Like many Disneyana fans, you are wishing that you could be in Anaheim earlier this month to attend the official kick-off of Disneyland’s “Happiest Homecoming On Earth” celebration, weren’t you?
Well, what if I were to tell you that there is a way right now that you can enjoy a sample of those events from the privacy of your own compact disc player? Well, trust me, you can!
One hot and extremely popular item since the start of this month has been the Disneyland 50th Anniversary Musical History Boxed Set. This six-disc set has plenty of goodies to interest the dedicated theme park fan, including a gold vinyl album of “Walt Disney Takes You To Disneyland: A Musical Tour of the Magic Kingdom” – the first ever album release by Walt Disney Records. At a price of $135, though, it may be a bit intimidating to the wallet of most of us. And as popular as this item has become, you may have trouble finding one. There are a number of them up for bids on eBay if you really have to have it now, however. (And as neat as the gold vinyl may be, that album has been available on compact disc at Disneyland’s 20th Century Music Company on Main Street since last year.)
Not to worry, however… There is also another edition of just the six discs expected later this summer at a much lower price.
One of the more popular compact discs with Park guests over the last few years have been the various editions of “The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort.” There was even a complimentary pair of great discs for both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure — with a great mix of vintage and current audio tracks on the Disneyland disc.
And in 2005, the team led by Randy Thornton (as the Compilation Executive Producer) has done it once again. This two-disc set (priced at only $24.95) covers some of the best of our old favorites. But, as they say on television, “Wait! There’s more…” It also includes the entire seventeen plus minutes soundtrack for the “Remember: Dreams Come True” fireworks spectacular (that makes extensive use of soundtracks from many favorite Disneyland attractions – including the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad at the Main Street Station) and the theme song for the 50th, “Remember When,” performed by LeAnn Rimes.
Among the other goodies, it includes the “Swisskapolka” from the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (I know, now you’ll be hearing that melody all day…), both “The Bear Band Serenade” from the “Country Bear Jamboree” and “The Great Outdoors” from the “Country Bear Vacation Hoedown,” and one of my favorite Jerry Goldsmith compositions, “Soarin” from “Soarin’ Over California”. But while many of these tracks have been released before, there is a reason to add this disc to your collection!
Would a sneak peek at the updated “Space Mountain” interest you? Track #10 on Disc Two is “Space Mountain (Daytime Track)”. As much as I love the *** Dale soundtrack, (Yes, it is here as well on Track #8) this new version reminds me of some of my favorite science fiction soundtracks. And I can’t wait to enjoy it while riding the attraction later this summer.
Here is the full track listing for both discs:
Disc 1
Disneyland – Main Street U.S.A.
1. Walt Disney’s Dedication of Disneyland (:42) July 17th, 1955
2. All Aboard (:30) Main Street Station
3. Meet Me Down On Main Street (The Mellowmen) (1:45)
4. Alexander’s Ragtime Band (Rod Miller) (2:37)Adventureland
5. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room (3:28) The Enchanted Tiki Room
6. Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (3:27)
7. Swisskapolka (1:54) Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse
8. Tarzan Medley (2:40) Tarzan’s TreehouseNew Orleans Square
9. Swanee River (1:25) New Orleans Square
(The Royal Street Bachelors uncredited)
10. Yo Ho (A Pirates Life For Me) (5:45) Pirates of the Caribbean
11. Grim Grinning Ghosts (5:33) The Haunted MansionCritter Country
12. Bear Band Serenade (1:45) Country Bear Jamboree
13. Splash Mountain Medley (8:07)
14. The Great Outdoors (2:10) Country Bear Vacation Hoedown
15. The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh (4:56)Frontierland
16. All Aboard The Mine Train (1:46) Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland
17. Rainbow Caverns (2:36) Mine Train Through Nature’s WonderlandFantasyland
18. Once Upon A Dream (2:19) King Arthur’s Carousel
19. Fantasyland Dark Ride Suite (17:55) Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, Alice in Wonderland
20. It’s A Small World (5:05)Total Playing Time 1:16:25
Disc 2
Disneyland – Mickey’s Toontown
1. Steamboat Willie (2:09) Downtown Toontown
2. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (2:27)Tomorrowland
3. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Medley (2:24) 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea Exhibit
4. The Monorail Song (1:44) Disneyland Monorail
5. Miracles From Molecules (1:37) Adventure Through Inner-Space
6. Star Tours (4:07) Star Tours
7. There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (7:02) Carousel of Progress
8. Space Mountain (2:44)
9. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (6:05)
10. Space Mountain (Daytime Track) (1:28)11. Remember When (LeAnn Rimes) (3:36) Disneyland 50th Anniversary Theme Song
Disney’s California Adventure – The Golden State
12. Soarin’ (4:43) Soarin’ Over California
13. It’s Tough To Be A Bug (:48)
14. Seasons of the Vine (Medley) (4:32)
15. The Bakery Theme (3:28) The Boudin BakeryParadise Pier
16. California Screamin’ (2:35)Hollywood Pictures Backlot
17. Playhouse Disney (:41)
18. The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror Theme (1:43)
Disneyland Resort
19. Remember Dreams Come True (17:15) Disneyland 50th Anniversary Fireworks SpectacularTotal Playing Time 1:10:52
And this set also shows a bit of “Enviromentality” with its packaging. Gone is the traditional jewel case and in it’s place, a paper and plastic combination tri-fold package.
If you just can’t wait to add one to your CD rack, your best bet to get one is to call Disneyland’s “DelivEars” at (800) 362-4533. For a nominal shipping charge in addition to the $24.95 price, you can be enjoying these tunes at home in no time at all!
For more information, please check the link to DisneyRecords.com/50th. You’ll find details on the big six-disc set as well as several other releases related to this year’s 50th anniversary events.