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<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en">  <head><title>Filmtracks: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)</title> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="last-modified" content="Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:43:36 +0000"> <meta name="description" content="Includes reviews, audio clips, track listings, pictures, and other notes about the soundtrack for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by John Williams"> <meta name="keywords" content="The Empire Strikes Back, John Williams, Star Wars, empire strikes back soundtrack, The Imperial March, empire soundtrack, star wars soundtrack, episode 5 soundtrack, film music, film score, soundtrack, composer"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/facebook_2024_thumb.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="400" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="400" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Filmtracks: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Includes reviews, audio clips, track listings, pictures, and other notes about the soundtrack for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by John Williams" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Filmtracks" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.filmtracks.com//titles/empire.html"> <script src="/js/jquery-1.11.0.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script src="/js/global.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/global.css"> <script type="text/javascript"> $(document).ready(function() { $('[id^=albumtrackstitle]').each(function(index) { $(this).click(function(event) { event.preventDefault(); 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height: 15px;">  </td><td style="width: 918px; height: 15px;">  </td></tr></table>  </td></tr><tr><td> <table id="MainContentTable2" style="width: 1280px; text-align: left;"> <tr><td style="width: 123px; text-align: left; max-width: 1280px;">  </td><td style="width: 1034px; text-align: left; max-width: 1034px;">  <table id="MainContentTable3" style="width: 1034px; background: url(/images/2015/header/reviews.gif) no-repeat; background-position: 17px 0px;"><tr> <td style="width: 286px; maxwidth: 286px;"> <table id="LeftColumnTable" style="width: 286px;"> <tr><td style="width: 286px; height: 39px; background: url(/images/2015/header/reviews.gif) no-repeat top left; background-position: 17px;"> </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 286px; height: 17px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/swoosh_bottom_column.gif) no-repeat top left; background-position: 17px;"> </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 286px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_back_pattern.gif) repeat-y left 0px top 80px;"> <table id="LeftColumnTable2" style="width: 286px;"> <tr><td style="width: 286px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_top_pattern.gif) no-repeat top left; padding-left: 13px;"> <div style="text-align: right; width: 210px; font-size: 1.1em; margin: 58px 7px 2px 24px; text-shadow: 2px 2px #000, 1px 1px 4px #000, 1px 1px 10px #000;"><b> Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back</b></div> <table id="LeftColumnTable3" style="width: 273px;"> <tr><td style="width: 273px; height: 4px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_line.gif) no-repeat left;"> </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 273px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_fade_pattern.png) repeat-y left top;"> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td style="padding-left: 12px; color: #6f91dd; font-size: 0.7em; text-shadow: 2px 2px #000, 1px 1px 4px #000, 1px 1px 10px #000;"><b> (1980)</b> </td><td rowspan="2" style="width: 115px; text-align: left; padding-top: 10px;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire85.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div> </td></tr> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 1985 Polydor</td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 1992 Varèse<br> Gerhardt </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 2 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire_gerhardt.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 1993 Fox<br> Anthology </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 3 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/star_wars_anthology.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 1997 RCA<br> Special Edition </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 4 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire97.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 1997 RCA<br> Re-Pressing </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 5 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire97_2.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2004 Sony<br> Classical Set </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 6 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/star_wars04_set.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2004 Sony<br> Classical Individual </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 7 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire04.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2007 Sony<br> Corellian Edition </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 8 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/star_wars07.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2007 Sony<br> 30th Ann. Set </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 9 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/star_wars07_set.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2016 Sony<br> Ultimate Set </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 10 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/star_wars16_set.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="LeftColumnCover" style="width: 240px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0px;"> <tr><td class="covertitle"> 2018 Disney </td><td style="width: 115px; text-align: left;"> <div style="width: 100px; height: 100px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_cover.png) no-repeat;"> <img alt="Album 11 Cover Art" src="/images/covers/empire18.jpg" width="90" height="90" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px;"> </div> </td></tr></table>  </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 273px; height: 4px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_line.gif) no-repeat left;"> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 20px 35px 24px 16px;"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> Composed, Conducted, and Co-Produced by:</div> <div class="columncreditnames"><a href="/composers/williams.shtml"><b>John Williams</b></a></div><hr class="columnsectiondivider"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> Co-Produced by: </div> <div class="columncreditnames"> George Lucas </div><hr class="columnsectiondivider"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> Orchestrated by: </div> <div class="columncreditnames"> Herbert W. Spencer </div><hr class="columnsectiondivider"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> Performed by: </div> <div class="columncreditnames"> The London Symphony Orchestra </div><hr class="columnsectiondivider"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> RCA Re-Recording Produced and Conducted by: </div> <div class="columncreditnames"> Charles Gerhardt </div><hr class="columnsectiondivider"> <div class="columncreditdivider"> RCA Re-Recording Performed by: </div> <div class="columncreditnames"> The National Philharmonic Orchestra </div> </td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderback"> <img alt="Labels Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_label.png" width="43" height="26" class="columnheaderimage"> <div class="columnheadertitle"><b><i> LABELS & RELEASE DATES</i></b></div> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td style="padding: 20px 35px 30px 16px;"> <div class="columncreditnames"> Polydor/Polygram<br> <span style="color: #aac2f4">(1985)</span> <br><br><a href=http://www.varesesarabande.com>Varèse Sarabande</a><br> (Gerhardt)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(1992)</span><br><br>20th Century Fox<br> (Anthology)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(November 9th, 1993)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.rcavictor.com>RCA Victor</a><br> (Special Edition)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(January 14th, 1997)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.rcavictor.com>RCA Victor</a><br> (S.E. Re-Pressing)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(August 26th, 1997)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a><br> (Individual and Set)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(September 21st, 2004)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a><br> (Corellian Edition)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(October 2nd, 2007)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a><br> (30th Ann. Edition)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(November 6th, 2007)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a><br> (Ultimate Collection)<br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(January 8th, 2016)</span><br><br><a href=http://www.disneyrecords.com>Walt Disney Records</a><br><span style="color: #aac2f4">(May 4th, 2018)</span> </div> <a class="anchor" name="availability"></a> </td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderback"> <img alt="Availability Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_avail.png" width="43" height="26" class="columnheaderimage"> <div class="columnheadertitle"><b><i>ALBUM AVAILABILITY</i></b></div> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columntextsection" style="padding: 20px 42px 48px 20px;"> <div style="font-size: 0.8em;"> All of the CD albums were regular commercial releases at their outset. Both the original 1985 album and 1992 Varèse Sarabande Gerhardt album historically have been available used for about $5 to $7.<br> <br> The 1993 Fox Anthology was believed at the time to be the most collectible soundtrack CD set in existence, and has retained its original street value because of its relative scarcity and packaging.