New 22 CD boxset "John Williams: The Anthology, Vol. 1 - 1969-1990" (2025-07-18)

[pete 1,091]

20 hours ago, Davis said:

So he is not doing this release for just the money, right? But then why? We are often told by Mike how JW has to be convinced to let him revisit one of his scores, because he thinks it’s not worthy of the audience’s attention.

 

I've read a few times that he hasn't needed to work for financial security since Jaws. Much like the guy who wrote the song "Fly Me to The Moon".

 

And he's not averse to his own soundtracks being released. He's been planning and compiling his soundtrack releases since the 60s. It was just a few instances of older scores being expanded or a first release that he was reluctant about, but he changed his mind over The Sugarland Express.

 

Quote

So the question remains: Why did Williams initiate this set? Money? Vanity? Both? 

I think neither. Greed and vanity, two words you never hear said by people who know and/or have worked with John.

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

If he initiated this project, I guess his motivation was "legacy," if anything.

[Once 903]

19 minutes ago, Mr. Hooper said:

If he initiated this project, I guess his motivation was "legacy," if anything.

Indeed, "legacy" seems most likely. If the project has indeed been in the works for a year-and-a-half, as Matessino wrote, Williams might have initiated these comprehensive boxsets at a time when he didn't know how successful his recovery was going to go and thus at least have a hand in shaping his legacy.

 

Honestly, I don't like speculating about these things either way, but I feel confident money isn't a driving factor in this at all. I just feel fortunate to know there's still several wonderful Williams compositions out there waiting for a release and even quite a few waiting for a premiere. So much more music to discover and to look forward to - its's great to be a Williams fan! 

[Director of Poltergeist 8,097]

He's John Williams and if he wants to release one more box set, that's what we're going to do. 

[Tom 5,607]

One of the final moments of great TNG television.  

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

17 minutes ago, Mr. Lovejoy said:

He's John Williams and if he wants to release one more box set, that's what we're going to do buy. 

 

1 hour ago, Once said:

Indeed, "legacy" seems most likely. If the project has indeed been in the works for a year-and-a-half, as Matessino wrote, Williams might have initiated these comprehensive boxsets at a time when he didn't know how successful his recovery was going to go and thus at least have a hand in shaping his legacy.

Not to change the subject, but this probably played a role in his decision to participate in the upcoming biography.

[John Takis 386]

While many longtime Williams fans will have all or most of these releases, I like the idea that new Williams fans who are buying this for the opportunity to get his greatest hits in one convenient package will also be exposed to many obscure gems that they otherwise might never have heard.

 

FWIW the Target preorder price is currently $297.99 (or $283.09 with a Target Circle Card).

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Huh, that's about ten times what I paid for Sony's conductor box. 

[GerateWohl 5,936]

What I appreciate about this release is, that it appears really fair.

It does not contain some little super exclusive thing to force longtime collectors to buy a $250 boxset just for one exclusive disc or even just one exclusive track. As it just contains regular albums it is easy to ommit for those who own the albums already.

And those who want to buy it for completeness, their love of boxsets or for the new liner notes, so be it.

But the collectors are free to chose.

That is not a given.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

24 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

As it just contains regular albums it is easy to ommit for those who own the albums already.

 

Are we sure about this? Have the track titles been revealed?

[GerateWohl 5,936]

3 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Are we sure about this? Have the track titles been revealed?

Yes. Here:

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5MXR5ZD?

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

6 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

 

Not to change the subject, but this probably played a role in his decision to participate in the upcoming biography.

 

He decided to take part in the upcoming biography before his strokes.

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

49 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

He decided to take part in the upcoming biography before his strokes.

He was entering his 90s. That makes a man reflect on what he's going to leave behind, and what might follow after he's gone.

 

(And we probably shouldn't bandy about "stroke" as if it was a known fact.)

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Half of JWFan already knows by now from people in the know, so let's not play games.

[BB-8 4,984]

2 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

He was entering his 90s. That makes a man reflect on what he's going to leave behind, and what might follow after he's gone.

 

(And we probably shouldn't bandy about "stroke" as if it was a known fact.)

 

Maybe he's a control freak and wants to see everything neatly packaged on physical media on his shelf at home, together with those leather-bound scores.

 

...and this:

Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 Original Soundtrack Box Set 23 x CD | eBay

 

[GerateWohl 5,936]

2 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

He was entering his 90s. That makes a man reflect on what he's going to leave behind, and what might follow after he's gone.

The man is a legend who has a place in the history books of this world and his music is played in concert halls worldwide and will probably forever be. Why would someone like this care for a bloody anthology CD collection? Living on forever through his precious fans? Forget it! I would have lost all my illusions about my so called fans after spending precious hours giving them autographs for free and then seing these bastards selling them for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

 

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

He probably doesn't know what eBay is...

[BB-8 4,984]

I've ordered at jpc for 209 EUR.

 

I was getting sentimental about the CD format still existing in 2025.

 

And if this is JW's last will, so be it.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

5 minutes ago, BB-8 said:

And if this is JW's last will, so be it.

