The Music of Star Wars [30th Anniversary Collector's Edition] [Box Set]

This review assumes you are already familiar with the incredible score John Williams composed for the Star Wars trilogy. I had a few questions about this release before I bought it, so I did some research, and here's what I learned:

(1) Is this REALLY the complete score? --- Well, yes, with one caveat. The content of the 30th Anniversary Collection is exactly the same as that of the 1997 RCA Special Edition and 2004 Sony Classical releases. These three releases apparently have all of the music composed for the entire trilogy, except "Lapti Nek" and "Ewok Celebration" from Return of the Jedi. These two cues (which are pop-like songs used as source music) do, however, appear in the 1993 Four-Disc Fox Anthology. Apparently their exclusion in the newer "complete" releases is due to the fact that these two cues were cut from the Special Edition Return of the Jedi movie (1997). These cues were replaced by "Jedi Rocks" and "Victory Celebration," which were newly composed...Read more

I do admit to sharing the disappointment that many fans of Star Wars feel about this boxed set reissue of Star Wars trilogy soundtracks. While I know it's a re-re-reissue of the original 1997 RCA Victor CDs, it isn't as badly presented as the 2004 Sony Classical releases. This means that we can't experience anything new compared to the previous releases - not even a better sound quality or the original Ewok finale from Return of the Jedi. Turning to this release, I rather like the nice box in which the set is housed, as the box is wrapped in nice foil-embossed paper with logos of Vader and Luke. The CDs are housed in miniature replicas of the original LP sleeves, adding a nice touch to the whole package. However, there are disappointments. The set lacks the detailed liner notes that Michael Mattesino wrote for the 1997 RCA Victor releases. Instead it only includes a poster-sized leaflet describing the different releases of the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV. Another gripe is that...Read more

I was so much looking forward to this brand new edition of the spectacular Star Wars music. I was picturing images that looked similar to the Lord of the Rings Complete recordings. But then my dissapointment was complete, when I got the item. The artwork is nice indeed, all of the 2 Disc-CDs covers have the original LP recordings coverarts, but the music has not been further remastered or enhanced non whatsoever. I begin to think, that the best available editions of John Williams's classic are the 1997 RCA Victor editions, which have been digitally remastered and brought to life chronologically, as they are in the films. Since then, the 2004 Sony Classical edition, and then the 2007 edition is the exact same music in the exact same sound quality, which could be better. Maybe the digital technology has it's limits too, and the original 77-80-83 master tapes cannot allow any more enhancing, but I don't think, that the Throne Room and End Title from A New Hope has to sound so scratchy as...Read more