<br> <br> The 1997 RCA Special Edition albums came in two forms, the black booklet format available early that year and the slimline format in August, 1997 to coincide with the VHS release of the revised films. The latter albums (with poster art on the covers) have fallen completely out of print, and while new copies of the 'black book' formatted RCA albums of early 1997 are also difficult to find, they have remained readily available for sub-retail price on the used market.<br> <br> The 2004 Sony Classical products re-issued the 1997 RCA Special Editions and were bargain priced, though you received no additional packaging benefits from buying the trilogy as a set outside of the silver and black holding box.<br> <br> The 2007 Sony Classical albums contain no additional new contents or remastering. The "Corellian Edition" compilation, which was leaked as a promotional teaser in some 2005 pressings of <b>Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith</b>, is sold alone as a regular commercial release (with two different cover art variants) and is included as CD7 in the concurrently offered "30th Anniverary Collector's Edition." That set, featuring original LP packaging, was electronically numbered up to 10,000 copies and initially retailed for $80. Its value soon plunged, in part due to production problems that caused the wrong combination of CDs to be included in the set. Amazon.com temporarily pulled the product due to complaints.<br> <br> Sony's 2016 "Ultimate Soundtrack Collection" was a commercial re-issue of the 2004 set's contents with the other first six soundtracks, and it received a vinyl variant. The 2018 Disney re-issue of the original LP presentation was a regular commercial release. Disney also packaged it together with the other first six soundtracks for $60 a few years later.</div> <a class="anchor" name="awards"></a> </td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderback"> <img alt="Awards" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_awards.png" width="43" height="26" class="columnheaderimage"> <div class="columnheadertitle"><b><i>AWARDS</i></b></div> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columntextsection" style="padding: 20px 42px 48px 20px;"> <div style="font-size: 0.8em;"> Winner of a Grammy Award and a BAFTA Award. Nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.</div> </td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columnheaderback"> <img alt="Also See Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_alsosee.png" width="43" height="26" class="columnheaderimage"> <div class="columnheadertitle"><b><i>ALSO SEE</i></b></div> <tr><td class="columnheaderline"></td></tr> <tr><td class="columntextsection" style="padding: 20px 35px 48px 16px;"> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 6px; font-size: 0.85em;"> <table><tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/star_wars.html><b>Star Wars: A New Hope</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/jedi.html><b>Star Wars: Return of the Jedi</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/phantom_menace.html><b>Star Wars: The Phantom Menace</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/attack_clones.html><b>Star Wars: Attack of the Clones</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/revenge_sith.html><b>Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/solo.html><b>Solo: A Star Wars Story</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/harry_potter.html><b>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</b></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 10px;"></td><td><a href=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/nixon.html><b>Nixon</b></a></td></tr> </table></div> </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 273px; height: 4px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/left_column_line.gif) no-repeat left;"> </td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 273px; padding-left: 20px;"> <br><br> <div style="margin-left: 12px;"> <script type="text/javascript"> amzn_assoc_ad_type = "banner"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_placement = "assoc_banner_placement_default"; amzn_assoc_campaigns = "musicandentertainmentrot"; amzn_assoc_banner_type = "rotating"; amzn_assoc_p = "14"; amzn_assoc_width = "160"; amzn_assoc_height = "600"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "filmtracks"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "3cef6351d96a4312c7bffd106000db71"; </script> <script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&Operation=GetScript&ID=OneJS&WS=1"></script> </div>  <br> <br> <div style="margin-left: 12px; height: 600px; width: 160px; background-color: #02011f;"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6483253369734723"; google_ad_slot = "7889002780"; google_ad_width = 160; google_ad_height = 600; </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <br> </td></tr></table>   </td></tr></table>  <img alt="Decorative Nonsense" src="/images/2015/interior/left_column_bottom_pattern_trans.png" style="display: block;">  </td></tr></table>  <div style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 34px;">  </div> </td><td style="width: 748px; maxwidth: 748px;"> <div style="float: right; width: 182px;">  <div style="text-align: right; font-size: 0.7em; line-height: 130%; vertical-align: middle; padding-right: 30px;"> <a href="/titles/empire.html?page=print" onclick="window.open(this.href, 'newwindow', 'width=700,height=700,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=yes,menubar=yes,resizable=yes'); return false;"> <b><i>PRINTER FRIENDLY VIEW</i></b></a><br> <span style="font-size: 0.95em; color: #6f91dd;"><b>(inverts site colors)</b></span> </div> <div style="float: right; width: 140px; margin: 20px 0px 20px 0px; padding: 6px; height: 130px;"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:120px;height:100px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6483253369734723" data-ad-slot="2484993070"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </div> <div style="text-align: center; width: 546px; padding: 20px 0px 0px 30px;"> <br><img id="mainlogo" alt="Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Logo" src="https://www.teletracks.com/images/logos/empire_strikes.jpg" width="240" height="195" style="display: none;"><br></div> <table id="toplinksectionline" style="width: 748px; margin-top: 56px;"> <tr><td style="height: 27px; padding: 0px 0px 5px 30px; font-size: 0.85em; vertical-align: bottom; text-transform: uppercase; color: #3d4c8a;"> <b><i> <a href=#availability>Availability</a> | <a href=#awards>Awards</a> | <a href=#ratings>Viewer Ratings</a> | <a href=/titles/empire.html?page=comments>Comments</a> | <a href=#tracks>Audio & Track Listings</a> | <a href=#notes>Notes</a> </i></b> </td></tr><tr><td style="height: 9px; background: url(/images/2015/interior/line_small.png) no-repeat top right;"> </td></tr></table> <div style="margin: 32px 40px 28px 38px; font-size: 0.95em;"> <i><span style="color: #32ba8a"><b>Buy it...</b></span> on the 1997 "Special Edition" albums over all others because they feature the best combination of outstanding packaging and a complete presentation of John Williams' incredibly memorable sequel score.</i><br> <br> <i><span style="color: #ca5259"><b>Avoid it...</b></span> on the 1985 to 1993 albums because of poorer, archival sound quality and incomplete presentations, as well as the 2004, 2007, 2016, and 2018 reissues and remasterings that are identical to prior albums in contents but without the superior packaging.</i><br> </div> <div style="width: 720px; height: 50px; margin: 14px 0px 36px 4px;"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:720px;height:50px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6483253369734723" data-ad-slot="5526089383"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <table class="sectionheader"> <tr><td style="width: 46px;"> <img alt="Review Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_review.png" width="43" height="26" class="sectionheaderimage"> </td><td class="sectionheadertop"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 7px;"><b><i>EDITORIAL REVIEW</i></b></div> </td><td style="text-align: right; padding-right: 34px; font-size: 0.8em; color: #91b5ff; vertical-align: bottom; padding-bottom: 2px;"> <b><i> FILMTRACKS TRAFFIC RANK: #34 </i></b></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" class="sectionheaderbottom"> </td></tr><tr> <td colspan="3" style="text-align: right; padding-right: 42px; font-size: 0.65em; color: #6f91dd; vertical-align: top;"><b><i> <b><i>WRITTEN 1/27/97, REVISED 11/26/23 </i></b></td></tr></table>  <div style="float: right; width: 150px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; margin: 24px 0px 32px 20px; border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b; -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b; box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b; padding: 6px;"> <img alt="Shopping Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_cart.png" width="43" height="26" class="columnheaderimage"> <div style="font-size: 0.85em; padding-top: 4px;"><b><i>BUY IT</i></b></div> <hr class="buysectiondivider"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 6px;"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Star%20Wars:%20The%20Empire%20Strikes%20Back%20Soundtrack&tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325"> <img alt="Amazon.com" src="/images/2015/interior/review_amazon.png" width="122" height="24" style="border: none;"></a></div><table style="font-size: 0.75em; color: #91b5ff; margin-top: 10px;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VNX66B?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2018 Disney</a></b></td></tr></table> <iframe id="amazonteaseframe" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/templates/desktop-reviews-amazontease20.php?teasecode=B075VNX66B" style="width: 146px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding-left: 6px; background-color: #02011f; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" onLoad="autoResize('amazonteaseframe');"></iframe><div style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015NOT9FY?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2016 Sony Ultimate</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VEA38E?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2007 Sony 30th Ann.</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UH8BSQ?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2007 Sony Corellian</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YCVJC?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2004 Sony Classical</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YCVLU?