Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection CD box set review

Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

Sony Classical’s “Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection” is the music label’s third box set (after its 2004 DVD Companion collection and 2007’s “The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition”) of music composed and conducted by John Williams. Released in January to coincide with the theatrical run of Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens,” this limited edition box set marks the first time that all six soundtracks from the Original and Prequel trilogies are released together.

The Disney-owned official Star Wars website first announced the release of “Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection” in its September 25, 2015 post. Per StarWars.com, the six scores come in three formats: vinyl LP, audio CD, and digital download.

“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.”

For the CD reissue, Sony Classical decided to reprise what it did with the 2007 “The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collector’s Edition” and expand on it. According to StarWars.com, “‘Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Edition’ includes the original six soundtracks in mini-album jackets’ which replicate the artwork from the original LP albums of “Star Wars,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and “Return of the Jedi,” as well as those from the 1999-2005 CD releases of the Prequels’ scores. 

The 11-CD box set also comes with “Star Wars: A Musical Journey,” a bonus DVD that was originally released with 2005’s “Revenge of the Sith” soundtrack album.

In addition to the 10 music-only discs, the set includes a bonus CD with interviews with composer John Williams and actor Harrison Ford. Williams discusses his musical career, while Ford talks about his iconic role as Han Solo and how “Star Wars” affected his life.

“I have always felt privileged to have had the opportunity to compose music for the ‘Star Wars’ films. So much of what we composers do can be ephemeral and quickly forgotten, even by ourselves, and it’s particularly gratifying to have some of one’s work linger in people’s memories. The ongoing affection for these ‘Star Wars’ films and their music continues to be one of my greatest joys.” – John Williams.

As if that wasn’t enough, Sony Classical added a collectible poster and three stickers that reproduce posters from the Original Trilogy.

Is “Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection” Worth Buying?

Although this isn’t the first Sony Classical recording to present music from the first six movies in one place (the rather lackluster “Star Wars: The Corellian Edition” holds that dubious honor), it is the first box set that contains the six original soundtrack albums.

For listeners and “Star Wars” fans who have never owned any of the previous editions of the soundtracks, “Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection” is a good deal. The 10 CDs of music-only material include the complete scores to “Star Wars” (aka “Episode IV: A New Hope”) and its two sequels, “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” These three albums present almost every track of John Williams’ brilliant scores as they were heard in the films, without the 1977-1983 soundtracks’ “concert hall” edits and in chronological order.

The only complaint many fans may have is that Sony Classical merely replicated the 1997 RCA Victor soundtracks from Lucasfilm’s still-controversial Special Editions of the Original Trilogy. That means that listeners who want to hear “Lapti Nek” (a disco-style song written by Joseph Williams, John’s son) and the original Ewok celebration song from “Return of the Jedi” (co-written by John and Joseph Williams) will have to look elsewhere. Per George Lucas’s express wish, the Special Editions are the official versions of the movies, so those two tracks are non-canonical.

For die-hard Williams’ fans, though, the biggest disappointment may be found in the content of the three Prequel Trilogy-derived CDs.

In contrast to the Original Trilogy’s Death Star-sized cache of musical treasures, Sony Classical opted to simply reissue the one-CD releases of the albums from “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones,” and “Revenge of the Sith.”

Although John Williams’ music for the Prequels is just as good as the scores he composed for the 1977-1983 “Star Wars” Trilogy, the arrangements in the three CDs are neither comprehensive or presented chronologically. Instead, Williams and his collaborators (editor Ken Wannberg and mixer Shawn Murphy) opt for the “Cliff’s Notes” approach of splicing tracks from different sequences in the movies and giving listeners musical samplers.

That's not to say that the concert hall-type tracks aren't aesthetically pleasing. They do sound nice; “Anakin’s Theme” from “The Phantom Menace” and “Across the Stars” from “Attack of the Clones” are the most beautiful stand-alone themes from the Prequels, but they are concert hall arrangements edited from the end title sequences from Episodes I and II.

Sony Classical should have gone the extra mile and reissued the now-rare two-CD Ultimate Edition of “The Phantom Menace” score. Those complete recordings must exist somewhere in the company’s archives. Sony Classical should also have created Ultimate Editions of the scores from “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith.” If the label had done that, then the title “Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection” would be accurate.

Still, this box set is a decent offering. John Williams’ music for the “Star Wars” saga is brilliant, and even the somewhat disappointing Prequel soundtracks have their fair share of melodic magic. The packaging is nice, too; it adds a touch of visual nostalgia for fans who owned the original vinyl LPs from the 1977-1983 films.

“Star Wars: The Ultimate Collection”

DISC 1 – Episode I: The Phantom Menace

•  Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at Naboo
•  Duel of The Fates
•  Anakin’s Theme
•  Jar Jar’s Introduction and the Swim to Otoh Gunga
•  The Sith Spacecraft and the Droid Battle
•  The Trip to the Naboo Temple and the Audience with Boss Nass
•  The Arrival at Tatooine and the Flag Parade
•  He Is the Chosen One
•  Anakin Defeats Sebulba
•  Passage Through the Planet Core
•  Watto’s Deal and Kids at Play
•  Panaka and the Queen’s Protectors
•  Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace
•  The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul
•  Qui-Gon’s Noble End
•  The High Council Meeting and Qui-Gon’s Funeral
•  Augie’s Great Municipal Band and End Credits

