John Williams - Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection (10 CD, 2016), FLAC

The most acclaimed and enduring film music in Hollywood history, the original soundtracks of Star Wars Episodes I VI, are now issued by Sony Classical in a new box set, Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection that includes 10 CDs plus a DVD. All composed by John Williams, the legendary five-time Oscar®-winning composer, this unique collector set is being released just as the latest chapter in the saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in theaters.

Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection includes the original six soundtracks in mini album jackets on 9 CDs, plus a bonus CD featuring a new audio interview with Harrison Ford (Han Solo) alongside an interview with John Williams. Also included is the DVD Star Wars: A Musical Journey, a one hour special hosted by actor Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine) highlighting select musical themes alongside key sequences from the films. Rounding out the set are a fold-out poster and three collectable stickers.

With the mammoth cultural fanfare surrounding the release of The Force Awakens, the timing for a massive reissue was a good idea. Star Wars: The Ultimate Soundtrack Collection is a monster: 11 discs spanning the originals, the prequels, a "best-of" theme collection for instant gratification, and interviews with composer John Williams and Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford. The set is understandably lopsided: the less memorable music from the prequels claims just three discs, though diehards and fans looking to delve deeper into Williams' work will be rewarded. The Phantom Menace includes the most iconic song from the prequels, the apocalyptic "Duel of the Fates," yet also contains some playful whimsy, choral singing, and global instrumentation for the newly introduced worlds of Naboo and Tatooine. Important Easter eggs pop up too, like on "Anakin's Theme," which ends with some "Imperial March" foreshadowing. The cultural cache of memorable tunes dips off from there. Attack of the Clones introduces Anakin and Padme's "Across the Stars" love theme, where Williams creates more sweeping romance and foreboding danger than Lucas could wring from his actors' cringeworthy performances. A couple more exciting moments surprise faithful listeners: electric guitar zings forth on "Chase Through Coruscant" and emotions are roused on "Love Pledge and the Arena," but overall, like the movie, this is the weakest of the series. Revenge of the Sith is redeemed not only by the lamentful violin dirge of "Anakin's Dream," but by the scary excitement of "Palpatine's Teachings," which not only introduces the leitmotifs for "Emperor's Theme," "Imperial March," and "Force Theme," but also hints at The Force Awakens' mysterious "Snoke" with the bellow of ominous chanting. The prequel trilogy ends with the apt "A New Hope," where thematic nostalgia floods in and segues nicely into the original trilogy soundtracks. Each episode – A New Hope, Empire, and Jedi – receives two discs, and rightfully so: these are some of the most iconic and important themes in modern movie and cultural history. "Binary Sunset" ("Force Theme"), "Cantina Band," "Imperial March," and every beloved character's theme song: fans will know these songs in their bones. The musical portion of the collection ends with Jedi and – just like the 1997 Special Edition versions of the films – a bit of controversy: fans of the 1983 release will be dismayed to see the original tune from Jabba's sleaze lair – "Lapti Nek" ("Work It Out") – still gets no love, replaced by the much-reviled "Jedi Rocks" by the Max Rebo Band. On the other hand, it's not all disaster: the original trilogy-ending Ewok celebration song "Yub Nub" (a homophonic Ewokese pun on "Hooray!" and "Freedom") was likewise replaced by the 1997 version, though the replacement ("Victory Celebration") is a glorious highlight of the entire collection: bittersweet and triumphant, it is a perfect way to say goodbye to these characters, their epic saga, and ten discs of classic movie music. [The CD collection also includes a DVD, poster, and stickers.]

Tracklist:

DISC 1 – Episode I: The Phantom Menace

1. Star Wars Main Title And The Arrival At Naboo 2:56
2. Duel Of The Fates 4:14
3. Anakin's Theme 3:09
4. Jar Jar's Introduction And The Swim To Otoh Gunga 5:08
5. The Sith Spacecraft And The Droid Battle 2:37
6. The Trip To The Naboo Temple And The Audience With Boss Nass 4:07
7. The Arrival At Tatooine And The Flag Parade 4:04
8. He Is The Chosen One 3:53
9. Anakin Defeats Sebulba 4:24
10. Passage Through The Planet Core 4:40
11. Watto's Deal And Kids At Play 4:57
12. Panaka And The Queen's Protectors 3:24
13. Queen Amidala And The Naboo Palace 4:52
14. The Droid Invasion And The Appearance Of Darth Maul 5:14
15. Qui-Gon's Noble End 3:48
16. The High Council Meeting And Qui-Gon's Funeral 3:09
17. Augie's Great Municipal Band And End Credits 9:40

DISC 2 – Episode II: Attack of the Clones

1. Star Wars Main Title And Ambush On Coruscant 3:48
2. Across The Stars (Love Theme From Star Wars: Episode II) 5:33
3. Zam The Assassin And The Chase Through Coruscant 11:07
4. Yoda And The Younglings 3:55
5. Departing Coruscant 1:45
6. Anakin And Padmé 3:56
7. Jango's Escape 3:48
8. The Meadow Picnic 4:14
9. Bounty Hunter's Pursuit 3:23
10. Return To Tatooine 6:57
11. The Tusken Camp And The Homestead 5:55
12. Love Pledge And The Arena 8:29
13. Confrontation With Count Dooku And Finale 10:44

