Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (soundtrack)

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Soundtrack
Cover from the original 1983 release.
Soundtrack album by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra
Released	1983
Recorded	January 17, 21, 22 & 31 and February 1, 3, 4 & 10, 1983
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	44:59
Label	RSO Records
Producer	John Williams
Star Wars soundtracks chronology
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (soundtrack) (1980) Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (soundtrack) (1983) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (soundtrack) (1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Filmtracks	[2]

The Return of the Jedi score was recorded at the Abbey Road studios in January and February 1983. Again, John Williams conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and served as producer. Orchestrator Herbert W. Spencer, engineer Eric Tomlinson, music editor Kenneth Wannberg, and record supervisor Lionel Newman again reprised their respective duties. The score won another Oscar nomination for Williams. Return of the Jedi, which is the longest score of the Original Trilogy, was only released on a single LP instead of a double set like the Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back soundtracks before it.

Contents 1 Track listing for the first release on LP 2 Track listing for the first release on CD 3 Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology 4 Track listing for the Special Edition Release 4.1 Disc one 4.2 Disc two 5 Currently Lost/Unreleased Cues 6 Cues Not On the Special Edition 7 Problems with the Special Edition Release 8 See also 9 References

Track listing for the first release on LP

• First release on LP by RSO.

Side 1

1. Main Title (The Story Continues) – 5:09
2. Into the Trap – 2:36
3. Luke and Leia – 4:44
4. Parade of the Ewoks – 3:25
5. Han Solo Returns (At the Court of Jabba the Hutt) – 4:10
6. Lapti Nek (Jabba's Palace Band) – 2:49

Side 2

1. The Forest Battle – 4:01
2. Rebel Briefing – 2:22
3. The Emperor – 2:41
4. The Return of the Jedi – 5:02
5. Ewok Celebration and Finale – 8:00

Total Time: 44:59

Track listing for the first release on CD

• First release on CD by Polydor.

1. Main Title (The Story Continues) – 5:09
2. Into the Trap – 2:36
3. Luke and Leia – 4:43
4. Parade of the Ewoks – 3:24
5. Han Solo Returns (At the Court of Jabba the Hutt) – 4:07
6. Lapti Nek – 2:48
7. The Forest Battle – 4:01
8. Rebel Briefing – 2:19
9. The Emperor – 2:40
10. The Return of the Jedi – 5:00
11. Ewok Celebration and Finale – 7:57

Total Time: 45:40

Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology

In 1993, 20th Century Fox Film Scores released a four CD box set containing music from the original Star Wars Trilogy. This release marked the first time that the complete contents of the original double-LP releases of the scores from the first two movies became available on CD. Disc three in the set was devoted to Return of the Jedi, with further tracks on disc four.

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare with CinemaScope Extension - 0:23
2. Main Title/Approaching the Death Star - 5:22
3. Han Solo Returns (At the Court of Jabba the Hutt) - 4:09
4. Fight in the Dungeon - 3:41
5. The Return of the Jedi - 5:02
6. The Emperor Arrives - 2:07
7. The Death of Yoda - 6:05
8. Parade of the Ewoks - 3:27
9. Luke and Leia - 4:47
10. The Emperor Confronts Luke - 3:29
11. Into the Trap - 2:39
12. First Ewok Battle/Fight With the Fighters - 7:24
13. The Forest Battle - 4:04
14. The Final Duel/Into the Death Star - 3:40
15. The Emperor's Death - 2:44
16. Darth Vader's Death - 2:33
17. Through the Flames - 1:39
18. Leia Breaks the News/Funeral Pyre for a Jedi - 2:22
19. Ewok Celebration/Finale - 7:58

Bonus Tracks (disc four of the same set)

3. Heroic Ewok/The Fleet Goes Into Hyperspace
7. The Ewok Battle
11. Lapti Nek
13. Faking the Code
14. Brother and Sister
16. Leia is Wounded/Luke and Vader Duel
19. The Return of the Jedi (Alternate)
20. Leia Breaks the News (Alternate)/Funeral Pyre for a Jedi (Film Version)
21. Ewok Celebration (Film Version) /End Credits (Film Version)
    • The second part of track 21, "End Credits (Film Version)," is from The Empire Strikes Back.

Track listing for the Special Edition Release

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by John Williams
Released	1997, 2004
Recorded	January 17, 21, 22 & 31 and February 1, 3, 4 & 10, 1983
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	2:28:04
Label	Sony Classical
Producer	John Williams, Nick Redman
Star Wars soundtrack chronology
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (soundtrack) (1980) Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (soundtrack) (1983) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (soundtrack) (1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
iTunes	[4]

• The expanded edition on RCA (1997) and Sony Classical (2004) contained the 1997 remix of the score. (It was falsely advertised with the legend "Now available on RCA (1997) and Sony Classical (2004) presenting the complete score"). 2CD.

Disc one

1. 20th Century Fox Fanfare (Alfred Newman, 1954) – 0:22
2. Main Title/Approaching the Death Star/Tatooine Rendezvous – 9:17
   • contains the hidden track "Death Star in Disarray" (source music counterpart to "Darth Vader's Death") at – 5:04– 5:38
3. The Droids are Captured – 1:21
4. Bounty for a Wookiee – 2:50
5. Han Solo Returns – 4:01
6. Luke Confronts Jabba/Den of the Rancor/Sarlacc Sentence – 8:51
7. The Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault – 6:02
8. The Emperor Arrives/The Death of Yoda/Obi-Wan's Revelation – 10:58
9. Alliance Assembly – 2:13
10. Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor – 4:09
11. Speeder Bike Chase/Land of the Ewoks – 9:38
12. The Levitation/Threepio's Bedtime Story – 2:46
13. Source Music: Jabba's Baroque Recital – 3:09
14. Jedi Rocks – 2:42
15. Archival Bonus Track: Sail Barge Assault (Alternate) – 5:04

