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,"
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.
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.
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.
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
All things Star Wars
Herbie Hancock
Leatherneck, Pillow, a Hungry i
Meco (Domenico Monardo)
Star Wars
John Williams
Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars (33 mins. 16 secs.)
Label: Mercury – SRM-1-1178
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Viewfinder links:
Herbie Hancock
Leatherneck, Pillow, a Hungry i
Meco (Domenico Monardo)
Star Wars
John Williams
Net links:
Star Wars.com ~ Star Wars Day ~ May the Fourth Be With You
John Williams website
YouTube link:
May the Fourth Be With You
Styrous® ~ Monday, May 4, 2020
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