May 25, 2017

20,000 Vinyl LPs 88: Star Wars @ 40








detail photo by Styrous®

It's hard to believe it was 40 years ago today, May 25, 1977, that the film and the soundtrack for Star Wars were simultaneously released. And, as they say, the rest is history.  There is a link to my impressions about that momentous event below.  


 
photo by Styrous®


I had no knowledge of what I was about to see other than the movie trailer playing at the time (link below). Because I only had a tiny, 13" Sonny, rabbit ears with bad reception and tinny sound as the TV was not connected to a sound system, I was not prepared for what was to come.    


photo by Styrous®

My album is the original 1977 release of the soundtrack, entitled Star Wars - Original Soundtrack. It includes a 24" x 36" fold-out poster of a painting by science fiction artist John Berkey, depicting the final battle over the Death Star from the film's end.    



photo by Styrous®




To me, the film score for Star Wars by John Williams is the best one he ever composed. Great examples are The Dune Sea Of Tatooine episode, the quirky and delightful music from the  Cantina scene, the Princess Lea Theme and many others (links below).     




photo by Styrous®



On the recommendation of his friend Steven Spielberg, Lucas hired composer John Williams. Williams had worked with Spielberg on the film Jaws, for which he won an Academy Award. Lucas felt that the film would portray visually foreign worlds, but that the musical score would give the audience an emotional familiarity; he wanted a grand musical sound for Star Wars, with leitmotifs to provide distinction. Therefore, he assembled his favorite orchestral pieces for the soundtrack, until Williams convinced him that an original score would be unique and more unified. However, a few of Williams' pieces were influenced by the tracks given to him by Lucas: the Main Title Theme was inspired by the theme from the 1942 film Kings Row, scored by Erich Wolfgang Korngold; and the track Dune Sea of Tatooine drew from the soundtrack of Bicycle Thieves, scored by Alessandro Cicognini.   




photo by Styrous®





The score for Star Wars was recorded over eight sessions at Anvil Studios in Denham, England on March 5, 8–12, 15 and 16, 1977. The score was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra with Williams conducting. The score was orchestrated by Herbert W. Spencer, who also orchestrated The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The score was recorded by engineer Eric Tomlinson and edited by Kenneth Wannberg, and the scoring sessions were produced by Star Wars director George Lucas and supervised by Lionel Newman, head of 20th Century Fox's music department.

The 20th Century Fox's second logo was used from 1953 to 1987. This version was designed by Pacific Title artist Rocky Longo, and was originally created for the new CinemaScope process.   


20th Century Records also released The Story of Star Wars that same year, a narrated audio drama adaptation of the film utilizing some of its original music, dialogue, and sound effects (this recording will be a future article).   


photo by Styrous®




The album includes some of the best notes ever; one page has a synopsis of the film, Williams and LSO bios, etc, and another a detailed, track by track breakdown of how the music program was put together.

notes, bios, etc. 







tracks info





The giant color, fold out poster which depicts the Rebel Alliance dogfighting the Empire near and along the Death Star. This John Berkey illustration, featuring the frenzied dogfight, was published as a free poster inserted into the first pressings of the Star Wars vinyl LP soundtrack album and measures 22" x 33".   

Star Wars poster
illustration by John Berkey
photo by Styrous®












Star Wars was released theatrically in the United States on May 25, 1977. It earned $461 million in the U.S. and $314 million overseas, totaling $775 million. It surpassed Jaws (1975) to become the highest-grossing film of all time until the release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). When adjusted for inflation, Star Wars is the second-highest-grossing film in North America, and the third-highest-grossing film in the world. It received ten Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture), winning seven. It was among the first films to be selected as part of the U.S. Library of Congress National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". At the time, it was the most recent film on the registry and the only one chosen from the 1970s. Its soundtrack was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2004. Today, it is often regarded as one of the best films of all time, as well as one of the most important films in the history of motion pictures.        





Star Wars
vinyl LP, side 1
photo by Styrous®


Star Wars
vinyl LP label, side 1
photo by Styrous®



The film's success led to two critically and commercially successful sequels, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). The film was originally released in 1977 with the title "Star Wars". The subtitles Episode IV and A New Hope were only added to the opening crawl in subsequent re-releases. Star Wars ~ A New Hope was reissued multiple times  incorporating many changes including modified computer-generated effects, altered dialogue, re-edited shots, remixed soundtracks, and added scenes.        



