Ladies and Gentlemen. What we have here is a simply magnificent Star Wars A New Hope: 40th Anniversary Limited Edition triple 180gm hologram vinyl LP pressing, out now from Walt Disney Records.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of one of the most significant soundtracks in film history, Walt Disney Records releases a new hologram vinyl version of the remastered original motion picture soundtrack for Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: A New Hope.

With score conducted and composed by five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, the set features a 48-page hard cover book. This one-of-a-kind vinyl set, hand etched by Tristan Duke (Jack White’s Lazaretto) of Infinity Light Science, offers a 3D hologram experience featuring the Death Star on Disc 1.

For optimal viewing, use a direct light source or simply hold a mobile phone flashlight above the vinyl to view the hologram. Disc 2 features the Star Wars 40th Anniversary logo etched into the vinyl. The box set includes rare and never-before-seen photos of the film’s production and scoring sessions.

Additionally, two essays are featured in the hardcover book. Tuning Up a Galaxy written by author Jeff Bond (Danse Macabre: 25 years of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton, The Music of Star Trek) focuses on the phenomenon of Star Wars and how John Williams’ score changed film music forever.

John Williams’ Journey to Star Wars by Jeff Eldridge discusses John Williams’ early career - from his musical heritage to his continuing legacy.

Beginning at the beginning, to set the scene, so to speak, the 1977 release of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope exponentially changed the face of pop culture. Not since the mainland arrival of the Beatles had such an intense level of fanaticism possessed the American people.

The film’s rousing title sequence is as recognizable - if not more so - than the national anthem, and composer John Williams’ Oscar-winning score is a marvel of pulp tension, Holst grandeur, and Wagner-inspired motifs.

Never before had the general public been given such memorable, accessible, and instantly identifiable character themes. Williams develops these ideas masterfully at the soundtrack’s beginning, allowing the lonely horn-driven Jedi theme, like Luke Skywalker himself, the time to grow, waiting patiently before unleashing it in full within the bombastic and ceremonial end piece The Throne Room.

Shadows of the composer’s finest contribution, in my humble opinion, Imperial March, can be heard brewing beneath the ominous cello section during Imperial Attack. This is perhaps the most important thread on A New Hope, and thus charting its growth through to its full-blown Empire Strikes Back glory is fascinating.

Williams is a true student of cinema, and his love for the works of Henry Mancini - Cantina Band, anyone? - Miklos Rosa, and Bernard Herrmann are in full effect, but like George Lucas, who based his entire concept on old radio and television serials, the results are reverent without having been recycled.

That all said, there are oh-so many catchy rhythms and melodies here - especially during chase scenes and battle sequences - along with some rather beautiful pieces (such as Princess Leia’s Theme, Mouse Robot And Blasting Off, The Princess Appears) along with the original music that put John Williams on the map in the first place; the trumpet theme for Luke Skywalker, the aforementioned heroic dah - dah - dah, dah, dah - dah - dah, dah main title itself.

A New Hope was the beginning of a grand love affair with science fiction and mythology, and the world embraced every aspect of its astronomical rise to legend, but without Williams’ exceptional contributions that affair may have been very short-lived.

And so with all the tracks - save for any fun alternate tracks, extended versions or even the archival bonus track Binary Sunset - now all captured here within this rather fantastic Limited Edition Triple 180 Gram Hologram Vinyl Pressing (where on the last vinyl, the etched 3D Death Star Hologram is truly something to behold), now is the time to buy this dutifully magnificent box-set for yourself, hunker down with it, immerse yourself within it, and enjoy each and every track on your record player, the way that Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of music, could have only ever dreamt.

Side A:
1. Main Title
2. Imperial Attack
3. Princess Leia’s Theme
4. The Desert and the Robot Auction

Side B:
5. Ben’s Death And Tie Fighter Attack
6. The Little People Work
7. Rescue Of The Princess
8. Inner City
9. Cantina Band

Side C:
1. The Land Of The Sand People
2. Mouse Robot And Blasting Off
3. The Return Home
4. The Walls Converge
5. The Princess Appears

Side D:
6. The Last Battle
7. The Throne Room And End Title

Side E:
1. The Last Battle [3D Death Star Hologram]

Side F:
Star Wars 40th Anniversary Logo Etching

Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope 40th Anniversary (Holographic Vinyl) | Unboxing Trailer

Star Wars: A New Hope 40th Anniversary 3LP Box Set - Official Purchase Link