVDs … this was a world-wide phenomenon that never really made it here in the US.

While technically not a Halloween album, War of the Worlds will be forever linked to my favorite holiday thanks to the old Orson Welles broadcast (and the terrific 50’s movie). And thanks to that classic-rock station, this release will always be my favorite listen every Halloween. It might sound a little cheesy, some bits seem a little dated, but I can’t help but love it.

I do not feel comfortable sharing this one. Seek it out through legitimate means. It is worth it. Mr. Wayne, will your tour ever come to the US?