VA WHEN THE WIND BLOWS with ROGER WATERS, DAVID BOWIE, RAYMOND BRIGGS 12" Vinyl LP Album
- When the Wind Blows – A Haunting Soundtrack to Nuclear Folly and Cold War Paranoia
When the Wind Blows (1982) is a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs that portrays the devastating effects of nuclear war on an elderly British couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs. Blending tenderness with tragedy, the story follows their naive faith in government survival instructions as they struggle to comprehend the true horror of nuclear fallout. In 1986, the novel was adapted into an animated film, featuring a haunting soundtrack with contributions from David Bowie and Roger Waters.
"When The Wind Blows" is a 12" vinyl LP album released in 1986 by Roger Waters and David Bowie. The album was created as a soundtrack to the animated film of the same name, based on Raymond Briggs' graphic novel. The film is a harrowing tale of an elderly couple, Jim and Hilda, who live in the English countryside and are ill-prepared for a nuclear attack.
The music is haunting and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the sense of fear and uncertainty that permeates the film. The album also features contributions from other notable musicians, including Paul Carrack, The Bleeding Heart Band, and Andy Fairweather-Low.
Despite the heavy subject matter of the film and the album, there are moments of beauty and tenderness on "When The Wind Blows"".
"When The Wind Blows" received critical acclaim upon its release, with many critics praising the haunting and evocative music. The album was also a commercial success, reaching number 45 on the UK album charts.
"When The Wind Blows" is a motion picture based on Raymond Brigg's best-selling novel. It is a powerful, unforgettable story about the consequence of nuclear war and it makes a horrific point!
Released in October 1986 and featuring music and songs by Roger Waters, David Bowie,Genesis,and Squeeze, this animated masterpiece was created and produced by the makers of The Beatles motion picture, "Yellow Submarine". "When the Wind Blows" not only touches the heart but comes close to being the most disturbing animated feature since "Animal Farm".
Music Genre:
Movie Soundtrack
Album Production:
Produced by Iain Harvey, John Coates
Music Supervisor: Ray Williams
Record Label & Catalognr:
Virgin Records DM 208 042
Vinyl Media Format: 12" Vinyl LP
Year and Country:
1986 Made in Germany for distribution in Germany, France and The Netherlands
Band Members and Musicianson: ROGER WATERS DAVID BOWIE WHEN THE WIND BLOWS RAYMOND BRIGGS
Musicians
on "When the Wind Blows":
David Bowie
Hugh Cornwell
Genesis
Squeeze
Paul Hardcastle
Roger Waters and the Bleeding Heart Band
Photos of the LP's cover: ROGER WATERS DAVID BOWIE WHEN THE WIND BLOWS RAYMOND BRIGGS
Album's Front Cover
The front cover of the When the Wind Blows Original Motion Picture Soundtrack prominently features an illustration from Raymond Briggs’ animated film of the same name. The central image showcases an elderly couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs, standing in front of a massive mushroom cloud explosion. Jim is dressed in suspenders and a button-up shirt, while Hilda wears a blue dress with a white apron, carrying a tea tray—a stark contrast to the devastation behind them.
The title When the Wind Blows is displayed in a fragmented, geometric font at the top, reflecting the film’s eerie and unsettling tone. The background transitions from a peaceful countryside setting at the bottom to an apocalyptic scene above, reinforcing the film’s theme of nuclear destruction.
Framing the central artwork are a series of smaller stills from the animation, depicting key moments from the film, such as Jim reading a government survival pamphlet, scenes of domestic life, and ominous imagery of war and destruction. These images add to the sense of foreboding and contrast between the couple’s naïve optimism and the grim reality of nuclear war.
At the bottom, the album credits prominently feature contributing artists, including Roger Waters, David Bowie, Hugh Cornwell, Genesis, Squeeze, and Paul Hardcastle, reflecting the soundtrack’s blend of progressive rock, new wave, and ambient music.
The overall design captures both the innocence and tragedy of the story, with the illustrated style giving it a deceptively warm appearance while the looming nuclear explosion dominates the scene.
The back cover of the When the Wind Blows Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a striking photomontage by artist Peter Kennard. The central image is a detailed depiction of Earth, but instead of a natural, serene representation, it is surrounded by broken, deconstructed nuclear missiles, giving the appearance of a monstrous mechanical spider. This visual metaphor underscores the film’s harrowing anti-nuclear war theme.
At the top left, a white text box provides background information, crediting David Bowie for the film’s title song, Roger Waters for the score, and actors Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills for the voices of the main characters. The text also credits various production teams and contributors involved in the film and soundtrack.
Below the photomontage, the tracklist is displayed in white and red text, featuring contributions from David Bowie, Roger Waters, Hugh Cornwell, Genesis, Squeeze, and Paul Hardcastle. The formatting highlights the individual artists and their respective contributions, with detailed production credits beneath each song.
On the right side, copyright information credits Virgin Records Ltd. for the 1986 release, along with the involvement of Meltdown Ltd. for the front cover illustrations. The photomontage is officially credited to Peter Kennard, reinforcing the politically charged visual statement of the artwork.
The stark black background enhances the dramatic contrast of the Earth-and-missiles imagery, making it an unsettling yet compelling design that encapsulates the soundtrack’s themes of Cold War paranoia, nuclear devastation, and human vulnerability.
The record label of When the Wind Blows Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features a bold and striking design. The label has a yellow and black color scheme, with a large black and yellow radiation hazard symbol dominating the background—a fitting visual motif given the album’s anti-nuclear war themes.
At the top, the Virgin Records logo is printed in white, along with the catalog number 208 042 and DM 208 042 B, indicating this is the B-side of the record. Below the logo, the album title, When the Wind Blows, is printed in large white capital letters, followed by Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in a smaller font.
The tracklist for Side B is printed in white text, featuring compositions by Roger Waters and The Bleeding Heart Band. The titles include The Russian Missile, Towers of Faith, Hilda’s Dream, The American Bomber, The Anderson Shelter, The British Submarine, The Attack, The Fallout, Hilda’s Hair, and Folded Flags. The credits note that the music was composed and produced by Roger Waters, with production and engineering by Nick Griffiths.
At the bottom of the label, copyright and publishing information are provided, stating that the album was released in 1986 by Virgin Records Limited. Additional legal and licensing details appear in small white text around the label’s edge, mentioning Pink Floyd Music Publishers Ltd., GEMA, STEMRA, BIEM (music rights organizations), and Stereo 33 to indicate playback format.
The radiation symbol and the stark contrast between the yellow and black elements create an ominous, urgent visual effect, reinforcing the themes of nuclear devastation and Cold War anxiety present throughout the soundtrack.
This is the uncensored release of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" is a concept album by Roger Waters that explores the themes of relationships, mortality, and the subconscious mind. It features a range of musical styles and was a commercial and critical success, solidifying Waters' reputation as a solo artist.
CBS C39290, Imported by Sound-Express , 1984 , USA
This is the censored release of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" is a concept album by Roger Waters that explores the themes of relationships, mortality, and the subconscious mind. It features a range of musical styles and was a commercial and critical success, solidifying Waters' reputation as a solo artist.
