When H.G. Wells published The War of the Worlds as a serialized collection of stories in 1897 and a full novel a year later, he may not have known the groundbreaking work he was unleashing on the world. A sci-fi story that dared to look at the dark side of theoretical human-alien contact, War of the Worlds was a fantastical-yet-grounded story that imagined visitors from the planet Mars as anything but friendly. The book became fertile ground for adaptations, from Orson Welles' dramatic 1938 radio dramatization to Steven Spielberg's 2005 film adaptation and not one but two TV adaptations that began airing in Europe the late 2010s. One of the most striking audio adaptations, though, is a star-studded reimagining of Wells' text as a rock album, written and produced by musician Jeff Wayne and released in 1978. That album - a bestseller in the U.K. and a cult favorite among listeners around the world - is the subject of Madfish's latest deluxe box set.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds will invade on August 8 as a deluxe collector's edition spanning 16 CDs and two Blu-rays. It'll include the original album, a host of rare outtakes, several discs of remixes, Wayne's 2012 update of the story (The New Generation), audio and video from live stagings of the album, Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround mixes, and much more. Extras include three books (a 156-page hardcover chronicle of the album and its legacy including new liner notes by Peter Doggett, a 24-page booklet devoted to Jeff Wayne's father Jerry, and a 12-page recreation of the original script), a map of the album's narrative, art prints and a certificate of authenticity. (An "ultimate collector's edition" will add 2LP pressings of the original album (on blue vinyl) and The New Generation (on gold vinyl) in gatefold sleeves and a reproduction of a page from the original War of the Worlds musical manuscript, autographed by Wayne himself.

Wayne, an American who'd built a solid career in England as a jingle writer and producer (most notably working on David Essex's Rock On and touring with him), picked up a copy of Wells' book on a whim and found the idea of a musical adaptation creatively inspiring. Working with his father, actor/singer Jerry Wayne (best known for originating the role of Sky Masterson in the West End debut of the musical Guys and Dolls), Jeff secured the rights from Wells' estate and started crafting an ambitious rock opera that retained the book's Victorian English setting while offering an exciting modern sound (bolstered by one of the first uses of 48-track stereo recording and a crack session band that included guitarist Chris Spedding, bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Barry Morgan.) A galaxy of talent supplied the voices of the characters: esteemed actor Richard Burton narrated from the perspective of a journalist, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues sung his thoughts, Essex played an artilleryman, Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott and Godspell actress Julie Covington played a parson and his wife and Chris Thompson of Manfred Mann's Earth Band stood in for "the voice of humanity." (Jerry Wayne voiced the story's epilogue, a part retained in all subsequent recordings.)

A dazzling combination of sci-fi and prog-rock, Wayne's War of the Worlds was a smash hit in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 5 on the album chart and spinning off two hit singles over the next decade: the Hayward-sung tunes "Forever Autumn" (a No. 5 single which evolved from a jingle for LEGO that's included among the outtakes) and the disco-influenced opener "The Eve of the War" (a No. 3 hit when it was remixed by Ben Liebrand in 1989). The double album went 9x platinum in England and won two Ivor Novello Awards.

Wayne would create a similarly star-studded album retelling the story of Spartacus in 1992, but has often found his way back to the world of The War of the Worlds. In 1998, Wayne remixed and revisited the songs for a computer game; those mixes and others by dance mixers like Todd Terry and Apollo 440 were compiled onto an album ULLAdubULLA, in 2000. (That album and additional material are all included here, including the premiere release of remixes for a 2019 experiential adaptation in London that tourists could visit.) A 2005 reissue included the wealth of outtakes heard here (including translations of the narration read in Spanish by actor Anthony Quinn!), as well as the 5.1 surround mix of the original album, included on the Blu-ray with a 2022 Atmos mix as well. A year later, Wayne took War of the Worlds on tour for the first time, reaching Europe and Australia with live dates and a cast that included a returning Hayward and Thompson. A performance was filmed for home video release, and is included on one of the Blu-rays with all of its special features; the audio debuts on CD for the first time.

