Jay 37,281 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Their press released doesn't say if they remastered it or not 🤷♀️ Quote Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Music from the LucasArts Video Game Joel McNeely UPC: 888072173637 Release Date: 8/7/20 $ 13.98 May the 4th be with you! In celebration of Star Wars Day, Varèse Sarabande Records is thrilled to announce the upcoming special release of the Original Video Game Soundtrack for Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire by GRAMMY®-nominated composer Joel McNeely. The soundtrack will be released for the first time on LP and reissued on CD on August 7, 2020, exclusively from Varèse Sarabande Records and is now available for pre-order. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was developed and published by LucasArts for Nintendo 64 on December 3, 1996, and sold one million copies in its first year. A version for Microsoft Windows followed in 1997, and sold out reissues have kept the game alive amongst the Star Wars fan base since its release over 20 years ago. As part of the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project, a full soundtrack was composed by Joel McNeely and recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Samples of the soundtrack were used in both versions of the game, with the Windows version containing many of the full tracks. The album art features the main Star Wars characters and was created by legendary illustrator Drew Struzan (Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future). In the game, which serves as backstory between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the player controls the mercenary Dash Rendar in his efforts to help Luke Skywalker and rescue Princess Leia from Prince Xizor. Joel McNeely is an Emmy® Award-winning composer and conductor with more than 100 motion picture and television credits. As a composer for film and television, McNeely has worked with such respected filmmakers as James Cameron, John Lasseter, Seth MacFarlane and George Lucas, among others. McNeely received the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.” He was also nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction (“The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”) and received a GRAMMY® nomination for Outstanding Classical Crossover Album for “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” https://www.varesesarabande.com/products/star-wars-shadows-of-the-empire-1 Also on vinyl: https://www.varesesarabande.com/products/star-wars-shadows-of-the-empire-lp WilliamsStarShip2282 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2020 Video game soundtrack? What? It was written for a book. Karol Disco Stu, Bryant Burnette, crumbs and 2 others 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Stu 15,495 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, crocodile said: Video game soundtrack? What? It was written for a book. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,281 Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 That's Varese for you! Holko and crocodile 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2020 Still, great to see this back in print. Very enjoyable album. EDIT: Varese replied to my comment on their Facebook page. "Partially correct". All they need to do is read liner notes for the album. This is literally the first thing it mentions. 😆 Karol Tiburon, The Illustrious Jerry, Yavar Moradi and 5 others 3 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holko 9,499 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Interesting. I don't think I've ever actually heard the whole thing start to finish, might be interested. Wonder if JW had to sign off on it as writer of, or Lucasfilm or DIscney or whoever as owners of some original material this reprises/plays with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 It was used in the game though. Yavar Moradi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,463 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Never read the book, but I've loved this album since the 90s. Glad to see it get a repressing. The fact that Varese doesn't know it was originally written for a book (which was then subsequently adapted for a video game), is just embarassing. And in the post that Karol posted, just digging themselves deeper and deeper. Bryant Burnette 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmilson 7,384 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Still, it was one of the first video games to feature an orchestral score, even though it wasn't composed specifically for the game, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,281 Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 28 minutes ago, crocodile said: EDIT: Varese replied to my comment on their Facebook page. "Partially correct". All they need to do is read liner notes for the album. This is literally the first thing it mentions. 😆 Karol Wow. Pathetic. 8 minutes ago, Holko said: Wonder if JW had to sign off Nope Ricard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 35 minutes ago, Jay said: Their press released doesn't say if they remastered it or not 🤷♀️ As far as I know, Varese seldom remasters the albums they've recorded themselves when re-released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,281 Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 Makes you wonder why even announce a "re-issue" if it was never OOP anyway and the new discs are identical to the old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Holko said: Interesting. I don't think I've ever actually heard the whole thing start to finish, might be interested. Wonder if JW had to sign off on it as writer of, or Lucasfilm or DIscney or whoever as owners of some original material this reprises/plays with. I'm pretty sure I've read that JW wasn't informed about this project and didn't find out before Lucas had hired the composer and the project was well underway. So there's a possibility that JW would have wanted to do this. I guess Lucas didn't want to pay more than he had to for a score for a book, so he didn't want to give JW the opportunity. 