DISC 2 – Episode II: Attack of the Clones

•  Star Wars Main Title and Ambush on Coruscant
•  Across the Stars (Love Theme from Star Wars Episode II)
•  Zam the Assassin and the Chase Through Coruscant
•  Yoda and the Younglings
•  Departing Coruscant
•  Anakin and Padmé
•  Jango’s Escape
•  The Meadow Picnic
•  Bounty Hunter’s Pursuit
•  Return to Tatooine
•  The Tusken Camp and the Homestead
•  Love Pledge and the Arena
•  Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale

DISC 3 – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

•  Star Wars and the Revenge of the Sith – Medley
•  Anakin’s Dream
•  Battle of the Heroes
•  Anakin’s Betrayal
•  General Grievous
•  Palpatine’s Teachings
•  Grievous and the Droids
•  Padme’s Ruminations
•  Anakin vs. Obi-Wan
•  Anakin’s Dark Deeds
•  Enter Lord Vader
•  The Immolation Scene
•  Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious
•  The Birth of the Twins and Padme’s Destiny – Medley
•  A New Hope and End Credits – Medley

DISC 4 DVD – Star Wars: A Musical Journey

•  Main Title (From “Star Wars”)
•  Duel of the Fates (From “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace“)
•  Anakin’s Theme (From “Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace“)
•  Across the Stars (Love Theme) [From “Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones“]
•  Battle of the Heroes (From “Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith“)
•  The Imperial March (From “Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back“)
•  The Dune Sea of Tatooine, Jawa Sandcrawler (From “Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope“)
•  Binary Sunset, Cantina Band (From “Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope“) – Medley
•  Princess Leia’s Theme (From “Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope“)
•  Ben Kenobi’s Death / Tie Fighter Attack – Medley
•  Yoda’s Theme (From “Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back“)
•  The Asteroid Field (From “Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back“)
•  Luke and Leia (From “Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi“)
•  The Forest Battle (From “Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi“)
•  Light of the Force (From “Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi“)
•  The Throne Room/End Title – Medley

Episode IV: A New Hope

DISC 5  

•  20th Century Fox Fanfare
•  Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner (Medley)
•  Imperial Attack
•  The Dune Sea of Tatooine/Jawa Sandcrawler (Medley)
•  The Moisture Farm
•  The Hologram/Binary Sunset (Medley)
•  Landspeeder Search/Attack of the Sand People (Medley)
•  Tales of a Jedi Knight/Learn About the Force (Medley)
•  Burning Homestead
•  Mos Eisley Spaceport
•  Cantina Band
•  Cantina Band #2
•  Binary Sunset (Alternate) (Medley)

DISC 6

•  Princess Leia’s Theme
•  The Millennium Falcon/Imperial Cruiser Pursuit (Medley)
•  Destruction of Alderaan
•  The Death Star/The Stormtroopers (Medley)
•  Wookie Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush (Medley)
•  Shootout in the Cell Bay/Dianoga (Medley)
•  The Trash Compactor
•  The Tractor Beam/Chasm Crossfire (Medley)
•  Ben Kenobi’s Death / Tie Fighter Attack (Medley)
•  The Battle of Yavin
•  The Throne Room/End Title (Medley)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

DISC 7

•  20th Century Fox Fanfare
•  Main Title/The Ice Planet Hoth (Medley)
•  The Wampa’s Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight (Medley)
•  The Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor (Medley)
•  The Battle of Hoth (Medley)
•  The Asteroid Field
•  Arrival on Dagobah
•  Luke’s Nocturnal Visitor
•  Han Solo and the Princess
•  Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave (Medley)
•  The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree (Medley)

DISC 8

•  The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)
•  Yoda’s Theme
•  Attacking a Star Destroyer
•  Yoda and the Force
•  Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds (Medley)
•  Lando’s Palace
•  Betrayal at Bespin
•  Deal with Dark Lord
•  Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader’s Trap /Departure of Boba Fett (Medley)
•  The Clash of Lightsabers
•  Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace (Medley)
•  The Rebel Fleet/End Title (Medley)

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

DISC 9

•  20th Century Fox Fanfare
•  Main Title/Approaching The Death Star/Tatooine Rendezvous (Medley)
•  The Droids Are Captured
•  Bounty for a Wookiee
•  Han Solo Returns
•  Luke Confronts Jabba/Den Of The Rancor/Sarlacc Sentence (Medley)
•  The Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault (Medley)
•  The Emperor Arrives/The Death of Yoda/Obi-Wan’s Revelation (Medley)
•  Alliance Assembly
•  Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor
•  Speeder Bike Chase/Land of the Ewoks (Medley)
•  The Levitation/Threepio’s Bedtime Story (Medley)
•  Jabba’s Baroque Recital
•  Jedi Rocks
•  Sail Barge Assault (Alternate Version)

DISC 10

•  Parade of the Ewoks
•  Luke and Leia
•  Brother and Sister/Father and Son/The Fleet Enters Hyperspace/Heroic Ewok (Medley)
•  Emperor’s Throne Room
•  The Battle Of Endor I (Medley)
•  The Lightsaber/The Ewok Battle (Medley)
•  The Battle Of Endor II (Medley)
•  The Battle Of Endor III (Medley)
•  Leia’s News/Light of the Force (Medley)
•  Victory Celebration/End Title (Medley)
•  Ewok Feast/Part of the Tribe (Medley)
•  The Forest Battle (Concert Suite)

DISC 11 Bonus Disc: Interviews with Harrison Ford and John Williams

•  John Williams in interview about his life as a composer
•  Harrison Ford in interview about Star Wars