My late Mom bought this for me for Christmas 1978 and since then it has been a firm favourite. I can got for a couple of years without playing it, but once I do I can't stop playing it! I have bought several copies of it over the years, including the New Generation version, which I actually quite liked. I decided to buy this new re-release just to see if anything was different and also because most of the copies I already own are a little crackly and worse for wear now. The album is pressed on heavyweight 180 gram vinyl and housed in two plain white sleeves - disappointingly these aren't poly-lined, but you can't have everything. The labels are plain red rather than the familiar CBS labels. The sound quality is superb with no hiss or crackle even in the quiet passages. The booklet is how it always was and hasn't been updated, so Jeff Wayne is still expecting his first child in July 1978! The reprint of the booklet is spot on and again is just how I remember it. I spent many hours as a youngster going over every detail of every painting in the booklet. A genuinely outstanding re-release and hopefully will persuade those who aren't familiar with it to buy it and give it a whirl.
By: SpodoKomodo