‘Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire’ Soundtrack Coming To Vinyl

The Original Video Game Soundtrack for Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is coming to vinyl for the very first time. Fans of the best-selling 90s video game are likely remember its cinematic music, which was written by the Grammy-nominated composer Joel McNeely, and recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. The soundtrack will be reissued 7 August on CD or LP on Varèse Sarabande Records, and is currently available for pre-order, just in time for Star Wars Day.

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was initially developed as a multimedia project that included a novel and a comic book, among other releases. The game itself was published by LucasArts for Nintendo 64 in 1996, selling over one million copies in its first year. A Microsoft Windows version followed in 1997, while subsequent reissues over the last two decades have continued to entertain fans.

The third/first-person shooter game, which serves as a backstory between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, is centred around the mercenary Dash Rendar. Over the game’s four chapters, players steer Rendar in his efforts to help Luke Skywalker and rescue Princess Leia from Prince Xizor.

Per the recommendation of John Williams, who scored the music for the Star Wars films, the creators of Shadows of the Empire tapped the Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor Joel McNeely to write music for the game. Short edits of the soundtrack, recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra were used in both versions of the game, while the Windows edition featured many of the full tracks.

A Grammy-nominated composer for film and television, McNeely has over one hundred credits under his name, including projects for James Cameron, John Lasseter, Seth MacFarlane and George Lucas, among others.

Originally released in 1996, the soundtrack’s album cover showcases the artwork of the legendary illustrator Drew Struzan (Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future) and features the main Star Wars characters.

Scroll down to view the tracklist for Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on vinyl and CD.

Pre-order the vinyl LP here.

Pre-order the CD here.

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire tracklist (vinyl):
Side A:
1. Main Theme from Star Wars and Leia’s Nightmare (3:41)
2. The Battle of Gall (7:59)
3. Imperial City (8:02)
4. Beggar’s Canyon Chase (2:56)
5. The Southern Underground (1:48)

Side B:
1. Xizor’s Theme (4:35)
2. The Seduction of Princess Leia (3:38)
3. Night Skies (4:17)
4. Into the Sewers (2:55)
5. The Destruction of Xizor’s Palace (10:44)

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire tracklist (CD):
1. Main Theme from Star Wars and Leia’s Nightmare (3:41)
2. The Battle of Gall (7:59)
3. Imperial City (8:02)
4. Beggar’s Canyon Chase (2:56)
5. The Southern Underground (1:48)
6. Xizor’s Theme (4:35)
7. The Seduction of Princess Leia (3:38)
8. Night Skies (4:17)
9. Into the Sewers (2:55)
10. The Destruction of Xizor’s Palace (10:44)

Format: UK English