DISC 3 – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

1. Star Wars And Revenge Of The Sith 7:33
2. Anakin's Dream 4:46
3. Battle Of The Heroes 3:42
4. Anakin's Betrayal4:04
5. General Grievous 4:07
6. Palpatine's Teachings 5:25
7. Grievous And The Droids 3:28
8. Padmé's Ruminations 3:16
9. Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan 3:57
10. Anakin's Dark Deeds 4:05
11. Enter Lord Vader 4:14
12. The Immolation Scene 2:42
13. Grievous Speaks To Lord Sidious 2:49
14. The Birth Of The Twins And Padme's Destiny 3:37
15. A New Hope And End Credits 13:07

DISC 4 DVD – Star Wars: A Musical (NOT UPLOADED)

DISC 5: Episode IV: A New Hope

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare 0:23
2. Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner 2:14
3. Imperial Attack 6:43
4. The Dune Sea Of Tatooine / Jawa Sandcrawler 5:02
5. The Moisture Farm 2:25
6. The Hologram / Binary Sunset 4:08
7. Landspeeder Search / Attack Of The Sand People 3:21
8. Tales Of A Jedi Knight / Learn About The Force 4:28
9. Burning Homestead 2:50
10. Mos Eisley Spaceport 2:16
11. Cantina Band 2:47
12. Cantina Band #2 3:55
13. Binary Sunset (Alternate) 17:00

DISC 6: Episode IV: A New Hope

1. Princess Leia's Theme 4:27
2. The Millenium Falcon / Imperial Cruiser Pursuit 3:51
3. Destruction Of Alderaan 1:33
4. The Death Star / The Stormtroopers 3:34
5. Wookiee Prisoner / Detention Block Ambush 4:01
6. Shootout In The Cell Bay / Dianoga 3:48
7. The Trash Compactor 3:06
8. The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire 5:18
9. Ben Kenobi's Death / Tie Fighter Attack 3:51
10. The Battle Of Yavin (Launch From The Fourth Moon / X-Wings Draw Fire / Use The Force) 9:07
11. The Throne Room / End Title 5:37

DISC 7: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare 0:22
2. Main Title / The Ice Planet Hoth 8:09
3. The Wampa's Lair / Vision Of Obi-Wan / Snowspeeders Take Flight 8:48
4. The Imperial Probe / Aboard The Executor 4:24
5. The Battle Of Hoth (Ion Cannon / Imperial Walkers / Beneath The AT-AT / Escape In The Millennium Falcon) 14:48
6. The Asteroid Field 4:16
7. Arrival On Dagobah 4:53
8. Luke's Nocturnal Visitor 2:35
9. Han Solo And The Princess 3:26
10. Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave 5:44
11. The Training Of A Jedi Knight / The Magic Tree 5:17

DISC 8: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

1. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) 3:03
2. Yoda's Theme 3:30
3. Attacking A Star Destroyer 3:04
4. Yoda And The Force 4:02
5. Imperial Starfleet Deployed / City In The Clouds 6:03
6. Lando's Palace 3:53
7. Betrayal At Bespin 3:46
8. Deal With The Dark Lord 2:37
9. Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure Of Boba Fett 11:50
10. The Clash Of Lightsabers 4:18
11. Rescue From Cloud City / Hyperspace 9:08
12. The Rebel Fleet / End Title 6:28

DISC 9: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare 0:22
2. Main Title / Approaching The Death Star / Tatooine Rendezvous 9:17
3. The Droids Are Captured 1:17
4 Bounty For A Wookiee 2:50
5. Han Solo Returns 4:01
6. Luke Confronts Jabba / Den Of The Rancor / Sarlacc Sentence 8:49
7.The Pit Of Carkoon / Sail Barge Assault 6:02
8. The Emperor Arrives / The Death Of Yoda / Obi-Wan's Revelation 10:57
9. Alliance Assembly 2:11
10. Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor 4:07
11. Speeder Bike Chase / Land Of The Ewoks 9:38
12. The Levitation / Threepio's Bedtime Story 2:45
13. Jabba's Baroque Recital 3:04
14. Jedi Rocks 2:50
15. Sail Barge Assault (Alternate) 5:06

DISC 10: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

1. Parade Of The Ewoks 3:28
2. Luke And Leia 4:46
3. Brother And Sister / Father And Son / The Fleet Enters Hyperspace 10:40
4. Emperor's Throne Room 3:26
5. The Battle Of Endor I (Into The Trap / Forest Ambush / Scout Walker Scramble / Prime Weapon Fires) 11:50
6. The Lightsaber / The Ewok Battle 4:31
7. The Battle Of Endor II (Leia Is Wounded - The Dual Begins / Overtaking The Bunker / The Dark Side Beckons / The Emperor's Death) 10:02
8. The Battle Of Endor III (Superstructure Chase / Darth Vader's Death / The Main Reactor) 6:03
9. Leia's News / Light Of The Force 3:21
10. Victory Celebration / End Title 8:33
11. Ewok Feast / Part Of The Tribe 4:00
12. The Forest Battle (Concert Suite) 4:06

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

An Interview With John Williams: His Life As A Composer:
1. Part I 9:19
2. Part II 8:07
3. Part III 11:22
An Interview With Harrison Ford: The Music Of Star Wars:
4. Part I 10:28
5. Part II 9:22