I have been re-watching the series and marveling at the music. Like the headline suggests, I'm looking for legit expanded/complete versions. I can handle if it's not complete but I really don't like the SFX. Thanks in advance.

You do realize what you're asking for, right? It's like me walking up to Hans Zimmer and asking him for his entire catalog in complete form lol

You do realize what you're asking for, right? It's like me walking up to Hans Zimmer and asking him for his entire catalog in complete form lol

Not quite that extreme really. I'm just asking for the most complete and SFX-free version available and given that there were two main Star Wars threads I had come across but all the links are all dead. The complete masters would be nice but not being a hardcore fan, I'm not asking for those. I've only recently become interested in the Star Wars music and with all the different album releases out there it's kind of hard to pick. I know a complete album release was made for Episode 1 but as for Episodes 2 and 3 they all feature SFX but I do know SFX-free expanded (not necessarily complete) versions do exist and I'm utterly clueless as to what's the best version of Episodes 4-6. Hopefully someone here will be able to shed some light on it.

....

I wish I could help out but I don't know all that much about what's available for expanded releases. I've seen some pretty massive sets of music from the original trilogy, but I wouldn't be able to say whether they were official or not. For sure, I believe there were some expanded releases that came out in the mid-90s, or sometime thereabouts. I have no idea of the amount of fan-made edits of original trilogy stuff, but I do remember seeing what looked some spectacular edits elsewhere.

In terms of expanded stuff for the new trilogy, you have an abundance of fan-made edits and expanded releases due to the inclination to include unreleased film music on the seemingly infinite amount of Star Wars video games. Episode I had an official Ultimate Edition released but they just absolutely butchered it--making a series of 1 minute long tracks that make for a somewhat jarring listening experience. Because of how that was received, no such Ultimate Editions were created for Episodes II and III. But, as I said, there are plenty of expanded edits for both of these movies--and they all have non-invasive to minimal to no SFX at all.

I, too, have been interested in finding out what decent expanded versions of the Star Wars scores are available, so I will also be following along in this thread. I would type more but I have to go to church and then I'll be spending the rest of my day in an art museum so see you later.

Ok, first thing. The expanded special releases for the first three films are very expanded. They were billed as complete. I know, opinions vary, but I have never felt they were lacking. The Phantom menace is in the same vein, an official "complete" set. Now, there are good extensions of Revenge of the Sith. By fans using clean music from the games and other sources. One was just posted recently I find enjoyable. But, Attack of the clones is harder to find, as all the really expanded sets do contain fx. It is the only one really still lacking. But like I said, some really hardcore fans will debate my assessment. I truly love this set of scores, and find the official first 4 complete sets to be fine for my listening experience, They do not contain every variation, unused edits are restored, extended pieces used instead of film versions etc, etc. Empire is a particulary nice listen. :)

just my 2 cents.

The New Hope, Empire, and Return of the Jedi special editions for me are very listenable. But unlike Phantom Menace, short cues are merged into longer tracks, and I like that better. My understanding is that fans complained, and so for Phantom Menace, they put out what fans thought they wanted, and they ..err complained. :erm: So from that perspective, why do the other two? But as it stands 4 of the six have official expanded releases, and for the first three, FOR ME PERSONALLY, there is nothing missing. They do not include trailer music, a ton of alternate takes, covers, disco versions, live concert versions, or suites. Each of the three sets does present a full score though. Just merged cues. There are a handful of alternates presented. Empire and Jedi also contain suite, or concert versions of a few major themes. I think most of the massive 4-5 disc sets I have seen are about two things. Including all available alternate versions and "film edits", and ironically considering Phantom Menace criticism, splitting of cues back into original short cue format, instead of the suites presented. And, also many say there are severe mastering problems with the original releases,but i have no ear for that sort of thing.

It seems I've picked a rather convoluted series to get into. Why all the difficulty with Star Wars music? Don't get me wrong John Williams composed some amazing music for his Star Wars space opera but finding a good version to stick with is insane. There are just too many releases to choose from and all of them pretty much hit and miss when it comes to the extras. I'll probably just stick with the official deluxe editions and be happy.

Because no one agrees on it. I stick to the Limited Edition 2 cd sets for the original trilogy, and the 2cd Ultimate Edition for Phantom Menace. The other two have no ffficial expansion. I have a good fan boot for Revenge of the Sith. Attack of the clones is...sadly not in good shape...?

It seems I've picked a rather convoluted series to get into. Why all the difficulty with Star Wars music? Don't get me wrong John Williams composed some amazing music for his Star Wars space opera but finding a good version to stick with is insane. There are just too many releases to choose from and all of them pretty much hit and miss when it comes to the extras. I'll probably just stick with the official deluxe editions and be happy.

The original trilogy is the most widely represented on CD. You have the OST's, the anthology 4CD set, and the 2CD special editions for each episode.
If you seek the most complete set over sound quality, go for the 2CD's editions, but on the other hand if you give preference on sound over completeness, then the anthology is the better on that aspect.
The 2CD sets while have more music they suffer from a reduced and muffled sound. In that regard the ROTJ is the worst of them. Not counting a few tracks on the ESB edition, where the instruments where placed in the opposite side of the stereo mix compared to the correct mix versions of the anthology and the OST!

As for the prequel trilogy you have the OST's and a special edition for TPM, and that's all.
The TPM special edition is complete afaik, but the downside is that you don't have the concert versions of 'Duel of the Fates' & 'Anakin's Theme' from the OST, save for their reprise in the end credits. But above all else it's consisted mainly by small tracks, which for a listening experience it's tiring to hear, unlike the 2CD sets of the original trilogy, in which smaller cues were nicely arranged to form larger and more cohesive tracks.


Anyway, here's a list of all editions (official and non-official) of the Star Wars soundtracks:
Star Wars - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/swx.htm)
The Empire Strikes Back - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/tesbx.htm)
Return of the Jedi - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/rotjx.htm)
Star Wars Episode 1 - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/epi1x.htm)
Star Wars Episode 2 - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/epi2x.htm)
Star Wars Episode 2 - Index (http://www.jw-collection.de/scores/epi3x.htm)

Ariel has contacts who remastered the Special Edition Empire, combining various sources for best quality, and fixing what could be fixed. It sounds good. You should contact him about it... It was a flac set. I converted, but he may still be willing to share.