Romão

As @BillyCheers said, we did start with the most complicated soundtrack and the one that requires more decision making. Looking at your tracklist for the Special Edtion soundtrack and listening to the files, I've been re thinking what the ideal musical presentation for this score would be. I think the best of both worlds would be to keep some of the tracks of the official soundtrack (which in some cases merge separate tracks in a very satisfying way musically), combining with some of the isolated tracks from your tracklist. I'll try to explain my reasoning for some of the choices. But here is my proposed tracklist (tracks in bold and with an asterisk (*) are from the official soundtrack, unchanged): Disc 1 Disc 2 01. Main Theme 2:11:00 01. Booty Island Overview * 2:04:00 02. Opening 1:36:00 02. The Guard Kiosk and the Cook * 2:40:00 03. Interlude 0:11:00 03. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry 2:48:00 04. Largo LaGrande 1:42:00 04.The Booty Boutique 0:51:00 05. Woodtick Suite * 4:01:00 05. Stan’s Previously Used Coffins 1:44:00 06. Scabb Island Overview 01:57 06.Captain Kate 2:46:00 07. The Cemetery * 03:13 07.Stealing Elaine's Map / The Tiff * 3:08:00 08. The International House of Mojo * 2:20:00 08.Dem Bones and the Dream * 3:29:00 09. Poking Largo/Lechuck's Return * 3:54:00 09. Wally Is Kidnapped/Lechuck Theme, Part 2 * 2:07:00 10. Captain Dread and the Jolly Rasta * 3:18:00 10. Room of Ugly Bone Things 5:59:00 11. Phatt Island Arrival * 2:56:00 11. Guybrush is Captured 1:10:00 12. "Call me the Bone Master" 1:09:00 12. LeChuck's Torture Chamber * 3:01:00 13. Phatt Island Overview 2:36:00 13. Dinky Island Beach 2:24:00 14. Governor Phatt's Mansion * 4:50:00 14. Dinky Island Jungle 4:03:00 15.The Gambler's Club * 3:59:00 15. The Voodoo Dolly * 2:58:00 16.Beyond The Waterfall * 3:19:00 16. The Underground Tunnels * 5:52:00 17.Rum Rogers Jr. and the Secret Chamber * 2:45:00 17. Big Whoop and Finale * 5:33:00 18.Lechuck Theme, Part 1 1:47:00 Total Length 52:37:00 19.Jojo the Monkey (Bonus Track) * 1:25:00 Total Length 49:09:00 Let's go though some of the track choices. On Disc 1: 05. Woodtick Suite I know this will be a major point of contention. I still maintain this section of the soundtrack and all its components work much better in a suite form. I think the official soundtrack did a fairly good job in encapsulating all the sections and transitions in a musically satisfying way. We could end using another custom made of this section, but I maintain the suite format is much better suited for it than separate tracks 06. Scabb Island Overview One of things that bothered most about the official soundtrack track list was having some of the map cues merged with other tracks. Since these are so important in establishing a mood and sense of place, I though it would be best to have all three of them as their own track (see also 13. Phatt Island Overview). In the official soundtrack, only the Booty Island Map cue was presented on this own. 07. The Cemetery This track from the official soundtrack combines three different tracks set in the cemetery at Scabb Island, the last one being the one for the scene with the resurrected Rapp Scallion. And although this track should chronologically be much later in the track list, I maintain this is its ideal placement musically. 09. Poking Largo/Lechuck's Return and 10. Captain Dread and the Jolly Rasta Again, these tracks are a combination of separate cues, but it's another example where the official soundtrack offered an ideal presentation for them, IMHO. 17.Rum Rogers Jr. and the Secret Chamber This track is a combination of two cues that go so well together that they sound like one longer cue. 18.Lechuck Theme, Part 1 Although this cue is mostly reprised in the second half of 09. Wally Is Kidnapped/Lechuck Theme, Part 2, on Disc 2, I think the first Disc 1 needed more material from the Lechuck cutscenes, so this seemed a good place for it, right at the end of the presentation, but just before 19.Jojo the Monkey (Bonus Track), which works best as a bonus track at the end of disc, as it doesn't serve much narrative purpose Concerning the track choices for Disc 2: 02. The Guard Kiosk and the Cook As presented on the official soundtrack, I agree the Cook cue works much better as a coda for the first cue of this track, rather that presented on its own 03. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry The full cue has a few really cool clarinet solos and variations that are not present on the official soundtrack cue, so I thought it would be best the present the full track on its own, separate from 04.The Booty Boutique, although a gapless playback between the two tracks might be advisable. 06.Captain Kate This is the trickiest track to get right, IMHO. I love the presentation of the different cues for this sequence on the official soundtrack, except for its merging with the Stan's Coffins cue. So using just the first half of the official track might be an option. However, when listening to the track On Captain Kate's Ship from @BillyCheers track list, I absolutely adored those 30 seconds or so of the theme presented without the flute and steel drums: So I think ideally they should be joined with the first half of the official soundtrack cue, removing the duplicate beginning. This has to be done with an audio editing software and I will give it a try. As @BillyCheers said, we did start with the most complicated soundtrack and the one that requires more decision making. Looking at your tracklist for the Special Edtion soundtrack and listening to the files, I've been re thinking what the ideal musical presentation for this score would be. I think the best of both worlds would be to keep some of the tracks of the official soundtrack (which in some cases merge separate tracks in a very satisfying way musically), combining with some of the isolated tracks from your tracklist. I'll try to explain my reasoning for some of the choices. But here is my proposed tracklist (tracks in bold and with an asterisk (*) are from the official soundtrack, unchanged): Disc 1 Disc 2 01. Main Theme 2:11:00 01. Booty Island Overview * 2:04:00 02. Opening 1:36:00 02. The Guard Kiosk and the Cook * 2:40:00 03. Interlude 0:11:00 03. