The Official Star Wars Expanded Score Petition Thread

[ThePenitentMan1 1,017]

Quote

To The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Records, and Lucasfilm:

The scores for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi—“The Star Wars Original Trilogy”—are not just music - they are an integral part of film history that should be passed on to future generations in their most complete form.

 

Previous expanded soundtrack albums created for the Star Wars Original Trilogy have fallen behind modern restoration standards; the 1997 RCA 2-CD Special Edition sets are plagued with sound quality issues, while the better-sounding earlier 1993 Anthology box set doesn't represent every cue from the sessions.

Veteran soundtrack producer and frequent Williams collaborator Mike Matessino has been involved in countless expanded score albums, including 2-disc La-La-Land Records releases for Williams' Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, as well as two highly acclaimed recent expanded score albums: a 5-disc album for Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music and a 3-disc album for Williams' Hook, the latter which features much-sought-after cut songs that many thought would never see the light of day.

 

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/19/1220028578/spielbergs-1991-movie-hook-was-nearly-a-musical-now-its-score-has-been-released

 

If given the chance to work on Star Wars with the restoration technology available today, sound quality will no longer be an issue for Star Wars' scores.  His involvement guarantees that these recordings will sound every bit as good as they possibly can. This level of meticulous care is what our beloved Star Wars scores deserve.

 

This a matter of preserving some of the most important soundtracks written to some of the most influential and beloved movies in film history, for future generations.

 

Please sign this petition to urge The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Records, and Lucasfilm to hire Mike Matessino and give us remastered, expanded, definitive versions of our beloved classic Star Wars scores!

 

Original Petition:

Spoiler

To the people at The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Records, and Lucasfilm:

 

As passionate fans of the Star Wars franchise, we believe in the importance of preserving and enhancing the iconic soundtracks that have touched millions worldwide. These scores, composed by John Williams for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi—“The Star Wars Original Trilogy”—are not just music - they are an integral part of film history that should be passed on to future generations in their most complete form.

 

Previous expanded soundtrack albums created for the Star Wars Original Trilogy have fallen behind modern restoration standards, both in terms of sound quality and completeness.  The most recent expansions, the 1997 RCA 2-CD Special Edition sets, get very nearly there, but even those are missing music recorded for the film, and, more pertinently, are plagued with sound quality issues that are unacceptable for today's audience. The earlier 1993 Anthology box set has much better sound quality than the Special Edition sets, but features even less music, and on top of that also uses many incorrect takes for Episode IV's score.

 

This is a matter of preserving some of the most important soundtracks written to some of the most influential and beloved movies in film history, for future generations.

 

Veteran soundtrack producer and frequent Williams collaborator Mike Matessino had a supervising role to play in the 2-CD 1997 releases.  Since then, he's been involved in countless expanded score albums where he had honed the skills necessary to do the work properly.  If given another chance to work on Star Wars, he won't let a single cue be dropped, nor will sound quality be an issue.  His involvement guarantees that this music will sound as good as it sounded on the day it was recorded. This level of meticulous care is what our beloved Star Wars scores deserve.

 

By commissioning Mike Matessino to work on these soundtracks, Walt Disney Records would not only honor Maestro John Williams' legacy, but also provide fans with a more comprehensive musical experience. This move could also potentially boost sales as there is significant demand among fans for such releases.

 

Let's ensure that these masterpieces are preserved with the respect they deserve. Please sign this petition to urge The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney Records, and Lucasfilm to hire Mike Matessino and give us remastered, expanded, definitive versions of our beloved classic Star Wars scores!

 

Link to petition: https://chng.it/M95VFmdPbv

 

We're gonna need to give this petition as much exposure as we possibly can.  Share it anywhere you frequent where you talk about film music and Star Wars!

 

If we can get at least this much accomplished, it becomes much more likely that Disney will allow Matessino to do the rest of the Star Wars scores, as well as the Indy scores, too!

[Davis 2,895]

Signed it.

 

Thank you!

 

May the Force be with this Petition!

[Trope 755]

Signed. Not sure what the outcome will be but it’s worth a shot!

[Raiders of the SoundtrArk 2,489]

Signed it too. I don't think it will work but still it can't hurt. You've a really good job

[Bounty95 564]

The OT would be a great start, but they need to expand all 9 obviously. 

 

BTW, @Drew created a petition for all 9 some years ago with close to 500 signatures: https://www.change.org/p/the-walt-disney-company-release-the-complete-soundtracks-from-the-star-wars-episodes-by-john-williams-in-lossless

[Davis 2,895]

Let’s have Disney do the OT first, those are the oldest, most famous SW scores, the first one being a true landmark in film music history. If those happen and sell well, Disney may be persuaded to do the other two trilogies as well.

