BREAKING NEWS: Wing Commander II & Academy Albums Released
A few weeks ago, we reported the welcome surprise that The Fatman had released the "Just the FAT" edition of the Wing Commander II soundtrack… and we mentioned that a complete release was on the way from Xeen Music! And now, that release is here!
These are, in a word, incredible. Andrew Harrington of Xeen Music has spent months researching and restoring the music of Wing Commander II and Academy and has produced an incredible collection with everything you know… and whole a lot you don't! He has reached out to the original composers, tracked down cut music and music that was simplified to save disk space… and he's collected it all alongside comprehensive notes about what you're listening to. And it's all properly licensed through Electronic Arts, this is an official release. This is surely the isometal standard for video game music releases!
As you can see at the links above, the albums are now available across a variety of platforms that include both music stores and streaming services! If you're a Spotify, Amazon Music or Apple Music user you can start listening to Wing Commander II music right now. Streaming services have a 60-track Wing Commander II album and a 29-track Wing Commander Academy one. A more comprehensive 102-track version is available for sale through storefronts like Bandcamp. Finally, it looks like the version available via Patreon is the superior release, with several bonus tracks not included with the others.
Here's the complete description of the Patreon release:
Wing Commander II + Academy Original Soundtrack (Roland MT-32/CM-32L)
Available in FLAC or MP3.
Includes commentary written by Andrew Harrington and George Sanger (with exclusive design notes by Martin Galway), and cover artwork.
TOTAL PLAYTIME: 3:27:09
TOTAL TRACKS: 107
This soundtrack has been recorded directly from an authentic Roland MT-32. Due to the hardware limitations of the MT-32 causing polyphony problems, if necessary, each channel has been recorded independently and then merged into a single track. Therefore, no notation data is lost through polyphony limitations and the tracks may be heard at their fullest.
Track titles are based on the original files and design documents, except where the original filenames remain unknown. In these cases, the track names in {brackets} have been created by myself based on how the music is used in the final version of the game, and should not be considered official at this time.
Unfortunately, most of the original MIDI files for Dana Glover's, and all of those of Nenad Vugrinec's, John Tipton's and Kirk Winterrowd's compositions cannot currently be located. The final game versions have been used in these cases.
Due to memory concerns, a majority of the themes were cut down in size (sometimes drastically) in the final version of Wing Commander II. Because not all of the original versions can be located, based on an internal design document, the following known full-length versions remain lost:
* The Flight Deck
* Jazz's Escape
The following compositions (composed after the design document was written), MAY have original full-length versions that are still lost:
* {Jazz's Drammatic Music}
* Defeat End-Game
* Victory End-Game
* {New Plans}
* {Vision}
* End-Game Medley
Regarding "normal" vs. "sysex" versions -- The recordings on the official Origin CD use the default MT-32 "orchestra hit" and "harp" while the game uses a custom-edited tone with less reverb (which definitely sounds inferior). Since the default versions sound superior and were used in the official CD, I have decided it best to include both variations and let the listener decide which he prefers.
The exclusive John Tipton versions are the original versions before they reached the final game, demonstrating how the music was intended to be heard.
The archival soundtrack series contains all known music from said title, including 1 second jingles, unused music, beta versions, and more.
Soundtrack and any bonus materials may not be re-distributed elsewhere without the express permission of Xeen Music.
$4.58 (after Bandcamp fees) of each sale automatically goes to Electronic Arts for music licensing, and the rest is divided between Xeen Music and George Sanger.
Published by Xeen Music (2025-01-09)
Produced by Andrew Harrington
* Wing Commander I music composed by George A. Sanger, David Govett and Herman Miller, ©1990 George A. Sanger.
* Wing Commander II music composed by George A. Sanger, Dana Glover, Martin Galway, Nenad Vugrinec, ©1991 Electronic Arts
* Wing Commander Academy music composed by Kirk Winterrowd and John Tipton, ©1993 Electronic Arts
* Authentic Roland MT-32 recordings and editing by Andrew Harrington, ©2025 Andrew Harrington.
* John Tipton recordings, ©1993 John Tipton.
Licensed by Electronic Arts, Inc. or George A. Sanger.
