History of the Highbridge Audio Releases

“You May Think You’ve Seen The Movie, Wait Till You Hear It.”

1993 HighBridge Audio Print Ad.. Radio Series Box Designs by Mark Simonson.

Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back are 13 & 10-part Expanded Radio Dramas originally produced & broadcast by National Public Radio (NPR) as part of their NPR Playhouse Series in 1981 & 83. They were adapted by Brian Daley and directed by John Madden, and featured the original soundscore by John Williams and sound effects produced by Lucasfilm’s Ben Burtt. The radio serials were made with the full cooperation of George Lucas, who, in exchange for a dollar each, sold the rights to KUSC-FM, the public radio affiliate at his alma mater, University of Southern California(USC).

HighBridge Audio Productions

Both Radio Series were 1st commercially released Ten long years later by Highbridge Audiobooks ( Penguin / Random House ) in March of 1993. The Cassette versions were both priced at $35 for each series, despite the fact Empire contained one less tape & three fewer episodes. In this 1st Cassette releases of both SW & Empire - (HBP 23346 & 47 ) the tapes were simply inlaid into the thin cardboard box design.

Original Star Wars Cassette Box design

The MSRP for Star Wars on CD was listed at $64.95, while Empire, despite the smaller jewel case design and 2 fewer discs sold for almost as much at $59.95.

Original CD's - as manufactured by Cinram.

Both were released then again in 1996 when Highbridge was finally able to complete the Trilogy with the production & release of Return Of The Jedi ( HBP 49258 ) The Boxes were now redesigned to included Jewel cases for each cassette tape.

The Exclusive Matching $100 issue Trilogy Cassette Box-set

The 2nd ’ Collector’s “Limited Edition” was 1996’s HBP#49261 The Complete Star Wars Trilogy - The Original Radio Dramas Box-Set of which Only 7,500 of these were produced. It's also contained tri-color laser-etched Artwork on each of the CDs in a foil-stamped, collector's slipcase - and special bonus tracks that were never before available, including interviews with the cast members for Return Of The Jedi ONLY. MSRP $195!

Highbridge then Raised the Retail price on both the SW & Empire cassettes t0 $39.95 each, while selling Jedi - which only contained three cassettes was priced at $24.95 & the price of Star Wars on CD jumped to $64.95 & Empire to $59.95. Jedi Retailed for $34.95.

Highbridge produced this Cassette Sampler in order to promote the release of Return Of The Jedi, which unlike SW & Empire before it - was actually produced by the Highbridge Company, Tom Voegeli Productions & LA Theatre Works. This time the adaptation was shorter - with only Six Episodes on Three Cassettes and Compact Disc. Mark Hamil - who had originally reprised his role as Luke Skywalker in the 1st two Radio Serials - was unavailable, and was replaced Joshua Fardon. Most of the original supporting cast returned - including Anthony Daniels. However - Billy Dee William did not.

There were Two Different “Limited Edition” CD Boxsets produced.

The 1st of these Box-sets was released in 1993. HBP25697: The Complete SW & ESB Original Radio Drama Collector’s Limited Edition - which contained Three-Color Laser-etched Artwork on each Disc, 33 Bonus Tracks including Promotional material, Director’s Cuts of Two Episodes & “The Making of Star Wars for Radio”. This version was Limited to a mere 5000 Copies. MSRP $130

NOTE: Three -years later in 1996 - Both SW & Empire were also re-released together in a separate Box-Set, this time simply as HBP# 39086.The Complete SW & ESB Original Radio Dramas. MSRP$ 99

This set basically just combined the two-separate CD sets into one box as it lacked Both the special CD Artwork & bonus tracks. This set is often and easily mislabeled and identified as / with HBP25697: The “Limited Edition” Box-set.

 HBP# 39086. The Complete SW & ESB Original Radio Dramas

A Message for Brian:

Contained BONUS tracks for ROTJ ONLY -

The 2nd ’ Collector’s “Limited Edition” was 1996’s HBP#49261 The Complete Star Wars Trilogy - The Original Radio Dramas Box-Set -(as seen in our Profile Pic ) of which Only 7,500 of these were produced. It's also contained tri-color laser-etched Artwork on each of the CDs in a foil-stamped, collector's slipcase - and special bonus tracks that were never before available, including interviews with the cast members for Return Of The Jedi ONLY. MSRP $195!