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry 2:48:00 04. Largo LaGrande 1:42:00 04.The Booty Boutique 0:51:00 05. Woodtick Suite * 4:01:00 05. Stan’s Previously Used Coffins 1:44:00 06. Scabb Island Overview 01:57 06.Captain Kate 2:46:00 07. The Cemetery * 03:13 07.Stealing Elaine's Map / The Tiff * 3:08:00 08. The International House of Mojo * 2:20:00 08.Dem Bones and the Dream * 3:29:00 09. Poking Largo/Lechuck's Return * 3:54:00 09. Wally Is Kidnapped/Lechuck Theme, Part 2 * 2:07:00 10. Captain Dread and the Jolly Rasta * 3:18:00 10. Room of Ugly Bone Things 5:59:00 11. Phatt Island Arrival * 2:56:00 11. Guybrush is Captured 1:10:00 12. "Call me the Bone Master" 1:09:00 12. LeChuck's Torture Chamber * 3:01:00 13. Phatt Island Overview 2:36:00 13. Dinky Island Beach 2:24:00 14. Governor Phatt's Mansion * 4:50:00 14. Dinky Island Jungle 4:03:00 15.The Gambler's Club * 3:59:00 15. The Voodoo Dolly * 2:58:00 16.Beyond The Waterfall * 3:19:00 16. The Underground Tunnels * 5:52:00 17.Rum Rogers Jr. and the Secret Chamber * 2:45:00 17. Big Whoop and Finale * 5:33:00 18.Lechuck Theme, Part 1 1:47:00 Total Length 52:37:00 19.Jojo the Monkey (Bonus Track) * 1:25:00 Total Length 49:09:00 Let's go though some of the track choices. On Disc 1: 05. Woodtick Suite I know this will be a major point of contention. I still maintain this section of the soundtrack and all its components work much better in a suite form. I think the official soundtrack did a fairly good job in encapsulating all the sections and transitions in a musically satisfying way. We could end using another custom made of this section, but I maintain the suite format is much better suited for it than separate tracks 06. Scabb Island Overview One of things that bothered most about the official soundtrack track list was having some of the map cues merged with other tracks. Since these are so important in establishing a mood and sense of place, I though it would be best to have all three of them as their own track (see also 13. Phatt Island Overview). In the official soundtrack, only the Booty Island Map cue was presented on this own. 07. The Cemetery This track from the official soundtrack combines three different tracks set in the cemetery at Scabb Island, the last one being the one for the scene with the resurrected Rapp Scallion. And although this track should chronologically be much later in the track list, I maintain this is its ideal placement musically. 09. Poking Largo/Lechuck's Return and 10. Captain Dread and the Jolly Rasta Again, these tracks are a combination of separate cues, but it's another example where the official soundtrack offered an ideal presentation for them, IMHO. 17.Rum Rogers Jr. and the Secret Chamber This track is a combination of two cues that go so well together that they sound like one longer cue. 18.Lechuck Theme, Part 1 Although this cue is mostly reprised in the second half of 09. Wally Is Kidnapped/Lechuck Theme, Part 2, on Disc 2, I think the first Disc 1 needed more material from the Lechuck cutscenes, so this seemed a good place for it, right at the end of the presentation, but just before 19.Jojo the Monkey (Bonus Track), which works best as a bonus track at the end of disc, as it doesn't serve much narrative purpose Concerning the track choices for Disc 2: 02. The Guard Kiosk and the Cook As presented on the official soundtrack, I agree the Cook cue works much better as a coda for the first cue of this track, rather that presented on its own 03. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry The full cue has a few really cool clarinet solos and variations that are not present on the official soundtrack cue, so I thought it would be best the present the full track on its own, separate from 04.The Booty Boutique, although a gapless playback between the two tracks might be advisable. 06.Captain Kate This is the trickiest track to get right, IMHO. I love the presentation of the different cues for this sequence on the official soundtrack, except for its merging with the Stan's Coffins cue. So using just the first half of the official track might be an option. However, when listening to the track On Captain Kate's Ship from @BillyCheers track list, I absolutely adored those 30 seconds or so of the theme presented without the flute and steel drums, so I think ideally they should be joined with the first half of the official soundtrack cue, removing the duplicate beginning. This has to be done with an audio editing software and I will give it a try. 09. Wally Is Kidnapped/Lechuck Theme, Part 2 This is the exact same track as in the official soundtrack, I just added an extra cue title for the second half to make sense of the track title of 18.Lechuck Theme, Part 1 on Disc 1 10. Room of Ugly Bone Things There are some really cool variations and sections that are absent in the official soundtrack, so I'm using the extended track here 12. LeChuck's Torture Chamber I like how this track uses the cue for the Escape from Lechuck's dungeon in its second half, so I've kept from the official soundtrack 16. The Underground Tunnels Another one that might be controversial. Since this track can change depending where you're surprised by Lechuck in the underground tunnels sequence, there's not one true version for this track. Musical presentation became my priority, so I ended up keeping the official soundtrack track, which I feel encapsulates in a very musically coherent wat what these collection of cues are all about. 17. Big Whoop and Finale Just works much better as a single track, an true end credits suite, instead of a collection of shorter cues. This is mostly it. Would love to read some thoughts on what the ideal presentation for this music is in a cd release.

