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1. Superman: The Planet Krypton 1:41
2. Back to the Future 3:21
3. Warp Drive :15
4. Star Trek I: The Klingon Battle 5:31
5. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Main Title 3:21
6. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: Epilogue/End Credits 8:50
7. Humpback Whale Song 1:29
8. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: Main Title 2:42
9. Music from Space Camp 4:01
10. Theme from Cocoon 6:41
11. Theme from Lifeforce 3:37
12. Return of the Jedi: Parade of the Ewoks 3:40
13. Dimensions 4:51
14. Music from The Right Stuff 4:44

(For brevity's sake only the liner notes relating to the Star Trek tracks are included here).

Director Robert Wise was no stranger to the science fiction idiom when he was assigned to direct Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979. His previous credits include such classics as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and The Andromeda Strain (1971). Paramount's decision to finance a Star Trek feature film was due to the tremendous popularity enjoyed by the television series which aired from 1966 through 1969 totaling 79 episodes. The recent success of Star Wars (1974) was a further incentive. While admittedly no "trekkie" himself, Wise was nevertheless able to assemble a film which earned more revenue at the box office in its first three days of release than any other previous feature, a staggering $11.8 million. Star Trek was nominated for a number of Academy Awards including Best Visual Effects and Best Original Score. The opening sequence thrillingly demonstrates the reasons. A Klingon fleet (archenemies of The Federation) encounters a mysterious force field and is inexplicably neutralized. The juxtaposition of stunning visual effects with Jerry Goldsmith's propulsive score creates an exciting image. In addition to a standard symphony orchestra and assorted electronics, some of the most unusual percussion instruments were utilized to great effect; the Rumble Board (a plexiglass sheet shaken to produce different tones), the Piccolo Anglung (bamboo wind chimes), the Water Phone (a bowl with rod-like extensions played with a bow), etc.

The story line of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) was derived from "Space Seed," a 1967 television episode, and was directed by Nicholas Meyer (credits include Time After Time (1979)). The conflict resolves around the intergalactic villain Khan Noonien Singh's obsession to destroy Captain Kirk. Khan is played by the barnstorming 62 year old Ricardo Montalban, sporting more chest muscle than Arnold Schwarzenneger! The music score was composed by James Horner, one of the leading composers of the younger generation (credits include Aliens, Krull).

The most recent Star Trek feature, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) can actually be viewed as an allegorical warning fro ecological responsibility. Leonard Nimoy directed a screenplay based on his own composition. Earth is threatened with total annihilation unless a mysterious alien probe can establish communication with the humpback whale, thought to be the most intellectually advanced life form on Earth. Humpback whale songs, so critical to the plot of the movie, are included on Track 7. Star Trek IV exhibits a good deal more humor than its predecessors as in the hilarious confrontation with a punk rocker. Its obvious success at the box office seems to guarantee a very long-running series (production has already commenced on number V). The music was written by veteran composer Leonard Rosenman (credits include East of Eden, Beneath the Planet of the Apes).

Star Tracks II represents Telarc's third recording of outstanding music in the space genre, with Erich Kunzel conducting the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Star Track's (CD-80094) and Time Warp (CD-80106) were both released in 1984. Since that time, a significant amount of material from the Star Trek movies, requests for more "Space" music from out listeners and the continuing popularity of our two recordings have given us Star Tracks II, Telarc's third musical space voyage.

• Recording Producer: Robert Woods
• Recording Engineer: Jack Renner
• Technical Assistance: Michael Bishop
• Editors: Elaine Martone and Rosalind Ilett
• Recorded in Music Hall, Cincinnati, on September 15 and 16, November 24, 1986 and May 10, 1987
• Track 3 from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Track 7 recorded by Dr. Roger Payne in 1970
• Track 6 (Leonard Nimoy's voice) from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Art Director: Ray Kirschensteiner
• Cover Painting: Detail from Space Mural at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. Copyright 1976 by Robert McCall.
• Cover Design: Michael Ericsson

Telarc International Corporation
23307 Commerce Park Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44122
www.telarc.com

Review at Filmtracks (added July 12, 2003)