The Official Star Wars Expanded Score Petition Thread

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

3 hours ago, Jay said:

Yes Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are very supportive of expanded albums for John Williams scores for films that they were involved in.

That seems telling.

 

But if Kennedy was supportive of expansions in general, then why hold back on, of all things, Star Wars?

 

Matessino must've made the case by now that it's in need of optimizing... And seeing how Disney burns through money, I have trouble imagining that the reasons are financial.

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

I bet they just think the existing releases are good enough. Or they just don’t want to promote George Lucas era movies as much.

[Edmilson 7,466]

6 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

I bet they just think the existing releases are good enough

Yep, that's what I think as well. Disney probably doesn't know or doesn't care that there is room from improvement over the existing releases, they think they're good enough and there's no need to re-releasing these SW scores over and over again.

 

The same goes for Indy, I guess.

 

They're a huge corporation whose target audience are literally billions of people. Our group is so small that they may not even be aware that we exist. 

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

6 minutes ago, A. A. Ron said:

I bet they just think the existing releases are good enough.

Yeah, it usually comes back to this tired argument.

[ThePenitentMan1 744]

4 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

Great work @ThePenitentMan1!

  

 

 

 

I think you can drop the quoted sentence as it doesn't add anything that you hadn't already said better in previous sentences, but other than that it's much punchier and more direct now.

 

I like it a lot!

 

Thanks!  When I get home, I'll update the petition page with the new text.  I might give it another once-over as well.

[A. A. Ron 1,742]

248 signatures so far. Now if we could just get another 10,000 somehow...

[ThePenitentMan1 744]

Full disclosure, parts of the petition were generated using change.org's ChatGPT feature.

 

Here's what I generated with it before finalizing the original version of the petition:

Quote

Original ChatGPT Input:

Get Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

 

The original Star Wars scores have touched countless lives, and every second of music recorded for the film deserves to be heard in impeccable sound quality for fans to enjoy for the rest of time.

 

Original ChatGPT Output:

As a lifelong fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, I have been deeply moved by the iconic scores that have become synonymous with these films. The music, composed by John Williams, has touched countless lives and is an integral part of our cultural heritage. However, not every second of music recorded for these films has been made available in high-quality formats for fans to enjoy.

I am calling on Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino, a renowned soundtrack producer and restoration specialist known for his work on other classic film scores. His expertise would ensure that expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are produced with impeccable sound quality.

The importance of preserving this music cannot be overstated. According to a study published in Psychology Today (2013), film scores can significantly impact viewers' emotional responses and memory recall associated with movies. This is particularly true for the Star Wars series where John Williams' compositions play such a pivotal role.

By commissioning Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums, Walt Disney Records would not only be preserving an important part of cinematic history but also providing millions of fans worldwide access to previously unheard pieces from these beloved films.

Please join me in urging Walt Disney Records to take this step towards preserving and celebrating the musical legacy of the original Star Wars trilogy. Sign this petition today!

 

ChatGPT Input 2:

Get Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

 

It’s 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.

ChatGPT Output 2:

As a passionate fan of the Star Wars franchise, I believe in the importance of preserving and enhancing the iconic soundtracks that have touched millions worldwide. These scores, composed by John Williams for Episodes 4, 5, and 6 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.

Mike Matessino is a renowned soundtrack producer and restoration specialist who has worked on numerous projects including those from Star Trek and Back to the Future franchises. His expertise would be invaluable in creating expanded score albums for these classic Star Wars episodes.

The original Star Wars trilogy has had an immeasurable impact on popular culture since its release. The American Film Institute ranked John Williams' score for Episode IV as the greatest film score of all time (AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores). However, much of this music remains unreleased or unavailable in its original form.

By commissioning Mike Matessino to work on these soundtracks, Walt Disney Records would not only honor 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. Sign this petition to urge Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino and give us expanded versions of our beloved Star Wars scores!

 

ChatGPT Input 3:

Get Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

 

Previous expanded albums created for Star Wars have fallen behind modern restoration standards, both in terms of sound quality and completeness.  The most recent expansions, the RCA 1997 2-CD Special Edition sets, get very nearly there, but even those are missing music recorded for the film, and, more pertinently, are plauged 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.

