War Of The Worlds is back in a big way. HG Wells' novel of Martians taking over the world first surfaced in Victorian times, re-emerging in Orson Welles' Forties' radio version, when switchboards across the US were jammed as listeners became convinced an invasion of little red men was actually happening.

Steve Spielberg's new version of the spellbinding tale recently premiered and sees the invasion this time taking place in the present-day US.

Back in 1978, star-making record producer Jeff Wayne achieved his lifetime ambition of making War Of The Worlds into a musical.

Copies of the original double album, the inside of which is pictured above, are now rare and suddenly back in demand, following the release of Spielberg's film, as well as the re-release of the musical. This original album is probably worth hundreds of pounds.

The artwork is stunning and a limited edition of about 300 copies of the original record sleeve have been run off, making the original a collector's gem.

The 1978 cast of Wayne's recording is amazing.

Richard Burton, the narrator, is joined by some of the Seventies' top singers.

Julie Covington, who played the original Evita, is there.

And David Essex, who first made it big when Wayne produced Rock On, written by Essex himself, is on the album, too.

The most famous song of all the tracks is probably Forever Autumn, sung by Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, whose Knights In White Satin sold two million copies.

Many years ago, I was lucky to pick up the album for a mere 99p. You'll probably have to beg or borrow your copy.

-Michael Parker, Brighton