Album Title: Monsters, Inc.
Album Type: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
What’s Good About It: Billy Crystal and John Goodman are a riot crooning the Oscar-winning “If I Didn’t Have You”, and Randy Newman’s upbeat, jazzy score (which was also Oscar-nominated) was a highlight of this computer-animated blockbuster …
What’s Not So Good About It: … but, like the ubiquitous end credit outtakes, is Newman becoming a Pixar tradition … or cliché?
Toon Talk Rating: B
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Album Title: Pete’s Dragon
Album Type: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
What’s Good About It: For the first time, the full soundtrack to this musical favorite is finally available on CD. Included are such gems as “It’s Not Easy”, “Brazzle Dazzle Day”, “Every Little Piece” and “There’s Room for Everyone” by songwriters Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn (who received Oscar nominations for Best Song Score and Original Song for “Candle on the Water”). Plus: complete lyrics!
What’s Not So Good About It: Missing from the original LP soundtrack (which I still have, twenty-five years later): the finale medley and Helen Reddy’s ‘studio’ recording of “Candle on the Water”, although this CD does include a reprise of that song not on the original album. Also: Shelley Winters Sings!
Toon Talk Rating: A-
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Album Title: The Rescuers Down Under
Album Type: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
What’s Good About It: One of the rarest Disney soundtracks (it was pulled from circulation soon after the film’s box office failure), Bruce Broughton’s acclaimed score can now be had without going broke on Ebay. In addition to such soaring tracks as “Main Title” and “Cody’s Flight”, three bonus songs have been added from the original The Rescuers, including CD newcomers “The Journey” and “Tomorrow Is Another Day”.
What’s Not So Good About It: What about “Rescue Aid Society”? No lyrics.
Toon Talk Rating: A-
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