 

ChatGPT Output 3:

As a passionate fan of the iconic Star Wars franchise, I have noticed that previous expanded albums have not met modern restoration standards. The sound quality and completeness of these albums are simply not up to par. The most recent expansions, the RCA 1997 2-CD Special Edition sets, although comprehensive, still lack certain music recorded for the films and suffer from sound quality issues that do not meet today's audience expectations.

The earlier 1993 Anthology box set offers superior sound quality compared to the Special Edition sets but falls short in other areas. This is where Mike Matessino comes in. Known for his exceptional work in restoring and expanding film scores, Matessino's expertise could significantly improve these beloved Star Wars scores.

By hiring Mike Matessino, Walt Disney Records has an opportunity to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6 that meet contemporary standards while preserving the original essence of these timeless pieces. We believe this move will greatly enhance fans' experience and appreciation of these iconic films' musical scores.

Join us in urging Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino for this crucial task - because our beloved Star Wars deserves nothing less than perfection when it comes to its music! Sign this petition now!

 

ChatGPT Input 4:

Get Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

 

Mike Matessino had a supervising role to play in the 2-CD 1997 release.  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 will ensure that this music will sound as good as it sounded the day it was recorded.

 

ChatGPT Output 4:

As a passionate fan of the Star Wars franchise, I have been deeply moved by the music that accompanies these iconic films. The scores for Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are particularly close to my heart. Mike Matessino, who had a supervising role in the 2-CD release in 1997, has since been involved in countless expanded score albums where he has honed his skills and proven his commitment to preserving the integrity of original soundtracks.

Matessino's dedication ensures that no musical cue is dropped and sound quality is never compromised. 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.

However, despite his demonstrated expertise and passion for this work, Walt Disney Records has yet to commission him to create expanded score albums for these three pivotal Star Wars episodes.

By signing this petition, you're not just supporting Mike Matessino; you're supporting high-quality preservation of some of cinema's most cherished musical scores. Let's urge Walt Disney Records to recognize Matessino’s talent and dedication by giving him another chance at working on Star Wars' expanded score albums. Please sign this petition today!

 

ChatGPT Input 5:

Get Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for Star Wars Episodes 4, 5, and 6.

 

The project should be done as soon as possible before the elements deteriorate any further.

 

ChatGPT Output 5:

I am a passionate fan of the Star Wars franchise, and like many others, I believe that the music is an integral part of its magic. The original scores for Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are iconic pieces of film history that deserve to be preserved in their fullest form. However, time is not on our side. The elements used to create these masterpieces are deteriorating and we risk losing them forever.

We propose that Walt Disney Records hire Mike Matessino to create expanded score albums for these episodes. Matessino has a proven track record in this field with his work on films such as "Jaws" and "E.T." His meticulous attention to detail ensures that every note is preserved and presented in the best possible quality.

The original Star Wars trilogy has had an immeasurable impact on pop culture since its release over four decades ago. Its music, composed by John Williams, has been lauded as some of the greatest film scores ever created (American Film Institute). By commissioning expanded score albums from Matessino, we can ensure this legacy continues unabated.

Time is running out. We need your help to preserve these iconic scores before they're lost forever. Please sign this petition urging Walt Disney Records to hire Mike Matessino for this important project.

 

It mainly just helped with the intro and the closing paragraph; everything else was pretty much just the original text in Inputs 3 and 4.

[JTN 2,030]

17 hours ago, Jay said:

Yes Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy are very supportive of expanded albums for John Williams scores for films that they were involved in.

And what about the expanded albums for John Williams scores for films that they were not involved in? Like, you know, that small independent film called STAR WARS.

 

3 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

248 signatures so far. Now if we could just get another 10,000 somehow...

More like 30-40,000, if we want Disney to take notice...

[Tallguy 3,398]

1 hour ago, JTW said:

More like 30-40,000, if we want Disney to take notice...

 

They already have those numbers. They're the people that went to see Wish.

[Edmilson 7,466]

6 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

248 signatures so far. Now if we could just get another 10 million somehow...

Fixed.

[pete 907]

I know too many cooks spoil the broth, but here's a suggestion anyway: how about adding at least several other Williams releases Mike has worked on as well as links to articles about the Sound of Music release and this NPR piece on Hook. 

 

Quote

Veteran soundtrack producer and frequent Williams collaborator Mike Matessino has been involved in countless expanded score albums, including the 2-disc La-La-Land Records release for Williams' Close Encounters of the Third Kind, as well as the highly acclaimed recent 5-disc album for Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

7 hours ago, A. A. Ron said:

252 signatures so far. Now if we could just get another 10,000 somehow...

