Disney Records has reissued the original Star Wars OST albums - Sony's contract is over! [digital/streaming releases only]

[Jay 45,146]

Listed on Amazon Japan

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01N9JMRSZ

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MU2NS9U

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MZ1SBGU

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MQY1G34

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01MU2NVIV

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01N1UCCZS

 

and some Russian site

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006824

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006816

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006828

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006820

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006818

https://music.yandex.ru/album/4006825

 

UPDATE: And Spotify US

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Pxlc9bhZjK7igCdffneyW

https://open.spotify.com/album/669tU9gpisLy8EM6qlKrdL

https://open.spotify.com/album/06EONjbfq9vtinuIqq29HX

https://open.spotify.com/album/1gl3f3otffNsIxosRAvKSz

https://open.spotify.com/album/54m0VdVh3yN9SrjSLPGVrP

https://open.spotify.com/album/2nm0ehEbV8rnKKZppxhawc

 

UPDATE: And iTunes US

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186007575
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186006421
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186008036
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186004571
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186009258
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186009917

 

UPDATE: And Amazon US

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBKTQRZ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1SJJCP
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSZALD4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5FM1CN
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5F3D8R
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQW8FAH

 

UPDATE: And Google Play US

https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Buojxbkyqz6z76jmx7vqhk4kg6u
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bfu6tvzzqb5p4pxqrcliby6qami
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=B4uc6xagiyl7f5msuc7gqn4erou
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bu5hp44kvngbgzrwby6v4iayujy
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bseilwvqkigu3r5iwvukl4p66mm
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bxgjvhifop52ccnax5qikg4ey64

 

UPDATE: And youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsydGeqk-mFybdSAN3OxopQ/videos

 

UPDATE: And 7digital

https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-a-new-hope-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029737
https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029742
https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029739
https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-the-phantom-menace-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029743
https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-attack-of-the-clones-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029738
https://www.7digital.com/artist/john-williams/release/star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-6029741

 

NEW cover art: 

 

 

 

 



 



 



 

 

 

Thanks to @Lockdown for the head's up!

[Taikomochi 1,405]

Why would a Russian site get this first? Sure hope this is what it looks like.

[Jay 45,146]

I dunno, but I don't hate the cover art

[Taikomochi 1,405]

I think the big banners are somewhat tacky, but otherwise, I don't mind it.

[Giftheck 1,191]

Those sites list the OSTs so it's nothing to get too worked up about ATM. Though if Sony's contract has ended, then that's good news and that means Star Wars is now not off the table for a new expansion in the near future.

[Mr. Breathmask 623]

And the tracklists are the same as the old programs.

 

Another goddamn repackaging.

 

I told you!

[Giftheck 1,191]

Of course the first thing they would do would be re-releasing the OSTs! I wouldn't expect them to come right out and say "hey folks, here's all six Star Wars scores with every note every recorded!" They're going to want to make money off the OSTs too..

 

Patience. We will get expanded Star Wars in due time. There's no way Disney have failed to notice the demand for them, nor the popularity of expanded John Williams CD sets.

[Mr. Breathmask 623]

I bet the next step is to add screensavers.

[Skelly 280]

Wow, if Disney really does have the rights to the SW scores now, they didn't waste a single day in getting things ready for sale (I assume they received ownership on Jan. 1).

[Jay 45,146]

It appears so!

[Will 2,393]

I did notice some things happening recently. The original OSTs were uploaded to YouTube and Spotify. I was just coming here to post about it, actually. 

 

Cover art is the same as on the releases Jay listed. I like it. 

 

Wow! If Sony's contract is indeed over this is very exciting. I can almost hear the original AOTC finale, in the distance...

[Jay 45,146]

Holy crap you're right, they're on Spotify US under Lucasfilm Ltd now instead of Sony!

 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Pxlc9bhZjK7igCdffneyW

https://open.spotify.com/album/669tU9gpisLy8EM6qlKrdL

https://open.spotify.com/album/06EONjbfq9vtinuIqq29HX

https://open.spotify.com/album/1gl3f3otffNsIxosRAvKSz

https://open.spotify.com/album/54m0VdVh3yN9SrjSLPGVrP

https://open.spotify.com/album/2nm0ehEbV8rnKKZppxhawc

 

 

BTW, the cover art AND album names avoid using "Episode" monickers, in line with how Disney marketed TFA (the title of the film is technically Star Wars: The Force Awakens, not Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens)

[Will 2,393]

Actually, though, it looks like the old releases are under Lucasfilm too. 

 

 

Etc. 

 

Hmm. 

 

There's also this digital re-release (presumably):

 

 

[Jay 45,146]

This is SUCH great news!  With the Sony roadblock officially over and done with, there's nothing stopping Disney from hiring Mike M to produce new definitive editions!

And it appears there's nothing Fox can prevent for the first film, either!

 

 

Come on Disney, do the right thing and commission new 2CD sets!