In 2012, Wayne prepared his most dramatic update of The War of the Worlds yet: the project, subtitled The New Generation, further fused the song score to unique synth textures and included an all-new cast that featured Liam Neeson as the narrator plus vocals by Gary Barlow of Take That, Joss Stone, Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson, Alex Clare and more. This version, issued as an album that just missed the U.K. Top 10, was also staged for an arena tour that came to home video and is also included here. (The audio from those performances at The O2 Arena in London is also a part of the box, both on CD and in 5.1 surround and hi-res on Blu-ray.)

Both versions of the War of the Worlds box can be purchased at the links below, with the ultimate set available through Madfish or an official storefront for the project directly. As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (Deluxe Collector's Edition) (Madfish SMABX1242 (U.K.), 2025)

Deluxe Collector's Edition (16CD/2BD): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Ultimate Collector's Edition (16CD/2BD/4LP): Official Store / Burning Shed

CD 1-2 (Ultimate Collector's Edition LP 1-2): Original album (released as CBS Records 96000 (U.K.), 1978)

1. The Eve of the War (feat. Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)
2. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (feat. Richard Burton)
3. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (feat. Richard Burton & David Essex)
4. Forever Autumn (feat. Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)
5. Thunder Child (feat. Richard Burton & Chris Thompson)

1. The Red Weed (Part 1) (feat. Richard Burton)
2. The Spirit of Man (feat. Richard Burton, Julie Covington & Phil Lynott)
3. The Red Weed (Part 2) (feat. Richard Burton & Phil Lynott)
4. The Artilleryman Returns (feat. Richard Burton & Jeff Wayne)
5. Brave New World (feat. Richard Burton & David Essex)
6. Dead London (feat. Richard Burton)
7. Epilogue (Part 1) (feat. Richard Burton)
8. Epilogue (Part 2 - NASA) (feat. Jerry Wayne)

CD 3: The Coming of the Martians...Revisited: Original Studio Outtakes I (released on Columbia U.K. box set CECD96000, 2005)

1. The Four Narrators (Opening Passage)
2. The Eve of the War (Original Unused Intro)
3. The Eve of the War (Early Band Take)
4. The Eve of the War (Stripped Down Mix)
5. The Eve of the War
6. "That" Laugh
7. Outtakes 1 (from Horsell Common)
8. Outtakes 2 (from Horsell Common)
9. Outtakes 3 (from Horsell Common)
10. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Early Version)
11. Outtakes (from Horsell Common and the Heat Ray)
12. The Heat Ray Versus the Jangle Piano (Martian Versus Man)
13. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (Early Band Take, Featuring Original Unused Intro)
14. Richard Burton Outtake
15. Lego Toys (Original 1969 Radio Commercial)
16. Forever Autumn (Original 1972 Version)
17. Bar Count - Under Attack (from Forever Autumn)
18. Forever Autumn (Early Version)
19. Bar Count Continues (from Forever Autumn)
20. Paperboys (Original Unused Outtake 1)
21. Paperboys (Original Unused Outtake 2)
22. Paperboy Shouts and Panicking Crowd (Original Unused Outtake 1 from Forever Autumn)
23. Paperboy Shouts and Panicking Crowd (Original Unused Outtake 2 from Forever Autumn)
24. "Ugly Brutes!" and "See Them" (Original Unused Outtakes)
25. Forever Autumn (Early Version)
26. Thunder Child (Early Version)
27. The Four Narrators (The Earth Belonged to the Martians)
28. The Four Narrators (The Red Weed)
29. The Red Weed (Early Version)
30. Unused Outtake (from The Red Weed)
31. The Red Weed (Original Unused Parts 1)
32. The Red Weed (Original Unused Parts 2)
33. Jeff's "Worth a Listen" Red Weed Alternative
34. Original 75" Radio Commercial

CD 4-5: The Earth Under the Martians...Revisited: Original Studio Outtakes II & III (released on Columbia U.K. box set CECD96000, 2005)