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">2004 Sony Classical Set</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003G8G?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">1997 RCA Special Edition</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000014SO?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">1992 Varèse Gerhardt</a></b></td></tr></table> <table style="color: #91b5ff;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 4px;"></td> <td><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000E5JE?tag=filmtracks-review&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1">1985 Polydor</a></b></td></tr></table> </div><br><hr class="buysectiondivider"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 6px;"><a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_CAds=&_ex_kw=&_fpos=&_fspt=1&_mPrRngCbx=1&_nkw=Star%20Wars:%20The%20Empire%20Strikes%20Back%20Soundtrack&_sacat=&_sadis=&_sop=12&_udhi=&_udlo=&_fosrp=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5337696495&customid=2021reviewsupc&toolid=10001&mkevt=1"> <img alt="eBay" src="/images/2015/interior/review_ebay.png" width="62" height="25" style="border: none;"></a></div><div style="font-size: 0.75em; 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font-size: 0.95em;"> <table style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em; color: #aac2f4; float: left; margin: 6px 26px 10px 0px;"><tr><td> <img alt="Williams" src="/images/photos/mugs/2021/mug_williams.gif" width="86" height="108" style="border: 1px solid #606eab; -webkit-box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b; -moz-box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b; box-shadow: 0px 0px 6px 2px #23459b;"></td></tr><tr><td>Williams</td></tr></table> <b>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back</b>: (John Williams) One would have imagined that George Lucas would have no financial difficulties producing a sequel to his classic <b>Star Wars</b> three years later, but dwindling funds were just one of many challenges the concept's creator faced when assembling <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>. Although Lucas decided not to direct the picture, reportedly choosing to concentrate on his greater role in producing the movie amidst clashes with banks and Twentieth Century Fox, the remainder of his cast and crew carried over for the 1980 follow-up. Freakish weather events, the desire to keep the truth about Darth Vader's identity a secret, and a budget that bloated well beyond its original boundaries all conspired against <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, and critics were initially not overwhelmingly receptive to the film. Time proved very kind to it, however, and in retrospect, <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> is widely considered to be among the best sequel films of all time, and, for some, superior in many regards to its predecessor. Nobody could contend that the special effects of Industrial Light & Magic hadn't improved in the prior three years, but some in the audience did not care for the fact that the movie was part of a larger plotline, its narrative conveying no distinct beginning or satisfactory end. Indeed, this aspect of filmmaking was a tough pill to swallow at the time, as was the truth about Vader, though a definitive conclusion to the arc in <b>Return of the Jedi</b> largely resolved such issues. The entirety of <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> essentially involves a protracted interstellar chase, the alliance of rebels from the first film now on the run from the Galacic Empire and Vader leading the charge to find Luke Skywalker at all costs. The protagonist, meanwhile finds himself training with Jedi master Yoda to become a knight and makes the choice to abandon that regimen to save his friends when Vader uses them as bait. The overwhelmingly downbeat note on which the film ends has added to its mystique through the years, making it a sharp contrast from those that came before and after in the franchise. Playing this melodramatic despair to the maximum is composer John Williams, who was in the middle of the most productive time of his career at the start of the 1980's and had firmly established himself popularly as "the maestro."<br> <br> Within a period of six years, Williams wrote <b>Star Wars</b>, <b>Superman</b>, <b>Raiders of the Lost Ark</b>, <b>E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial</b>, and <b>Return of the Jedi</b>, and yet, even in that incredible bracket of time, some collectors of the composer's music maintain that <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> is the finest score of the lot. Other debates exist about <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> as the best of the classic <b>Star Wars</b> trilogy of scores, to which you'd probably get less resistance if you argue on its behalf. Following <b>Star Wars: A New Hope</b> was no easy task; the film had set all world box office records and the LP record album of the soundtrack had sold over 4 million copies, easily becoming the top-selling score of all time. This concerned Williams, for he wished to maintain the Wagnerian approach to 19th Century Romanticism in his music and balance the previous film's primary themes with several new ones. Offering a retread was the last thing he wanted to do. After the saga stretched into to two trilogies, you might get the feeling from <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> that Williams was creating a monster, setting a standard of incorporating new and old themes into each picture that would eventually make the idea of that very incorporation quite daunting by the final venture (given the wealth of previous themes he had established). With a budget of $250,000 in hand for the recording of the score for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, Williams returned to the London Symphony Orchestra, the majority of its performers veterans of the first score's original performance. Consisting of 18 recording sessions over two weeks, the task of assembling the score for the sequel was made more difficult by the fact that it was roughly 40 minutes longer than <b>A New Hope</b>. With the same supporting crew, however, Williams succeeded in his recording and debuted the score's two primary themes to great applause in his first conducting appearance at a concert with the Boston Pops several weeks before the release of the film. The double-LP album for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> sold over a million copies in just four months, but never unseated its predecessor in record sales, like the box office returns finishing firmly in the #2 position. The legacy of the sequel score was cemented not long after its release, however, its main identity for Darth Vader and the Empire becoming so famous as a motif of evil symphonic determination that it has made <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> as popularly recognizable as both <b>A New Hope</b> and, more interestingly, <b>Jaws</b>.<br> <br> In terms of its grandiose space opera personality, <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> is every bit as impressive as its predecessor, exhibiting the same leitmotif techniques and transparent orchestral bravado that <b>A New Hope</b> had popularized. Its scope remains on par with the rest of the franchise and its thematic applications are boosted in dramatic appeal to match the shocking shifts of love and hate in the story. Williams likely did not intend for "The Imperial March" to dominate the franchise in public perception so many years later, but given its effectiveness as a representation of the villains in the tale, it's hard not to become fixated on it. The idea's incredibly simplistic, minor-key structure is devilishly successful in conveying determination and evil while, at the same, expressing itself in enjoyably bombastic, self-important fashion. Because the structure of its primary phrases is so basic, Williams could interpolate it into any of his other themes, and, as heard in the prequel scores, insert it with great stealth as a foreshadowing device. The key to its memorability is the fact that each of its three phrases, including the longer interlude sequence, conclude on the same three note figure, making those notes so easy to integrate that they alone could finish any of the other themes as a reminder of who's doing the chasing in the story. Williams adapted elements of the progressions from the "Imperial March" into everything from <b>Nixon</b> to <b>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</b>, whether they involved the opening three notes on key or that ominous three in conclusion. Its place in cinematic history was initially underplayed by critics who perhaps devalued the theme because of its existence in a sequel score (and maybe that's why it lost its bid for an Oscar), but it is still played endlessly in sports arenas and other public venues in post-2000 America. Its application as a tool of parody didn't take long to become engrained in the public's imagination, too, used commonly in the 2000's by the media to represent the much despised New York Yankees baseball team. So far-reaching is its influence that an official Al-Queda propaganda video near the time of the 9/11 attacks of 2001 used Williams' "Imperial March" beneath its Arabic dialogue to represent the "Imperial United States" and its worldwide Christian crusade against Islam (one has to wonder what Williams thinks about such things). The prequel scores in the <b>Star Wars</b> franchise extended the theme's life as well, starting as a hint in "Anakin's Theme" in <b>The Phantom Menace</b> and experiencing its magnificent announcement at the end of <b>Attack of the Clones</b> as the Empire is born.