CD REVIEW - THE MAGIC OF DISNEY


The Magic of Disney
Various Artists
Walt Disney Records VTDCD 969 (EU)
Disc 1 - 23 Tracks 71:34 mins
Disc 2 - 24 Tracks 71:55 mins

Released in good time for Christmas is this generous double-disc compilation, which is aimed squarely at the younger audience, largely featuring numbers from more recent Disney films, though there is a fair sprinkling of memorable songs from the studio's golden age, just to keep the older listeners, like myself, interested. Having said that, it is a shame that so many classic numbers are excluded in favour of modern fare; though some of it is worth checking out if you are unfamiliar with it, with Alan Menken and co-writers responsible for some pretty enjoyable tunes in their own right, and of course no collection of modern Disney music would be complete without Randy Newman's contributions. Surprisingly, there is also an instrumental from the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.
The colourful accompanying booklet details each selection and its performer, along with character sketches from each featured film.
Disc One is enhanced, so if you pop it in your PC you can take a peek at the forthcoming The Princess And The Frog, the soundtrack to which (by Randy Newman) I shall be reviewing in due course.
Recommended (with reservations) as a great Christmas gift for the young 'uns.