Composed by John Williams

BMG Classics / RCA Victor

Orchestrated Conducted by John Williams

Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra

Produced by John Williams

Release Date: 1997

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     It's the generally held view that The Empire Strikes Back is the best Star Wars film to date. And while I am certainly in that camp, I also see it as one of the best films I've ever seen period. The creative force consisting of George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvin Kershner, and John Williams just pulled out all the stops for this film. Of course, when I was younger I enjoyed all the Star Wars films, but watching this one now that I'm older, I cannot help but be struck by just how meaningful the film is. This is the film that truly evolved Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and the rest into real people, not just characters. It's rare to discover a sci-fi film that functions as a fine film itself regardless of the trappings of the genre, but The Empire Strikes Back does so nicely.

     John Williams has always approached the Star Wars saga with a leit motif approach in mind, but this score is the only one to mirror this ideal to its purest form. Much like the evolution of the characters in the film, the themes from A New Hope are layered on with new complexities and experience a revelation that embodies the whole score. There are no throwaway cues with this score. Every note has significance, and when someone's theme needs to make an appearance, it does. And practically no character from this film is without some identifying musical signature.

     The thematic complexity of this score has yet to be matched, even by Williams himself and the music never gets too entangled in itself or becomes a drag. It's simply impossible to pick a single spot to listen to as the music is totally organic and every cue is part of the living whole in a way that I rarely come across in music of any genre.

     As you can probably tell by now, I would give this score SIX stars if I felt like breaking my own rules. Coupled with the excellent linear notes and sound quality that RCA Victor was so generous enough to provide the fans, the double CD album is something that cannot afford to be missed. *****

 

Disc 1 - 68:07

1 - 20th Century Fox Fanfare (0:21)

2 - Main Title / The Ice Planet Hoth (8:08)

3 - The Wampa's Lair / Vision Of Obi-Wan / Snowspeeders Take Flight (8:48)

4 - The Imperial Probe/Aboard The Executor (4:24)

5 - The Battle Of Hoth (Ion Cannon / Imperial Walkers / Beneah The AT-AT / Escape In The Millennium Falcon) (14:48)

6 - The Asteroid Field (4:15)

7 - Arrival On Dagobah (4:52)

8 - Luke's Nocturnal Visitor (2:35)

9 - Han Solo And The Princess (3:26)

10 - Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave (5:44)

11 - The Training Of A Jedi Knight / The Magic Tree (5:15)
 
 

 

Disc 2 - 61:42

1 - The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) (3:02)

2 - Yoda's Theme (3:29)

3 - Attacking A Star Destroyer (3:04)

4 - Yoda And The Force (4:02)

5 - Imperial Starfleet Deployed / City In The Clouds (6:03)

6 - Lando's Palace (3:53)

7 - Betrayal At Bespin (3:46)

8 - Deal With The Dark Lord (2:36)

9 - Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure Of Boba Fett (111:50)

10 - The Clash Of Lightsabers (4:17)

11 - Rescue From Cloud City / Hyperspace (9:08)

12 - The Rebel Fleet / End Title (6:26)