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Later this year, the Paramount+ streaming service will premiere a new 4K Director’s Edition of 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture.  The first big-screen voyage of the Starship Enterprise, director Robert Wise’s film was first recut as a Director’s Edition for the 2001 DVD, but the new version promises to be an upgrade in every way as it utilizes the HDR process for improved color and image.  With the film itself getting such a makeover, it’s only appropriate that the soundtrack is, too.  Today, La-La Land Records released a new, limited edition 2-CD reissue of Jerry Goldsmith’s score as the official tie-in soundtrack to the Director’s Edition.

First released in December, 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture reunited the cast of the 1960s Star Trek television show, including William Shatner (Captain Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), and DeForest Kelley (McCoy).  The road to the movie was a bumpy one as it was first envisioned as a film in 1975, then as second television series entitled Star Trek: Phase II before returning to its originally intended form on the big screen.  The Motion Picture grossed $139 million worldwide and was deemed successful enough to warrant a sequel, 1982’s Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.  All told, the Star Trek franchise has produced 13 films, 10 television series (with an eleventh, Strange New Worlds, yet to premiere), and several more in development.  That’s in addition to another upcoming film, numerous books, comics, video games, toys, and other collectibles over the last 40+ years.

Directed by Academy Award winner Robert Wise (whose previous credits included West Side Story and The Sound of Music) and written by Harold Livingston based on a story by Alan Dean Foster, Star Trek: The Motion Picture takes place several years after the conclusion of the television series.  Kirk, now promoted to Admiral, must reunite the old crew of the Enterprise to investigate a mysterious alien entity known as V’Ger which threatens to destroy the Earth.  This script was adapted from what was supposed to be the pilot episode of the aborted Star Trek: Phase II, entitled “In Thy Image.”  The tone of the picture is more in line with 2001: A Space Odyssey than with Star Wars, emphasized contemplative sequences over action.  For instance, the scene where Kirk and Scott (James Doohan) approach the Enterprise in drydock lasts for five minutes and consists mostly of exterior shots of the ship. Critical reaction at the time was mixed, with many critics lamenting the intentionally slow pacing of the film.   The series took on a more action-oriented focus with The Wrath of Khan.

Another Oscar winner, Jerry Goldsmith (The Omen, Chinatown), was enlisted to provide the score, and crafted an enduring march theme which would later be utilized as the main theme for Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Goldsmith’s entire score was first restored, remixed and mastered from the first-generation multi-track masters by Bruce Botnick, the original album co-producer and Goldsmith’s longtime scoring engineer, for a 2012 La-La Land 3-CD presentation.

This edition takes a different, more streamlined approach.  The original, full film score is presented on CD 1 through the beginning of CD 2.  The program now begins with the long version of Goldsmith’s stirring overture, mirroring the Director’s Edition.  The shorter version as heard in the 1979 cut now inaugurates the section of Alternates on CD 2.  That disc is rounded out by the original 1979 soundtrack LP, recreated from the remixed first-generation masters.  (The now out-of-print 2012 edition featured even more alternates and additional music including pop versions from Shaun Cassidy and Bob James.)

Director’s Edition Post-Production Supervisor/Associate Producer Mike Matessino has co-produced the new release with Bruce Botnick.  Matessino has penned the liner notes with film music historian Jeff Bond, drawing on interview excerpts with Goldsmith, Botnick, and performers Craig Huxley and David Newman. The package and its 28-page full color booklet are designed by Jim Titus and feature new images from the upcoming Director’s Edition.

This edition of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture soundtrack is limited to 10,000 units and is available for order directly from La-La Land.  Also going on sale at the same time is the label’s newest entry in the Universal Pictures Film Music Classics Collection: Oscar winner Howard Shore’s score to the 1983 thriller Videodrome.  It’s limited to just 2,000 copies.  You’ll find order links and the complete track listing for ST:TMP below!

Jerry Goldsmith, Star Trek: The Motion Picture: Remastered & Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (La-La Land Records LLLCD1579, 2022)

CD 1

The Film Score

1. Overture (2:49)
2. Main Title And Klingon Battle (7:02)
3. Total Logic (3:54)
4. Floating Office (1:07)
5. The Enterprise (6:01)
6. Malfunction (1:31)
7. The Crew Briefing (2:12)
8. Leaving Drydock (Film Version) (3:33)
9. Captain’s Log – Warp One (0:49)
10. No Goodbyes (0:54)
11. Spock’s Arrival (2:04)
12. Captain’s Log – Warp Seven (1:49)
13. Meet V’Ger (3:04)
14. The Cloud (Film Version) (5:05)
15. V’Ger Flyover (5:03)
16. The Force Field (5:06)
17. Micro Exam (1:15)
18. Games (5:35)
19. Spock Walk (Film Version) (4:23)
20. System Inoperative (2:03)
21. Hidden Information (3:58)
22. Inner Workings (4:04)
23. V’Ger Speaks (4:05)

CD 2

The Film Score (continued)

1. The Meld And A Good Start (5:38)
2. End Credits (3:15)

Additional Music

3. Overture (Short Version) (1:42)
4. The Enterprise (Alternate) (6:07)
5. Leaving Drydock (Alternate) (2:40)
6. No Goodbyes (Alternate) (0:57)
7. Spock’s Arrival (Alternate) (2:03)
8. Micro Exam (Alternate) (1:18)
9. Games (Alternate Excerpt) (3:51)
10. Inner Workings (Alternate) (4:38)
11. The Meld (Alternate) (3:18)
12. A Good Start (2:29)

Original Soundtrack Album (remixed and reassembled presentation of Columbia JS 36334, 1979)

1. Main Title / Klingon Battle (6:54)
2. Leaving Drydock (3:33)
3. The Cloud (4:59)
4. The Enterprise (6:02)
5. Ilia’s Theme (3:04)
6. Vejur Flyover (4:59)
7. The Meld (3:18)
8. Spock Walk (4:21)
9. End Title (3:20)