The soundtrack is actually what interests me the most in this release

@BillyCheers, I apologize for taking so long in getting back to you concerning the track list for Monkey Island 2: Lechuck's Revenge. This is a particularly tricky one, for several reasons. For starters, there are several versions of this soundtrack available, with variable number of tracks, lengths, sequences and sound card used. Also, the game is, excluding the first and last act, non linear in the order you can visit and explore the islands, which doesn't really make obvious what the track order should be. When trying to tackle the ideal tracklist, I did end up using as a guideline the only somewhat "official Monkey Island soundtrack" ever released, and that is the score for Special Edition of Monkey Island 2. I must admit the soundtrack for the Special Edition is easily my favorite performance and presentation of this music. Not only I'm really fond of how the music was transposed to "live instruments", but I also think the official soundtrack presents a fantastic listening experience, combining some tracks in a wonderful manner and fully preserving the narrative arc of the music. You can listen to it here: So bearing this mind, I figured this official soundtrack presentation was the best blueprint for the ideal musical presentation of the Monkey Island 2 soundtrack in one of its original iterations. Once again, I used Stan's Previously Owned Soundtracks as the main music resource for this: But I changed the order of the tracks around in order to more closely follow the track sequence of the Special Edition soundtrack release which, as I've stated, I find to be pretty much ideal in terms of listening experience and narrative arc of the music. So this is the updated tracklist for the original soundtrack, with track times (which I still need to double check): 01. Opening Themes & Introduction 04:02 02. Largo LaGrande 01:48 03. Chapter Screen 0:12:00 04. Scabb Island Overview 2:00:00 05. Woodtick 4:04:00 06. The Cemetery 1:44:00 07. The Crypt / Rapp Scallion 2:23:00 08. The Swamp 3:28:00 09. Stabbing Largo & LeChuck Returns 3:31:00 10. Captain Dread 2:00:00 11. Captain Dread and the Map 2:27:00 12. Phatt Island 3:23:00 13. Phatt Island Jail 1:37:00 14. Phatt Island Map 2:43:00 15. Outside Phatt Mansion 1:35:00 16. Phatt Mansion Guard 2:30:00 17. Governor Phatt’s Room 2:15:00 18. Phatt Island Wheel of Fortune 3:33:00 19. “If This is Three…” 2:18:00 20. Phatt Island Alley Dealer 2:19:00 21. Phatt Island Waterfall 2:32:00 22. Secret Waterfall Tunnel 1:22:00 23. Rum Roger’s Cottage Exteriors 1:25:00 24. The Drinking Contest 2:23:00 25. Jojo the Monkey 1:28:00 26. Captain Kate’s Boat / Booty Island 4:59:00 27. Governor Marley’s Guard House 2:45:00 28. The Cook 2:45:00 29. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry 2:23:00 30. The Booty Boutique 2:28:00 31. The Spitting Contest 2:45:00 32. Stan’s Previously Used Coffins 2:05:00 33. Stealing Elaine’s Map 1:38:00 34. Elaine & Guybrush 02:16 35. “Wow, What a Dream” & The Bone Song 03:28 36. Woodtick Revisited 2:47:00 37. Rooms of Ugly Bone Things 2:23:00 38. LeChuck’s Lament 1:53:00 39. The Escape From LeChuck’s Fortress 3:58:00 40. The Voodoo Dolly 3:38:00 41. The Underground Tunnels 9:48:00 42. Closing Themes 3:03:00 Total Time 114:04:00 Now, if we need to divide this in two cd's, the change between the Phatt Island and Booty Island sections of the game seems like the perfect