OK, technically not a soundtrack but it does contain bits and pieces.
Does anyone know why this was never released on CD? It was a childhood favorite of mine, and I figure the only reason could be is that we didn't have video or DVD back then and couldn't view the movie at-will like we can today. So it sort of was our only way to relive the movie when it was gone from the theater.
Yep, VHS (and later DVD and Blu-ray etc) made these story albums redundant.
I quite liked 'em. It was a chance to replay the film in your head. I had the Empire Strikes Back one (lovely gatefold packaging on its original release) and the Return of the Jedi one too. I even had one of The Black Hole.
There's no way in hell anyone would issue these on CD, but they would be a nostalgic listen.
Good versions of each are up on YouTube. That's how I got my nostalgia fix for the first one, never got the others as I was too old for storytelling lps when they came out.
I have listened to the youtube version, and I want to give my daughter a listen to it...was also thinking about getting the radio dramas, just so she has a chance to flex her imagination like I did when I was a kid.
I remember when Empire Strikes Back came out WGN radio in Chicago serialized the Empire Story Of... album 5 minutes at a time for like 10 weeks on the Roy Leonard show. I was there every Saturday taping the next 5 minutes on cassette. I still have that tape somewhere. Today's kids have it easy!
I wonder if the masters for all three albums still exist? Would love to have these remastered and released officially. I grew up listening to these (along with NPRs superb radio dramas) before we had the luxury of a VCR. I've got mint pressings of all three and a good quality turntable, but it would be great to have these given the red carpet remastering treatment.
I used to have this album back in the day. It was fun back then, but would be little more than a novelty if released today (much like the Star Wars Christmas Album that came out last holiday season).
However, the NPR radio dramas for all three movies are still available.
These were awesome back in the 80s when they were originally done and still hold up well today, especially "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back." They were quite a bit longer than the actual movies with much more detail, lengthier conversations and a really unique way to experience the stories.
Best LP "Story of" was Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Movie on Record. Terrific cover and packaging, superb sound.
Totally agree - No narration, just an awesome mix of dialogue, music and sound effects. One of the best workouts my stereo has ever had, with the bullets literally ricocheting between speakers.
I still have my copy - a birthday present from JohnJohnson many moons ago.
Best LP "Story of" was Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Movie on Record. Terrific cover and packaging, superb sound.
Wow! I didn't know this existed...I will have to look for it!
As I recall, it originally was a Japanese import and cost roughly the same as a small country.
I just took a look on eBay to see if I was sitting on something still worth a small fortune - but you can get a good copy for very little there. Which is good news for you if you want to pick up a copy, but not good news for my plans for early retirement.
Even 30 years on I can still recite passages of it, complete with narration.
(Although that little fact impresses no-one at all.....remind me again, why do I find it hard to meet anybody??)
LOL! Reminds me too much of myself. I can recite the entire opening rollup of "A New Hope" and Princess Leia's complete hologram message *verbatim*. (I've seen "Star Wars" {1977}, and to a lesser extent, its sequels and prequels, far more times than a healthy human being should. Sad, really.)
"Hi. I'm Jenkwombat and I'm a Star Wars-obsessed geek."