Star Wars
vinyl LP, side 2
photo by Styrous®


Star Wars
vinyl LP label, side 2
photo by Styrous®



According to Lucas, different concepts of the film were inspired by numerous sources, such as Beowulf and King Arthur for the origins of myth and religion. Lucas originally intended to rely heavily on the 1930s Flash Gordon film serials; however, he resorted to the 1958 Akira Kurosawa film, The Hidden Fortress, and the book by Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, because of copyright issues with Flash Gordon. Star Wars features several parallels to Flash Gordon, such as the conflict between Rebels and Imperial Forces, the wipes between scenes, the fusion of futuristic technology and traditional mythology, and the famous opening crawl that begins each film. The film has also been compared to The Wizard of Oz.        



Star Wars
vinyl LP, side 3
photo by Styrous®


Star Wars
vinyl LP label, side 3
photo by Styrous®



Lucas described a "used future" concept to the production designers in which all devices, ships, and buildings looked aged and dirty. Instead of following the traditional sleekness and futuristic architecture of science fiction films that came before, the Star Wars sets were designed to look inhabited and used. Barry said that the director "wants to make it look like it's shot on location on your average everyday Death Star or Mos Eisley Spaceport or local cantina." Lucas believed "what is required for true credibility is a used future", opposing the interpretation of "future in most futurist movies" that "always looks new and clean and shiny." Christian supported Lucas's vision, saying "All science fiction before was very plastic and stupid uniforms and Flash Gordon stuff. Nothing was new. George was going right against that."            



 
Star Wars
vinyl LP, side 4
photo by Styrous®


 
Star Wars
vinyl LP label, side 4
photo by Styrous®
     


During the chaos of production and post-production, the team made decisions about character voicing and sound effects. Sound designer Ben Burtt had created a library of sounds that Lucas referred to as an "organic soundtrack". Blaster sounds were a modified recording of a steel cable, under tension, being struck. The lightsaber sound effect was developed by Burtt as a combination of the hum of idling interlock motors in aged movie projectors and interference caused by a television set on a shieldless microphone. Burtt discovered the latter accidentally as he was looking for a buzzing, sparking sound to add to the projector-motor hum. For Chewbacca's growls, Burtt recorded and combined sounds made by dogs, bears, lions, tigers, and walruses to create phrases and sentences. Lucas and Burtt created the robotic voice of R2-D2 by filtering their voices through an electronic synthesizer. Darth Vader's breathing was achieved by Burtt breathing through the mask of a scuba regulator implanted with a microphone.



Star Wars movie poster



Tracklist:   

Side One:    

A1     Main Title     5:20
A2     Imperial Attack     6:10
A3     Princess Leia's Theme     4:18
A4     The Desert And The Robot Auction     2:51

Side Two:    

B1     Ben's Death And TIE Fighter Attack     3:46
B2     The Little People Work     4:02
B3     Rescue Of The Princess     4:46
B4     Inner City     4:12
B5     Cantina Band     2:44

Side Three:    

C1     The Land Of The Sand People     2:50
C2     Mouse Robot And Blasting Off     4:01
C3     The Return Home     2:46
C4     The Walls Converge     4:37
C5     The Princess Appears     4:04

Side Four:    

D1     The Last Battle     12:05
D2     The Throne Room And End Title     5:28

Companies, etc.   

    Recorded At – Anvil Recording Studios
    Remixed At – The Burbank Studios
    Mastered At – The Mastering Lab
    Published By – Fox Fanfare Music, Inc.
    Phonographic Copyright (p) – 20th Century Records
    Copyright (c) – Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
    Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute

Credits:   