1. Parson Nathaniel (2005 Revisited Version)
2. The Spirit of Man (Early Version with Unused Acting Parts)
3. The Spirit of Man (Early Version Guide Vocals)
4. The Spirit of Man (Jerry, Doreen & Phil Acting Outtakes)
5. The Spirit of Man (Alternate Version)
6. "Are You Ready Jeff?" (Acting Outtakes from The Spirit of Man)
7. "Are You Ready Jeff?" (Acting Outtakes 2 from The Spirit of Man)
8. The Spirit of Man
9. The Spirit of Man (Outtakes 1, including Original Unused Script)
10. The Spirit of Man (Outtakes 2, including Original Unused Script)
11. The Spirit of Man (Outtakes 3, including Original Unused Script)
12. The Spirit of Man (Beth & Parson Outtakes)
13. The Spirit of Man (Outtakes 5, including Original Unused Script)
14. The Spirit of 'Mayan' (Parson Outtakes)
15. The Spirit of Man (Beth is Killed)
16. The Spirit of Man (Beth is Killed - Original Outtake)
17. The Spirit of Man (Guitar Solo)
18. "Outcries" (from The Spirit of Man)
19. The Spirited Man (Strings and Acoustic Guitar Alternative)
20. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 1)
21. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 2)
22. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 3)
23. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 4)
24. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 5)
25. The Spirit of Man (Beth Outtakes 6)
26. The Spirit of Guitars (Guitars and Strings from The Spirit Of Man)
27. Tea for Two: Jerry & Phil's Late Night Cabaret
28. Parson Nathaniel Scream Outtakes (from The Spirit of Man)
29. Parson Nathaniel Scream Outtakes 1 (from The Spirit of Man)
30. Original Parson Scream Outtakes
31. Original Spanish Parson Scream Outtakes
32. German Journalist and Parson Outtakes
33. Spanish Journalist and Parson Scream Outtakes
34. "And There Was Nothing I Could Do to Prevent It" (Out-Takes And Master)
35. Parson Nathaniel (Original Unused Song)
36. "Less Piano and More Air, Please!"
37. The Artilleryman Returns (with Unused Parts)
38. The Artilleryman's Outtakes (from Brave New World)
39. The Artilleryman's Outtakes Continued (from Brave New World)
40. The Artilleryman's Outtakes 2 (from Brave New World)
41. Brave New World (Early Piano Demo)
42. Brave New World (Early Band Take)
43. The Artilleryman's "I've Got a Plan!" Outtakes (from Brave New World)
44. Brave New World (Acoustic Alternative)
45. Brave New World (Alternate Version)
46. The Spanish Artilleryman's Plan (from Brave New World)
47. Acting Outtakes 1 (from Brave New World)
48. Acting Outtakes 2 (from Brave New World)
49. Acting Outtakes 3 (from Brave New World)
50. Acting Outtakes 4 (from Brave New World)
51. Acting Outtakes 5 (from Brave New World)
52. Original 40" Radio Commercial
53. Regressing Bar Count

1. Dead London (Early Version featuring Original Piano Demo)
2. Dead London (Early Band Run-Through)
3. Murderous Outtakes 1 (from Dead London)
4. Murderous Outtakes 2 (from Dead London)
5. Breathless Outtake (from Dead London)
6. Epilogue 1 (Early Band Take)
7. The Four Narrators (Epilogue)
8. Unused Alternate NASA Epilogue Outtakes 1
9. Unused Alternate NASA Epilogue Outtakes 2
10. Unused Alternate NASA Epilogue Outtakes 3
11. NASA Epilogue (Spanish Version)
12. Spanish Narrator Outtakes 1
13. Spanish Narrator Outtakes 2
14. Spanish Narrator Outtakes 3
15. Spanish Narrator Outtakes 4
16. The Eve of the War (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
17. The Falling Star (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
18. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
19. The Fighting Begins (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
20. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
21. The Exodus from London (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
22. The Thunder Child (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
23. The Red Weed (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
24. How I Fell in with the Parson (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
25. The Days of Imprisonment (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
26. What We Saw from the Ruined House (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
27. The Artilleryman and the Brave New World - The Spirit of Man (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
28. Dead London (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
29. The Epilogue (Original Narration and Acting Parts)
30. NASA Epilogue (Original Narration and Acting Parts)