1 hour ago, Jay said: Makes you wonder why even announce a "re-issue" if it was never OOP anyway and the new discs are identical to the old It's a "new" format. You've never heard the album with pops and crackles! A. A. Ron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 6 minutes ago, Jay said: Makes you wonder why even announce a "re-issue" if it was never OOP anyway and the new discs are identical to the old Not wanting to be left out of May the 4th I guess. I wonder if they updated the enhanced CD content.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor 7,463 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 I haven't been able to play my enhanced CD content in decades. The NIXON material, for example, became completely unreadable just some 5-6 years after the album came out. Now I don't even have a CD-ROM player. But the content is on Youtube anyway, so no biggie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,643 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 I wonder if the booklet will be different. I seem to recall the original booklet having a weird in-universe history of the album, and specifically remember the name Mungo Baobub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,493 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 I'm looking forward to this. It's the best Star Wars score that JW never wrote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Yavar Moradi 2,585 Posted May 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, crocodile said: Why not post this image as a reply to Varese? Yavar Jurassic Shark, Holko and Fabulin 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, mstrox said: I wonder if the booklet will be different. I seem to recall the original booklet having a weird in-universe history of the album, and specifically remember the name Mungo Baobub. A reference to something from the Droids cartoon, connected to Ben Burtt I believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said: Why not post this image as a reply to Varese? Yavar I just don't want to be that negative fanboy to moan about stuff. I politely pointed it out once, that's it. And told them also that I'm happy about the reissue...not to be too negative. 6 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said: I'm looking forward to this. It's the best Star Wars score that JW never wrote. I don't necessarily disagree with that. But it's not exactly fair to compare this with any of the live action scores. McNeely's music is highly enjoyable but can you imagine a SW score by John Williams written for a project like this? With no restrictions...no sound effects or dialogue to worry about... or spotting... or even pacing. Karol Naïve Old Fart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,643 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: A reference to something from the Droids cartoon, connected to Ben Burtt I believe I've never seen any Droids or Ewoks cartoons - at least not since I can remember. Hopefully a Disney+ addition in the future. My kid would love them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yavar Moradi 2,585 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 minute ago, crocodile said: I just don't want to be that negative fanboy to moan about stuff. I pointed it out once, that's it. I don't think it's "moaning" to quote the album's own Townson liner notes as a helpful correction... Yavar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, Yavar Moradi said: I don't think it's "moaning" to quote the album's own Townson liner notes as a helpful correction... Yavar I think someone else already pointed that out already. Let's leave it there. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 17 minutes ago, crocodile said: I just don't want to be that negative fanboy to moan about stuff. I politely pointed it out once, that's it. And told them also that I'm happy about the reissue...not to be too negative. I don't necessarily disagree with that. But it's not exactly fair to compare this with any of the live action scores. McNeely's music is highly enjoyable but can you imagine a SW score by John Williams written for a project like this? With no restrictions...no sound effects or dialogue to worry about... or spotting... or even pacing. Karol Well, no film pacing anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: Well, no film pacing anyway. Yeah, that's what I meant. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUlyssesian 2,473 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 An original soundtrack to a novel? Does that even make sense? Any other examples of such a thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay 37,281 Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 I mean, isn't that what a lot of operas are? Someone writing new music based on an existing story? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Woods 555 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: It was used in the game though. I guess we should label John Williams' 9 scores as video game scores as well. -Erik- Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said: An original soundtrack to a novel? Does that even make sense? Any other examples of such a thing? The Lord of the Rings The Hobbit Seriously though: The Lord of the Rings Symphony by Johan De Meij Rimsky Korsakov's Seherezade Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 5 minutes ago, Jay said: I mean, isn't that what a lot of operas are? Someone writing new music based on an existing story? An opera is performed on the stage. A book is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Woods 555 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 7 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said: An original soundtrack to a novel? Does that even make sense? Any other examples of