Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds” is released today in breath-taking new spatial audio mixes, 360 Reality Audio and in Dolby Atmos.

Jeff Wayne's double album was originally released by CBS Records in 1978. It has enjoyed huge success and critical acclaim across the globe with over 15 million records sold and spending over 330 weeks in the UK Album Charts (to date) plus achieving two international hit singles - 'Forever Autumn' and 'The Eve of The War'. It has been Top 10 in 22 countries and Number 1 in 11 of them. The album is certified 9 times Platinum in the UK. These new audio versions will present the album in the best possible quality, allowing the listener to enjoy the music in the most immersive of formats.

The War of The Worlds has also won two prestigious UK Ivor Novello Awards, the US Best Recording in Science Fiction and Fantasy (the judges included Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg), as well as winning for Jeff, Classic Rock's 'Showman of The Year' Award. Originally recorded at Advision Studios, the double album was one of the first recorded on 48 tracks, using two synchronised 24 track-track recorders. As such, the album truly lends itself to being mixed in spatial audio, completely immersing the listener in a sonic experience.

Jeff Wayne is incredibly excited about the latest mixes: “As a musician who has worked in just about every medium of sound, you always wonder where the ’next’ big breakthrough will come from, and when. Well now I know - and there isn’t just one new system, but two, that are establishing themselves worldwide, be it for all forms of music environments with 360 Reality Audio as well as in cinemas and home entertainment systems via the Dolby Atmos technology. My career started when mixing in Mono was the norm for radio and TV, and stereo records which gave us a width of sound and some spatial placement. The world moved fast into quad, 8-track, and then surround sound with 5,7 or even 10-track positioning. But now, these newest technologies have given us virtually limitless spatial placement along with ‘movement’ within the mix as one wishes that sets quite unbelievable new standards.”

He continues: “My musical version of ’The War of The Worlds’ couldn't have been a more appropriate recording to re-mix for both Sony 360 and Dolby Atmos. The multiple layers of my original score and production are released into the spatial new world that these technologies offer. Not that I could have imagined this potential in the mid 1970s when I was first composing and producing the original double album! I was also fortunate to produce these new spatial mixes at The Crypt Studios in London with David Simpson, and together I believe we made a great team of bringing my Martian tale into the forefront of today’s audio world.”

The lead track from the album, “Forever Autumn” was recently released as a brand new digital EP, breathing new life into the iconic song. Taken from Jeff Wayne’s hugely successful double album, “Forever Autumn” was originally a Top 5 single in the UK, reaching silver status. The song entered the charts with vocals by The Moody Blues lead vocalist, Justin Hayward. This new EP features 3 different versions of the track.

Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of ‘The War of The Worlds’ - Alive on Stage! has returned to UK arenas this month. The show features a stellar cast with Strictly Come Dancing and Stage star Kevin Clifton as The Artilleryman, Blue’s Duncan James as Parson Nathaniel, Steps’ and stage star Claire Richards as Beth, The Parson’s Wife, and Inglorious’ front man Nathan James as The Voice of Humanity. Anna-Marie Wayne returns as Carrie, The Journalist’s Fiancée and Justin Hayward reprises his original role as The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist. Liam Neeson retains his role in 3D holography as The Journalist while Jeff Wayne again conducts the 8-piece Black Smoke Band and symphonic ULLAdubULLA Strings.

Tracklisting:

1. The Eve of The War

2. Horsell Common and the Heat Ray

3. The Artilleryman and the Fighting Machine

4. Forever Autumn

5. Thunder Child

6. The Red Weed (Part 1)

7. The Spirit of Man

8.The Red Weed (Part 2)

9. The Artilleryman Returns

10. Brave New World

11. Dead London

12. Epilogue (Part 1)

13. Epilogue (Part 2)