    Bass – A. Griffiths*, B. Mollinson*, G. Neal, G. Newson*, J. Cooper*, P. Dimitroff*
    Bassoon – P. Francis*, R. Bourton*
    Cello – C. Gillinson*, D. Powrie*, D. Cummings*, F. Saunders*, J. Long*, K. Glossop*, K. Law*, M. Meulien*, R. Adams*, T. Storer*
    Clarinet – J. Brymer*, R. Moore*, R. Jowitt*
    Composed By, Conductor – John Williams (4)
    Engineer [Recording] – Eric Tomlinson
    Flute – F. Nolan*, L. Sanders*, R. Taylor*
    Harp – J. Marson*, R. Scheffel-Stein*
    Horns – A. Chidell*, D. Cripps*, G. Warren*, J. Brown*, J. Quaife*, J. Butterworth*, J. Rooke*, S. Reading
    Liner Notes – Charles Lippincott
    Oboe – A. Camden*, R. Lord*
    Orchestra – The London Symphony Orchestra
    Percussion – M. Frye*, R. Northcott*
    Piano, Celesta – M. Round, R. Noble*
    Producer – George Lucas
    Remix – John Neal
    Timpani – K-H. Goedicke*
    Trombone – D. Wick*, E. Crees*, F. Mathison*
    Trumpet – M. Murphy*, N. Archibald*, R. Izen*, W. Lang*
    Tuba – J. Fletcher*, S. Wick*
    Viola – A. Taylor*, B. Clarke*, D. Hume*, E. Cuthbertson*, M. Mitchell*, P. Hooley*, P. Vermont*, P. Norriss*, W. Krasnik*, W. Sumpton*
    Violin – B. Thomas, B. Gaulton*, C. Reuben*, D. Llewellyn*, D. Williams*, D. Gaines*, D. Stewart*, G. Creese*, I. Arditti*, J. Steadman*, M. Weber*, N. Freeman, N. Watson*, N. Taweel*, R. Studt*, R. Clark*, R. Retallick*, R. Brightman*, S. Artis*, S. Castle*, S. Colter*, T. Morton*, T. Cook*, T. Swift*, W. Hill*, W. Brown*

Notes:  

Recorded over eight sessions at Anvil Studios in Denham, England on March 5, 8-12, 15-16, 1977
Remixed at The Burbank Studios, Burbank, California

Published by Fox Fanfare Music, Inc. (BMI)
© 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation

Has an insert with the list of each instrument and its performer and a color fold-out poster.
Also comes with 16-page color booklet describing characters and behind the scenes info, and poster of fighters over the Death Star.        

Release is Auto-Coupled - sides are organized for use with an auto-changing player.
Record 1: Sides A and D
Record 2: Sides B and C
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Rights Society: BMI
    Matrix / Runout (Side A Label): M-2-541-AS
    Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): M-2-541-BS
    Matrix / Runout (Side C Label): M-2-541-CS
    Matrix / Runout (Side D Label): M-2-541-DS
    Matrix / Runout (Side A Etchings [Variant 1]): M-2-541-AS-3
    Matrix / Runout (Side B Etchings [Variant 1]): M-2-541-BS-1C
    Matrix / Runout (Side C Etchings [Variant 1]): M-2-541-CS-4
    Matrix / Runout (Side D Etchings [Variant 1]): M-2-541-DS
    Matrix / Runout (Side A Etchings [Variant 2]): M-2-541-AS-7 TI
    Matrix / Runout (Side B Etchings [Variant 2]): M-2-541-BS-5 TI
    Matrix / Runout (Side C Etchings [Variant 2]): M-2-541-CS-8 TI
    Matrix / Runout (Side D Etchings [Variant 2]): M-2-541-DS-4 TI
    Matrix / Runout (Side A & B Mastering Facility Stamp): TML-M
    Matrix / Runout (Side C & D Mastering Facility Stamp): TML-S

John Williams, The London Symphony Orchestra ‎– Star Wars
Label: 20th Century Records ‎– 2T-541
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: May 25, 1977
Genre: Classical, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Modern Classical, Contemporary, Score

          

Viewfinder links:
           
Star Wars            
Episode VII ~ The Force Awakens in 3D (or am I cross-eyed yet?)            
All things Star Wars                
Carrie Fisher ~ Forever Princess Lea            
       
Net links:        
         
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope Official Site        
John Williams website             
Star Wars: Episode IV Cast          
Star Wars: Episode IV Plot
         
YouTube links:        
      
Star Wars ~ Original Trailer (1977)            
Star Wars - Opening Scene            
       
Star Wars music       
       Main Title     
       The Dune Sea Of Tatooine                       
       Cantina song       
       Princess Leia's Theme      
        
Kings Row ~ Main Title          
Bicycle Thieves          
              
                
       
       

The list of best film scores, by the American Film Institute, ranks the Star Wars soundtrack at number one. 

       
       
Styrous® ~ Thursday, May 25, 2017     

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