''Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of Spartacus'' is a 1992

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. So ...

produced and composed by

Jeff Wayne Jeffry Wayne (born 1 July 1943) is an American-British composer, musician and lyricist. In 1978, he released '' Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds'', his musical adaptation of H. G. Wells' science-fiction novel ''The War o ...

with Lyrics by Gary Osborne, telling the story of

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...

gladiator A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

Spartacus Spartacus ( el, Σπάρτακος '; la, Spartacus; c. 103–71 BC) was a Thracian gladiator who, along with Crixus, Gannicus, Castus, and Oenomaus, was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprisin ...

. It starred

Anthony Hopkins Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer. One of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actors, he is known for his performances on the screen and stage. Hopkins has received many accolad ...

Catherine Zeta-Jones Catherine Zeta-Jones (; born 25 September 1969) is a Welsh actress. Known for her versatility, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Tony Award. In 2010, she was appointed ...

(in her first recording role),

Fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% ...

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of '' isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won ...

, and Scots singer Alan King as Spartacus. It was also the first

release that is not related to his musical adaptation of ''

The War of the Worlds ''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by '' Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appearance in hardcover was i ...

''. Based on a story outline by Jeff Wayne, the script was written by writer Brian Sibley and playwright John Spurling with Sibley responsible for the script of 'Animal & Man', 'The Eagle & the Hawk' and 'The Appian Way' and Spurling largely responsible for the script of 'The Parting of the Ways' and 'The Last Battle'. Also starring in the album is Chris Thompson and

Jo Partridge Jo, jo, JO, or J.O. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Jo'' (film), a 1972 French comedy * ''Jo'' (TV series), a French TV series *"Jo", a song by Goldfrapp from '' Tales of Us'' *"Jo", a song by Mr. Oizo from '' Lambs Anger'' * Jo a fict ...

, who appeared in ''

''. Originally, Thompson had a singing role, but his song was dropped from the final version of the album. It is rumoured that Thompson possesses the only copy of his song. The lead vocals representing Spartacus himself were performed by Scottish vocalist, Alan King of Walk On Fire fame. The artists for the album were

Gino D'Achille Gino may refer to: * Gino (given name) * Gino (surname) * ''Gino'' (film), a 1993 Australian film * ''Gino the Chicken'', Italian TV series See also * * Geno (disambiguation) *Gino's (disambiguation) Gino's may refer to: *Gino's East, a Chicag ...

, Christos Achilleos and Andrew Wheatcroft, art directed by Richard Evans

Track listing

Disc 1: "Animal & Man" # Destiny - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# Animal & Man (Part 1) - eff Wayne# Animal & Man (Part 2) - eff Wayne# For All Time - eff Wayne/James Cassidy# Whispers - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# The Eagle & The Hawk - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne Disc 2: "The Parting Of The Ways" # Going Home - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# The Parting Of The Ways - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# We Carry On - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# Trust Me - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# Two Souls With A Single Dream - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# The Last Battle / The Eagle & The Hawk - eff Wayne/Gary Osborne# The Appian Way - eff Wayne# Epilogue (Part 1) - eff Wayne# Epilogue (Part 2) - eff Wayne ''Total Running Time:'' Approx 120 Minutes

Cast

Marcus Crassus Marcus Licinius Crassus (; 115 – 53 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who played a key role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. He is often called "the richest man in Rome."Wallechinsky, David & Wallace, Ir ...

- Palene *

Alan King Alan King (born Irwin Alan Kniberg; December 26, 1927 – May 9, 2004) was an American actor and comedian known for his biting wit and often angry humorous rants. King became well known as a Jewish comedian and satirist. He was also a serious a ...

Crixus Crixus was a Gallic gladiator and military leader in the Third Servile War between the Roman Republic and rebel slaves. Born in Gaul, he was enslaved by the Romans under unknown circumstances and trained as a gladiator in Capua. His name means " ...

- Spartacus' Army * Chris Thompson -

Oenomaus In Greek mythology, King Oenomaus (also Oenamaus; grc-gre, Οἰνόμαος, ''Oἱnómaos'') of Pisa, was the father of Hippodamia and the son of Ares. His name ''Oinomaos'' denotes a wine man. Family Oenomaeus' mother was either naiad Har ...

* Bill Fredericks - Lead Vocals (Going Home) * Lorna Bannon and Carol Kenyan - Slave Girls

Charts

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of Spartacus Concept albums 1992 albums

Columbia Records albums Spartacus music Cultural depictions of Spartacus Cultural depictions of Marcus Licinius Crassus