[DominicCobb 196]

This is interesting: 

Star Wars sampler, with the SE tracks, NOT the OST tracks.

 

[Jay 45,146]

I found them on iTunes too

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186007575
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186006421
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186008036
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186004571
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186009258
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id1186009917

 

It seems they are slowing transitional all the digital platforms off of the old versions and on to the new versions, wiping out all traces of Sony....

[Will 2,393]

Are we sure that this isn't just Sony separately releasing the stuff from the digital collection?

[Jay 45,146]

Yes @Will this is 100% Disney selling the albums themselves, as Sony's license has clearly truly expired.

 

 

 

 

Just found them all on Amazon US:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBKTQRZ
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1SJJCP
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSZALD4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5FM1CN
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5F3D8R
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQW8FAH

[Will 2,393]

Oh, okay. That U.S. Amazon link seals it for me! I'm 100% convinced! 

 

My optimism just a few days ago has not proved unwarranted!

 

[Jay 45,146]

Hopefully Disney has a 3 step plan

 

1 The original OST programs sold digitally

2 The original OST programs on CD and vinyl

3 Newly produced Expanded Releases on CD, vinyl, and digital, wiping out the 1997 SE programs and TPM UE forever.

[Cerebral Cortex 3,365]

This is absolutely fantastic! Never would have thought it would have been this soon. Funny how this is happening almost 40 years since the first Star Wars score came out. This alongside the news of another Matessino/Williams project has already made this a very good week indeed.  

[Jay 45,146]

Just found them all on Google Play

 

https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Buojxbkyqz6z76jmx7vqhk4kg6u
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bfu6tvzzqb5p4pxqrcliby6qami
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=B4uc6xagiyl7f5msuc7gqn4erou
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bu5hp44kvngbgzrwby6v4iayujy
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bseilwvqkigu3r5iwvukl4p66mm
https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Bxgjvhifop52ccnax5qikg4ey64
 

[Will 2,393]

Presumably the OSTs they're releasing are the same versions as found on the Sony collection from last year, @Jay?

[Cerebral Cortex 3,365]

I would be very surprised if they weren't just that, unfortunately. This sounds like the rights just expired and they're dumping these out for a quick buck. 

[Jay 45,146]

3 minutes ago, Will said:

Presumably the OSTs they're releasing are the same versions as found on the Sony collection from last year, @Jay?

 

I don't understand your question.  The OST programs first came out in 1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, and 2005, and those programs are what's being sold here.

 

Unless you are talking about a specific remastering of those OST programs?  If so, I have no idea in the world, It's not like I've bought any of these from any of the sites I've found them on yet, or listened to them on Spotify yet.

[Will 2,393]

4 minutes ago, Jay said:

Unless you are talking about a specific remastering of those OST programs?  If so, I have no idea in the world, It's not like I've bought any of these from any of the sites I've found them on yet, or listened to them on Spotify yet.

 

That's what I mean. I wonder if these are in that great quality from last year's Sony release that everyone is constantly talking about (I haven't actually heard them myself) or if they are in some worse quality. 

 

Would Disney necessarily have the right to those special remasters?

[Jay 45,146]

7 minutes ago, Will said:

 

That's what I mean. I wonder if these are in that great quality from last year's Sony release that everyone is constantly talking about (I haven't actually heard them myself) or if they are in some worse quality. 

I'm sure someone will buy them and do an A/B comparison (hint: Not me!)
 

 

Quote

Would Disney necessarily have the right to those special remasters?

 

Sure!  They could release the 1997 RCA Victor 2CD sets, the 2000 Sony Ultimate Edition of TPM, etc, if they wanted to!

[Muad'Dib 2,017]

Could this be what Mike M started working on? I mean, expanded editions of the SW scores.

 

I haven't been following that particular thread much so apologies if I'm gravely mistaken.

[Jay 45,146]

We have no clue in the world what Mike has started to work on.  He said one sentence on Facebook that drops zero hints about what it could be, and there's a 5 page and counting thread speculating about what it could be - naturally.

[Cerebral Cortex 3,365]

We have no clue, but, as far as your question is concerned (unless I'm missing something), yes, it could be that, @Muad'Dib.

[Jay 45,146]

Here they are on youtube:

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsydGeqk-mFybdSAN3OxopQ/videos

 

Been there for 2 days!

 

Crazy to think that classic John Williams OST combos like "The Heroics of Luke and Han" and "Rebels At Bay" are legally on youtube, but not CD!

 

 

 

[Will 2,393]

The only one with an actual playlist and not just random tracks is ROTJ:

 

 

[Jay 45,146]

Oooh thanks - I tried finding playlists for each score but couldn't!

[Will 2,393]

@Jay, notice that the OT videos only say:

 

℗ 1977 Lucasfilm Ltd.

 

... while the PT ones say:

 

℗ 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd.
℗ 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd., under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

 

So it seems that the PT ones might be exact re-releases of the original releases (as opposed to last year's Sony ones which I think went back to the CD masters or something to make a new version). 