 

Fixed.

[Smeltington 1,440]

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

50 minutes ago, Smeltington said:

 

 

[Tallguy 3,398]

7 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said:

 

 

 

 

[JTN 2,030]

I'm so glad none of us is pessimistic or cynical at all about this. 

Because if we are like this, what do we expect from the people at Disney Music. Yeah, I know, nothing.

[pete 907]

4 hours ago, JTW said:

I'm so glad none of us is pessimistic or cynical at all about this. 

Because if we are like this, what do we expect from the people at Disney Music. Yeah, I know, nothing.

 

I'm all for the sentinment and passion behind this petition - 100%, and I did sign it. I am however just cynical about online petitions in general. R2D2 could sign this one 100 times with 100 different email addresses. Sure, that doesn't mean it can't have an effect, but it does nullify somewhat the validity of the petition although of course, I hope nobody goes that route. Perhaps it's the best system we have for this kind of thing, but it does have it's flaws, and I don't think there's anything particularly negative about realizing that. Although given Mike's track record and trusting relationship with Williams, perhaps validity of sigs just could never be an issue for anyone in a position to make a decision.

My gut instinct is that change.org is probably more effective for issues of life and death or huge miscarriages of justice. Certainly the ones that get the most sigs - real or not -are rightly so about such issues. I think my choice to sign it when I usually don't sign such things is asking myself could this hurt the chances of a release. I think that's an obvious no. And could it help the chances of a release. Possibly. I hope so, but I'm just not confident it will. I would love to be proved wrong though!

[ThePenitentMan1 744]

10 hours ago, pete said:

I know too many cooks spoil the broth, but here's a suggestion anyway: how about adding at least several other Williams releases Mike has worked on as well as links to articles about the Sound of Music release and this NPR piece on Hook.

 

Updated.  Here's the new text for that section:

Quote

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.

 

[Groovygoth666 670]

On 15/01/2024 at 3:05 AM, Mr. Hooper said:

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.

Until recently I've not been familiar with Star Wars Theory as a channel. But have been watching his streams with Mauler and it was in maybe episode 4 or 5 of Star Grift that Theory showed Mauler his drama videos get the most views these days. Plus in the latest stream it was highlighted that Pablo Hidalgo HATES Theory, so with Hidalgo still working for Lucasfilm getting Theory to premote this petition might get his feathers ruffled and having someone within Lucasfilm that might try to suppress this petition because of personal politics could ultimately be detrimental to the cause. 

 

 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

Theory is a POS (irl too) and obsessed with drama, he's not the kind of attention we need. 

[Groovygoth666 670]

13 minutes ago, Manakin Skywalker said:

Theory is a POS (irl too) and obsessed with drama, he's not the kind of attention we need. 

Honestly I have no context for him, I follow Mauler and so my introduction has been through their engagement. So far he seems reasonable enough, with his channel focusing on theory's (hence the name) that aim to expand on the sequel trilogy as well as the Disney Plus shows and trying to make it all work while acknowledging the critiques against it. While both might not agree on certain things it has been fun to watch their discussions, but I'm not sure on why you would say Theory's a POS and that he's only after drama? 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

15 minutes ago, Groovygoth666 said:

Honestly I have no context for him, I follow Mauler and so my introduction has been through their engagement. So far he seems reasonable enough, with his channel focusing on theory's (hence the name) that aim to expand on the sequel trilogy as well as the Disney Plus shows and trying to make it all work while acknowledging the critiques against it. While both might not agree on certain things it has been fun to watch their discussions, but I'm not sure on why you would say Theory's a POS and that he's only after drama? 

 

If you'd watch his videos (especially during the ST and his fan film debacle) you'd see more of what I mean. As for the irl part, that's not my story to tell.

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

2 hours ago, Groovygoth666 said:

Until recently I've not been familiar with Star Wars Theory as a channel. But have been watching his streams with Mauler and it was in maybe episode 4 or 5 of Star Grift that Theory showed Mauler his drama videos get the most views these days. Plus in the latest stream it was highlighted that Pablo Hidalgo HATES Theory, so with Hidalgo still working for Lucasfilm getting Theory to premote this petition might get his feathers ruffled and having someone within Lucasfilm that might try to suppress this petition because of personal politics could ultimately be detrimental to the cause. 