TRACKLIST:
Soundtrax Logo (Origin FX Intro)
Wing Commander II Main Theme - Cloak & Dagger - version 4 ^
Wing Commander II Main Theme - Cloak & Dagger - version 5-game edit
Deepspace Conversation - version 3 ^
Deepspace Conversation - version 4-game edit
Selected Mid-Games #1 [was "Mission Failure"]
Tolwyn's Office - original version ^
Tolwyn's Office - game edit
{The Kilrathi Theme} - normal Orchestra Hit
{The Kilrathi Theme} - sysex Orchestra Hit
The Bridge - original version ^
The Bridge - game edit
Scramble Through Launch - Wing Commander II version
Flying to Dogfight - Wing Commander II version
Dogfight: Regular Combat - Wing Commander II version
Dogfight: Tailing an Enemy
Dogfight: Being Tailed
Dogfight: Intense Combat - This One Really Counts!
Dogfight: Your Wingman's Been Hit
Dogfight: Ally Killed
Dogfight: Missile Tracking You
Dogfight: You're Severely Damaged - Floundering
Dogfight: Target Hit
Dogfight: Enemy Ace Killed
Dogfight: Overall Defeat
Dogfight: Overall Victory
Returning Defeated
Returning Normal
Returning Triumphant
Landing
Medium Damage Assessment
Debriefing-Unsuccessful - Wing Commander II version ^
Debriefing-Successful ^
The Flight Deck - game edit - normal Orchestra Hit
The Flight Deck - game edit - sysex Orchestra Hit
Jazz's Theme ^
Jazz's Music #1 'Auld Lang Syne'
Love Theme - Angel Devereaux - version 3
Grim Defense or Escort Mission - Wing Commander II version
Kilrathi Ace Dogfight - version 2 ^
Kilrathi Ace Dogfight - version 3-game edit
Eject-Imminent Rescue
Hero's Funeral
Dogs Playing Poker (with percussion) ^
Dogs Playing Poker (no percussion) ^
Poker - Slow Space Blues - version 3 ^
Poker - Slow Space Blues - version 4-game edit
{Jazz's Drammatic Music}
Commander's Office Visit
Strike Mission - Go Get 'Em!
Jumpspace - version 1
Torpedo Run - version 2 ^
Torpedo Run - version 3-game edit
Off-Duty - original version ^
Off-Duty - game edit
Goal Line - Defending the Claw
Defeat End-Game - normal Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
Defeat End-Game - sysex Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
Jazz's Escape - game edit - normal Orchestra Hit
Jazz's Escape - game edit - sysex Orchestra Hit
Jazz's Dogfight - original (Battle-Normal from Martian Dreams) ^
Jazz's Dogfight - version 2 ^
Jazz's Dogfight - version 3-game edit
Jazz's Music #2 "Storm Clouds"
Jazz's Music #3 "As Time Goes By"
Prince Thrakhath's Dogfight - version 3 ^
Prince Thrakhath's Dogfight - version 4-game edit
Victory End-Game - normal Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
Victory End-Game - sysex Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
{New Plans} - normal Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
{New Plans} - sysex Orchestra Hit (maybe game edit)
Prince Thrakhath's Theme - version 1 ^
Prince Thrakhath's Theme - version 2-game edit
Prince Thrakhath's Theme - faster version ^ {Vision} (maybe game edit)
Selected Mid-Games #2 - normal Orchestra Hit
Selected Mid-Games #2 - sysex Orchestra Hit
End-Game Medley - normal Orchestra Hit & Harp
End-Game Medley - sysex Orchestra Hit & Harp
{Academy Introduction} - normal Orchestra Hit
{Academy Introduction} - sysex Orchestra Hit
Academy Credits - Tipton version ^
Academy Credits - game version - normal Orchestra Hit
Academy Credits - game version - sysex Orchestra Hit
Simulation Room - Tipton version ^
Simulation Room - game version - normal Orchestra Hit
Simulation Room - game version - sysex Orchestra Hit
{Mission Builder}
Wave Go! - Tipton version ^
Wave Go! - game version - normal Orchestra Hit
Wave Go! - game version - sysex Orchestra Hit
Wave Transition - Tipton version ^
Wave Transition - game version - normal Orchestra Hit
Wave Transition - game version - sysex Orchestra Hit
Simulated Death - Tipton version ^
Simulated Death - game version
{Gauntlet Defeat} {unknown unused cue}
{Gauntlet Victory} - normal Orchestra Hit
{Gauntlet Victory} - sysex Orchestra Hit
Wing Commander II Main Theme to Debriefing-Unsuccessful Transition
Wing Commander II Main Theme with Transition to Debriefing-Unsuccessful
Wing Commander II Main Theme with Transition to Debriefing-Unsuccessful ~ Debriefing-Unsuccessful
BONUS TRACKS
Jazz's Music #1 - normal Piano
Jazz's Music #2 - normal Piano
Jazz's Music #3 - normal Piano
{Jazz's Drammatic Music} - normal Piano
^ = unused track
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