dividing line, with Jojo the Monkey as a sort of Bonus track at the end of disc 1. And the total length of both cds are quite evenly balanced: Disc 1 Disc 2 01. Opening Themes & Introduction 04:02 01. Captain Kate’s Boat / Booty Island 4:59:00 02. Largo LaGrande 01:48 02. Governor Marley’s Guard House 2:45:00 03. Chapter Screen 0:12:00 03. The Cook 2:45:00 04. Scabb Island Overview 2:00:00 04. Governor Marley’s Mardi Gras Fish Fry 2:23:00 05. Woodtick 4:04:00 05. The Booty Boutique 2:28:00 06. The Cemetery 1:44:00 06. The Spitting Contest 2:45:00 07. The Crypt / Rapp Scallion 2:23:00 07. Stan’s Previously Used Coffins 2:05:00 08. The Swamp 3:28:00 08. Stealing Elaine’s Map 1:38:00 09. Stabbing Largo & LeChuck Returns 3:31:00 09. Elaine & Guybrush 02:16 10. Captain Dread 2:00:00 10. “Wow, What a Dream” & The Bone Song 03:28 11. Captain Dread and the Map 2:27:00 11. Woodtick Revisited 2:47:00 12. Phatt Island 3:23:00 12. Rooms of Ugly Bone Things 2:23:00 13. Phatt Island Jail 1:37:00 13. LeChuck’s Lament 1:53:00 14. Phatt Island Map 2:43:00 14. The Escape From LeChuck’s Fortress 3:58:00 15. Outside Phatt Mansion 1:35:00 15. The Voodoo Dolly 3:38:00 16. Phatt Mansion Guard 2:30:00 16. The Underground Tunnels 9:48:00 17. Governor Phatt’s Room 2:15:00 17. Closing Themes 3:03:00 18. Phatt Island Wheel of Fortune 3:33:00 Total Time 55:02:00 19. “If This is Three…” 2:18:00 20. Phatt Island Alley Dealer 2:19:00 21. Phatt Island Waterfall 2:32:00 22. Secret Waterfall Tunnel 1:22:00 23. Rum Roger’s Cottage Exteriors 1:25:00 24. The Drinking Contest 2:23:00 25. Jojo the Monkey 1:28:00 Total Time 59:02:00 Also leaves us some wiggle room if case we want to introduce some sort of bonus track at the end of Disc 2. I wasn't particularly sure about the placement of the Rapp Scallion track. Chronologically, it should be on Disc 2 (and this change would both discs pretty much the same length), but musically I think it flows much better when sequenced right next to cemetery track on Disc 1, as they did on the Special Edition presentation. Using the same logic to the Special Edition Soundtrack would also gives us the following track list, divided into two cd's: Disc 1 Disc 2 01. Hey! (You Guys Get Out of Here!) 0:20:00 01. Booty Island Overview 2:04:00 02. It All Started on Scabb Island... 04:11 02. The Guard Kiosk and the Cook 2:40:00 03. The Largo Embargo 3:19:00 03. Governor Marley's Mardi Gras Fish Fry 2:47:00 04. Woodtick Suite 4:01:00 04. Captain Kate / Stan's Previously Used Coffins 3:54:00 05. The Cemetary 3:13:00 05. Stealing Elaine's Map / The Tiff 3:08:00 06. The International House of Mojo 2:20:00 06. Dem Bones and the Dream 3:29:00 07. Poking Largo / LeChuck's Return 03:54 07. Wally Is Kidnapped 2:07:00 08. Captain Dread and the Jolly Rasta 3:18:00 08. Room of Ugly Bone Things 3:48:00 09. Phatt Island Arrival 2:56:00 09. LeChuck's Torture Chamber 3:01:00 10. Call Me The Bone Master 3:45:00 10. Dinky Island 4:09:00 11. Governor Phatt's Mansion 4:50:00 11. The Voodoo Dolly 2:58:00 12. The Gambler's Club 3:59:00 12. The Underground Tunnels 5:52:00 13. Beyond The Waterfall 3:19:00 13. Big Whoop and Finale 5:33:00 14. Rum Rogers Jr. and the Secret Chamber 2:45:00 Total 45:30:00 15. Jojo the Monkey (Bonus Track) 1:25:00 Total 47:35:00 I know this was a long post, and I would love to get other people's opinion on the ideal tracklist and sequence for both versions of this fantastic soundtrack. I hope this helps