<br> <br> In its different incarnations resulting from <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, the "Imperial March" is best known for its concert version, the aggressively chopped string rhythms launching the idea with extreme deference to the root key. In the film, this arrangement is heard during the introduction of the Star Destroyer fleet near the beginning of the film, though the use of the concert version in this placement was actually as a substitute for an arguably superior recording of the "Aboard the Executor" cue. The rejected version, with harsh and pulsating brass performing the bass rhythm instead of the straight strings, long remained the hidden gem of the score, tantalizing fans with its reinsertion into the appropriate place in the corresponding radio drama for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> and only finally available on album by the time of the 1997 Special Editions. Different versions of the "End Credits" suite also exist, once again leaving the better, album rendition of the "Imperial March" out of the original cut of the film. Fans' frustration with the incomplete album presentations prior to 1997 often revolved around the lack of the "Imperial March" statements that you hear throughout the film whenever the scene shifts to Vader or a Star Destroyer. Williams is extremely predictable in his usage of the theme, referencing it in resolute, partial ensemble phrases when Vader is seen stomping around the ice planet or cloud city and elongating its meter to represent the character's use of the Force or, at the end of the chase in "Hyperspace," when he quietly leaves the bridge of his ship after losing his prey. Occasionally, Williams adds a pronounced pause after the first three notes on key (as in the quick cloud city departure reference), infusing a touch of hanging suspense in the melody. The reminders of the theme during special effects shots of massive Imperial spacecraft yield the score's guilty pleasure moments, much the same as the equivalent shots of ships arriving at the Death Star in <b>Return of the Jedi</b>. Conforming to Williams' usual method of operation for the films in this franchise, this major theme is joined by two other primary new identities in an "End Credits" arrangement bookended by the famous title theme from the previous movie. Although the main <b>Star Wars</b> theme is heard in all of the sequel and prequel films, its application diminishes with each successive entry, and you can hear immediately in its frightfully diminished role in <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> that the composer was trying to avoid redundancy. A lack of truly heroic and swashbuckling moments in this darker movie also contributed to an arguable inability of Williams to state the heroic fanfare in any particular sequence.<br> <br> <div id="ReviewDivLink" style="margin-left: 60px; cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; color: #77adfd;"><b> <u><a href="#" name="reviewmore">Read More...</a></u> </b></div> <div id="ReviewDivDrop" style="display: none;"> The other two major new themes in <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> are so strong that they, when bracketing the "Imperial March" in the "End Credits" suite, together produce the most satisfying such arrangement in the franchise. The theme for the Jedi master, Yoda, is a benign and touching reflection of wisdom and restraint, heard extensively during the scenes on his jungle planet of Dagobah. Its optimistic progressions are an important counterweight to the rest of the score, and its generally affable nature carried over into a cameo performance of much fame in the Halloween scene of <b>E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial</b>. For the troubled romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia is a stunningly gorgeous love theme, its concert arrangement accompanying their first kiss in "Han Solo and the Princess." Just as the theme for the Force had accomplished in the prior film, the love theme in <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> carries a very heavy, mournful sensibility with it, punctuating the carbon freezing scene and finale of the movie with unquestionable weight. The melody keenly shares its first two notes with Princess Leia's theme from <b>A New Hope</b> and uses that existing theme as counterpoint during the aforementioned concert arrangement. The duo of "Han Solo and the Princess" and "Across the Stars" from <b>Attack of the Clones</b> represents the most powerful melodramatic string writing in the franchise, both themes saturated with gloom despite their romantic allure. Aside from these major players, two important sub-themes call this score home, not appearing to any great degree in the other scores for the franchise; a sour motif for Boba Fett and an upbeat march for Lando's cloud city both exist in the latter half of the film. The existing theme for the Force, a dominant element in <b>A New Hope</b>, does make some important contributions to <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, including a few in the understandable scenes on Yoda's jungle world. Its most poignant application, however, comes when Luke uses the Force to call out to Leia at the cloud city; as the Millenium Falcon turns around to rescue Luke, Williams expresses one of the boldest incarnations of the theme heard in the entire series. As with the prior film as well, Williams includes a few vignettes in <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> that demand mentioning of their singular success. Foremost is the haphazardly frantic rhythmic movement of "The Asteroid Field," though equally respected are the churning brass motifs of "The Battle of Hoth" to emulate the motions of the enemy walkers. The ethereal high vocals for "City in the Clouds" create a false sense of beauty and hope that is yet cold and distant.<br> <br> Systematic rhythmic churning is important to defining the personality of the score for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, with Lando's processional and Fett's departure yielding to a hyperspace motif (a very underrated portion of the score) that agonizingly flows with suspense as the heroes attempt to cut their losses and escape at the end. The "Imperial March" itself is the ultimate extension of this rhythmic approach, and it symbolizes the inevitable path towards the "dark side" with great effectiveness. The precision of application for each motif in <b>A New Hope</b> is really what propelled the structural success of that score (outside of the raw emotion of the Force theme during the binary sunset and burning homestead cues). In <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, Williams takes that precision one step further and applies a far deeper emotional palette. A more heart-wrenching score, <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> is significantly heavier on the drama and lighter on the science-fiction action. No point exemplifies this reality clearer than the full "Carbon Freeze" cue, extending from a desperate performance of the love theme prior to Solo's freezing through Boba Fett's frustrating departure. When you saw <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> for the first time, you got the feeling that damn near everything was going wrong, as it should be, and part of that feeling was the ambience of a relentlessly uphill struggle created by Williams' score. Despite everything that went right with this music, there are some less engaging moments that maintain effectiveness but are less interesting on album. The mass of material outside of Yoda's thematic expressions during the training sequences on Dagobah are not particularly noteworthy, often representing the most striking dissonance of the score (as in "The Magic Tree"). Likewise, the score takes quite some time to build momentum, the early pre-battle scenes on the ice planet treated tepidly. That said, there are few other detriments to what is otherwise an extremely impressive score. Regarding the albums for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, much of the same information applies to this score as it did for <b>A New Hope</b>, but with one major twist. The original LP record release was a double-album, with two LPs featuring a significant amount of score from the film. When the album was translated from that medium onto CD, the content was cut down to one CD, making the LP (and its stunning booklet presentation) something of a collector's item. The history of the album on CD, however, shares the fact that every time you think you've purchased the <i>definitive and final</i> version of any of the classic trilogy scores, you can wait a few years and be treated to yet another re-release.<br> <br> While the existence of all of the music from the classic <b>Star Wars</b> film scores is taken for granted today, the first fifteen years were quite lean for fans of the composer and trilogy. In fact, it would take a full twenty years before the full scores finally reached fans in time for the 1997 Special Editions in theatres. Much of the information that follows in regards to each of the various releases of the music is relevant to not only this score, but the others in the classic trilogy as well, so you'll read very similar accounts in the Filmtracks reviews of those scores. After their initial, separate releases on LP records and their early CDs, the scores on subsequent discs have always been released as a trilogy, despite fans' ability to usually buy them separately upon each update of all three. The first CD release of <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, as mentioned before, reduced the 1980 2-LP release of 75 minutes down to 42 minutes and rearranged some of the cues. It was, surprisingly, released by Polydor as a bargain item in 1985 even before <b>A New Hope</b> made it onto CD from its original LP form in 1986. Considering the mass of music unreleased from this score, listeners searched for comfort in, once again, the only alternative source of music from the series before 1993: Charles Gerhardt and the National Philharmonic Orchestra. For years, Gerhardt and the NPO had recorded famous film scores from mostly the Golden Age of Hollywood, but as a few of their final collaborations, Gerhardt recorded the three classic <b>Star Wars</b> scores near the times of their release. For <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>, the 1980 re-recording of 45 minutes for an LP record remained absent from CD shelves for a longer period than the other two classic trilogy scores. His versions of <b>Star Wars</b> and <b>Return of the Jedi</b> had been released in 1989 by RCA, but Gerhardt's <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> recording took until 1992 before Varèse Sarabande finally pressed the album on CD. For over a year, this Gerhardt CD was the only digital source for music that had appeared on the original LP for <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> but had been dropped from the official CD. A newly arranged performance of the "Imperial March," adding some "Carbon Freeze" material to the start, is a highlight despite weak brass. Even more than for <b>A New Hope</b>, the <b>Star Wars</b> trilogy Anthology released by 20th Century Fox in 1993 was considered a godsend by fans. The Anthology finally offered the contents of the LP and several extra cues as well, featuring a much more significant boost than the other two scores in the set. Produced by some of the biggest names in film score production, the additional music was certainly welcomed with great anticipation.