"Star Wars" soundtrack rights have reverted to Disney

As of the start of this year, Sony Classical has lost the rights to publish CDs for the first six Star Wars films. The rights have now reverted to Disney, who at the moment are re-releasing the Sony versions under their own banner digitally (presumably in an effort to strangle out the Sony releases).

Effectively this means that, with full control, Disney now has the capability to officially release expanded versions of the Star Wars scores.

Wow, now I have hope that I’ll see quality, truly authoritative SW releases in my lifetime.

Pity. I liked the Sony Classical label.. and the design of the SW discs, but I do admit that their releases were a bit flawed.

I assume we’ll be getting at least this year (for the 30th anniversary) a new, remastered complete release of Star Wars (1977)? If there’s something good to come out of this, it’s likely that we may be getting better releases..

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Yeah, I went to 7digital, Disney has re-released the Star Wars soundtracks, although with horrible covers imo.

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Well, this has made me want to listen to Star Wars music. I’ll go and do that.

Well, the interesting thing is that Mike Mattesino is working on a John Williams project for release this year. This year marks 40 years since the original film’s release too. I’m not saying it’s Star Wars (I believe Close Encounters also has its 40th anniversary this year), but it’d be great if it was (and with the rights out of Sony’s hands it’s now within the realms of possibility), and it’d be an instant buy for me.

I don’t think it’s gonna be Star Wars, but being the rights now in property of Disney, who is prolly more willing to use everything they got of Star Wars, it’d be real weird if we didn’t get a 40th anniversary soundtrack release. I just.. don’t know if Disney is gonna release a Deluxe themselves, in digipak as they are accostumed to, or give the license to people like Intrada or LLL?

We have no idea. But something is gonna happen, right? The problem is not Sony anymore and Disney is prolly more willing to do this, as it gives money, right?

Well, they can’t fail to be aware of the popularity of such sets.

I read this also on the Filmtracks’ Scoreboard. Where is this confirmed?

I read this also on the Filmtracks’ Scoreboard. Where is this confirmed?

Digital releases have been scrubbed of any reference to Sony and now attribute everything to DISNEY and LUCASFILM LTD.

Wow, now I have hope that I’ll see quality, truly authoritative SW releases in my lifetime.

^ The only good thing to really come of this.

Perhaps now we’ll finally receive a complete release of Return of the Jedi that has not been botched for the fourth time sound quality wise, and the other two of the original trilogy could use a re-do as well.
Then we need a re-release of The Phantom Menace’s ‘complete’ score that’s not cut and edited to pieces, initial releases of some sort of complete scores of the other two prequels, and hopefully something more-complete for The Force Awakens. To reiterate, all of the latter properly done, obviously.

All speculative, of course. One can always hope and pray.

A New Hope’s issues on the ’97 "Special Edition" are minimal, but holy hell – ESB and RotJ are embarrassing, unacceptable representations of the respective scores.

Empire Strikes Back wasn’t actually quite as bad as Return of the Jedi, but still not as good-sounding as A New Hope…..and having said that, it seems like the quality got worse as each release of the original trilogy’s scores go on, from A New Hope to Return of the Jedi. What the hell.

But included in the ‘Ultimate Digital Collection’ are re-releases/remasters of the original LPs/albums of the original trilogy’s scores; that was the first time a release of the music from this trilogy didn’t sound botched to hell, only they weren’t complete representations as the 2 CD releases were, only…well we’ve already said the issue with those. :p

Half of ESB sounds all right and the other half sounds like a bowel movement of Satan. They hired some newbie to do half the mixing and this guy had NO EXPERIENCE with orchestral music. God dammit why do you put a guy like that on a John Williams score???

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ornjSL2sBcPflIDiU/giphy.gif

Let’s just hope that Disney has more common sense than Sony and knows well who they put to work on remastering or otherwise before releasing these scores… if they end up actually doing that.

https://media.giphy.com/media/3ornjSL2sBcPflIDiU/giphy.gif

Let’s just hope that Disney has more common sense than Sony and knows well who they put to work on remastering or otherwise before releasing these scores… if they end up actually doing that.

Disney didn’t pay Lucas four billion dollars to screw up the Star Wars franchise – George was already doing a good job of that – and so far with the success of TFA & Rogue One it hasn’t.