 

 

 

The suggestion of Star Wars Theory was just based on the number of subscribers he has. I don't know much about the guy beyond that, but if you say he's got enemies at Lucasfilm, then yeah, better find someone else to advocate for the petition.

[Groovygoth666 670]

2 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

 

The suggestion of Star Wars Theory was just based on the number of subscribers he has. I don't know much about the guy beyond that, but if you say he's got enemies at Lucasfilm, then yeah, better find someone else to advocate for the petition.

Going on what's been said in the Star Grift episodes he definitely also has friends within Lucasfilm, it's just Pablo Hidalgo has been highlighted as hating him for some reason. I'm unaware of what those reasons may be, in the latest episode of Star Grift there was a superchat suggesting Theory share screenshots of private messages from Pablo talking about how much he hates Theory, but he declined to discuss them. 

 

Reaching out to Theory and Mauler during a stream of Star Grift could be a good idea just as a means to get more signatures, regardless of personal politics, it's the numbers on the petition we're after. 

 

 

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

6 minutes ago, Groovygoth666 said:

regardless of personal politics, it's the numbers on the petition we're after. 

Right. I don't personally care from which corner of the fandom the signatures come from.

[Groovygoth666 670]

12 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said:

Right. I don't personally care from which corner of the fandom the signatures come from.

Exactly, sorry if my comments were conflicting, but it was more to highlight that there might be a drawback due to the drama between Theory and Pablo.

 

Ultimately if we can get both Theory and Mauler to premote this petition on stream and on social media it could reach many people who are willing to sign. 

 

I believe they stream on a Monday, so if things are quite at work I can try a superchat and ask them to share this petition and hopefully get some momentum going. 

 

[stravinsky 206]

Surely this will be sorted out in 3 years time for the 50th Anniversary. 

[ThePenitentMan1 744]

2 hours ago, stravinsky said:

Surely this will be sorted out in 13 years time for the 60th Anniversary. 

 

InB4 Edmilson fixes-  Oh come on!

[GerateWohl 4,370]

Meanwhile I believe the purpose of these petitions was not to convince Disney to publish the scores, but to make us aware what a fly shit of a target group we soundtrack fans really are.

[Richard Penna 3,694]

No one outside our target group understands or cares what's wrong with the current sets, really. I worked with someone who is a mega SW fan, went crazy for the sequel films, wanted to dress up to go see them; the whole shebang. He wouldn't care one iota about new remastered sets - they're all on Spotify, what's the problem?

 

Hence I'd suggest that they would ideally be speciality releases with sufficient scope for pressings to cater for demand, because that's a frame of mind to convince the suits that there's a conscious and credible market that would snap up thousands of copies overnight because that market understands what the product is. Only problem then is convincing them to do it partly for the cultural perservation, and not be deterred by the probably comparatively small profit it would make.

[Edmilson 7,466]

1 hour ago, ThePenitentMan1 said:

 

InB4 Edmilson fixes-  Oh come on!

"Just" 13 years is way too optimistic for a waiting time for properly done Star Wars expansions.

 

So...

 

3 hours ago, stravinsky said:

Surely this will be sorted out in 50 years time for the 100th Anniversary. 

Now it's fixed 

[enderdrag64 624]

2 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

No one outside our target group understands or cares what's wrong with the current sets, really. I worked with someone who is a mega SW fan, went crazy for the sequel films, wanted to dress up to go see them; the whole shebang. He wouldn't care one iota about new remastered sets - they're all on Spotify, what's the problem?

 

Hence I'd suggest that they would ideally be speciality releases with sufficient scope for pressings to cater for demand, because that's a frame of mind to convince the suits that there's a conscious and credible market that would snap up thousands of copies overnight because that market understands what the product is. Only problem then is convincing them to do it partly for the cultural perservation, and not be deterred by the probably comparatively small profit it would make.

Yeah I think the problem is definitely communication. I had zero idea that there was anything wrong with the official albums until I stumbled on jwfan on a whim when I noticed the TPM CD track titles were out of order.

[Smeltington 1,440]

So we at JWFan have a responsibility... to complain more, and louder!

[GerateWohl 4,370]

Yes!

We must convince all these people happily enjoying their current Star Wars soundtrack albums, that they are wrong.

[Tallguy 3,398]

22 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

Yes!

We must convince all these people happily enjoying their current Star Wars soundtrack albums, that they are wrong.

