Intrada announces a fully remastered 2-CD edition of the first sequel score ever composed by John Williams: Jaws 2.
Released in cooperation with Universal Studios and Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), this release presents a ground-up restoration, remix and remastering from the first-generation multi-track scoring elements. Arriving a year after Williams' Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind fully unfettered the symphonic film score, Jaws 2 builds on the iconic shark motif from the classic original and expands into a dynamic exploration of the joys and terrors of the sea in iconic Williams style.
Intrada derived its previous release (2015) from 3-track masters provided by Universal Studios, but this time, as a result of a deep dive (we couldn't resist) ahead of last year's 50th anniversary of the original Jaws, we discovered that the 16-track scoring masters for the sequel were housed in the vaults at UMe. The record company provided new high-resolution transfers at 192k/24-bit, which were then meticulously restored, remixed and remastered by Mike Matessino and approved by the composer. This 2-CD set once again presents the complete score, plus bonus material (including some newly discovered alternates), and, on CD 2, a fully rebuilt version of the 1978 original soundtrack program. The accompanying 20-page booklet offers an updated version of Scott Bettencourt's essay from 2015 and presents a new "Tech Talk" section by Matessino.
Check out the album trailer here.
Simultaneously with Intrada's release, UMe/Geffen will be offering the original album program in Digital Dolby Atmos, mixed by Steve Genewick, as well as a "2026 Mix" digital stereo soundtrack album in high resolution. The website jaws50music.com now has a Jaws 2 tab with information about these releases. Meanwhile, Matessino's remix and remastering of the original Jaws soundtrack recording is now available on a new LP pressing from Geffen/Interscope.