Disney made the expensive and controversial call to restructure and have Rogue One re-shot and that decision has paid off. So there’s evidence Disney gives a damn about the quality of product it gives to the public as opposed to the philosophy of it’s good enough for who gets it. (Like Fox under Rothman who gave us Last Stand & Wolverine Origins and who said, in essence, comic book fans would watch anything on the screen as long as it wore spandex.)

So it’s a fair guess that Disney will spend the money and do a proper remastering. Star Wars is the jewel in the Disney crown and it will pay for the privilege.

I think its also a fair guess Disney will release the original Star Wars trilogy minus Lucas’s after hours tinkering. So we will, probably, get to see Han shoot first.

I believe its a matter of when, not if.

A ray of hope is that Kathleen Kennedy has apparently been involved in several JW expansions as of late which were done by Mike Mattesino.

Mike Mattesino.
This is exactly the man I hope that Disney hires to overlook the production of these albums, should they ever come. He had posted a Facebook status stating that he was working on something Williams related, but of course didn’t state the title. But, considering Disney got the rights on the 1st of this year, and that’s when he posted his status, I have high hopes that he’s already involved in the Star Wars sets. I have hope.

This is exactly the man I hope that Disney hires to overlook the production of these albums, should they ever come. He had posted a Facebook status stating that he was working on something Williams related, but of course didn’t state the title. But, considering Disney got the rights on the 1st of this year, and that’s when he posted his status, I have high hopes that he’s already involved in the Star Wars sets. I have hope.

This project he’s been working on turned out to be the 35� Anniversary Edition of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" for La-La Land.
https://theseconddisc.com/2017/09/exclusive-track-list-e-t-comes-home-on-la-la-lands-new-2cd-soundtrack/

But he might have worked on "Star Wars" as well, but I doubt that.

Mike Mattesino did post that quip about being prevented by "Imperial decree" from saying anything about Star Wars. Possible hint? Or just having fun? I leave it to you to decide.

The only way to know for certain is to wait.
But I have to say: it’d be really disappointing if Disney doesn’t do any special edition of the Star Wars scores for the 40th anniversary, which would be this year.
Unless they want to wait for the 50th, which would make sense because the sequel and spin-offs trilogies will be finished by then.

Unless they want to wait for the 50th, which would make sense because the sequel and spin-offs trilogies will be finished by then.

That’s exactly why it’d be smart to wait until then. You have nine movies to work with, not just six.

Nine? At least twelve, if you count the spin-offs. They might do expanded releases for them as well.

I’d take a Rogue One official expansion for sure 😀

Return of the Jedi in proper quality is surely the most conspicuous priority for SW score fans? I would like Mike Matessino on board too.

Return of the Jedi in proper quality is surely the most conspicuous priority for SW score fans? I would like Mike Matessino on board too.

Well, that and The Phantom Menace (which still sits as my favourite SW score). And ditto on Mike Mattesino: he’s a must for this project.

Speaking of The Phantom Menace, anybody remember the most erroneous claim of the Ultimate Edition about how it was ‘every note John Williams wrote’? No version of The Phantom Menace at current could ever be that given how much of the sixth reel was never recorded. What I’d like to see is the LSO gathered to record the missing passages/original cues as bonus material. It would truly make a TPM set ‘every note written’. It’ll never happen, but one can dream.

Well, that and The Phantom Menace (which still sits as my favourite SW score). And ditto on Mike Mattesino: he’s a must for this project.

Speaking of The Phantom Menace, anybody remember the most erroneous claim of the Ultimate Edition about how it was ‘every note John Williams wrote’? No version of The Phantom Menace at current could ever be that given how much of the sixth reel was never recorded. What I’d like to see is the LSO gathered to record the missing passages/original cues as bonus material. It would truly make a TPM set ‘every note written’. It’ll never happen, but one can dream.

Can’t happen. LSO would need Williams on board to conduct that. Williams can no longer move to London.

Can’t happen. LSO would need Williams on board to conduct that. Williams can no longer move to London.

They wouldn’t necessarily need Williams to conduct it, and Williams has actually shared conducting duties on some of his recent scores (I think there were three conductors for TFA if I remember right). Williams wouldn’t even need to leave the US to supervise – he could sit in via video link. He could send William Ross to conduct – it wouldn’t be the first time he’s done that for Williams.