[Obi 409]

Signed of course.

But a release of expanded scores from II, III, VII, VIII and IX should have a petition too.

 

[Gabriel Bezerra 399]

Signed immediately and shared.

 

What should "R3P2" be named in the expansion though? "Binary Sunset", "Lost R2" or something else? 

[Edmilson 8,919]

https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/angry-fans-petition-erase-last-jedi-star-wars-canon/

[Mr. Hooper 3,405]

9 minutes ago, Edmilson said:

https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/angry-fans-petition-erase-last-jedi-star-wars-canon/

Let's hope we can beat those 27,000+ signatures! But unfortunately, our petition isn't sexy enough for media outlets to report on. We should've asked for the expansions and the de-canonization of the sequel trilogy. That would get some clicks!

[Davis 2,895]

Alas nowadays people love to protest against something and not for something. 

That's why I think this petition is very good, because it breaks this narrative and it's not about hating something, but the love for these classic scores.

[Richard P 4,189]

1 hour ago, Edmilson said:

https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/angry-fans-petition-erase-last-jedi-star-wars-canon/

 

What is it that these angry pitchfork-bearing 'fans' want Disney to do, exactly?

 

I don't understand how someone can be so angry about the existence of a film... just don't watch it.

[Mr. Hooper 3,405]

35 minutes ago, Richard Penna said:

 

I don't understand how someone can be so angry about the existence of a film... just don't watch it.

I'll say the same thing to people who think certain movies are "problematic". Just don't watch them, and leave those who do alone.

[DemonStar 69]

Signed. 

[Not Mr. Big 4,739]

This will be the one I swear...

[A. A. Ron 1,930]

Signed.

[GerateWohl 5,040]

I understand the intention. Still I am more interested into complete editions of the prequels and the sequels as there is much more music missing. 

[Davis 2,895]

So you won’t sign this petition?

[Jurassic Shark 13,158]

You could make a poll about it. 

[GerateWohl 5,040]

54 minutes ago, JTW said:

So you won’t sign this petition?

I did. And also the old one mentioned above. 

Just saying.

 

Anyone promoted this in the film music communities on facebook, Instagram and other social media channels?

[Davis 2,895]

I have on TwitterX. I hope others who have Facebook and other social media profiles, will share the link. 
I also hope that someone, like @Yavar Moradican spread the word about it on the FSM board. 

[MaxTheHouseelf 332]

Signed.

[Jurassic Shark 13,158]

I'm not signing unless @Thor does!

[Davis 2,895]

We have a @ThePenitentMan1 and now we have a Renitent Man. 

[aj_vader 568]

Signed. Thank you for the effort. 

[Richard P 4,189]

8 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

I understand the intention. Still I am more interested into complete editions of the prequels and the sequels as there is much more music missing. 

 

I support the petition as it is, but I think a higher priority are the prequels. Not having the music (or at best, cobbled together from video games) is a more problematic case than wanting a remaster of a score where 90 something % of the music is there.

[Edmilson 8,919]

6 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

Anyone promoted this in the film music communities on facebook, Instagram and other social media channels?

Anyone here is in the Movie Music UK Facebook group? It's a group with a considerable amount of film music fans, including some "big" people in the fandom, like Broxton, Southall, etc.

[enderdrag64 879]

3 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

 

I support the petition as it is, but I think a higher priority are the prequels. Not having the music (or at best, cobbled together from video games) is a more problematic case than wanting a remaster of a score where 90 something % of the music is there.

Idk there are some pretty good sounding prequel edits; TPM is basically 100% complete, and AOTC and ROTS are at like 90%. There's not much more an expansion would offer beyond a handful more clean cues and being lossless.

 

On the flip side with the OT there are no good sounding complete edits; even utilizing all of the available resources is tricky because of the drastic difference in sound quality between them. New competent transfers in a properly remastered expansion would be revelatory. 

[Manakin Skywalker 5,296]

The OT and PT are on the same level of importance for me personally. The OT for better-sounding audio and (hopefully) less-lengthy track compilations, and the PT for the unreleased material and lossless quality.

 

I think the prequels would actually be much easier/cheaper given everything was recorded digitally (and on freshly-transferred, previously untouched analog tapes). I can't imagine how degraded some of the OT tapes must be by now... 

[GerateWohl 5,040]

55 signatures.

I am sure, Disney is impressed.

[Jurassic Shark 13,158]

So it's happening.

[Mr. Hooper 3,405]

Just now, GerateWohl said:

55 signatures.

I am sure, Disney is impressed.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Let's give it time.

