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J. Williams & LSO: The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Restored Score: the *AUDIOPHILE EDITION* (Covers & Documentary Booklet)

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  Ok, let's recycle that old thread. Here are my attempts for the 3CD box and booklet for my restoration work on the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK score: the Audiophile Edition, in the preservation forum.

 

The booklet will contain so far:

- A making of the Empire Strikes Back score through the BBC 1980 documentary (scoring, recording sessions film editing), completed with more infos founded here and there.

- The source recordings: The "whole" story of the soundtrack recordings, what are they next to the master tapes or the film mixes... (And the fate for the master tapes).

- Perhaps a note about the edit if I feel able to give my point.

- New remixing and restoration details dispatched through 30 or 40 pages of the best and highest resolution photos and concept arts I've been able to find (sources will be credited of course).

 

___________________________________________

 

Slip case cover art 1st attempt:

 

 

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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... Some rough inside view from the booklet:

 

 

 

 

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Switch on your PM

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Looking good so far! I thought you were joking when you said you was working on a 40 page booklet, nice. ;)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Ah, CD booklets, a lost art. ;)

This will add a nice touch to your set and I look forward to seeing its completion.

Any thoughts on using the classic logo on the cover?

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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I was just thinking the same thing, I'm really fond of the classic logos. In fact it always bother me to see the badly transformed letters in the Empire logo when they straightened it down, it will maybe be hard to fit it in that angle position with your layout but you can always let it lay down in that position if you know what I mean ;) that's how it was used sometimes in the old days. Just a suggestion.

If you want a hi-res of it, let me know. (it's the original hand made one, not a re-creation)

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Savage said:

Any thoughts on using the classic logo on the cover?

 

msycamore said:

I was just thinking the same thing, I'm really fond of the classic logos.

 

For now I reserve the classic logo for the cover of the "digipack" (by this I mean "hardcover", kind of cardboard made book cover. If you know the original SE release you get the idea) - Or CD cover.

Also I studied some of the collectors in every kind of music I have at home and one gave me the great idea to have in the cardboard-book presentation, the tree CD's put in vinyl-like sleeves (one for each). Then I may re-arrange the main covers made for the OE for the sleeves... Unless I make them blank and prepare one "cover" for each in the booklet for the discs presentation.

Oh, no... I' m not running out of ideas ! :)

Also, if you think it's too much work to assemble (or too expensive) and need to simplify the whole, you'd be able to tinker with all of this and make a simpler set. For instance: one box, two CD cases (one simple, one double) + the whole inserted with the booklet (if you have the chance to print and make it of course). You may also reduce the booklet and only keep the main liner notes wich will be the only pages to have numbers. Then you don't need the box anymore. From simple to "mega-deluxe" edition, all is possible.

 

Oh and btw... I already tried: (if you both say it looks better maybe I'll think twice !)

 

 

 

If you want a hi-res of it, let me know. (it's the original hand made one, not a re-creation)

 

Here's mine at 100 %... Big enough ? :) It may look a bit dirty but it isn't.

 

 

Also the one I'm using has been used since 1980 (even apart from the SW logo that surrounds it):

 

 

Just you have to pay attention you have the good version of the one I'm using (in the contrary of the big one findable through Google).

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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ABC said:

Yeah, that doesn't look as good.  I was thinking more along the lines of the same angled appearance on the movie poster, with blue lettering.  I don't think that's the look you're going for, so I will leave you to the design you're trying to achieve which is looking good in its own right. :)

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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ABC said:

 Btw Savage, I'd be quite inerested in your high res ESB scan (I guess it is) at least to recover the foot of my tauntaun ! :)

No problem.  Here you go:

edit: Whoops, that's not right!  Let me see if I can find the original...

edit 2: Here it is.  I think I may have cut some info from the sides at some point.  I can't seem to find the original file anywhere...

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9126/esbposter.jpg

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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You rock :) Thanks !

Wow, didn't expect it existed like this without text. Mine is a housemade melt of the two different versions (vynil + violet poster).

EDIT: Ok, I saw your edit. But I can't see the difference (note: there are funny traces like painting, mostly down/right...)

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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ABC,

In case you haven't already, grab the other jpg I put up of the cover.  The first one I uploaded had some tweaking I did to it to fit my esb:r cover better.  The second upload is untouched aside from some possible trimming on the sides, though I don't know if I did that in the first place.

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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Yep I saw and was editing my post the same time. lol !

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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The major differences are to the left of the Tauntaun's leg.  I did a little cloning to make that area darker so the logo popped more.  It looks fine on the DVD cover, but looks odd without the logo.

This is by far my favorite poster for any Star Wars movie, followed closely by the Revenge of the Jedi teaser.

I found my original and I only shaved a few pixels from the top.  The rest of the image is identical.

O.T. or No T., baby!

ANH:R Cover Art

ESB:R Cover Art

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ABC said: 

Also the one I'm using has been used since 1980 (even apart from the SW logo that surrounds it):

 

You're right, now I remember, that's the one used on the old Making of The Empire Strikes Back Journal by Alan Arnold also, and I still think it's looking ugly;) but I agree with your decision on your design of the cover as it doesn't look so good in that way in the pic you posted.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Savage said:

This is by far my favorite poster for any Star Wars movie...

 

 I must say I love it too...

 

 

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Looking good ABC!

Beautiful artwork on that one, it actually exist three variations of it but I understand you want to use the Album version on this, other wise I have the original one sheet in hi-res, if it is to any help. I also love his famous JAWS poster.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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msycamore said:

... other wise I have the original one sheet in hi-res, if it is to any help.

 I use to think I have the biggest and better high res pics findable, but as you already surprised me I'd be glad to check what you have ! :)

Besides I think the results of images search may vary depending on the country we're living in.

 

...

Here's another idea... If not a cover, may be the opening booklet page. I love that photo and have been able to find a high res version.

 

 

Well, I'm just sketching anyway and for now I still stick on my first idea with the executor so it fits with both the dynamic and power of the recovered sound ;)

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Loving your work.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

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Other inside views (still not definitive)...

 

 

 

 

 

ESB AUDIOPHILE EDITION

 

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Score: "All-Sourced" Restoration & Sonic Achievement.

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Some really stunning stuff here! :D I don't know which version of the slipcase I like best. That black and white group photo would also make a nice, very unique cover, especially as just about every release of the ESB soundtrack in the past has been very dark.

My crazy vinyl LP blog

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My Retro blog

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ABC said:

Savage said:

This is by far my favorite poster for any Star Wars movie...

 

 I must say I love it too...

 

 

 

I really like this one also. It gives the great logo and the great artwork both space to breathe. But I must admit I don't care much for that font you are using for text. Still, I can't wait to see where you are going to take this project next!