Star Wars (soundtrack)

Star WarsRSO Records releases a double LP of John Williams’ soundtrack from Star Wars, coinciding with the movie’s release. A fold-out poster of publicity artwork of the climactic Death Star dogfight is included. The album becomes a chart-topper by the end of the year, and cover versions by other artists are released even before the year is out. Many listeners become lifelong film score fanatics on the spot. Read more

Meco: Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk

Star Wars and Other Galactic FunkCasblanca Records releases the Meco album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, a disco interpretation of the soundtrack of Star Wars on one side, with original compositions on the second side. The single extracted from the Star Wars medley will reach the top of the charts. Read more

Star Wars tops the charts

Star Wars and Other Galactic FunkProduced in the wake of Star Wars mania, Meco Menardo’s disco cover of John Williams’ music from Star Wars tops the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks. A shortened, radio-friendly single is the song certified as #1, although the album version (titled Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk) is an extended suite lasting over 15 minutes and covering most of the movie’s major music themes. Meco would continue to ride the Star Wars train, disco-style, for years to come. Hear about it on the Sci-Fi 5 podcast

Christmas In The Stars

RSO Records, the label responsible for releasing the Star Wars movie soundtracks to date, releases the Star Wars novelty tie-in album Christmas In The Stars. Produced by Meco Menardo (of Star Wars disco cover fame), the album not only answers the age-old question of what to get a Wookiee for Christmas when he already has a comb, but is the first credited studio session work of future rock god Jon Bon Jovi (credited on the LP under his given name, Jon Bongiovi). Hear about it on the Sci-Fi 5 podcast

The Star Wars Anthology (soundtrack)

Star Wars20th Century Fox Film Scores releases a 4-CD set of John Williams’ soundtracks from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, presenting more material than has appeared on any of the previous releases (but still not presenting the complete score to any one of the movies). An extensive liner notes booklet with contributions from Nicholas Meyer and Lukas Kendall is included. Read more

Star Wars (Special Edition soundtrack)

Star WarsRCA Victor Records releases an expanded, 2-CD re-release of John Williams’ complete score from Star Wars, tying into the upcoming Special Edition re-release of the original trilogy. (Previous CD releases of the original LP program had a running time just under the capacity of a standard compact disc, so this release adds roughly half an hour of additional material not previously available.) Read more

The Empire Strikes Back (expanded soundtrack)

The Empire Strikes Back soundtrackRCA/Victor releases an expanded edition of John Williams‘ soundtrack to the Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back; the release is timed to coincide with the re-release of the movie in “Special Edition” form. Read more

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (soundtrack)

Star WarsDisney Music releases John Williams’ soundtrack from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, breaking with tradition by not making the soundtrack available until after the film’s premiere. For the first time in the history of the Star Wars film series, the soundtrack has been recorded with Los Angeles studio musicians rather than the London Symphony Orchestra (partly to accommodate composer Williams, now in his ’80s). Read more