lthough the first Star Wars film debuted more than 20 years ago, screenings of the new Special Edition trilogy have rekindled interest in composer John Williams' remarkable scores for the series. Albums featuring remastered, unreleased and in some cases altogether new music from the movies have recently appeared on Billboard charts, and these revamped recordings have included additional enhancements such as laser-engraved compact discs and in-depth 30-page liner notes.
Along with the updated full-length soundtracks, three CD singles from RCA Victor have also been issued. The first of these works, which unlike the typical circular disc is trimmed in the shape of Darth Vader's helmet, spotlights "The Imperial March" (Darth Vader's theme) from The Empire Strikes Back. Saloon ensemble Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes are the stars of the second release, which offers two jazzy tracks: "Cantina Band" and "Cantina Band #2," both from the original film. While this platter is round, much of the surface area is clear, allowing the design--portraits of the six alien musicians in the group--to float on a transparent background. A similar technique is used on the final CD in the set, which includes a drawing of the members of The Max Rebo Band on a disc featuring the newly recorded mock-rock tune "Jedi Rocks," from the latest version of Return of the Jedi.
Darth Vader's visage looks out from the jacket of the first disc, while
illustrations of the appropriate alien artists adorn the covers of the other
two singles. All three packages also include the recording dates of
each selection along with the usual composer and producer credits.
Familiar yet fun
The music of the Star Wars trilogy is instantly recognizable to practically every science fiction enthusiast, and though most of these songs are familiar, it's undeniably fun to hear them again. "Jedi Rocks" is the sole contemporary creation among these three discs, and while that number is not nearly as compelling as the classic compositions, it nevertheless retains both the rollicking beat and exotic excitement of the original 1983 performance.
Even if many folks are already acquainted with the melodies, the innovative packaging of each recording adds a visual element that serves
as a pleasant adjunct to the short-but-memorable tracks. Envisioning Darth Vader's head spinning in a CD player is strangely satisfying, and for devoted fans it even harks back to the scene in the first movie when the Dark Lord's TIE fighter tumbles out-of-control just prior to the climactic destruction of the Death Star. The two round releases are not quite as cinematically evocative; instead, they incorporate details such as the names of the various band members directly into the artwork and feature inner sleeve illustrations that function as complementary backgrounds for the designs on the discs.
Given their exceptional presentation, these novelties, which also happen to be the first CD singles ever released from the groundbreaking trilogy, are undoubtedly aimed at ardent Star Wars collectors. While that represents a significant market, their ingenious design and the sheer quality of the music should also make them worthwhile for the casual fan. A few purists might argue for a vintage tune on the final disc, but for almost everyone else this inventive aural trilogy offers a mix of style and substance that is powerful, pleasurable and near perfect.
