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Originally posted by John Steel:
Does it worth the price of 40 dollars (if i have the 97 editions) just for the package and the fact of being a collectible soundtrack?

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What are you talking about?

The Arista box set has a few tracks that aren't on the RCA/Sony editions, such as the film version of TESB end credits, some alternates from ROTJ, and of course "Lapti Nek" and two different versions of "Ewok Celebration."

The sound quality on TESB and ROTJ is superior in the box set than the special edition versions as well (although this is not the case with ANH). Furthermore, purely as a listening experience, the box set's ROTJ is much better than the messy and overlong '97 version.

The presentation of the box set is first rate, with excellent liner notes and artwork.

If that makes it worthwhile to you, than go for it. Otherwise, you have the bulk of the music already.

I just ordered a second-hand copy from www.Secondspin.com for $20. They still have 3 copies left if anyone's interested.
http://www.secondspin.com/music/product-detail.jsp?id=770746

sakman, I disagree with you about the new "Celebration" music in Return of the Jedi. What Williams composed in '97 far outdoes the original end music for that sequence, and it's not "new-agey" in the least ... man, you sound like my dad, yeeesh!

This could all depend on if you've been lsitening to all this music since 1977. I was 14 when the Special Editions hit theatres, so buying the Star Wars scores in their complete form was much more satisfying for me. The only real benefit of the Arista set is the sound quality on Return of the Jedi, it's better than the strange mix on the RCA/Sony releases (which appear to be identical). I own most all the versions of these scores, including the LPs, so maybe ya' wanna' go that route!

I think the full chorus sound that ends ROTJ as it moves gradually up and up harmonically to a bright key is a perfect emotional ending. The Special Edition one just seems blander musically. Just personal taste.

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Originally posted by John Steel:
I don't understand why does the '97 release of ROTJ have such poor sound quality.
ANH and ESP both have great audio qualities.

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Yeah, does anyone actually know why Return of the Jedi has such poor sound quality? I thought my discs were defective when I bought 'em, but it seems not, so why such a **** job on the mix?

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Originally posted by sakman:
Sean...I am your father....ahahahahaha....just kidding.

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But sakman! Obi-Wan told me that you betrayed and murdered my father!

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Though the sound may be better on the Arista set in regards to The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the sequencing on the RCA/Sony editions is far better. The 15 minute "Battle of Hoth" cue kicks the bejesus out of the individual cues layed out on the Arista set; also, the "Rescue From Cloud City / Hyperspace" mix works wonders. Having each cue layed out on the Arista is tedious, IMO. The complete listen on the RCA/Sony editions is much better, regardless of sound quality.

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I agree with you about the sequencing of Star Wars and Empire. The RCA/Sony versions progress much better, in my opinion. Having grown up with the LP configuration of Star Wars, I had gotten used to a lot of the edits, but hearing the score in order is a lot of fun. And Empire is just a phenomenal score, the more the better.

My biggest issue with the RCA/Sony editions is the lousy sound quality and lazy programming of Return of the Jedi.

Unless the original master tapes are lost...

I personally have a problem with the OT scores...to me they are a amped up a bit to much, especially with ANH. All though ESB isn't too bad but most of ROTJ's sound quality is definitely horrible.

I paid $50.00 for a mint condition Anthology set...all though it had been viewed once or twice but still it's worth it.

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Originally posted by Swashbuckler:
My biggest issue with the RCA/Sony editions is the lousy sound quality and lazy programming of Return of the Jedi.

[Message edited by Swashbuckler on 11-19-2005]

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Yeah I agree totally. I'd really love to know why such a lousy job was done on that score. It's probably the worst sounding (quality-wise) CD set in my collection; and is it just me or does CD1 sound better than CD2?

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Originally posted by sakman:

It is amazing that there are probably three generations (at a minimum) of people who have experienced this music and these films! I don't think you can say that about other films before this?

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Musically, there is no reason to get them. You have better sound and more music on either the anthology or the special edition releases.

The two CD version of TESB is pretty hard to find. So if the quest does it for you, this might be worth the hunt.

But how far do you go? LP nuts will tell you that the original LPs have a warmer sound because the analog nature of the recording and the player. Would you buy the LPs for the sake of completeness?

I guess if you are a Star Wars collector you have to get them all, but as score fans The anthology is probably enough and if you have the RCA releases as well, then you got it all pretty much.

I have both but usually only listen to the Anthology. I have to confess that I still have my original CD releases as well. But that’s just because I never sell anything.