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Star Wars (Main Title)

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 12 min

"Star Wars Theme" redirects here. For the disco remake, see Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band.
"Star Wars (Main Title)"
Side-A label by 20th Century Fox Records
Side A of original 1977 US single pressing
Single by John Williams
B-side"Cantina Band"
ReleasedJuly 29, 1977
Recorded1977
GenreFilm score
Length5:52
Label20th Century
Songwriter(s)John Williams
Producer(s)George Lucas
John Williams singles chronology
"Main Title (Theme from Jaws)"
(1975) 		"Star Wars (Main Title)"
(1977) 		"Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
(1977)

"Star Wars (Main Title)" is a musical theme composed and conducted by John Williams. The 1977 London Symphony Orchestra recording peaked at number ten on Billboard Hot 100 and number thirteen in Canada RPM Top Singles. Meco's disco version of "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" from his album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk was a global hit in the same year.

History

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It is the main musical theme of Star Wars and is also considered the primary leitmotif for Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy. The original 1977 recording was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The track became a hit in the United States (#10 on the Billboard Hot 100) and Canada (#13) during the fall of that year. The composition draws influence from Erich Wolfgang Korngold's score for the 1942 film Kings Row[1] and Gustav Holst's Jupiter from his orchestral suite, The Planets.

The B side featured the original movie score of "Cantina Band".

Meco's disco re-recording of the track was featured on his album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk. A single edit from this album, "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band," reached number one concurrently with the chart run of Williams's original movie score version.

Charts

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Cover versions

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The Star Wars main title was covered by many musical artists, musicians and composers around the world. Many disco and pop music versions of the theme were recorded and rearranged by the Birchwood Pops Orchestra,[12] the Paul Dark Orchestra,[13] the Marty Gold Orchestra,[14] Sideral Band,[15] Graffiti Orchestra,[16] Galaxy 42,[17] the Sonic All-Stars,[18] the Rebel Force Band,[19] the Peter Hamilton Orchestra,[20] the Now Sound Orchestra,[21] the Magic Fantasy Orchestra,[22] Neil Norman,[23] Wonderland Space Shuttle,[24] the Lovelets,[25] Digital Masters,[26] the Kid Stuff Repertory Company,[27] the John Blackinsell Orchestra,[28] the Planet Robots,[29] the Force,[30] Bang Bang Robot[31] and M.B.4..[32]

  • Patrick Gleeson recorded his synth-pop version of the theme, which is featured in his album Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars,[33] a month after the release of the London Symphony Orchestra performance.[34] His version was released in France and the United States.
  • The Electric Moog Orchestra performed a synthesized arrangement of the main title for their album Music from Star Wars.[35]
  • Don Ellis recorded his jazz version of the main title for his album Music from Other Galaxies and Planets.[36]
  • Maynard Ferguson recorded a fusion version of the theme with his big band, first released on his album New Vintage[37] and later as a single in August 1977.[38]
  • René Joly recorded a song set to the main title, "La Guerre des étoiles" (lit. '"The War of the Stars"'), with lyrics written by Étienne Roda-Gil.[39]
  • Raymond Lefèvre conducted a pop version of the theme which was featured on his 1977 album Love in Stereo Nº 1.[40]
  • David Matthews recorded a jazz-funk version of the theme[41] on his 1977 album Dune.[42]
  • Geoff Love had twice covered the theme from Star Wars in 1978, first in a disco version on the album Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Other Disco Galactic Themes[43] and in a orchestral version on the album Star Wars and Other Space Themes.[44]
  • Ferrante & Teicher performed a cover version of the theme on their same-titled 1978 album Star Wars.[45]
  • Phill Pratt performed a reggae version of the theme for his 1978 album Star Wars Dub.[46]
  • The New Zealand Army Band performed a brass version of the theme for their 1978 album Star Brass.[47]
  • Richard "Groove" Holmes recorded a composite cover version of the main title for his 1978 album Star Wars/Close Encounters, which combined the Star Wars theme with the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[48]

References

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  1. ^ Ross, Alex (1 January 2016). "Listening to "Star Wars"". The New Yorker.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ RPM 100 Singles: October 8, 1977
  4. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  6. ^ "The Hot 100 (week ending September 17, 1977)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 9/17/77". www.tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 11, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
  10. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  11. ^ Billboard, December 24, 1977.
  12. ^ "The Birchwood Pops Orchestra – Themes From Star Wars, New York, New York, The Deep & Other Great Movie Hits". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Paul Dark Orchestra, John Williams (4), Ares Tavolazzi – Star Wars". Discogs. August 4, 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  14. ^ "The Marty Gold Orchestra – Themes From The Movies". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Sideral Band – Star Wars (Thème Du Film La Guerre Des Etoiles)". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Graffiti Orchestra – Star Wars Theme". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Galaxy 42 / Dynamite Band – Star Wars (Disco-Theme) / She's Dynamite". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  18. ^ "The Sonic All-Stars – The Sounds Of Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Rebel Force Band – Living In These Star Warz". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Peter Hamilton Orchestra – Destination Musicland". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  21. ^ "The Now Sound Orchestra – The Now Sound Orchestra Present Music From Close Encounters Of The Third Kind / Star Wars / 2001 A Space Odyssey". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Magic Fantasy Orchestra – La Guerra De Las Galaxias - Música Espacial". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Neil Norman – Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Wonderland Space Shuttle – Theme From Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  25. ^ "The Lovelets – Bilitis / Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Digital Masters – Star Wars". Discogs. 1999. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  27. ^ "The Kid Stuff Repertory Company – Star Wars". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  28. ^ "John Blackinsell Orchestra – Star Wars (Guerra Nas Estrelas)". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  29. ^ "The Planet Robots – Disco Music Inspired By Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  30. ^ "The Force (21) – Star Wars Disco (Main Theme)". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  31. ^ "Bang Bang Robot – La Guerre Des Etoiles". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  32. ^ "M.B.4. – Ewok Celebration & Star Wars". Discogs. 1983. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Patrick Gleeson – Patrick Gleeson's Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Patrick Gleeson - Star Wars Theme". Discogs. August 1977. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  35. ^ "The Electric Moog Orchestra – Music From Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  36. ^ "Don Ellis And Survival – Music From Other Galaxies And Planets". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  37. ^ "Maynard Ferguson – New Vintage". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  38. ^ "Maynard Ferguson – Main Title (From The 20th Century-Fox Film "Star Wars") / Oasis". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  39. ^ "Rene Joly – Star Wars "La Guerre Des Étoiles"". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  40. ^ "Raymond Lefevre Et Son Grand Orchestre – Love In Stereo Nº 1". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  41. ^ "David Matthews – Main Theme From Star Wars". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  42. ^ "David Matthews – Dune". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  43. ^ "Geoff Love's Big Disco Sound – Close Encounters Of The Third Kind And Other Disco Galactic Themes". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  44. ^ "Geoff Love And His Orchestra – Star Wars And Other Space Themes". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  45. ^ "Ferrante & Teicher – Star Wars". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  46. ^ "Phill Pratt – Star Wars Dub". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  47. ^ "New Zealand Army Band – Star Brass". Discogs. 1978. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  48. ^ "Richard Groove Holmes – Star Wars / Close Encounters". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
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