Holbrook.ES@PARC-MAXC.ARPA (06/01/83)
[As I noted in my warning message, the first half of this message is a non-spoiler review of the ROTJ soundtrack. In the second half I'll mention individual tracks. Since even knowing the titles of the tracks might give more away than you might want to know, you might want to wait until you've seen the movie to read the second half. It's separated with lots of blank lines ...] Just got a copy of the ROTJ soundtrack. Capsule summary: if you liked the music on the previous soundtrack albums, you'll like this one. John Williams has come up with another winner. As with The Empire Strikes Back (TESB) soundtrack, it's a blend of new music with old familar themes. Unlike the first two soundtracks, this one is a single album set. It does manage to fit 44 minutes of music on it, so it isn't as bad as it sounds. Much to my surprise, the album was NOT recorded digitally. LucasFilms is a leader in pioneering motion picture sound - they've developed the new THX system for theatres, they've done work in digital sound generation - so why can't they be up to date with their soundtracks? I think the answer is money - a digital soundtrack would cost more money, and thus sell for a higher price, which would probably hurt sales. I believe the same reasoning applies to the decision to not issue another double album. I don't know the sales figures for the first two soundtracks, but it's my guess that the TESB soundtrack didn't do as well as they might have wanted. I could live with a single album if it weren't for the fact that the packaging sucks rocks. TESB album came with a multi-page color insert, comments on each track, and an interview with John Williams. The ROTJ album comes with a cheap single sheet foldup with poor quality color stills and NO liner notes. Nothing. I always valued the comments on each track for helping me match the music with a specific part of the movie. I am amazed that Lucas let this get out, unless he didn't have much control over it. I think the motivation again is profit - it's cheaper for RSO to put out an album with nothing in it but the record itself. [Side proposal: those of you who buy the soundtrack and see the movie again, try listening for the music on the album when you go back. Perhaps we can collect our own liner notes.] ---- Specifics on the music (including titles and references to events in the film) follows ------ Here's a list of the tracks on the album. Side 1: 1. Main Title (the story continues) 2. Into the Trap 3. Luke and Leia 4. Parade of the Ewoks 5. Han Solo Returns 6. Lapti Nek Side 2: 1. The Forest Battle 2. Rebel Briefing 3. The Emperor 4. The Return of the Jedi 5. Ewok Celebration and Finale Highlights: "Into the Trap" - Han Solo and company have just broken into the shield generator control bunker. Unknown to them, a legion of the bad guys are waiting for them. Just after this, the rebel fleet comes out of hyperspace near the Death Star, ready to do battle. But the energy shield from Endor is still up .... "Parade of the Ewoks" - An extended treatment of the Ewoks' theme. When I went to the film again, I couldn't hear this piece any place, although I did hear the theme itself used in a number of places. One of my favorites. "Lapti Nek" - From the scene in Jabba the Hutt's throne room where the singer Sy Snottles is singing (in Huttenese, of course) ... this version doesn't seem to be identical to the one in the film. Not as catchy as the Cantina band tune in the first Star Wars. "The Forest Battle" - As the title says, this comes in about midway through the battle against the Empire's troops in the forests of Endor. Lots of exciting battle music interspersed with snatches of the Ewoks' theme as the little guys do nasty things to the Empire's troops. "The Return of the Jedi" - My favorite cut on the album, this starts right before Luke is about to be forced into the Great Pit of Carkoon, home of the Sarlacc. Lots of familar themes in this piece - exciting stuff. I suspect that about half way through it cuts to the final run on the Death Star - some of the music in here is straight out of "The Last Battle" from the 1977 soundtrack. "Ewok Celebration and Finale" - Another chance for sound designer Ben Burtt to show off. The beginning of this piece is an Ewok victory song. This piece comes through much clearer on the album; in the movie this part of the soundtrack has heavy overdubbing with a choir. On the album you can hear the individual Ewoks yelling off to the side. This segues into the finale ..