Total Time: 73:14

Disc two

1. Parade of the Ewoks – 3:28
2. Luke and Leia – 4:46
3. Brother and Sister/Father and Son/The Fleet Enters Hyperspace/Heroic Ewok – 10:40
4. The Emperor's Throne Room – 3:26
5. The Battle of Endor – 11:50
   1. Into the Trap – 2:30
   2. Forest Ambush – 2:00
   3. Scout Walker Scramble – 2:04
   4. The Prime Weapon Fires – 5:16
6. The Lightsaber/The Ewok Battle – 4:31
7. The Battle of Endor II – 10:03
   1. Leia is Wounded – 1:02
   2. The Duel Begins – 1:51
   3. Overtaking the Bunker – 1:00
   4. The Dark Side Beckons – 3:33
   5. The Emperor’s Death – 2:37
8. The Battle of Endor III – 6:04
   1. Superstructure Chase – 1:53
   2. Darth Vader's Death – 2:34
   3. The Main Reactor – 1:36
9. Leia's News/Light of the Force – 3:24
10. Victory Celebration/End Title – 8:34
11. Source Music: Ewok Feast/Part of the Tribe – 4:02
12. Archival Bonus Track: The Forest Battle (Concert Suite) – 4:05

Total Time: 74:47

Currently Lost/Unreleased Cues

Currently, several source cues and other material is unavailable. Many of these master tapes could not be located in time for the Special Edition release of the score and are presumed lost.

These tracks include:

1. Jabba the Hutt's Concert Suite - All but the final portion of this original recording, incorrectly edited onto the end of the cue "Han Solo Returns" on the Anthology, remains unreleased. (This same portion is heard on the Return of the Jedi DVD menu as well).
2. Film Version of Lapti Nek (Original Source) - Several versions of this source cue written by John Williams son, Joseph Williams are available. Currently available are the album version on the Anthology and an extended album version and an instrumental track released on an LP single. However, the film version has yet to be released.
3. English Version of Lapti Nek (Sung by Joseph Williams) - This cue can be heard partially in "From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga", but remains unreleased.
4. Max Rebo Band Song (Sail Barge Dance) --Source Cue - This piece, performed by the resident musicians in Jabba's court (The Max Rebo Band) has never been released. It is heard after Chewbacca is taken away and also on Jabba's sail barge (hence its title). This cue can also be heard almost totally complete in "From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga", but remains unreleased.
5. Unknown Source Cue - this cue is not used in the film but is credited to Joseph Williams. Nothing more is known.
6. Alternate Film Takes - Several cues such as "Superstructure Chase" are presented on the SE using incorrect and often flubbed takes.
7. Battle For Endor Insert - This insert can be heard in the film when Chewbacca and the Ewoks use the AT-ST to blow up another AT-ST and is similar to a section from the "The Forest Battle Concert Suite" but has never been released.
8. Ewok Celebration Film Version - Two versions of this cue have been released, however, neither preserves the actual original recording used in the film.

Cues Not On the Special Edition

Although released as the complete score, there are several cues not on the Special Edition that have been released on previous releases.

1. Lapti Nek (Album) - This is released on the Anthology Set and is replaced on the SE with Jedi Rocks.
2. Leia's News (Alternate) - This is released on the Anthology set. The Film version however is heard on the SE.
3. Ewok Celebration (Ewok Source) - This is released on the Anthology set but is replaced on the SE with the new Celebration music written for the SE.
4. Ewok Celebration (Choir Source) - This is released on the Anthology set and is an alternate vocal mix (using only the choir, not the Ewok voices).

Problems with the Special Edition Release

Since the release of Return of the Jedi, many have commented on its dead sound . The original CD release along with the original LPs come from the same master tapes and so their sound should be the same (although many say the LPs sound better which could be explained by the ability to tweak the sound on the player).

The Anthology as well comes from many of the same masters.

The Special Edition, however, is commented as having come from the original masters.

In all cases, the higher frequencies are cut off. The strings sound un-naturally muted, and in many cases are barely audible.

See also

• Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• Star Wars music
• Filmtracks.com

References

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Key staff George Lucas (executive producer/writer) Richard Marquand (director) Lawrence Kasdan (writer) John Williams (composer) Howard Kazanjian (producer) Characters Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker Luke Skywalker Princess Leia Organa Han Solo Obi-Wan Kenobi Palpatine/Darth Sidious C-3PO R2-D2 Chewbacca Yoda Ewok 8D8 Admiral Ackbar Wedge Antilles Lando Calrissian Salacious Crumb Emperor's Royal Guard Boba Fett Bib Fortuna Gamorrean Guard Jabba the Hutt Moff Jerjerrod Max Rebo Band Mon Mothma Nien Nunb Oola Admiral Firmus Piett Rancor Sarlacc Stormtrooper Wicket W. Warrick Planets Tatooine Dagobah Endor Bespin Coruscant Naboo Cities Coruscant Mos Eisley Theed Starships A-wing B-wing Death Star II Escort Frigate Imperial Lambda-class shuttle Imperial Star Destroyer Millennium Falcon Mon Calamari cruiser Super Star Destroyer Tantive IV TIE bomber TIE fighter TIE interceptor X-wing Y-wing Vehicles AT-AT AT-ST Coruscant air taxi Imperial Speeder Bike Sail barge Skiff T-16 Skyhopper Twin-Pod Cloud Car Tie-in media Novelization Soundtrack Radio drama Video games Arcade game Home console game Super Return of the Jedi Ewok Adventure