Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds

I can't tell you how much I love Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds, but I'm going to try.When I was in grade ten back in 1984-85 at Crap High, my Drama teacher, for some bizarre reason, decided to play us the opening track of JWMVOTWOTW (hereafter, MWW). The Drama room had the best stereo system that at age 15 I'd ever encountered, and I was immediately magnetised (expect British spellings with plenty of "s"es where you folks put "z"s, by the way) by the sound of Richard Burton declaiming, among other things:"...And yet, across the gulf of space, minds immeasurably superior to ours regarded this world with envious eyes. And slowly, and surely, they drew their plans against us."And then, BOOM.Heavy strings--DOO DOO Dooo... DOO DOO Dooo.... followed by a disco rhythm section and bleebo-bleebo laser sound FX. No, I'm not being ironic and I'm not slamming MWW. On the contrary, I genuinely love it. I tracked it down from the public library, taped both records from the LP, evenutally bought the thing on cassette and just this summer purchased the excellent double-CD album.The combination of Burton's superb narration, Wells' chilling story, Jeff Wayne's funky music and some fine (although too brief) lyrics are for me a musical feast. Of course, nostalgia is a major factor in my enjoyment, but even though I hated high school (got good grades but had to deal with too many bullies), my capacity for nostalgia is so strong that anything I liked from that period I might possibly love today, and some things I hated then (for instance, ABBA), I've grown to like today.MWW is strange for me to hear as an adult. I'm more aware of its position among other rock operas, and in comparing it to my favourite, Norman Jewison's film version of the Lloyd-Webber/Rice Jesus Christ, Superstar, MWW doesn't fare well. That's largely because MWW uses so much narration instead of actual singing, and no matter how fine a voice actor Burton was, an opera is about singing. Therefore everytime Burton speaks, it's an opportunity cost for clever lyricism and beautiful song.As well, while all the singers give fine delivery, the arrangement never clears them for the kind of take-off and soaring that JCS allows on so many tracks. I'm guessing the orchestra was smaller, too, so there's less variety and nuance in the arrangment.That being said, I don't share the opinion of those who complain that MWW is dated, however; its period soul is part of what makes MWW so special. As well, songs such as the disturbingly ironic "Brave New World," passionate and brave "Spirit of Man," and especially the mournful "Forever Autumn" remain deeply moving and powerful. "Forever Autumn" contains simple yet poignant lines from the reporter-protagonist's POV on his life in occupied England following his wife's flight on a refugee boat across the Atlantic:The summer sun is fading as the year grows old,and darker days are drawing near,the winter winds will be much colder,now you're not here.I watch the birds fly south across the autumn skyand one by one they disappearI wish that I was flying with them,now you're not herelike the sun through the trees you came to love melike a leaf on a breeze you blew awaythrough autumn's golden gown we used to kick our wayyou always loved this time of yearloose fallen leaves lie undisturbed now'Cause you're not herelike the sun through the trees you came to love melike a leaf on a breeze you blew awaya gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyesas if to hide a lonely tearmy life will be forever autumn'Cause you're not hereHonestly, I find it hard to hear those lyrics some times, especially in autumn. Music like that was the soundtrack of all my youthful melancholy.So I'd like to hear from all of you, your thoughts on MWW, and also the songs that filled out your own soundtracks of youthful melancholy (and romance, and adventure, for that matter).