THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Rating: 
Original Review: Many people think that this is the best of the three scores from the Star Wars trilogy. I disagree - in my opinion it's the poorest, but this is not to say I don't like the score: on the contrary, I still believe it's one of the best scores ever written, but compared to the other two, this comes in third. The main problem is the 'Imperial March', which is in itself a great theme - possibly one of the most recognisible ever written - full of bombastic military brass, pomp and circumstance. It's just I feel it is a little overused throughout the album. The other main themes are the ones written for Yoda, a soft, gentle piece of muted brass and string; Han and Leia's Love Theme; a quiet, playful theme for C-3PO and R2-D2 played on woodwind; a jaunty, understated march for Lando Calrissian and, of course, the virtuoso concert piece entitled 'The Asteroid Field', a flautist's tour de force. As this is a release to mark the Special Edition of the Star Wars trilogy, there are a few new bits and releases of previously unheard cues, but to be honest you would never notice had they not been flagged up on the extensive liner notes.
Track Listing:
DISK ONE
- 20th Century Fox Fanfare (written by Alfred Newman) (0:22)
- Main Title / The Ice Planet Hoth (8:09)
- The Wampa's Lair / Vision of Obi-Wan / Snowspeeders Take Flight (8:44)
- The Imperial Probe / Aboard the Executor (4:24)
- The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon / Imperial Walkers / Beneath the AT-AT / Escape in the Millennium Falcon) (14:28)
- The Asteroid Field (4:15)
- Arrival on Dagobah (4:15)
- Luke's Nocturnal Visitor (2:35)
- Han Solo and the Princess (3:26)
- Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave (5:44)
- The Training of a Jedi Knight / The Magic Tree (5:16)
DISK TWO
- The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:02)
- Yoda's Theme (3:30)
- Attacking a Star Destroyer (3:04)
- Yoda and the Force (4:02)
- Imperial Starfleet Deployed / City in the Clouds (6:04)
- Lando's Palace (3:53)
- Betrayal at Bespin (3:46)
- Deal with the Dark Lord (2:37)
- Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure of Boba Fett (11:50)
- The Clash of Lightsabers (4:18)
- Rescue from Cloud City / Hyperspace (9:10)
- The Rebel Fleet / End Title (6:28)
Running Time: 124 minutes 28 seconds
RCA Victor 09026-68773-2 (1997/1980)
Music composed and conducted by John Williams. Music performed by The London Symphony Orchestra. Orchestrations by Herbert W. Spencer. Recorded and mixed by Lionel Newman and Eric Tomlinson. Edited by Kenneth Wannberg. Mastered by Dan Hersch. Album produced by John Williams and Nick Redman.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.