such a thing? Yes, POWER DOWN by Dane Walker.https://open.spotify.com/album/2Dq17OpGKVlIDAuWXIMkFn?si=IJXrWfbDSXSDsdopm7gOiA And there are a bunch more that I unfortunately can't recall of the top of my head. But writing music inspired by literature isn't anything new. -Erik- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Just now, Jurassic Shark said: An opera is performed on the stage. A book usually is not. fixed Jurassic Shark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Extremely short bits were used in the game. Space was limited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Just now, Gruesome Son of a Bitch said: Extremely short bits were used in the game. Space was limited! From what I understand the Windows versions used more than the N64 version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 2 hours ago, crocodile said: Still, great to see this back in print. Very enjoyable album. But more important: is the book back in print? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rough cut 1,714 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 This is good. I doubt it’ll be remastered though, if the press release doesn’t say so. But I remember it to sound quite good, so, no harm no foul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 The PC version doesn't exist. It was only for N64. See? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said: But more important: is the book back in print? Hopefully, not... Karol Tiburon, The Illustrious Jerry, Jurassic Shark and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 15 minutes ago, TheUlyssesian said: An original soundtrack to a novel? Does that even make sense? Any other examples of such a thing? It's not unusual among kiddie books to have buttons you can push to get sounds or songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Just now, crocodile said: Hopefully, not... Karol Ummm.... Most EU books were reprinted as Legends around 2014 https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Empire-Star-Steve-Perry/dp/0553574132/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=shadows+of+the+empire+paperback+legends&qid=1588621366&sr=8-5 crocodile 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,488 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 SOTE wasn't bad. Kids these days probably don't know what the hell it is but that's how it was for me circa 1996. It was pretty startling back then to suddenly see dolls from a SW thing we didn't know what it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, Gruesome Son of a Bitch said: SOTE wasn't bad. Kids these days probably don't know what the hell it is but that's how it was for me circa 1996. It was pretty startling back then to suddenly see dolls from a SW thing we didn't know what it was. It wasn't exactly horrible but there are far better EU books out there. Dozens of them, even. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Problem with it for me, was Luke seemed out of character for that period of the timeline.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,643 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 If I recall correctly, the N64 game used "Beggar's Canyon Chase," "Into the Sewers," the bolder B-portion of "Xizor's Theme," and the choral finale of "Destruction of Xizor's Palace." The tracks were in the levels where you'd expect 'em storywise. I think most of the other music was loops from the ESB soundtrack - I know Hyperspace was used on the train level, and the asteroid chase music was used in its appropriate place as well. Not sure about the PC version, if it even existed. Thinking about it now, it's kind of weird that you didn't face off against Xizor at all - although I'm aware a Rendar/Xizor face-off would have been off-canon from the book, especially if Dash won. (but I think Dash destroying the Skyhook is already counter the book, where Vader pops in and blows it up). In the end, the bosses were a stream of random creatures, bounty hunters, and droids. I played the hell out of that game, though. Loved it. I would make up my own adventures on Gall and take strafing runs at the invincible Star Destroyer in the last level when you're able to truly fly the Outrider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Just now, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: Problem with it for me, was Luke seemed out of character for that period of the timeline.. What do you mean? In this book specifically? Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faleel 5,332 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, crocodile said: What do you mean? In this book specifically? Karol Yeah, he seemed way too flippant and "extroverted" for right before ROTJ, very "Hey guys whats up, whoah!!" if that makes any sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted May 4, 2020 Mark Hamill really wasn't giving his best performance in this book. A. A. Ron, Pieter Boelen and Unlucky Bastard 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crocodile 7,983 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 1 minute ago, Fal J. M. Skywalker said: Yeah, he seemed way too flippant and "extroverted" for right before ROTJ, very "Hey guys whats up, whoah!!" if that makes any sense. Yeah, makes sense. I can't remember this one too well. As I said, there were far better books out there that I have better memories of. Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrox 6,643 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Luke is a hard character to get right in fiction, and I'm not sure anybody has really done it. He's such a cipher in the movies. In the EU books, he bounces back and forth between a low self esteem goon and a super-powerful monk. crocodile and Yavar Moradi 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Shark 12,024 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 He's manic depressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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