Return of the Jedi (soundtrack)

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Cover from the original 1983 release.
Film score by John Williams
Released	1983
Recorded	January–February, 1983
Studio	Abbey Road Studios, London, Olympic Studios, West London, Fox Scoring Stage, Hollywood
Genre	Classical
Length	44:59
Label	RSO Records
Producer	John Williams
John Williams chronology
E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (1982) Return of the Jedi (1983) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Star Wars soundtracks chronology
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Return of the Jedi (1983) Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Filmtracks	[2]
SoundtrackNet	[3]

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 Academy Award nomination for Williams. Return of the Jedi, which is the original trilogy's longest score, was only released on a single-LP instead of a double-set like the Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back soundtracks before it.

Track listing

LP vinyl released by RSO; compact disc released by Polydor

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

Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology

Star Wars Trilogy – The Original Soundtrack Anthology: "Return of the Jedi"
Cover of the original 1993 release.
Film score by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra
Released	1993
Recorded	1983
Genre	Classical
Label	Arista Records on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Scores, a Bertelsmann Music Group Company
Producer	Nick Redman

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 films 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 twenty-one, "End Credits (Film Version)," is from The Empire Strikes Back.

The Special Edition

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
iTunes	[5]

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

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

• "Lapti Nek" (Album) – This is released on the anthology set and is replaced on the SE with "Jedi Rocks".
• "Leia's News" (Alternate) – This is released on the anthology set. The film version however is heard on the SE.
• "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.
• "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).

Unreleased cues

Currently, several source cues and other material are unavailable. Many of these master tapes could not be located in time for the score's special edition release 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 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.

References