CD 6-7: ULLAdubULLA: The Remix Album (released as Columbia 496390 2 (U.K.), 2000)

1. Introduction (Hybrid Remix)
2. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (Max Mondo Mix)
3. ULLAdubULLA (Papa Ootzie Remix)
4. The Eve of the War (Sakin & Friends Remix)
5. The Spirit of Man (Max Mondo Mix)
6. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Max Mondo Mix)
7. Forever Autumn (N-Trance Remix)
8. Forever Autumn (Frederickse & Schurrer Dark Autumn Dub)
9. Thunder Child (Mister JoyBoy Remix)
10. The Eve of the War (Max Mondo Martian Mix)
11. The Red Weed (Mister JoyBoy Remix)
12. The Spirit of Man (KCW Remix)
13. Brave New World (Todd Terry Mix)
14. Dead London (Apollo 440 Remix)
15. Dead London (Mister JoyBoy Remix)
16. The Eve of the War (Hani Remix 1)

1. The Eve of the War (Hybrid's Fire in the Sky Mix)
2. The Eve of the War (Sakin & Friends Extended Remix)
3. The Eve of the War (Tilt's Red Dawn Mix)
4. Dead London (Apollo 440 Instrumental Mix)
5. Brave New World (Todd Terry Extended Mix)
6. Forever Autumn (N-Trance Extended Remix)
7. Forever Autumn (Frederickse & Schurrer Dark Autumn Dub Extended)
8. Brave New World (Dario G Remix)
9. The Red Weed (Naughty G Glow in the Dark Mix)
10. The Eve of the War (Hani Remix 2)

CD 8: ULLAdubULLA II: The Remix Album bonus tracks

1. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Everybody Gather)
2. The Eve of the War (Tom Middleton's Cosmos Re-Edit)
3. The Spirit of Man (Tom Frederikse & Gaetan Schurrer's The Spirit of Dub)
4. The Eve of the War (Ben Liebrand Remix Radio Edit)
5. The Eve of the War (DJ Keltech's Remix)
6. The Spirit of Man (Zube Remix)
7. The Eve of the War (1980 Disco Steve Thompson Remix)
8. The Spirit of Destiny (The Parson Versus Palene - Cassidy/Langan/Wayne Remix)
9. The Eve of the War Versus Animal and Man (Forrest/Schurrer/Wayne Remix)
10. The Spirit of Man (Tom Frederikse & Gaetan Schurrer's The Spirit of Dub Extended)

CD 8, Tracks 1-3 and 5-6 released on Columbia 82876 83279-2 (U.K.), 2006
CD 8, Track 4 released on CBS Dance Pool U.K. single 655126 7, 1989
CD 8, Track 7 released on CBS U.K. 12" S CBS 12 7731, 1979
CD 8, Tracks 8-10 released on Columbia U.K. box set CECD96000, 2005

CD 9: Previously Unreleased Bonus Remixes

1. The Eve of the War (Remix)
2. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (Immersive Take Over Moment)
3. Forever Autumn (Dance Remix)
4. Thunder Child (Remix)
5. Inside the Handling Machine (Immersive Take Over Moment)
6. Brave New World (Remix)
7. Dead London: The Aviation Lab (Immersive Take Over Moment)
8. The War of the Worlds Tour Play Out (Exit 40)

CD 10-11: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds - Live on Stage

1. Prequel
2. The Eve of the War (Part 1 & 2) (feat. Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)
3. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (feat. Richard Burton)
4. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (feat. Richard Burton & Alexis James)
5. Forever Autumn (feat. Richard Burton & Justin Hayward)
6. Thunder Child (feat. Richard Burton & Chris Thompson)

