May 4, 2020

20,000 vinyl LP 220: Gleeson's Star Wars ~ Disco Daze 6

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Today, May 4, 2020, is Star Wars Day. Star Wars emerged at the dawning of the age of disco in 1977, so, I considered using the Meco disco version of the soundtrack but settled on this not-quite-so-disco electronic version by Patrick Gleeson instead. In addition to cuts from the original soundtrack from the film, I used cuts from this version and others in my Star Wars act at the Hungry i (links below).   
      

vinyl LP album front cover design by Peter Lloyd
photo of album cover by Styrous®


The first recorded reference was the phrase being first used on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took the job as as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. An online news article from the Danish public broadcaster says her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in The London Evening News, saying "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations,"         


vinyl LP album back cover design by Peter Lloyd
photo of album cover by Styrous®



The saying was used in a UK Parliament defence debate on May 4, 1994.      

Astrophysicist and author Jeanne Cavelos used the saying on page 94 of her 1999 book The Science of Star Wars.           

In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared, celebrating Luke Skywalker Day, with the same catchphrase.          

In 2011, the first organized celebration of Star Wars Day took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Produced by Sean Ward and Alice Quinn, festivities included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show; a costume contest with celebrity judges; and the web's best tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes on the big screen. The second annual edition took place on Friday, May 4, 2012.             
           

vinyl LP record sleeve
photo by Styrous®


Patrick Gleeson was born on November 9, 1934. He came to San Francisco in the 1960s to teach in the English Department at San Francisco State. He began experimenting with electronic music in the mid-'60s at the San Francisco Tape Music Center using a Buchla synth and other devices. He resigned his teaching position to become a full-time musician. In 1968, "upon hearing Switched-On Bach" by Wendy Carlos (at that time Carlos was still Walter Carlos), he bought a Moog synthesizer and opened the Different Fur recording studio in San Francisco.  

He worked with Herbie Hancock in the early 1970s, touring with Hancock – thus pioneering the use of synthesizers outside the studio – and appearing on the albums Crossings and Sextant. Hancock has credited Gleeson with introducing him to synthesizers and teaching him technique. Sextant and Headhunters were both recorded in part at Different Fur studios. Gleeson has worked with many other Jazz musicians, including Lenny White, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Earland, Eddie Henderson and Joe Henderson.

Gleeson has had a varied career in music (link below); he  even had a shot at new wave when he worked as an engineer on the 1978 Devo album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, part of which was recorded at Different Fur.        


vinyl LP record sleeve
photo by Styrous®




vinyl LP record label, side 1
photo by Styrous®



vinyl LP record label, side 2
photo by Styrous®



       
Tracklist:

Side 1:

A1 - Star Wars Theme (Luke's Theme) - 5:49
A2 - The Tatooine Desert - 6:25
A3 - Death Star - 5:29

Side 2:


B1 - Star Wars Cantina Music - 3:15
B2 - Princess Leia's Theme - 4:03
B3 - Droids - 2:18
B4 - Ben Kenobi's Theme - 7:07

Companies, etc.

    Recorded At – Different Fur Studios
    Mixed At – Different Fur Studios
    Mastered At – Kendun Recorders
    Manufactured By – Phonogram, Inc.
    Distributed By – Phonodisc, Inc.

Credits:

    Arranged By – Andy Narrel*, Charles Mims*
    Artwork – Peter Lloyd (4)
    Composed By – John Williams (4)
    Drums – Billy Cobham, Harvey Mason, James Levi, Ronnie Beck*
    Engineer – Pete Chaikin, Peter Granet, Seth Dworken, Skip Shimmin
    Lyricon – Lenny Picket*
    Producer, Keyboards, Performer [Breath Controller], Arranged By, Conductor, Engineer – Patrick Gleeson
    Vocals – Sarah Baker

Notes:

"Selections from the film performed on the world's most advanced synthesizer".
"Patrick Gleeson's stunning and surreal interpretation of the music from the film".

This abum was recorded on an MCI24 Track with DBX Noise Reductionn and mixed on Different
Fur's Harrison console with Allison 65K automation.
Recorded and mixed at Different Fur, San Francisco, July 1977.
Mastered at Kendun Recording, Burbank.

Album includes a two-sided 12" insert with credits and program notes by Patrick Gleeson.
        
Patrick Gleeson ‎– Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars
Label: Mercury ‎– SRM-1-1178
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

          
Viewfinder links:           
       
All things Star Wars     
Herbie Hancock       
Leatherneck, Pillow, a Hungry i     
Meco (Domenico Monardo)         
Star Wars         
John Williams        
      
Net links:           

Patrick Gleeson Discography          
Star Wars.com ~ Star Wars Day ~ May the Fourth Be With You     
John Williams website                     
      
YouTube link:           
       
Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars (33 mins. 16 secs.)  
            
       
          
           
May the Fourth Be With You
          
            
       
Styrous® ~ Monday, May 4, 2020          
        
   

       
       






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