 

While this is absolutely the problem, I suppose, why isn't anybody worrying about convincing all those people happily enjoying their Sgt. Pepper's that THEY are wrong?

[Jay 37,369]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

Yes!

We must convince all these people happily enjoying their current Star Wars soundtrack albums, that they are wrong.

 

[Jay 37,369]

1 hour ago, GerateWohl said:

Yes!

We must convince all these people happily enjoying their current Star Wars soundtrack albums, that they are wrong.

 

[Bellosh 3,419]

Holy shit Jay that is so good lmao

[Brando 1,864]

Oh man if Bruce saw these he’d have a heart attack

[Richard Penna 3,694]

14 hours ago, enderdrag64 said:

Yeah I think the problem is definitely communication. I had zero idea that there was anything wrong with the official albums until I stumbled on jwfan on a whim when I noticed the TPM CD track titles were out of order.

 

Well, I don't truly understand the minutiae of the problems with the current sets, beyond their sound quality not being what it could, wrong takes and a small amount of missing music. But I do know that there's a market of at least, say 5,000 customers who would lap up ground-up rebuilds. Possibly more - who knows.

 

I think the comms issue is bigger for the suits because they are the ones who have to choose to commit resources and allow a producer access to materials. From fans' perspective, if the majority of SW fans are happy with what's out there, I don't think it's our place to tell them they're wrong to enjoy what's out there. It would be a bit like a Blu-ray geek standing in a store telling every customer not to buy that version of the movie because it's got excessive edge enhancement.

[Tallguy 3,398]

3 hours ago, Richard Penna said:

It would be a bit like a Blu-ray geek standing in a store telling every customer not to buy that version of the movie because it's got excessive edge enhancement.

 

Hey, don't judge what I do with my free time!

[Groovygoth666 670]

Well I screwed up asking Star Wars Theory for help. I sent a superchat during his Star Grift stream a couple weeks ago to explain there was a petition to get these expanded releases done and if the guys on the stream could give it a shout out. But for some reason I couldn't send a follow up superchat to clarify what the petition was about and trying to reach him through the chat didn't work. I even dm'd him on Instagram with the link to the petition, but got no response. 

 

The following episode someone did superchat about this, even name dropping @Manakin Skywalkers channel, but Theory perhaps didn't connect the two and didn't have much to say on it. 

[Manakin Skywalker 4,897]

5 minutes ago, Groovygoth666 said:

even name dropping @Manakin Skywalkers channel

 

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

3 hours ago, Groovygoth666 said:

Well I screwed up asking Star Wars Theory for help. I sent a superchat during his Star Grift stream a couple weeks ago to explain there was a petition to get these expanded releases done and if the guys on the stream could give it a shout out. But for some reason I couldn't send a follow up superchat to clarify what the petition was about and trying to reach him through the chat didn't work. I even dm'd him on Instagram with the link to the petition, but got no response. 

 

The following episode someone did superchat about this, even name dropping @Manakin Skywalkers channel, but Theory perhaps didn't connect the two and didn't have much to say on it. 

Oh well, thanks anyway for giving it the old college try. 👍

[Tallguy 3,398]

6 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

Oh well, thanks anyway for giving it the old college try. 👍

 

When I was in college I got the Star Wars Anthology.

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

3 hours ago, Tallguy said:

 

When I was in college I got the Star Wars Anthology.

You're hired!

[crocodile 8,017]

This needs to be for reasons much more important than OCD of annoying small group of fans such as us. While the soundtrack are important, they are almost secondary to restoring and future-proofing the original recordings.

 

Karol

[Mr. Hooper 1,792]

12 minutes ago, crocodile said:

This needs to be for reasons much more important than OCD of annoying small group of fans such as us. While the soundtrack are important, they are almost secondary to restoring and future-proofing the original recordings.

I believe that Matessino is slowly working on it, and I'm holding my breath for a 2027 release, for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,079]

21 minutes ago, crocodile said:

This needs to be for reasons much more important than OCD of annoying small group of fans such as us. While the soundtrack are important, they are almost secondary to restoring and future-proofing the original recordings.

 

Karol

 

That's quite certainly already been done, at least the digitisation part.

[crocodile 8,017]

54 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

That's quite certainly already been done, at least the digitisation part.

Digitizaition is not enough, we need Matessinosition.

 

Karol