1. The Red Weed (Part 1) (feat. Richard Burton)
2. The Spirit of Man (feat. Richard Burton, Tara Blaise & Russell Watson)
3. The Red Weed (Part 2) (feat. Richard Burton & Russell Watson)
4. The Artilleryman Returns (feat. Richard Burton & Alexis James)
5. Brave New World (feat. Richard Burton & Alexis James)
6. Dead London (feat. Richard Burton)
7. Epilogue (Part 1) (feat. Richard Burton)
8. Epilogue (Part 2 - NASA) (feat. Jerry Wayne & Lewis MacLeod)

CD 12-13 (Ultimate Collector's Edition LP 3-4): Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds: The New Generation (released as Columbia 88691 92257-2 (U.K.), 2012)

1. The Eve of the War (Part 1 & 2) (feat. Liam Neeson & Gary Barlow)
2. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (feat. Liam Neeson)
3. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
4. Forever Autumn (feat. Liam Neeson & Gary Barlow)
5. Thunder Child (feat. Liam Neeson & Alex Clare)

1. The Red Weed (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
2. The Spirit of Man (feat. Liam Neeson, Joss Stone & Maverick Sabre)
3. The Red Weed (Part 2) (feat. Liam Neeson & Maverick Sabre)
4. The Artilleryman Returns (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
5. Brave New World (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
6. Dead London (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
7. Dead London (Part 2) (feat. Liam Neeson & Gary Barlow)
8. Epilogue (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
9. Epilogue (Part 2 - NASA) (feat. Jerry Wayne & Lewis MacLeod)

CD 14-15: Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: The New Generation - Alive from The O2

1. Prologue
2. The Eve of the War (feat. Liam Neeson & Marti Pellow)
3. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray (feat. Liam Neeson)
4. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
5. Forever Autumn (feat. Liam Neeson & Gary Barlow)
6. Thunder Child (feat. Liam Neeson & Will Stapleton)

1. The Red Weed (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
2. The Spirit of Man (feat. Liam Neeson, Kerry Ellis & Jason Donovan)
3. The Red Weed (Part 2) (feat. Liam Neeson & Jason Donovan)
4. The Artilleryman Returns (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
5. Brave New World (feat. Liam Neeson & Ricky Wilson)
6. Dead London (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
7. Dead London (Part 2) (feat. Liam Neeson & Marti Pellow)
8. Epilogue (Part 1) (feat. Liam Neeson)
9. Epilogue (Part 2 - NASA) (feat. Jerry Wayne & Lewis MacLeod)

CD 16: Piano, Strings & Some Other Things

1. The Eve of the War (Instrumental)
2. Forever Autumn (Instrumental)
3. The Red Weed (Instrumental)
4. Brave New World (Instrumental)
5. Forever Autumn (The Duet - feat. Justin Hayward & Anna-Marie Wayne)
6. With Joy, Hope and Wonder

Tracks 1-4 released as Sony Music U.K. 12" 19075 92550-1, 2019. Track 5 released on Sony Music U.K. digital single, 2022

Blu-ray 1

• Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (96/24 hi-res stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos)
• Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds: The New Generation (96/24 hi-res stereo)
• Deconstructing Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds documentary (released on Columbia U.K. box set CECD96000, 2005)
• Interview with Jeff Wayne (2025)

Blu-ray 2

• Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of the Worlds - Live on Stage (video with hi-res stereo and 5.1 surround - released on DVD as Universal 824 5521, 2007)
• Special Features
  • Carrie and the Cannons: Behind the Scenes on the CGI Sequences
  • Bringing Back Burton
  • Making a Martian Fighting Machine
  • An Interview with Jeff Wayne
  • The Tour 2006 - A Journal
• Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: The New Generation - Alive from The O2 (video with hi-res stereo and 5.1 surround - released on DVD as Universal 829 379 0 (U.K.), 2012)
• Special Features
  • Cast interviews
  • Jeff & Anna-Marie Wayne interviews