 

Of my earthly possessions, I give my personal copy of Sony's overpriced anthology to BB-8 of JWFan, but only the first volume.

[BB-8 4,984]

Just read somewhere that the next two volumes are coming later this year...

 

So he could make it.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Could make what?

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

5 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

The man is a legend who has a place in the history books of this world and his music is played in concert halls worldwide and will probably forever be. Why would someone like this care for a bloody anthology CD collection?

My comment was more about his decision to participate in the biography. As for the CD collection, he did "initiate" it, so it would seem that he cares about it to an extent.

 

5 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

Living on forever through his precious fans? Forget it! I would have lost all my illusions about my so called fans after spending precious hours giving them autographs for free and then seing these bastards selling them for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

I bet that the actual fans who've sold their prized autographs have done so begrudgingly and for financial reasons. I'll rather point my finger at the professional autograph hounds.

[Director of Poltergeist 8,097]

I never sold my autographed Superman box set, but I did let it go

[BB-8 4,984]

3 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Could make what?

Survive.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

So he's not the one making the boxes? Disappointed. 

[BB-8 4,984]

1 minute ago, Jurassic Shark said:

So he's not the one making the boxes? Disappointed. 

He's the one initiating and waiting for the boxes to be delivered to his home.

[JohnnyD 1,531]

These three volume sets are a must have for me. Yes, I have the remastered and expanded releases of the respective scores that I have gotten that undertaking, but regarding the other soundtrack albums, I do not have physical CDs of those. This is perfect; plus, I'm curious to discover what exactly Mike Matessino is referring to regarding Vol. 3.

 

Also, I think it is so cool to have a set containing such a vast collection of the Maestro's work spanning the seven decades of his monumental career.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Will we get the two Geisha suites?

 

21 hours ago, pete said:

I've read a few times that he hasn't needed to work for financial security since Jaws.

 

I'm pretty sure that was Stepmom. 

[BB-8 4,984]

4 hours ago, Jurassic Shark said:

 

Of my earthly possessions, I give my personal copy of Sony's overpriced anthology to BB-8 of JWFan, but only the first volume.

I mean if that personal copy happened to be signed, I could rest in peace, too.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

It would have his DNA.

[BB-8 4,984]

In theory, his DNA could still be found in the Berlin Phil, the Musikvereinssaal, and La Scala. A single hair or dandruff may do.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Life finds a way.

[BB-8 4,984]

The Clone Concerts

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

1 hour ago, BB-8 said:

In theory, his DNA could still be found in the Berlin Phil, the Musikvereinssaal, and La Scala. A single hair or dandruff may do.

 

New JWFan poll:

 

"If you saw a strand of JW's hair on the floor, would you save it?"

 

(Would be a good litmus test to see who's gone from "fan" to "fanatic.")

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

1 minute ago, Mr. Hooper said:

New JWFan poll:

 

"If you saw a strand of JW's hair on the floor, would you clone him?"

 

Fixed.

[Mr. Hooper 5,066]

Cloning him would be fine. It's taking the strand of hair to a framer and putting it up on your wall that concerns me. 

[Director of Poltergeist 8,097]

A cloned version of JW would probably come out wrong and evil, and compose RCP. His name would be Jhinzon.

 

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Or Balfe.

[BB-8 4,984]

Or...Hans.

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

Hans Immer. 

[Matt S. 668]

[Quppa 299]

9 hours ago, BB-8 said:

I've ordered at jpc for 209 EUR.

 

Against my better judgement - I'm not going to stop complaining about the RRP of this set - I also placed an order with jpc. They don't charge VAT for deliveries outside the EU, so the price comes down to €176.46 + €8.95 shipping to Australia (but be careful if your government collects duties on imports). They have a pre-order price guarantee like Amazon so if the price comes down to something a bit more reasonable between now and July they'll refund the difference.

[Lady Dimitrescu 9,856]

3 hours ago, Mr. Lovejoy said:

A cloned version of JW would probably come out wrong and evil, and compose RCP. His name would be Jhinzon.

 

 

You're too thlow, old man.

[Amer 2,524]

On 5/5/2025 at 1:20 AM, John Takis said:

It's been my great privilege and honor to collaborate with Mike on the liner notes for this project. To survey the Maestro's career through the lens of a collection so staggering in its scope has been quite the experience!

Actually these sets would make an excellent to Jim’s new upcoming book.

[BB-8 4,984]

Jim?

[Jay 42,389]

I didn't know Jim Ware was writing a Williams book too, but Tim Greiving definitely is

[Jurassic Shark 14,975]

It was supposed to be a secret...

[BB-8 4,984]

Perhaps folks behind the moon call him Jim.

[Amer 2,524]

1 hour ago, Jay said:

I didn't know Jim Ware was writing a Williams book too, but Tim Greiving definitely is

I knew something was a miss. Yeah its Tim.

 

Sorry.. but this new WAR thrust on me is having an affect. So can I be excused? 

[BB-8 4,984]

Price has got down to 209 EUR at Amazon.de.