SONY CLASSICAL TO RELEASE ULTIMATE EDITIONS OF ORIGINAL STAR WARS SOUNDTRACKS ENJOY THE MUSIC OF STAR WARS IN ALL-NEW DELUXE REISSUES.
The sweeping, dazzling music that fueled Star Wars will be reissued by Sony Classical in three new, definitive editions — Star Wars: The Ultimate Vinyl Collection, Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Edition, and Star Wars: The Ultimate Digital Collection. All composed by John Williams, these unique collector’s sets will be released worldwide January 8, 2016.
Star Wars: The Ultimate Vinyl Collection includes each of the six film soundtracks in deluxe gatefold sleeves faithfully replicating the original artwork.
Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Edition includes the original six soundtracks in mini-album jackets, plus a bonus CD featuring audio interviews with Harrison Ford and John Williams. Also included is the DVD Star Wars: A Musical Journey, a one-hour special highlighting select musical themes alongside key sequences from the films. Rounding out the set are a fold-out poster and three collectible stickers.
Star Wars: The Ultimate Digital Collection features a bundle of the six original soundtracks available for the first time as high-definition downloads.
Very interesting. Sounds like OST presentations. I'm most interested in whether the Empire Strikes Back CD is the original vinyl presentation, which to my knowledge has never been released on CD before.
Absolutely no mention at all of any remastering, which makes me suspicious. The only glimmer of hope these could be remasters is the mention of 'high-definition' downloads, unless they've cheated and upsampled the 16-bit 1997 masters to 24/96 or something (and that'd be easy to spot). Or if they cheekily mean 'high definition' when compared to MP3s... which again could just mean lossless 16-bit files.
I'd be tempted by the vinyl if I knew what exactly was on them, and if they're analogue sourced, or cut from high-res digital, or 16-bit...
Not going to risk parting with my money until there's a bit more information on the mastering.
The original Star Wars double LP is, for me, perhaps the most classic presentation of all soundtrack albums ever.
Black with white outline text. This was not altogether original in conception because there were many other genres employing design simplicity of a similar ilk. Still, there's something about that album . . .
Edit: now it's listing 22 LPs... riiiiiiiggt! You'd need the Force to levitate that lot off the floor!
I wouldn't be surprised if they're all 16-bit CD sourced. Waste of money, unless one likes to buy things just for the packaging or is a crazy completist.
I guess I will only be interested in the LP set. I dont know if the Lp versions will be remastered for cd set. But still a wasted opportunity from Sony.
According to the above link Episodes 1 through 5 will be 2Lp sets. Return of the Jedi will be a single Lp set. From a nostalgic point of view its fine. I hope the original Lp sets are also replicated on cd format but its possible they may simple have the previous Special Editions configurations. You just never know the Sony Marketings genius plans.!
You can still get mint copies of the original LPs on Ebay (I got a sealed copy of Empire couple years back) without too much trouble, which are original all-analogue releases, rather than the increasingly modern cheat of 16-bit CDs being played through a studio DAC and cut to an LP pressing master. Unfortunately those who don't know better think they're getting vinyl 'magic' but are in effect getting the worst of both worlds; a CD on an LP! Waste of money, and the practise is becoming increasingly common. I have mint copies of all the original LPs, so these will only potentially be of interest if Sony divulge more about the mastering involved.
You can still get mint copies of the original LPs on Ebay (I got a sealed copy of Empire couple years back) without too much trouble, which are original all-analogue releases, rather than the increasingly modern cheat of 16-bit CDs being played through a studio DAC and cut to an LP pressing master. Unfortunately those who don't know better think they're getting vinyl 'magic' but are in effect getting the worst of both worlds; a CD on an LP! Waste of money, and the practise is becoming increasingly common. I have mint copies of all the original LPs, so these will only potentially be of interest if Sony divulge more about the mastering involved.
Those sealed LP are quite expensive and range at $100 and above. I recently purchsed the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK DCC 2 LP Set for over $100 and in sealed condition ( It was worth it!)
Nothing in the original post says anything about remastering that I can see. Reissue is the key term.
Certainly looks like that's the case. Better sticking with the original LPs; the real deal rather than a cynical 'recreation' that only resembles the original sets visually.
You can still get mint copies of the original LPs on Ebay (I got a sealed copy of Empire couple years back) without too much trouble, which are original all-analogue releases, rather than the increasingly modern cheat of 16-bit CDs being played through a studio DAC and cut to an LP pressing master. Unfortunately those who don't know better think they're getting vinyl 'magic' but are in effect getting the worst of both worlds; a CD on an LP! Waste of money, and the practise is becoming increasingly common. I have mint copies of all the original LPs, so these will only potentially be of interest if Sony divulge more about the mastering involved.
Those sealed LP are quite expensive and range at $100 and above. I recently purchsed the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK DCC 2 LP Set for over $100 and in sealed condition ( It was worth it!)
I got mine for $25. Prices probably shooting up now with the impending interest generated by the new films and Rebels etc.