Alternatively they could fly the LSO out, but that would be a lot of cost for a handful of cues.

Either way, like I said, it’s not likely to happen.

In that case, if it’s so easy, why didn’t the LSO play The Force Awakens?

In that case, if it’s so easy, why didn’t the LSO play The Force Awakens?

The sessions took months for both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi… I don’t know if that depends on how Williams is scoring the films (maybe on a long period of time, constantly revisiting cues or something like that) or Williams’ health. Anyway, considered that most of the post-production is in LA, it was much easier to score the films in LA rather than London.

In that case, if it’s so easy, why didn’t the LSO play The Force Awakens?

John Williams answered that: the LSO were just not available for that length of time.

It’s probably also cheaper for Disney to do it in LA, like Imperivm said. Not one Star Wars score for film has been done in London since Revenge of the Sith (Rogue One was done in LA too IIRC, after Giacchino flew back from London once he finished on Doctor Strange).

As an aside, I’m actually hoping the score to Solo might be done in London.

John Powell can go where he like, I’m sure (especially since being widowed 🙁 ) but which orchestra does he usually use – or are his gigs much more studio-dependent?

I think that might happen. If I remember correctly, both Lucasfilm and ILM have a studio in London, and they might do most of the post-production there… and use the LSO, but there’s no way to tell that right now.

John Powell can go where he like, I’m sure (especially since being widowed 🙁 ) but which orchestra does he usually use – or are his gigs much more studio-dependent?

As far as I know, he always goes with the LSO when possible.

As far as I know, he always goes with the LSO when possible.

Then I really hope he goes with them for Solo. It’d be nice to have them in the films again, even if it’s not in an Episode.

Isn’t Disney involved with the Los Angeles Philharmonic ?
As far as I know the Force Awakens and Last Jedi were recorded by an assembled orchestra of "freelancers" not an established orchestra, wich is very common in film music nowadays.
Amongst the conductors on Force Awakens is Gustavo Dudamel, whom is known to have conducted several programs dedicated to Williams music at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Isn’t Disney involved with the Los Angeles Philharmonic ?
As far as I know the Force Awakens and Last Jedi were recorded by an assembled orchestra of "freelancers" not an established orchestra, wich is very common in film music nowadays.
Amongst the conductors on Force Awakens is Gustavo Dudamel, whom is known to have conducted several programs dedicated to Williams music at the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Williams wanted to record both with the LSO and laments that he could not – but it was because of the recording schedule. In fact, I read reports that the LSO were signed on to record TFA but the plan had to change when Abrams gave Williams the amount of time he did to write the score.

My earlier point became a little more possible – John Williams is flying over to the UK to conduct the LSO in concert in the Royal Albert Hall, something I’m going to be going to see. I doubt they’d actually do what I suggested, though.

So this means Disney will release under their labels the same content as Sony released years ago.
Now, Disney has the time to develop a proper expanded versions from the prequel trilogy films. But i hope Disney not just add one track to a new release just like the lion king, until they release the Legacy collection

So this means Disney will release under their labels the same content as Sony released years ago.
Now, Disney has the time to develop a proper expanded versions from the prequel trilogy films. But i hope Disney not just add one track to a new release just like the lion king, until they release the Legacy collection

Disney already released ‘remastered’ versions of the OSTs (rebuilt from scratch from the recording sessions). There were no extras on those releases. But the fact they used the recording sessions as opposed to the OST masters is… interesting to say the least.

Disney already released ‘remastered’ versions of the OSTs (rebuilt from scratch from the recording sessions). There were no extras on those releases. But the fact they used the recording sessions as opposed to the OST masters is… interesting to say the least.

But is the same content as Sony releases, with different covers. I mean, now Disney have the rights, it would be an extraordinary opportunity to release the sessions with an official version

But is the same content as Sony releases, with different covers. I mean, now Disney have the rights, it would be an extraordinary opportunity to release the sessions with an official version

Yes… and no. Like I said, while they reconstructed the album programs, they used the recording sessions themselves to do so as opposed to just reusing the album masters. It would be the same as me using my Star Wars complete score edits to recreate the OSTs.

In fact, while Revenge of the Sith is the same ‘sequence’ there are several quite remarkable differences as some of the tracks use the film mixes entirely (such as Anakin’s Dark Deeds) and some of the material is quite different to what was presented on the Sony OSTs.