Album Title: The Happiest Millionaire
Album Type: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
What’s Good About It: Just the fact that Disney (albeit most likely with a lot of arm-twisting from Thornton) would even think of releasing on CD the soundtrack for this film, mostly-unknown to anyone outside of die-hard Disneyites and Tommy Steele groupies, is cause for much jubilation. Lovingly remastered (from the original 1-inch 8-track master) and beautifully packaged, such songs as “Valentine Candy”, “I’ll Always Be Irish” and “Are We Dancing” send the listener back to the glorious golden-age of movie musicals, an age that was at its sunset when this film was originally released. Bonus points for the retro cover art and for including the rare photo of Walt with his last live action cast.
What’s Not So Good About It: Missing in action: Steele’s alligator dancing reprise of “Fortuosity” and Greer Garson’s original “It Won’t Be Long ’til Christmas”. Also: increases tenfold the hopes of Disney music geeks (like me) for such future CD releases of other long-lost Sherman Brothers’ scores as The Parent Trap, Summer Magic and The One and Only, Genuine Original Family Band.
Toon Talk Rating: A
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Album Title: Lilo and Stitch
Album Type: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
What’s Good About It: In addition to the two original songs (“Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” - my pick for the Best Song Oscar - and “He Mele No Lilo”, written by Alan Silvestri and Mark Keali’l Ho’omalu and performed by Ho’omalu and the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus), listeners are treated to five original Elvis tunes sung by the King himself, plus cute sound bites from Lilo and Stitch themselves (Daveigh Chase and Chris Sanders), a rockin’ Wynonna cover of Elvis’ “Burning Love”, a 45-styled disc and gobs of movie photos …
What’s Not So Good About It: … but no song lyrics or English translations for the Hawaiian songs. The scant three tracks of Silvestri’s score hardly represent his contributions. And the A*Teens actually do more damage to “Can’t Help Falling In Love” then UB40 ever did.
Toon Talk Rating: B+
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Album Title: Lilo and Stitch Island Favorites
Album Type: Movie Spin-Off Album
What’s Good About It: A super-fun collection of Hawaiian hits, perfect for your next luau or roasted pig … Kudos for including the kitschy Annette Funicello fluff “Pineapple Princess”, more from the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus (the two originals from the film, plus the inspiring “We Make a Rainbow”), Tia Carerra’s lovely rendition of “Aloha ‘Oe” (not included on the original soundtrack) and a great postcard-style spread of memorable movie moments.
What’s Not So Good About It: Can’t get away from those pop tarts: Not only does Jessica Simpson offer a bland cover of “Part of Your World” on the aforementioned DisneyMania! disc, she turns in an equally blah version of Elvis’ “Love Me Tender” here.
Toon Talk Rating: B
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