Home on the Range [ENHANCED] [SOUNDTRACK]

Alan Menken (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Soundtrack
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B0001IXTMC
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,972 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Composer/producer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, etc.) has already lassoed eight Oscars in his run as a Disney hit-deliverer, and here he rustles up several good reasons for the Academy to offer him one more. Of the eight non-score songs on offer, three are knock-your-spurs-off dazzlers: k.d. lang pours her perfect pitch all over "Little Patch of Heaven," Bonnie Raitt breaks hearts with the fragile piano ballad "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again," and Tim McGraw tips a twangy hat to friendship on "Wherever the Trail May Lead." The Beu Sisters' version of "Anytime You Need a Friend," also performed as a final track by Menken, satisfies musical sweet teeth--it's the sort of song that's practically mandatory on a Disney record these days--but its slightness doesn't detract from the at times rootin'-tootin', at times pure-prairie-pretty mood. Listeners of all ages, saddle up. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good music, good movie, April 4, 2004

By	Bryant Burnette "Bryant Burnette" (Tuscaloosa, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First of all, go see the movie. It's funny.

The album is an excellent representation of the music from the movie, which was written by Alan Menken. In case you're not familiar with his work, here's a resume: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules. Excepting that last one, they are excellent musicals all. Home on the Range isn't as good as, say, Mermaid, Beast, or Aladdin, but it's as good as all of the others (and way better than Hercules).

The songs are excellent, with "Little Patch of Heaven" being the best of the lot. k.d. lang's performance of that song is excellent, as is Randy Quaid's on the yodel song. Even better is the score, which has a very rich feel to it and is one of the best Menken has yet provided for Disney. If you have enjoyed his previous Disney films, then I think this soundtrack is a solid purchase for you.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Little Golden Nugget, April 22, 2004

By	Bruce Aguilar (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is that rare Disney Animated Feature Soundtrack that is best appreciated apart from the visuals in the film. When I first saw HOME ON THE RANGE in the theatre, my disappointment in the story and characterizations negatively affected my appreciation of the music. But since I can't have an incomplete collection of Disney soundtracks, I bought the CD anyways. Now I find myself listening to this music daily.

Alan Menken has written an exciting and tender score for HOME ON THE RANGE and his compositions are my favorite aspect of this soundtrack. Cue up "On The Farm" and listen how he weaves multiple themes together. The lyrics by Glen Slater are very good for the most part, but I wont fault him for some of my complaints because he keeps things right in line with the style of the story. Music and lyrics gel perfectly though on "Little Patch of Heaven" (sung perfectly by kd lang and my favorite track) and "Will the Sun Ever Shine Again" a ballad that seemed trite in the film but is far more engaging on it's own. "Wherever the Trail May Lead" by Tim McGraw is preformed a bit too country-popish for my tastes, but the melody and lyrics are strong and he manages to rope things in before he loses control. The Beu Sisters aren't nearly as successful with their version of "Anytime You Need a Friend" which sounds like every other teeny pop group ever heard. Menken's version of the same song takes a more emotional approach, which works much better for the song, but Menken's voice can't convey the emotion he is trying to achieve.

If you didn't care for the music in HOME ON THE RANGE when you saw the film, give it another chance, you'll probably be as surprised as I was when listening to this CD for the first time. You don't have to be a fan of country music to enjoy this surprising soundtrack.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I know a place pretty as pie..., November 19, 2005

By	J Burke "cookbook connoisseur" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

I think the music is why I like the movie so much. It is fun and entertaining and "Patch of Heaven" puts me in a good mood as I listen to it just before I go into work. Who doesn't need that? Admittedly, I only listen regularly to the first six or seven tracks (they are the ones with lyrics with the exception of the last song but I don't care for that version) but I still love this CD.