<br> <br> The presentation on the 1993 Anthology, however, was not perfect. It placed as much music as possible on an individual CD for each of the three scores but then pressed additional unreleased cues on a fourth CD that spans all three. Thus, the long and vital "Carbon Freeze/Luke Pursues the Captives/Departure of Boba Fett" and "Drawing the Battle Lines/Leia's Instructions" were orphaned from the rest of the presentation. Add on a large, custom-sized package and hard-to-read individual CD covers within, and you had some ill-received protests from fans. That Anthology was rendered outdated by the massive, highly advertised RCA "Special Edition" releases of 1997. In January of that year, <b>The Phantom Menace</b> was announced along with newly enhanced versions of the original trilogy for a 20th anniversary theatrical release. On album, fans were treated to double-CD releases of each <b>Star Wars</b> score in film order with alternate cues and extensive attention to detail in the mixing and arrangement. Including the alternate version of the "End Credits" that actually made it into <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> (attached to the end of a <b>Return of the Jedi</b> cue, for some reason), a total of 124 minutes of music on this Special Edition appeared on the definitive release. Extensive notes and pictorials grace both the 1993 and 1997 products, the glittery CDs of the latter a nice touch. Later in 1997, these albums were re-packaged by RCA and offered in slimline packages adorned by the Special Edition poster art, but these fell out of print about five years later. In 2004, the Sony Classical label, which had been releasing the prequel scores, acquired the rights to the classic trilogy and reissued the 1997 releases with new artwork. These 2004 albums offer Sony's Direct Stream Digital remastering, and while this technique does provide some minimal extra clarity on high-end stereo systems, casual listeners will notice no significant difference. Those who owned the Special Edition albums and didn't require slightly improved sound had no reason to seek the 2004 sets. The same presentation was re-pressed in 2016 by Sony as the "Ultimate Soundtrack Collection." More basic re-issues dribbled out with Sony's various 2007 releases (the "Corellian Edition" compilation and "30th Anniversary Collector's Edition"), both of which redundant, unnecessary, and irritatingly packaged. Upon Disney's ownership of the franchise's rights, its label sadly remastered only the original LP album presentation for a single CD in 2018. Overall, owning <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b> is an absolute must for any film score collector, even more so than the other entries in the classic trilogy. With its outstanding packaging and complete presentation, the 1997 Special Edition album (the original full version bound in black booklets) continues to be the best product available for this undeniably classic score. <b>  <span style="color: #aac2f4;">@Amazon.com: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Star%20Wars:%20The%20Empire%20Strikes%20Back&tag=filmtracks-review&index=music&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">CD</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Star%20Wars:%20The%20Empire%20Strikes%20Back&tag=filmtracks-review&index=digital-music&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Download</a></span></b> <br><br><ul> <li>Music as Written for the Film:  <span style="color: #ca5259">*****</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 1985 Polydor Album:  <span style="color: #ca5259">*</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 1992 Varèse Gerhardt Album:  <span style="color: #ca5259">****</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 1993 Fox Anthology:  <span style="color: #ca5259">****</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 1997 RCA Special Edition:  <span style="color: #ca5259">*****</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 2004/2016 Sony Classical Albums:  <span style="color: #ca5259">****</span></li> <li>Music as Heard on the 2007 Sony and 2018 Disney Albums:  <span style="color: #ca5259">**</span></li> <li>Overall:  <span style="color: #ca5259">*****</span></li> </ul> <br><table class="biascheck"><tr><td style="white-space: nowrap; padding: 3px 3px 0px 12px;"><b>Bias Check:</b></td><td style="padding: 3px 3px 0px 0px;"> For John Williams reviews at Filmtracks, the average editorial rating is <span style="color: #fff"><b>3.68</b></span> (in 91 reviews)<br>and the average viewer rating is <span style="color: #fff"><b>3.54</b></span> (in 360,158 votes). The maximum rating is 5 stars. </tr></table> </div>  </div> <div style="width: 720px; height: 50px; margin: 32px 0px 6px 4px;"> <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:720px;height:50px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-6483253369734723" data-ad-slot="5526089383"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> <br> <a class="anchor" name="ratings"></a> <table class="sectionheader"> <tr><td style="width: 46px;"> <img alt="Ratings Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_ratings.png" width="43" height="26" class="sectionheaderimage"> </td><td class="sectionheadertop"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 7px;"><b><i>VIEWER RATINGS</i></b></div> </td><td style="text-align: right; padding-right: 34px; font-size: 0.8em; color: #91b5ff; vertical-align: bottom; padding-bottom: 2px;"> <b><i>9,614 TOTAL VOTES</i></b> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" class="sectionheaderbottom"> </td></tr></table> <div style="margin: 20px 40px 30px 32px;"> <div style="background-color: #02011f; width: 180px; height: 150px; float: right; margin: 8px 12px 0px 0px;"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6483253369734723"; google_ad_slot = "6412269584"; google_ad_width = 180; google_ad_height = 150; </script>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <form method="post" class="ratingform" action="https://www.filmtracks.com/ratings/vote09.cgi?vote" style="font-size: 0.9em;"> <table style="width: 400px;"><tr> <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #14125c; padding: 5px 10px 0px 0px; text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;">Average: <td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #14125c; padding-top: 5px; font-size: 1.05em;"><b>4.29 Stars</b></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 60px; white-space: nowrap; color: #ca5259; padding-top: 7px;"> *****</td><td style="width: 30px; padding-top: 7px;"><input type="radio" name="rating" value="5"></td> <td style="width: 60px; vertical-align: middle; padding-top: 7px;"><b>5,821</b></td><td style="width: 250px; padding-top: 7px;"> <img alt="5 Stars" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/vote/5.gif" height="10" width="230"></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 60px; white-space: nowrap; color: #ca5259;">****</td> <td style="width: 30px;"><input type="radio" name="rating" value="4"></td> <td style="width: 60px; vertical-align: middle;"><b>1,939</b></td><td style="width: 250px;"> <img alt="4 Stars" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/vote/4.gif" height="10" width="76"></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 60px; white-space: nowrap; color: #ca5259;">***</td> <td style="width: 30px;"><input type="radio" name="rating" value="3"></td> <td style="width: 60px; vertical-align: middle;"><b>1,075</b></td><td style="width: 250px;"> <img alt="3 Stars" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/vote/3.gif" height="10" width="42"></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 60px; white-space: nowrap; color: #ca5259;">**</td> <td style="width: 30px;"><input type="radio" name="rating" value="2"></td> <td style="width: 60px; vertical-align: middle;"><b>397</b></td><td style="width: 250px;"> <img alt="2 Stars" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/vote/2.gif" height="10" width="15"></td></tr> <tr><td style="width: 60px; white-space: nowrap; color: #ca5259; padding-bottom: 7px;">*</td> <td style="width: 30px; padding-bottom: 7px;"><input type="radio" name="rating" value="1"></td> <td style="width: 60px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 7px;"><b>382</b></td><td style="width: 250px; padding-bottom: 7px;"> <img alt="1 Stars" src="https://www.filmtracks.com/images/vote/1.gif" height="10" width="15"></td></tr> <tr><td style="border-top: 1px solid #14125c; padding-top: 7px;"> </td> <td colspan="2" style="border-top: 1px solid #14125c; padding-top: 10px;"><input type="submit" value="  Vote!  "></td> <td style="border-top: 1px solid #14125c; padding-top: 10px; font-size: 0.85em;"> (View results for <a href="/ratings/classic/">all titles</a>) </td></tr></table> <input type="hidden" name="data_file" value="empire"></form> </div> <br> <table class="sectionheader"> <tr><td style="width: 46px;"> <img alt="Comments Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_comments.png" width="43" height="26" class="sectionheaderimage"> </td><td class="sectionheadertop"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 7px;"><b><i>COMMENTS</i></b></div> </td><td style="text-align: right; padding-right: 34px; font-size: 0.8em; color: #91b5ff; vertical-align: bottom; padding-bottom: 2px;"> <b><i>63 TOTAL COMMENTS</i></b> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" class="sectionheaderbottom"> </td></tr></table> <table class="commentteasetable"><tr><td> <a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/empire.html?page=comments">Read All</a></td><td> <a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?addnewmesg=0">Start New Thread</a></td><td> <a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?searcharea">Search Comments</a> </td></tr></table> <div style="padding: 20px 16px 8px 16px;"><table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=65></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=65"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>John Williams OWNS Star Wars!!!!!</span></b></a><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">TDK</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - April 7, 2010, at 4:33 p.