Aladdin: Special Edition Soundtrack [ENHANCED] [SOUNDTRACK] [SPECIAL EDITION]

Various Artists (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Soundtrack, Special Edition
• Label: Walt Disney Records
• ASIN: B0002ZMJF2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,371 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Music > Children's Music > Cartoon Music
  #35 in	Music > Soundtracks > Anime & Video Game Soundtracks

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Sandwiched amidst the remarkable string of renascent Disney animation successes that spanned The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, the studio's 1992 adaptation of the venerable Arabian tale won a pair of Oscars for Alan Menken's vibrant instrumental score and his memorable collaboration with lyricist Tim Rice, the infectious song "A Whole New World." This new edition does more than showcase those enduring musical charms, fleshing out the original 21 tracks of songs, underscore and antics of Robin Williams' manic genie with rare demo recordings of a pair of songs that were deleted from the film before its original theatrical release. The wistful yearning of "Proud of Your Boy" and the rambunctious "High Adventure" (both performed by Menken, the latter in a duet with lyricist Howard Ashman) also pay bittersweet homage to original project lyricist Ashman, Menken's Academy Award-winning partner on Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Okay, Good, But Where's the Glory for Jafar?, November 28, 2004

By	George Buttner "Agent0042" (Dayton, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The "Aladdin Special Edition Soundtrack" is a great volume restoring the classic Aladdin songs and including two bonus tracks as well. Although there is some unfortunate editing of "Arabian Nights," the CD is otherwise perfect. The songs sound just as good as you remember them if not better. This CD attractively mixes Academy Award winning vocal tracks with a stunning musical score. Included with the CD is a complete track listing and provided lyrics for all songs. Although there a couple errors in the provided lyrics, they are for the most-part spot-on.

This CD includes two excellent bonus tracks, "Proud of Your Boy" and "High Adventure," by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. I actually find Menken's rendition of "Proud of Your Boy" quite enjoyable. "High Adventure" is spectacular and also gives great insights into characters that were planned for the original version of the movie and then deleted following sweeping changes.

The thing I don't understand about this special edition soundtrack is that it seems like they could have included so much more. My Windows Media Player gives the total length of the CD as 43:50. Now there are several deleted songs that are included on the DVD, including the superb "Humiliate the Boy" and "Why Me," as well as new music videos, so why could these not be included on the special edition soundtrack? I know they want to pedal the DVD, but if this is the special edition, let's get it all out there! Let's get Jafar's deleted songs, let's get the Clay Aiken version of "Proud of Your Boy" and lets get any other demo tracks that might be floating around, if there are any. Let's get the additional versions of Arabian Nights as well.

As for this CD's special edition CD-ROM features, I rather like it. I had no problems loading it and recommend to anyone that did that they upgrade their software. If you don't want to, then just don't use these features. If you do though, you'll get song lyrics for "High Adventure" as well as survey and registration options.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Soundtrack - - But Where's Clay???!!!, October 2, 2004

By	L. Butler (VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this CD only to hear Clay sing "Proud Of Your Boy" on it. I heard it on AOL, and couldn't wait to have it on CD. It didn't list the singer for POYB, it just said DEMO TRACK. I assumed that Clay would be on it, since his song has been highly publicized.

I pulled up the track number and found only Menken's voice for the song. While Menken has an okay voice, I would have much rather prefered Clay's voice over anybody's!

I love ALADDIN, and am definitely buying the DVD on Tuesday. The soundtrack is great, including reprises and underscoring.

Not having Clay on there will pull Disney's expected income down for this CD, I know it!

21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic...Only 1 Thing Missing...., September 29, 2004

By	Jamy Shaffer (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This Special Edition Soundtrack is very good. All of the main hits (Friend Like Me, One Jump Ahead, Prince Ali, and Whole New World...movie and pop version) as well as the instrumentals are here. However, as much as the fact has been publicized, one would think that Clay Aiken's rendition of the previously unheard "Proud of Your Boy" would have been included. However, there is only a demo of Alan Menken doing it. This fact could have been pointed out on the case. The pop version of Whole New World lists Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Apparently, Disney thought they would lose money if they listed the performer of Proud of Your Boy. I find it questionable that a video of Clay performing the song is going to be on the DVD. Why not include it on the CD? Still very enjoyable though.