Disc 7 from BOTH Limited Edition Sets

The Complete Trilogy was also released ( like SW & EMPIRE before it ) - this time again without all the Bonus Tracks - again simply as HBP# 39086. Unlike the previous issues, this time each CD was issued its own J-Card. This release was less expensive than the “Limited Edition”, with a List Price of a mere $130

Seven Years later in 2003, The Complete Trilogy was repackaged. Each title - which was also sold separately - was now issued inside of a simple paper slipcase instead of its own box. This way - each title could now be combined into a single larger Box. These Discs were manufactured by SonoPress USA. Also of note - the new round Highbridge Logo made its debut with this pressing. MSRP$135.

HBP# 49260 Each title was given it's own paper Slipcover. Note: The words "Twenty-Nine", "Fifteen", "Thirteen", "Ten", "Seven". "Five", "Six" & "Three" were replaced w / the Numbers
 29, 15, 13, 10, 7, 5, 6 & 3 on the covers.

Also - the Program booklet was reduced in size and now served double duty - as it was now also included with the cassette release, as that box was also reduced in size. However - pricing still remained the same as was seen with the previous reissue. This would also be the last time the cassette version would be produced.

In 2007 Highbridge ( now owned by Workman Publishing ) would again re-release The Complete Trilogy, which was both sold together and as individual sets. Additionally - the CD’s were now repackaged - this time forgoing the bulk of jewel cases - replacing them with simple black paper sleeves. This cut the cost in half as now the Star Wars 7 CD set ( HBP #791005 ) retailed for a mere $36.95, while Empire now sold for $34.95 - and The Complete Trilogy now listed for a mere $99.95.

2007 - NEW Paper Boxes. Furthermore - These TRILOGY CDs were now colored.

These discs were manufactured by World Media Group

2008 - PLAYAWAY’s Portable Digital Media Player Version

Back of Empire's Playaway Box

The Playaway’s Portable Digital Media Players                  

 ( FINDAWAY WORLD , LLC) were mostly released through Public School & Library Book Distributor’s as they  weren’t Intended for Retail sale. While the cost of the CD’s had come down - these all-in-one self contained versions weren’t quite as inexpensive.

While Return of the Jedi (PDA#2584) could be had for as little as $55, Empire ( PDA#2586) and Star Wars (PDA#2583) cost $89 & $99 each - respectively.

The Complete Trilogy (PDA#2585) was therefore the best value at $148.95 - even though the standard issued earbuds left a little to be desired.

2010 Playaway's New SW, TESB, ROTJ & TCSWT HD Audio players 

Topps Radio Drama Trading card cross promotion

For its 20th Anniversary in 2013- HighBridge Audio released the Limited Special Edition, MP3 Collector's Volumes: Star Wars: A New Hope - The Original Radio Drama, "Light Side" and "Dark Side" Versions. Each volume included the Entire 13-part 6 hour-long Original Star Wars: Radio Drama, along w/ “The Making of” and all the other bonus audio tracks that were included in the 1st “Limited Edition” Complete Star Wars & Empire Box-set from 1993. Both versions also included an Exclusive Trading card from Topps, illustrated by Artist Matt Busch & Randy Martinez. The “Dark Side” was a sell-out hit, making it Highly Collectable.

Each of the Star Wars CD’s was Limited to mere 7500 copies.

HBP #792324/5 Both Signed by each Artist. These discs were auctioned for Charity.

The 2014 Recorded Books / Disney Lucasfilm “Library Edition” Re-release.

NO. 792337 - CD's in cloth Sleeves housed in a simple Library style plastic case.

This now ULTRA RARE final re-issue was produced ( aka- repackaging ) shortly after the Highbridge Company was acquired by Recorded Books in May 2014. These were manufactured to be sold to libraries as a substitute & less expensive alternative to the Playaway's Portable Digital MP3 Edition.


In August of 2015 Recorded Books was acquired by Private Wall-Street equity firm Shamrock Capital Advisors and was reorganized into what is now RB Media. When this happened - this product line - which was produced for less than a year & was the only Issue to have the “Disney / Lucasfilm” name printed on it was discontinued for undisclosed reasons. Industry insiders closest to the source have hinted at the possibility of a cease and desist order.

The entire Star Wars Series Library was now owned by Tantor Audio - an Imprint of RB Media. Their License to distribute the product expired in March of 2018, when the rights reverted back to Disney Lucasfilm.

Overseas Release

Additionally = The Entire Star Wars Trilogy were also originally released Commercially on Cassette & CD in both Europe & Down Under on Penguin's Hodder Headline Audiobooks Label. The CDs were merely an HBP re-issues, this time repackaged as HH Catalog #’s 687, 688 & 689. The cassette release, however, was an entirely new and redesigned package.

HH # 479, 480 & 481. Each contained Two Cassettes.