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 1 comment <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (3071 views)</span></td></tr></table> <table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=64></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=64"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>Brass Section (London Symphony Orchestra)</span></b></a><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">N.R.Q.</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - July 11, 2007, at 5:53 a.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 1 comment <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (4598 views)</span></td></tr></table> <table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=61></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=61"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>Even better than Episode IV</span></b></a><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">Sheridan</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - August 20, 2006, at 4:43 a.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 1 comment <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (3648 views)</span></td></tr></table> <table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=42></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=42"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>Your favourite Main and End title sequence (in terms of music) ?</span></b></a>   <span style="font-size: 0.75em;"><a class="anchor" name=42></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=42&expand=1">Expand >></a></span><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">Mark - 224</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - January 12, 2006, at 2:21 a.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 6 comments <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (10249 views)</span><br><span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;">Newest: April 10, 2007, at 9:29 a.m.</span><span style="font-size: 0.90em; color: #4f7bbd;"> by<br> <span style="color: #aeccf9;">Ivan orozco</span></span></td></tr></table> <table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=40></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=40"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>Recordings and more recordings... They all can have beautiful packages but....</span></b></a><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">Titus</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - January 9, 2006, at 12:33 p.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 1 comment <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (2973 views)</span></td></tr></table> <table style="margin-top: 12px; background-color: #02011f; border: 1px solid #14125c; width: 98%"><tr><td style="padding: 4px;"><a class="anchor" name=37></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=37"><span style="font-size: 0.95em;"><b>Unused tor missing track?</span></b></a>   <span style="font-size: 0.75em;"><a class="anchor" name=37></a><a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/comments/titles/empire/index.cgi?read=37&expand=1">Expand >></a></span><br><span style="font-size: 0.9em;">Reggie</span> <span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;"> - December 18, 2005, at 10:15 p.m.</span></td><td style="padding: 4px; text-align: right; width: 40%; font-size: 0.95em;"> 2 comments <span style="font-size: 0.7em; color: #cacff3;"> (5535 views)</span><br><span style="font-size: 0.85em; color: #4f7bbd;">Newest: January 12, 2006, at 2:15 a.m.</span><span style="font-size: 0.90em; color: #4f7bbd;"> by<br> <span style="color: #aeccf9;">Mark - 224</span></span></td></tr></table> </div><table class="commentteasetable2"><tr><td style="padding: 0px 10px 0px 10px;"> <a href="https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/empire.html?page=comments">More...</a></td></tr></table> <br style="clear: both;">  <br> <a class="anchor" name="tracks"></a> <table class="sectionheader"> <tr><td style="width: 46px;"> <img alt="Track Listings Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_tracks.png" width="43" height="26" class="sectionheaderimage"> </td><td class="sectionheadertop"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 7px;"><b><i>TRACK LISTINGS <span style="font-size: 0.75em;">AND</SPAN> AUDIO</i></b></div> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="sectionheaderbottom"> </td></tr></table> <div style="margin: 24px 36px 30px 26px;"> <table class="audiotable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em; padding: 8px 0px 8px 0px;" id="albumtrackstitle0"><b>Audio Samples <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection0"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"><tr><td> <b> 1992 Varèse Gerhardt:</b><br><br><table style="margin-left: 18px;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;"> 4. Han Solo and the Princess (0:31)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire92_4.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(250K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire92_4.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(202K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire92_4.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(155K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">8. The Imperial March (0:35)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire92_8.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(281K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire92_8.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(227K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire92_8.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(174K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">11. The Rebels Escape Again (0:31)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire92_11.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(250K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire92_11.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(202K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire92_11.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(155K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">13. Finale (0:38)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire92_13.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(306K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire92_13.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(245K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire92_13.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(190K)</span> </td></tr></table><br><b> 1993 Fox Anthology:</b><br><br><table style="margin-left: 18px;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;"> CD2, 6. The Battle in the Snow (0:37)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire93_2_6.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(298K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire93_2_6.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(240K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire93_2_6.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(185K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 9. The Asteroid Field (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire93_2_9.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(242K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire93_2_9.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(195K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire93_2_9.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(150K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 15. The City in the Clouds (0:32)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire93_2_15.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(257K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire93_2_15.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(204K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire93_2_15.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(160K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD4, 6. Leia's Instructions (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire93_4_6.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(241K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire93_4_6.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(195K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire93_4_6.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(149K)</span> </td></tr></table><br><b> 1997 RCA Special Edition:</b><br><br><table style="margin-left: 18px;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;"> CD1, 4. Aboard the Executor (0:37)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire1_4.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(298K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire1_4.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(238K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire1_4.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(74K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 9. Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire2_9.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(238K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire2_9.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(193K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire2_9.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(147K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 11. Rescue from Cloud City (0:35)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire2_11.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(283K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire2_11.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(229K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire2_11.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(176K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 12. The Rebel Fleet (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire2_12.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(238K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire2_12.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(193K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire2_12.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(147K)</span> </td></tr></table><br><b> 2004 Sony Classical:</b><br><br><table style="margin-left: 18px;"><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;"> CD1, 7. Arrival on Dagobah (0:31)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire04_1_7.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(250K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire04_1_7.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(200K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire04_1_7.