The Trilogy on CD
(CDs that contain music from more than one Star Wars film)

Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel (Telarc CD-80094), 1984

This Kunzel release features excellent performances of the Main Title from Star Wars and the Imperial March from Empire. For more information about this and other Kunzel film music releases, see the Filmtracks Theme of the Month for January, 1997.

The Utah Symphony Orchestra (Varese Sarabande VCD 47201), 1985

This was the first recording of music from all three scores together. At the time, it featured the only recordings of two tracks from Jedi: "Fight with TIE Fighters" and "Darth Vader's Death." The performances are good, however the orchestra is noticable smaller. Overall, this is a solid release --certainly for Star Wars music enthusiasts, with some new takes on the concert piece arrangements. ***

By Request..." The Boston Pops, Williams Conducting (Philips 420 178-2), 1987

This CD is one of my favorites. It combines Williams' film music with some of his best work for national and international events. The digital recording sound is incredible; this CD has the best sounding (as far as surround sound goes) performances of the Imperial March, Yoda's Theme (Empire), Luke and Leia's Theme (Jedi), and the Main Titles (A New Hope). The Imperial March particularly echoes off the walls from this CD like I had never heard before. The CD also includes music from Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Superman, Close Encounters, E.T., The Cowboys, Midway, and 1941, as well as the Olympic Fanfare/Theme, Liberty Fanfare, and the Mission Theme for NBC News (this last one is really odd to listen to without Tom Brokaw's face on the screen). Overall, the sound quality and performances of the Boston Pops will blow you away. I recommend it to all. *****

The Skywalker Symphony Orchestra, Williams Conducting (Sony SK 45947), 1990

This CD boasted having the best sound quality of any Star Wars release to date, and it comes close to that promise. We've all heard the selected music before; the CD contains the concert arrangements of all the regulars from the three films. The only unusual tracks are "The Little People," "Here They Come," and "Throne Room and Finale" (all from A New Hope). The tracks from Empire, including the Imperial March and the Asteroid Field themes sound a bit muddled. Overall, there's nothing new here. **

"Kid Stuff" The Boston Pops, Williams Conducting (Philips 438 068-2), 1992

The performances are almost identical on this CD as they are on the "By Request..." one above. The sound quality isn't as good, and you can get the performances of all the Star Wars tracks somewhere else in better arrangements. The performance of the Asteroid Field from Empire is obviously cut in a few places. And personally, I find the title and art of this release to be really annoying... skip this one any take a look at the other Boston Pops releases. **

Music from the Films of Harrison Ford" City of Prague Philharmonic (Silva SSD 1040), 1994

This CD contains an array of good themes, however the performances of the three Star Wars tracks are lackluster. They include the Main Titles, Han Solo and the Princess, and the Forest Battle. These, and frankly the Indiana Jones themes, are lost on this CD. It also includes Bladerunne, Presumed Innocent, Witness, and more. **