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 13,158]

In a few hundred years we'll have something that will convince Disney.

[Martinland 361]

2 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

In a few hundred years we'll have something that will convince Disney.

In a few hundred years there'll be no Disney any more, hopefully.

[Brando 2,161]

57 now

[Trope 755]

In all honesty, how many signatures would it actually take to convince anybody of influence at Disney to actually read the petition?

Of course, I support it all the way, but I don’t think anyone at Disney gives a shit, and would only consider reading the petition if it had literally tens of millions of signatures.

[A. A. Ron 1,930]

I shared the link on both Reddit and FSM.

[Edmilson 8,919]

7 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

I shared the link on both Reddit and FSM.

Did you share it on the main Star Wars subreddit? Or other related SW subs (like ones focusing on the Original Trilogy, for example)? Sure, not everyone would sign but I'm pretty sure, with some convincing, "normies" who love SW but aren't exactly John Williams diehards might give their signatures.

[A. A. Ron 1,930]

I shared it to r/StarWars, r/soundtracks, and r/johnwilliams

[Mr. Hooper 3,405]

Would be great to get a big YouTube channel like "Star Wars Theory" to give it a mention. He's got 3.3 million subscribers, but the number of views can vary a lot from video to video, depending on how interesting or hot the topic of discussion is. But on a "bad day" he still gets an average of about 40,000 views.

[pete 970]

I like the intention and the petition is well worded. I'm just cynical about such petitions. Can the authenticity of signatures be verified? It seems like I could sign it a hundred times with 100 different gmail accounts. If so, it might as well be a list of a million random names. And I just think surely, this has already been explored by Michael etc. So it's either a work in progress or it's not happening any time soon. No one on Williams team etc hasn't realized these are releases fans want. I don't mean to sound like a partypooper!

[enderdrag64 879]

5 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

I shared it to r/StarWars, r/soundtracks, and r/johnwilliams

I replied to some of the comments there. I'm shocked how much blatantly incorrect information there was, like people saying the albums are already complete or that all of the OT master tapes are missing

 

I have dreamed before about making a YouTube video or series about this topic both to bring light to the necessity of competent expansions as well as to educate the general public about film music and all the intricacies of the Star Wars scores. If millions of people will listen to an 8 hour retrospective of someone rambling about a videogame, surely there's an audience for something similar about star wars music. There's certainly enough content for it...

[ThePenitentMan1 1,017]

6 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

I shared it to r/StarWars, r/soundtracks, and r/johnwilliams

I just found all three Reddit posts.  I'm very proud of r/soundtracks and r/johnwilliams.  I'm immensely disappointed in r/starwars.

[Holko 10,231]

10 minutes ago, ThePenitentMan1 said:

I'm immensely disappointed in r/starwars.

It's the general main sub, meaning it's the most wretched collection of filthy surface level casuals to be found. The ones who fragmented off like saltierthancrait or whatever would probably be more passionate.

[A. A. Ron 1,930]

Well the mods took down my post in the main Star Wars sub. I’ve shared the link to r/saltierthancrait now, but I’m not optimistic any of them will sign since they’ll probably be pretty cynical about our chances of success. I’d guess we’ve got as many signatures as we’re gonna get out of Reddit.

[ThePenitentMan1 1,017]

8 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

I’ve shared the link to r/saltierthancrait now

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 13,158]

11 hours ago, Martinland said:

In a few hundred years there'll be nothing but Disney.

 

Fixed. And they'll have just released the original versions of the OT.

[Davis 2,895]

It’s at 100 now. 
Guys, ANYONE who signs it, earns my most sincere gratitude. All the negativity, all the pessimism and cynicism can’t take away the fact that @ThePenitentMan1and everyone who sign, at least TRIED. And I actually disagree with master Yoda in this case. 
Giving exposure, letting many people know about this situation, even without getting many signatures, is helping our goal of finally getting some of the most beloved scores ever created, in the best possible quality. You can’t achieve anything without even trying. And I’d rather choose signing a petition every single day than doing nothing but lamenting why we still don’t have remastered, complete OT or PT scores.

 

Thanks so much, @ThePenitentMan1for taking the time and effort to do SOMETHING about this. It matters to at least 100 people. And if it matters to just ONE person, then it was already worth making it. 

[Groovygoth666 1,024]

Signed 

 

[Edmilson 8,919]

1 hour ago, A. A. Ron said:

Well the mods took down my post in the main Star Wars sub

What was their justification for that? It doesn't seem like something that would break the rules.

 

But perhaps @Holko is correct, that sub has way too many casuals, for whom the Disney demasters are enough (that is, when they actually bother to listen to Star Wars music).