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(155K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 3. Attacking a Star Destroyer (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire04_2_3.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(242K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire04_2_3.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(195K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire04_2_3.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(150K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 9. Departure of Boba Fett (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire04_2_9.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(244K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire04_2_9.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(197K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire04_2_9.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(152K)</span> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding-right: 16px;">CD2, 11. Hyperspace (0:30)</td><td style="white-space: nowrap;"> <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiomp3/empire04_2_11.mp3">MP3</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(242K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audiowma/empire04_2_11.wma">WMA</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(195K)</span>     <a href="http://www.teletracks.com/audio/empire04_2_11.ra">Real Audio</a> <span style="color: #4265b2;">(150K)</span> </td></tr></table></td><tr><td> </td></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle1"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>1985 Polydor Album Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 41:40</td></tr></table></div> <div id="albumtrackssection1"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;">  1. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:03)<br>  2. Yoda's Theme (3:29)<br>  3. The Asteriod Field (4:12)<br>  4. Han Solo and the Princess (Love Theme) (3:28)<br>  5. Finale (6:28)<br>  6. Star Wars (Main Theme) (5:49)<br>  7. The Training of a Jedi Knight (3:08)<br>  8. Yoda and the Force (4:05)<br>  9. The Duel (4:06)<br>  10. The Battle in the Snow (3:48)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle2"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>1992 Varèse Gerhardt Album Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 45:12</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection2"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;">  1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare (0:21)<br>  2. Main Title/The Imperial Probe (5:25)<br>  3. Luke's First Crash (2:29)<br>  4. The Asteroid Field (4:26)<br>  5. Han Solo and the Princess (4:12)<br>  6. The Training of a Jedi Knight & "May the Force Be With You" (1:56)<br>  7. The Battle in the Snow (3:05)<br>  8. The Imperial March (3:21)<br>  9. The Magic Tree (3:38)<br>  10. Yoda's Theme (3:34)<br>  11. The Rebels Escape Again (3:01)<br>  12. Lando's Palace/The Duel (Through the Window) (5:01)<br>  13. Finale (4:38)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> <div class="albumnotes">(printed track listings on album are incorrect by one digit)</div></div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle3"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>1993 Fox Anthology Album Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 108:46</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection3"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;"> <b>CD2</b>: (75:17)<br> <br>  1. Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare with CinemaScope Extension<font color=#9393d5>***</font> (0:22)<br>  2. Main Title/The Imperial Probe (Extended Version)<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (7:58)<br>  3. Luke's Escape<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (3:34)<br>  4. Luke's Rescue (1:45)<br>  5. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (2:59)<br>  6. The Battle in the Snow (3:45)<br>  7. Luke's First Crash<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (4:12)<br>  8. The Rebels Escape Again (2:59)<br>  9. The Asteroid Field (4:14)<br>  10. Yoda's Theme (3:26)<br>  11. Han Solo and the Princess (3:26)<br>  12. The Training of a Jedi Knight (3:13)<br>  13. The Magic Tree (3:32)<br>  14. Yoda and the Force (4:02)<br>  15. City in the Clouds<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (6:50)<br>  16. Lando's Palace (3:52)<br>  17. The Duel (4:14)<br>  18. Hyperspace (4:03)<br>  19. Finale/End Credits (6:18)<br> <br><br> <b>CD4</b>: (74:59, 33:29 from <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>)<br> <br>  1. Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare with CinemaScope Extension<font color=#9393d5>***</font> (0:22)<br>  2. <b>Star Wars</b>: Main Title (Alternate)<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (2:16)<br>  3. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Heroic Ewok/The Fleet Goes into Hyperspace<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (3:05)<br>  4. <b>Star Wars</b>: A Hive of Villainy<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (2:12)<br>  5. <b>Star Wars</b>: Destruction of Alderaan<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (1:31)<br>  6. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Drawing the Battle Lines/Leia's Instructions<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (4:02)<br>  7. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: The Ewok Battle<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (2:48)<br>  8. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Attack Position<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (3:04)<br>  9. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Crash Landing<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (3:35)<br>  10. <b>Star Wars</b>: Cantina Band (2:46)<br>  11. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Lapti Nek (2:48)<br>  12. <b>Star Wars</b>: Cantina Band #2<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (3:44)<br>  13. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Faking the Code<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (4:10)<br>  14. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Brother and Sister<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (3:08)<br>  15. <b>Star Wars</b>: Standing By<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (1:14)<br>  16. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Leia is Wounded/Luke and Vader Duel<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (2:57)<br>  17. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Carbon Freeze/Luke Pursues the Captives/Departure of Boba Fett<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (11:08)<br>  18. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Losing a Hand<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (5:20)<br>  19. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: The Return of the Jedi (Alternate)<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (5:03)<br>  20. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Leia Breaks the news (Alternate)/Funeral Pyre for a Jedi (Film Version)<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (2:27)<br>  21. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Ewok Celebration (Film Version)/<b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: End Credits (Film Version)<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (6:22)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> <div class="albumnotes"> * Contains previously unreleased material<br> ** Previously unreleased music<br> *** Composed by Alfred Newman (1954)<br></div></div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle4"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>1997 RCA Special Edition Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 124:21</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection4"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;"> <b>CD1</b>: (62:41)<br> <br>  1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare (<i>Alfred Newman</i>, 1954) (0:21)<br>  2. Main Title/Ice Planet Hoth<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (8:08)<br>  3. The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan<font color=#9393d5>*</font>/Snowspeeders Take Flight (8:48)<br>  4. The Imperial Probe<font color=#9393d5>*</font>/Aboard the Executor<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (4:24)<br>  5. The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the AT-AT/Escape in the Millenium Falcon) (14:48)<br>  6. The Asteroid Field (4:15)<br>  7. Arrival on Dagobah<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (4:52)<br>  8. Luke's Nocturnal Visitor (2:35)<br>  9. Han Solo and the Princess (3:26)<br>  10. Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave<font color=#9393d5>**</font> (5:44)<br>  11. The Training of a Jedi Knight<font color=#9393d5>**</font>/The Magic Tree (5:15)<br> <br><br> <b>CD2</b>: (61:42)<br> <br>  1. Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:02)<br>  2. Yoda's Theme (3:29)<br>  3. Attacking a Star Destroyer (3:04)<br>  4. Yoda and the Force (4:02)<br>  5. Imperial Starfleet Deployed<font color=#9393d5>*</font>/City in the Clouds (6:03)<br>  6. Lando's Palace (3:53)<br>  7. Betrayal at Bespin<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (3:46)<br>  8. Deal with the Dark Lord<font color=#9393d5>*</font> (2:36)<br>  9. Carbon Freeze<font color=#9393d5>**</font>/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure of Boba Fett (11:50)<br>  10. The Clash of Lightsabers (4:17)<br>  11. Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace (9:08)<br>  12. The Rebel Fleet/End Title (6:26)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> <div class="albumnotes"> * Previously unreleased<br> ** Contains previously unreleased material<br></div></div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle5"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>2004/2016 Sony Classical Albums Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 124:21</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection5"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;"> <b>CD1</b>: (62:41)<br> <br>  1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare (<i>Alfred Newman</i>, 1954) (0:21)<br>  2. Main Title/Ice Planet Hoth (8:08)<br>  3. The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight (8:48)<br>  4. The Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor (4:24)<br>  5. The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the AT-AT/Escape in the Millenium Falcon) (14:48)<br>  6. The Asteroid Field (4:15)<br>  7. Arrival on Dagobah (4:52)<br>  8. Luke's Nocturnal Visitor (2:35)<br>  9. Han Solo and the Princess (3:26)<br>  10. Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave (5:44)<br>  11. The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree (5:15)<br> <br><br> <b>CD2</b>: (61:42)<br> <br>  1. Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:02)<br>  2. Yoda's Theme (3:29)<br>  3. Attacking a Star Destroyer (3:04)<br>  4. Yoda and the Force (4:02)<br>  5. Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds (6:03)<br>  6. Lando's Palace (3:53)<br>  7. Betrayal at Bespin (3:46)<br>  8. Deal with the Dark Lord (2:36)<br>  9. Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure of Boba Fett (11:50)<br>  10. The Clash of Lightsabers (4:17)<br>  11. Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace (9:08)<br>  12. The Rebel Fleet/End Title (6:26)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle6"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>2007 Sony Corellian Edition Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 54:57</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection6"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;">  1. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: Star Wars Main Title and The Arrival at Naboo (2:56)<br>  2. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: The Flag Parade (2:12)<br>  3. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: Qui-Gon's Noble End (3:48)<br>  4. <b>Attack of the Clones</b>: Jango's Escape (3:49)<br>  5. <b>Attack of the Clones</b>: Yoda and the Younglings (3:57)<br>  6. <b>Revenge of the Sith</b>: General Grievous (4:07)<br>  7. <b>Revenge of the Sith</b>: Anakin's Dark Deeds (4:05)<br>  8. <b>A New Hope</b>: Imperial Attack (6:45)<br>  9. <b>A New Hope</b>: Ben Kenobi's Death/TIE Fighter Attack (3:55)<br>  10. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Yoda and the Force (4:06)<br>  11. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: The Clash of Lightsabers (4:10)<br>  12. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Sail Barge Assault (5:05)<br>  13. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: End Title (6:04)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> </div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle7"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>2007 Sony 30th Ann. Edition Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 124:23</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection7"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;"> <b>CD3</b>: (62:41)<br> <br>  1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare (<i>Alfred Newman</i>, 1954) (0:21)<br>  2. Main Title/Ice Planet Hoth (8:08)<br>  3. The Wampa's Lair/Vision of Obi-Wan/Snowspeeders Take Flight (8:48)<br>  4. The Imperial Probe/Aboard the Executor (4:24)<br>  5. The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon/Imperial Walkers/Beneath the AT-AT/Escape in the Millenium Falcon) (14:48)<br>  6. The Asteroid Field (4:15)<br>  7. Arrival on Dagobah (4:52)<br>  8. Luke's Nocturnal Visitor (2:35)<br>  9. Han Solo and the Princess (3:26)<br>  10. Jedi Master Revealed/Mynock Cave (5:44)<br>  11. The Training of a Jedi Knight/The Magic Tree (5:15)<br> <br><br> <b>CD4</b>: (61:42)<br> <br>  1. Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:02)<br>  2. Yoda's Theme (3:29)<br>  3. Attacking a Star Destroyer (3:04)<br>  4. Yoda and the Force (4:02)<br>  5. Imperial Starfleet Deployed/City in the Clouds (6:03)<br>  6. Lando's Palace (3:53)<br>  7. Betrayal at Bespin (3:46)<br>  8. Deal with the Dark Lord (2:36)<br>  9. Carbon Freeze/Darth Vader's Trap/Departure of Boba Fett (11:50)<br>  10. The Clash of Lightsabers (4:17)<br>  11. Rescue from Cloud City/Hyperspace (9:08)<br>  12. The Rebel Fleet/End Title (6:26)<br> <br><br> <b>CD7</b>: (54:57, 8:16 from <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>)<br> <br>  1. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: Star Wars Main Title and The Arrival at Naboo (2:56)<br>  2. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: The Flag Parade (2:12)<br>  3. <b>The Phantom Menace</b>: Qui-Gon's Noble End (3:48)<br>  4. <b>Attack of the Clones</b>: Jango's Escape (3:49)<br>  5. <b>Attack of the Clones</b>: Yoda and the Younglings (3:57)<br>  6. <b>Revenge of the Sith</b>: General Grievous (4:07)<br>  7. <b>Revenge of the Sith</b>: Anakin's Dark Deeds (4:05)<br>  8. <b>A New Hope</b>: Imperial Attack (6:45)<br>  9. <b>A New Hope</b>: Ben Kenobi's Death/TIE Fighter Attack (3:55)<br>  10. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: Yoda and the Force (4:06)<br>  11. <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>: The Clash of Lightsabers (4:10)<br>  12. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: Sail Barge Assault (5:05)<br>  13. <b>Return of the Jedi</b>: End Title (6:04)<br> </td><td></td></tr></table> <div class="albumnotes">(total time only reflects unique material from <b>The Empire Strikes Back</b>)</div></div></td></tr></table> <table class="albumtrackstable"> <tr><td><div style="font-size: 0.9em;" id="albumtrackstitle8"><table class="albumtrackssubtable"><tr><td><b>2018 Disney Album Tracks <span class="albumtrackstablearrow">  ▼</span></b></td><td class="albumtotaltime">Total Time: 74:34</td></tr></table></div> <div style="display: none;" id="albumtrackssection8"> <table style="font-size: 0.75em; margin-top: 10px;"> <tr><td style="padding-right: 30px;">  1. Star Wars (Main Theme) (5:49)<br>  2. Yoda's Theme (3:24)<br>  3. The Training of a Jedi Knight (3:17)<br>  4. The Heroics of Luke and Han (6:18)<br>  5. The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (2:59)<br>  6. Departure of Boba Fett (3:30)<br>  7. Han Solo and the Princess (3:25)<br>  8. Hyperspace (4:02)<br>  9. The Battle in the Snow (3:48)<br> </td><td>  10. The Asteroid Field (4:10)<br>  11. The City in the Clouds (6:29)<br>  12. Rebels at Bay (5:23)<br>  13. Yoda and the Force (4:01)<br>  14. The Duel (4:07)<br>  15. The Magic Tree (3:32)<br>  16. Lando's Palace (3:52)<br>  17. Finale (6:28)<br></td></tr></table> </div></td></tr></table> </div> <br> <a class="anchor" name="notes"></a> <table class="sectionheader"> <tr><td style="width: 46px;"> <img alt="Notes Icon" src="/images/2015/interior/review_icon_notes.png" width="43" height="26" class="sectionheaderimage"> </td><td class="sectionheadertop"> <div style="padding: 4px 0px 0px 7px;"><b><i>NOTES AND QUOTES</i></b></div> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="sectionheaderbottom"> </td></tr></table> <div style="margin: 26px 36px 90px 36px; font-size: 0.95em;"> The 1985 Polydor album contains no information about the film, score, or recording. The 1992 Varèse Sarabande Gerhardt product contains notes from both Robert Townson and John Williams, as well as multiple color pictures of the composer at work on the score. The 1993 Fox Anthology has extensive notes and pictorials in an oversized booklet with information written by John Williams, Nicholas Meyer, and Lukas Kendall. The 1997 RCA Special Edition albums with the black book format include extensive notation from album arranger Michael Matessino regarding the film, score as a whole, and each cue. A recording log for <b>Star Wars</b> in this 1997 album also includes information about each take. The 1997 RCA Special Edition slimline format lacks the same level of detail. The 2004 Sony Classical products (available both as a set and individually) include a fold-out poster, but sadly no extra information about the film or score. The packaging of Sony Classical's 2007 "Corellian Edition" is minimal, though the label's "30th Anniversary Collector's Edition" includes the original LP packaging for each score and a bonus CD-ROM with additional material. The detailed Matessino notes about the scores are once again missing from the 2007 products.<br> <br> The 2016 Sony set included a bonus CD featuring audio interviews with Harrison Ford and John Williams, the "Star Wars: A Musical Journey" DVD (a one-hour special highlighting select musical themes alongside key sequences from the films), a fold-out poster, and three collectible stickers for your children to decorate toilets. It does not, however, feature the same notation about the scores as earlier releases. The same quality of notation is also missing from the 2018 Disney album. Its promotional materials state, "The soundtracks were reconstructed from new hi-resolution (24/192) transfers supervised by Shawn Murphy and Skywalker Sound."<br></div> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="width: 1034px;"> <div style="margin: 0px 34px 10px 34px;">  </div> </td></tr></table>  </td><td style="width: 123px; text-align: right;">  </td></tr></table>  </td></tr></table>  </div>  </td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: center; background: url(/images/2015/common/footer_back.jpg) no-repeat 50% bottom; vertical-align: bottom;">  <div style="background: url(/images/2015/common/footer_swoosh.png) no-repeat top; margin-left: 50px; min-height: 75px;"> <div id="reviewfooter" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 960px; padding: 38px 54px 15px 0px; font-size: 0.7em; color: #3e4fa6;"> Copyright © 1997-2025, Filmtracks Publications. All rights reserved.<br> The reviews and other textual content contained on the filmtracks.com site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten<br> or redistributed without the prior written authority of Christian Clemmensen at Filmtracks Publications. All artwork and sound clips from <b>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back</b> are Copyright © 1985, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2004, 2007, 2016, 2018, Polydor/Polygram, <a href=http://www.varesesarabande.com>Varèse Sarabande</a> (Gerhardt), 20th Century Fox (Anthology), <a href=http://www.rcavictor.com>RCA Victor</a> (Special Edition), <a href=http://www.rcavictor.com>RCA Victor</a> (S.E. Re-Pressing), <a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a> (Individual and Set), <a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a> (Corellian Edition), <a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a> (30th Ann. Edition), <a href=http://www.sonyclassical.com>Sony Classical</a> (Ultimate Collection), <a href=http://www.disneyrecords.com>Walt Disney Records</a> and cannot be redistributed without the label's expressed written consent. 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