war of the worlds

[kirisute]

just bought the new version of this epic album!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jeff-wayn...ion/id572470367

I am a huge fan of the original score and have a copy of the original album complete with the interior art book etc as well as the cd compilation.

just listening to this new version for "a new generation"

 

so far its not too bad...some obvious changes and a bit "funkier" in places; Liam Neeson doesn't do a bad job of narrating and overall its sounding pretty damn cool. even the original art has been reproduced in the digital booklet for the release!

 

any one else listened to this version? opinions?

[rob.imk2]

just bought the new version of this epic album!

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jeff-wayn...ion/id572470367

I am a huge fan of the original score and have a copy of the original album complete with the interior art book etc as well as the cd compilation.

just listening to this new version for "a new generation"

 

so far its not too bad...some obvious changes and a bit "funkier" in places; Liam Neeson doesn't do a bad job of narrating and overall its sounding pretty damn cool. even the original art has been reproduced in the digital booklet for the release!

 

any one else listened to this version? opinions?

Not heard the new version yet but I listen to the old one quite often to chill .I will have to source a copy

[Clifftop]

I have the old one somewhere but not heard the new one

[Ken L]

WotW was one of the soundtracks of my youth along with the likes of Tangerine Dream and Jean Michelle Jarre - it was only David Essex that ruined it. I've not heard the new version yet but will have to track some of it down and have a listen.

[robtherake]

I first became aware of this re-working when Gary Barlow's version of Forever Autumn was aired on Radio 2. It's almost a clone of the original. If there's nothing new to add, why bother? Many cover versions have their own distinctive sound - if you're gonna do a re-release, surely it should offer up something new, musically - this doesn't seem to.

[kirisute]

I first became aware of this re-working when Gary Barlow's version of Forever Autumn was aired on Radio 2. It's almost a clone of the original. If there's nothing new to add, why bother? Many cover versions have their own distinctive sound - if you're gonna do a re-release, surely it should offer up something new, musically - this doesn't seem to.

The main songs are very similar but the main scores etc have been reworked quite considerably once you listen to them. Nothing major, it's still WOTW but there are new sounds, clever effects and some enhancements.

For exemplar, if you recall, the hero jump into a stream when the Martians attack the gun placement on the hill. In the original the narration just carries right on with the music, on the new version you hear a splash and it goes silent for about ten seconds before neeson begins his narration again when he comes up for air.

Nothing extraordinary but certainly enough fr it all to sound new.

[Steve Walker]

Heard a bit of it on an advert - it just sounds wrong to me in any voice but Richard Burton's.

[robtherake]

Heard a bit of it on an advert - it just sounds wrong to me in any voice but Richard Burton's.

 

I believe the phrase is "Gilding the lily".

 

Each to their own though. I had a conversation about cover versions with one of my daughters. I played her the original version of a re-release and because she'd heard the latest version first, it was the original which didn't sound right to her. Similarly, I've been sure that songs I'd heard were originals until - years later - I came across the original recording.

 

Re-recorded songs that have skipped a whole generation of listeners have a brand new audience, many of whom are unaware of the existence of the "classic" version.

Edited November 30, 2012 by robtherake

[kirisute]

I'm more open minded towards it.

I love the original, but I have to say I'm enjoying the new version too!

There is room for both if they are done well and dare is taken!

[jimpy0]

If you want different search out - War of the Worlds: ULLAdubULLA The Remix Album, make sure its the first and not the second offering.