Review: A Musical History of Disneyland
Page 4 of 6

Disc 3

Track 1 - Battle Cry of Freedom (Blockade House)
When I turn on this track I immediately feel transported to the entrance of Frontierland.  The simple arrangement gives a homey feel to the music, almost making it sound like someone playing around a campfire.

Track 2 - A Cowboy Needs a Horse (Big Thunder Mountain)
This harmonica rendition plays in the queue of Big Thunder Mountain.  The song is a Disney classic, as it was featured in an animated short that played in many Disney television specials over the years.  Again, while previously available through Disneyland Forever this is an improved recording.

Track 3 - Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland and Rainbow Caverns
Dallas Mckennon's identifiable narration is a lot of fun to listen to.  As I never had the opportunity to ride the attraction, it's wonderful to be able to have the experience an audio ride-thru.  I especially love the haunting and mysterious Rainbow Caverns music.

Track 4 - All Aboard the Mine Train (Big Thunder  Mountain)
This tune came from a television special which used this song for a montage of the Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland.  This track will be familiar to recent official album buyers.  The track ends with some train sound effects from Big Thunder Mountain.

Track 5 - Golden Horseshoe Review
Taken from the Golden Horseshoe Review LP, this is a great overview of the original stage show.  Featuring Betty Taylor, Wally Boag and Donald Novis the track is over 30 minutes of fun.  It's understandable that since there is only one live stage show featured on the compilation that this show would be the one chosen.

Track 6 - Sailing Ship Columbia
Show narration of the Sailing Ship Columbia.  In another nice touch, atmospheric sound effects fill in the track giving it a rich feel.

Track 7 - When You Wish Upon a Star (Sleeping Beauty  Castle)
This version of When You Wish Upon a star that plays in the castle is taken directly from the Pinocchio soundtrack.

Track 8 - Once Upon a Dream (Fantasyland Band Organ)
The sound on the track was so good, I didn't even recognize the organ at first.  It's nice to have another recording from the carousel organ as Disneyland Forever offered another track "Mickey and Friends" (although not nearly at the sound quality of this one).

Track 9 - Fantasyland Dark Ride Suite (Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland)
Both the most anticipated (for me, anyway) and disappointing track on the entire collection.  The sad thing for me is that it comes so close to being absolutely perfect that the fact it misses by a couple of inches is frustrating.  The suite starts with Pinocchio's Daring Journey.  Instead of using the Hi-Diddle-Dee sung by Pinocchio at the beginning, a version of Little Wooden Head is used.  I'm not sure where this music is from, but I don't remember ever hearing it before.  After Little Wooden Head you skip to the Pleasure Island segment which starts out great.  Then for some reason very loud vocals are added onto the organ variation of Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee.  Again, I don't remember them in the attraction and if they are they are not at that level.  Then the suite gets back on track as it plays some of the dramatic music leading up to Monstro's attack.  I love the arrangement of When You Wish Upon a Star in the attraction, so I'm overjoyed to get this crystal clear recording of it.  Sadly, the Blue Fairy sound effect is noticeably absent as the Pinocchio segment ends with the Turn on the Old Music box instrumental.  The suite then fades into Peter Pan's Flight, which in my opinion is about perfect.  Hearing the music from this attraction in high-quality sound is almost jarring, but it's a great experience.  Then we move to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride which has been very underrepresented in my opinion.  While it does feature a complete refrain of the Nowhere in Particular song, almost no sound effects are used and the entire Hell version of the song isn't used.  C'mon, Mr. Toad without the little devil laughs? The suite ends with Alice in Wonderland which starts out brilliantly showcasing the beautiful music played in the attraction.  However it ends without the Unbirthday Song payoff.  Strange choice, but thankfully the distinctive cake exploding sound effect was put in.

Most of my complaints with the suite are relatively minor, but after waiting my entire life for a comprehensive arrangement of Fantasyland dark rides it leaves me wanting more.  In the end though, I'm hugely grateful for all the tracks I do have.

Track 10 - Matterhorn Yodelers (Matterhorn Bobsleds)
I love this track! Love it, love it, love it!  Perfect song choice, great blend of sound effects including wind-howling, the monster yells and even the recognizable air compression sound of the brakes being released (I told you I was a geek!).  How can you hate a track that ends with the classic safety spiel (cinnamon toast and tacos por favor) from the "talking" rock?