… you have probably heard this theme…

if not… you just missed one of the most gorgeous scifi movies ever made – Star Wars Part1.

Star Wars Cantina Band JHON WILLIAMS OFUNAM

Lucas and Williams first discussed the Cantina scenes, containing the only music that actually occurs in the plot. Because of the setting, Williams decided to use a small jazz combo, including a steel drum. Williams wrote an unusual scoring, and after the music was recorded the low pitches were partially filtered out, giving the number a tinny sound.

http://www.allmusic.com/composition/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-film-score-mc0002387537

Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes in Chalmun’s Cantina in A New Hope

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figrin_D%27an_and_the_Modal_Nodes

Members Instrument
Figrin D’an Kloo Horn
Nalan Cheel Bandfill
Tedn Dahai Fanfar
Doikk Na’ts Doremian Beshniquel (or Fizz)
Ickabel G’ont Fanfar
Tech Mo’r Ommni Box
Lirin Car’n Kloo Horn (Backup)

 

cheap recording – but nice country cover of the same song 😉

yes there are cantina action figures 😀

probably the most covered song of star wars ever

 

galactic funk meco

             Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

Producer and studio musician Meco marked a confluence of the two dominant pop-culture preoccupations of the late ’70s, shooting to fame on the heels of a chart-topping disco rendition of the theme to Star Wars. Born Meco Monardo in Johnsonburg, PA in 1939, he took up the trombone at the age of nine, and later earned a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. There Meco formed a jazz trio with fellow students Chuck Mangione and Ron Carter, later enlisting with the West Point Army Band. From 1965 to 1974, Meco worked as a studio player, and also landed a number of arranging gigs, most notably on Tommy James‘ “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” He additionally arranged and performed the music on a series of television commercials.

Meco‘s breakthrough arrived in 1974 when he co-produced the Gloria Gaynor smash “Never Can Say Goodbye,” followed by the Carol Douglas masterpiece “Doctor’s Orders.”

In 1977, Meco saw the George Lucas film Star Wars on the day of its release and quickly became obsessed, seeing the picture numerous times; while admiring producer John Williams‘ score, he felt the music lacked commercial possibilities, and soon contacted Casablanca Records chief Neil Bogart about the possibility of a disco version.

Working with veteran Broadway arranger Harold Wheeler,

Meco recorded Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk;

soon the first single, “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band,” rose to number one.

Although he recorded similar music inspired by films including The Wizard of Oz and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Meco remained most closely associated with Star Wars, even recording a highly successful Christmas album based on the movie; he retired from music in 1985, later working as a commodities broker in Florida.

 

http://www.allmusic.com/album/star-wars-and-other-galactic-funk-mw0000239596

             Review by JT Griffith

As a purist, Meco‘s Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk should be heard on its original vinyl, even if that means losing the two bonus tracks on the Hip-O CD, the “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (7″ Radio Edit)” and the “Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (12″ Disco Mix).” This is not the music most people would listen to every day, so why not enjoy the experience. The LP’s cover is large, and the two space travelers bumping bottoms is hilarious cheese. Musically, the LP and the CD are identical (with the exception of the bonus material). An interesting trivia bit is that John Williams supposedly did not know anything about disco when he returned from London. When he was asked to listen to Meco‘s version of his now famous recording, Williams was apprehensive. But, in the end, he credited Meco with helping bring symphonic music further into the mainstream. This important genre-busting album is most enjoyable in its original form. The “Title Theme” was a number one hit in 1977. Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk makes one of the best kids albums out there.

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