I think I paid something similar for my DCC Raiders LP, but it's a cherished item
Yeah, if the original trilogy releases are the original album sequences, they're must-buys for me. If it's the Special Edition releases, I'll pass. The prequels, no interest since that just seems like a packaging downgrade
Disc: 1 1. Watto's Deal and Kids at Play 2. Panaka and the Queen's Protectors 3. Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace 4. The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul 5. Qui-Gon's Noble End 6. The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral 7. Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits 8. He Is the Chosen One 9. Anakin Defeats Sebulba 10. Passage Through the Planet Core
Disc: 2 1. Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant 2. Across the Stars (Love Theme from Star Wars Episode II) 3. Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant 4. Yoda and the Younglings 5. Departing Coruscant 6. Anakin and Padmé 7. Jango's Escape 8. The Meadow Picnic
Disc: 3 1. Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith - Medley 2. Anakin's Dream 3. Battle of the Heroes 4. Anakin's Betrayal 5. General Grievous 6. Palpatine's Teachings 7. Grievous and the Droids
Disc: 4 1. Padme's Ruminations 2. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan 3. Anakin's Dark Deeds 4. Enter Lord Vader 5. The Immolation Scene 6. Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious 7. The Birth of the Twins and Padme's Destiny - Medley 8. A New Hope and End Credits - Medley
Disc: 5 1. Main Title 2. Imperial Attack 3. Princess Leia's Theme 4. The Desert and the Robot Auction 5. Ben's Death and TIE Fighter Attack 6. The Little People Work 7. Rescue of the Princess 8. Inner City 9. Cantina Band
Disc: 6 1. The Land of the Sandpeople 2. Mouse Robot and Blasting Off 3. The Return Home 4. The Walls Converge 5. The Princess Appears 6. The Last Battle 7. The Throne Room and End Title
Disc: 7 1. The Asteroid Field 2. The City in the Clouds 3. Rebels at Bay 4. Yoda and the Force 5. The Duel 6. The Magic Tree 7. Lando's Palace 8. Finale 9. The Battle in the Snow
Disc: 8 1. Main Title (The Story Continues) 2. Into the Trap 3. Luke and Leia 4. Parade of the Ewoks 5. Han Solo Returns (At the Court of Jabba the Hutt) 6. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) 7. The Forest Battle 8. Rebel Briefing 9. The Emperor 10. The Return of the Jedi 11. Ewok Celebration and Finale
Disc: 1 1. Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at Naboo 2. Duel of The Fates 3. Anakin's Theme 4. Jar Jar's Introduction and the Swim to Otoh Gunga 5. The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid Battle 6. The Trip to the Naboo Temple and the Audience with Boss Nass 7. The Arrival at Tatooine and the Flag Parade 8. He Is the Chosen One 9. Anakin Defeats Sebulba 10. Passage Through the Planet Core
Disc: 2 1. Watto's Deal and Kids at Play 2. Panaka and the Queen's Protectors 3. Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace 4. The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul 5. Qui-Gon's Noble End 6. The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon's Funeral 7. Augie's Great Municipal Band and End Credits
Disc: 3 1. Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant 2. Across the Stars (Love Theme from Star Wars Episode II) 3. Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant 4. Yoda and the Younglings 5. Departing Coruscant 6. Anakin and Padmé 7. Jango's Escape 8. The Meadow Picnic
Disc: 4 1. Bounty Hunter's Pursuit 2. Return to Tatooine 3. The Tusken Camp and the Homestead 4. Love Pledge and the Arena 5. Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale
Disc: 5 1. Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith - Medley 2. Anakin's Dream 3. Battle of the Heroes 4. Anakin's Betrayal 5. General Grievous 6. Palpatine's Teachings 7. Grievous and the Droids
Disc: 6 1. Padme's Ruminations 2. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan 3. Anakin's Dark Deeds 4. Enter Lord Vader 5. The Immolation Scene 6. Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious 7. The Birth of the Twins and Padme's Destiny - Medley 8. A New Hope and End Credits - Medley
Disc: 7 1. Main Title 2. Imperial Attack 3. Princess Leia's Theme 4. The Desert and the Robot Auction 5. Ben's Death and TIE Fighter Attack 6. The Little People Work 7. Rescue of the Princess 8. Inner City 9. Cantina Band
Disc: 8 1. The Land of the Sandpeople 2. Mouse Robot and Blasting Off 3. The Return Home 4. The Walls Converge 5. The Princess Appears 6. The Last Battle 7. The Throne Room and End Title
Disc: 9 1. Star Wars (Main Theme) 2. Yoda's Theme 3. The Training of a Jedi Knight 4. The Heroics of Luke and Han 5. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) 6. Departure of Boba Fett 7. Han Solo and the Princess 8. Hyperspace 9. The Battle in the Snow
Disc: 10 1. The Asteroid Field 2. The City in the Clouds 3. Rebels at Bay 4. Yoda and the Force 5. The Duel 6. The Magic Tree 7. Lando's Palace 8. Finale
Disc: 11 1. Main Title (The Story Continues) 2. Into the Trap 3. Luke and Leia 4. Parade of the Ewoks 5. Han Solo Returns (At the Court of Jabba the Hutt) 6. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) 7. The Forest Battle 8. Rebel Briefing 9. The Emperor 10. The Return of the Jedi 11. Ewok Celebration and Finale
Here is a link for the CD set- also claiming to be 11 CDs. If that includes the bonus interview disk then we're getting 10 CDs of score which probably means the awful 1 CD version of Empire Strikes Back along with the original CD releases of Star Wars (2 disks) and Return of the Jedi (1 disk)
Well that's a no-sale for me for the CD sets - great; money saved!
Suspect the LPs are 16-bit CD sourced, but will wait to see if any further information comes to light on those. Seems like a wasted opportunity so far...
So I am a little confused. Where is this track listing coming from? It appears to be a presentation of the true original soundtracks from back in the day. So cool to finally get EMPIRE OST complete on CD.