If there's one good thing to be had from all the barrage of nasty stuff we all witnessed in the last few days, is how a great part of the community banded together in defense of a creator's right to fulfill his own creative vision. In a way, all this negative stuff might've ended creating even more goodwill for the game.

The sad reality is that in this day and age is much preferable for a creator to work on new properties than tackle an IP with decades of fandom piled up. I doubt Ron Gilbert will ever tackle Monkey Island ever again. And I don't blame him

I was on board with the art style from the very first announcement and as much as I loved the trailer, I must say what truly convinced me how well the art style works with the gameplay was the interaction you can have with Stan on the official website. It feels like a proper Monkey Island game though and through

I've written about this before, but I often think how Monkey Island has just the right level of brand awareness and fandom popularity. Popular enough to keep it relevant after 32 years, but not too popular that it needs to please a huge and varied audience and must therefore lose a lot of character, quirkiness and risk taking in the process, like what has happened to Star Wars. So it's not the sort of property that has many casual fans. Those who love it, reallly love it. And I used to think this shielded Monkey island somehow from the usual internet vitriol. But reading some of the comments about the art style, the tone and meanness in which they are written, just saddens me to no end. I really thought this was a fandom immune to this sort of discourse. Some people can let go of their childhood toys. No matter what. And it tends to permeate everything

Two weeks ago, I found the 2008 Subterranean Press edition, for around 10 pounds. I was ecstatic:

Rhea Seehorn from Better Call Saul. And while you're at it, get Bob Odenkirk for a life action Stan

@BillyCheers, let me just say that it looks absolutely gorgeous. Truly. I have been travelling in the last few days, once I'm back home and at the computer, I will make a suggestion for the track list. Would love to have everyone's input of what the ideal track list would be like. Thank you for doing this

Replying to my own post, I seem to have found it: They look absolutely gorgeous and very much coherent with the three MI2 maps that came with the Limited Run MI Anthology

Please tell me there's a way to get this map and there's a map of Melee Island done in the same style

My mistake...delete

I'm not convinced about that Lechuck's theme similarity. The chord progression is the same at first, but then the melody veers into a different direction. Strikes me as purely coincidental

Some of the sections of Booty and Phatt Island kinda felt out of place, never felt quite piratey and took me a bit out of the setting. It's like they belong to a different game and ambiance, at times. Scabb absolutely rules, though

This thread has been great in finding out who runs the Stan's Previously Owned Soundtracks and the author of the Cursed version of the Secret of Monkey Island soundtrack. It's It's some of the very best content the MI fandom has produced

These look absolutely amazing. I love the approach you're taking. By all means, if you keep this up, I will solely use your artwork in making my custom cd editions of the soundtracks.

I absolutely love your covers, Since you mentioned your abandonment of the cd format, I don't expect you will be doing back covers with track lists and whatnot, will you? The covers really do look very nice

it's my favorite version of the Secret of Monkey Island soundtrack, that as highly as I think of it. Would love you would take a similar approach to MI2's soundtrack, although I know, of course, it would be a much more massive undertaking

I love that you made a cover for The "Cursed" version of the Secret of Monkey Island soundtrack, I've always felt that was worthy of its own release. What's the best source for the high quality music files? I'd like to make cd's of all the soundtracks. Stan's Previously Owned Soundtracks?

I think this is the coolest version of Lechuck's theme I have ever heard, and that's saying something

I also Stan is always up to date. For example, when watching Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, the character of Saul Goodman just reminds so much of Stan. I would even have Bod Odenkirk play him

Truth be told, when watching Earl Boen's other performances, it isn't that obvious he had his Lechuck in him, so I'm confident they'll find someone perfect from some unexpected corner

Tony Jay could've been terrific, if he was still alive. He gave one of the all time great Disney performances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame: https://youtu.be/UZqlwebG7tI

I love the art style as it is, but I'm sure it will look even better with all the little animations that will make it feel even more lively, loem you can glimpse in the trailer, like the fish bones when Murray is thrown on the water