In a passage in Adam Roberts’s New Model Army (see my thoughts on it a few posts below) one of the characters thinks of Jeff Wayne rather than HG Wells when he hears the words, “War of the Worlds.” He at once mentions Richard Burton, David Essex and the Moody Blues. Well, as another song has it; two out of three ain’t* bad.

The character can be forgiven for the mistake, though. His mind wasn’t working properly at the time and it is understandable. Richard Burton and David Essex were both heard on the recording but it wasn’t all the Moody Blues who contributed to Jeff Wayne’s endeavour but their lead singer, the distinctively voiced Justin Hayward, certainly did. While Richard Burton was the spoken voice of the journalist Hayward took over for the singing and thus gave us the haunting Forever Autumn.

Justin Hayward: Forever Autumn

*Sorry for the inelegant language in the quote there.

I never really understood the fuss about Elizabeth Taylor.

She was always one of those people who seemed to be famous for being famous. Quite why we were meant to care about her manifold relationships and her on off on off liaison with Richard Burton was always beyond me. I felt much the same about Lady Di’s shenanigans, I must confess.

I suppose I was too young to witness Liz at her peak but her acting never appeared too great to me, competent at best.

It’s sad to see anyone pass away, though.

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, 27/2/32-23/3/11. So it goes.