The Little Mermaid: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

Jodi Benson, Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Disney, The Little Mermaid (Related Recordings), Rene Auberjonois, Pat Carroll

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 1997)
• Original Release Date: November 17, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B000001M3Z
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,533 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Before Broadway was Disneyfied and Times Square became a mall, the best Broadway musicals were being written for Disney animated features by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. Their songs for The Little Mermaid created the mold from which their even more popular work (Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin) would be cast. Almost every tune in Mermaid has its (slightly inferior) counterpart in Beauty, for example. But there's no topping the Oscar-winning calypso show-stopper, "Under the Sea"--in which a Caribbean crab convinces you that "Darlin' it's better/Down where it's wetter." Other songs, just as delightful, are even more impressive in the context of the movie. The rapturous "Kiss the Girl" accompanies a scene in which, despite the whispered urgings of creatures all around, the romantic hero does not act on the title's advice! That's the kind of abstract dramatic (OK, comedic) conceit you'd expect from Harold Pinter rather than Disney. And the gruesomely hilarious "Les Poissons" gives us a fisheye view of a kitchen where the seafood chef is a sort of French Ed Gein--a sadistic murderer who brutally tortures and chops up his victims, then eats them! Who says Disney never did black comedy? "...I stuff you with bread/It won't hurt, 'cause you're dead/And you're certainly lucky you are...." Lyricist Ashman may not have been Cole Porter, but he was the next best thing. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works with iPod, March 14, 2006

By	mimihopps - See all my reviews

To all those who might hesitate to buy this wonderful CD, of one of the greatest Disney movies ever, because of a review here on Amazon that the CD could not be downloaded to the iPod. This is NOT true. I got my CD yesterday and downloaded it directly onto my iPod without any problems. Now I can hear the gorgeous music of "The little Mermaid" wherever I want!!! Don't hesitate to buy this CD, the songs are great and a must for every fan of Disney movies and this in particular. I, also had been concerned about buying this CD, becuse this review said it would not work with the iPod. But I did buy it then and it DOES work !!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Music - Another Excellent Disney Soundtrack, February 23, 2006

By	Tony Ginnetti "Tonedog1" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Walt Disney and, in particular, the Disney Studios, have given us some of the most wonderful, timeless and memorable movies, cartoons and music for over 70 years and this is no exception.
I'm not a music critic, I'm just a person who appreciates and loves music with passion and heart. The songs, such as "Part of Your World" and "Under the Sea" are just as great as anything from the "classic era" and the score, although a shame that many people don't have enough interest to listen to it, is simply beautiful. "The Little Mermaid" is a soundtrack worth having in your cd collection and will stand the test of time, right alongside of "Snow White", "Fantasia", "Cinderella", "The Lion King", and all the other wonderful Disney masterpieces.
(Note to Arleta J. Bagchi "Siam": Leaving a review is simply giving an opinion of a particular recording/movie, etc...The fact that you're not able to download it onto a silly ipod isn't relevant to this feature!!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ASTOUNDING ORCHESTRAL SCORE REFLECTS MENKEN'S GENIUS!, November 2, 2003

By	Sarita Dutta (Calcutta, West Bengal India) - See all my reviews

From the moment the Prince's ship sails into the horizon, you get instantly captivated by this breath-taking score. And right throughout the movie the music enthralls you. One of the last collaborative efforts of Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, this magical soundtrack truly earns the title of a masterpiece.

The songs are excellent and vary from soothing ballads to beautifully styled Caribbean tunes. "Part of Your world" is unique; its haunting melody and Jodi Benson's mesmerizing voice (just listen to Ariel vocalizing) making it the best slow ballad ever heard on the silver screen. Samuel E. Wright's Caribbean vocals are the main highlights, with "Kiss the Girl" being a very tuneful, salsa number that has you swaying to its melody. "Les Poissons" in Rene Auberjonois' voice simply makes you giggle with laughter and Pat Carroll's "Poor unfortunate Souls" is a good villain song. "Under The Sea" truly is THE song of the movie, its Oscar-winning, foot tapping and humorous appeal making you want to listen to it over and over again.

The score, which earned Menken his first Academy Award, is outstanding and is easily one of the best scores in movie history. Later Menken efforts (like Aladdin and more recently Hercules) lack the magical charm so evidently present in The Little Mermaid.
"The Jig", "The Storm" and "Tour of the Kingdom" are definitely the finest sequences; the piano, strings, clarinet and drums conglomerate to produce a deeply invoking and overwhelming effect. Menken masterfully utilizes a host of instruments to eminently bring out the joyful, tense and melancholy atmospheres. "Destruction of the Grotto" and "Wedding Announcement" are such fine illustrations of the tense moments. As is mostly the case where the composer gives both the movie's music as well as its score; many parts of the score borrow tunes from the songs and beautifully manipulate them to highlight the emotional and imploring parts. "Bedtime" is a very good example of such a track, where the melody truly moves you. "Flotsam And Jetsam" portrays a dulcet sinister music, and "Eric to the Rescue" mixes all these ingredients into building up a captivating climax. "Happy Ending", which has a choral reprise of "Part of Your World", conveys the feeling of ecstasy and celebration.

The CD from Disney is something to really cherish, providing 44 minutes of engrossing Menken music. This perfect compilation does not miss out any significant part of the score. The Little Mermaid was the last Disney movie to exclude pop tracks from the end title. They are not at all missed. The soundtrack is complete in itself and honestly did not require any pop inclusions.

Menken was bade farewell from Disney after two of his scores (the much underrated Hunchback of Notre Dame and the most disappointing Hercules) did not quite attract the Academy. So this (and Beauty and the Beast) remain his best work till date. I honestly look forward to his return to animation and re-composing the genius which made Little Mermaid the crowning achievement of his career.

TRACK LISTINGS:

1. Fathoms Below
2. Main Title
3. Fanfare
4. Daughters of Triton
5. Part Of Your World [***** Excellent]
6. Under The Sea [***** Excellent]
7. Part Of Your World (Reprise) [***** Excellent]
8. Poor Unfortunate Souls
9. Les Poissons
10. Kiss The Girl [***** Excellent]
11. Fireworks
12. Jig
13. The Storm [*****Excellent]
14. Destruction of the Grotto
15. Flotsam And Jetsam
16. Tour of the Kingdom [*****Excellent]
17. Bedtime [*****Excellent]
18. Wedding Announcement
19. Eric To The Rescue
20. Happy Ending [*****Excellent]