 

However, it's still unclear where the OT ones come from. 

[Jay 45,146]

Oh I found an Empire playlist too

 

 

[Will 2,393]

Wow! I'd searched all over but never found it. 

[Jay 45,146]

2 hours ago, Will said:

@Jay, notice that the OT videos only say:

 

℗ 1977 Lucasfilm Ltd.

 

... while the PT ones say:

 

℗ 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd.
℗ 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd., under exclusive license to Sony Classical, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

 

So it seems that the PT ones might be exact re-releases of the original releases (as opposed to last year's Sony ones which I think went back to the CD masters or something to make a new version). 

 

However, it's still unclear where the OT ones come from. 

 

 

I'm sure that wording will change when everything gets caught up.  Youtube's automatic DRM likely doesn't have all the new info yet.

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT: It must be weird for younger people who have only seen the SE versions of the OT and never the originals, to be listening to Jedi and suddenly hear Lapti Nek and Yub Nub...

[Brundlefly 2,401]

To sum it up:

 

Confirmed to be completed soon:

JFK

The Towering Inferno

 

Likely to be completed soon (of course not at once):

The Witches of Eastwick

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Harry Potter 1-3

Star Wars 1-6

 

[Wojo 2,458]

I can't wait to rebuy what I already own. 

[Will 2,393]

ANH YouTube playlist (Jay's TESB find inspired me to look for the rest):

 

 

YouTube's auto-poster is very confused about the PT scores (since they've previously been released on YouTube, presumably). Either that, or the original PT OSTs that were already on YouTube are exactly identical to these new ones (even in terms of mastering, etc.; obviously, the content is the same). Because...

 

TPM's playlists all seem to be exactly the same as those previously on YouTube. Same with AOTC, it seems.

 

ROTS seems to have the new playlist (except for Battle of the Heroes, which is an old upload):

 

 

On another note, it's rather amusing to read all of the foreign versions of the album titles. For instance, "Star Wars: Die Dunkle Bedrohung" = "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" in German. 

 

Cover:

 

 

No offense intended to people's languages, by the way! It's simply rather strange, as you can imagine, to see different versions of the title that sound so drastically different than what you're used to. 

[crumbs 15,888]

Holy crap, it was a 2017 licence expiry for Sony after all! What brilliant news! 

 

As I predicted, the first thing Disney would do literally day one the rights revert to them is saturate digital markets with the scores under their own umbrella, to halt all revenue going to Sony. They've clearly been paying very close attention to the rights of these soundtracks.

 

Encouragingly, they've chosen to use the recently scanned OST masters for the OT rather than the ancient RCA releases. Surely a positive sign they aren't going to endlessly repackage those ancient masters like Sony did.

 

So it seems the Vinyl releases were the "last hurrah" for Sony and the 40th Anniversary for Star Wars will fall under Disney's label! C'mon Mickey, make it a special birthday for us!

[RICHARDSTRAUSS68 107]

Are these the same exact files redone or did they go back and scan these again of the tapes?

[Mr. Breathmask 623]

6 minutes ago, crumbs said:

Encouragingly, they've chosen to use the recently scanned OST masters for the OT rather than the ancient RCA releases. Surely a positive sign they aren't going to endlessly repackage those ancient masters like Sony did.

 

Nah. They'll endlessly repackage these new masters instead!

[crumbs 15,888]

Just now, Mr. Breathmask said:

 

Nah. They'll endlessly repackage these new masters instead!

 

No! The Mouse will not fail us! They won't be able to resist the excuse to do some crazy new remaster for the 40th Anniversary. They love similar releases for their animated films.

[Will 2,393]

5 minutes ago, dillweed97 said:

Are these the same exact files redone or did they go back and scan these again of the tapes?

 

No one knows, technically.

 

I'd guess that the OT is the same as heard on the Sony digital set last year. PT might be the same as heard on that set, or it might just be the original OST masterings. I doubt Disney has done anything new themselves yet. 

 

I haven't actually listened, I'm just surmising. I wonder what others think. 

[crumbs 15,888]

2 minutes ago, dillweed97 said:

Are these the same exact files redone or did they go back and scan these again of the tapes?

 

They are almost certainly the same masters prepared for last year's vinyl collection (which came from a brand new digital transfer of the OST master tapes, for the OT).

[RICHARDSTRAUSS68 107]

It would be wise to do that then go back when you release complete and offer something new 

[crumbs 15,888]

1 minute ago, dillweed97 said:

It would be wise to do that then go back when you release complete and offer something new 

 

Yep, this is just the 'get something out there on our label day one, while we work on something better' release, hopefully.

[Xander Harris 9,062]

I noticed that the Sony OT albums disappeared off iTunes recently.

 

Are these the same remasters?

[RICHARDSTRAUSS68 107]

Just now, Rose Dawson said:

I noticed that the Sony OT albums disappeared off iTunes recently.

Cause Disney wants to be the one and only