Disneyland: A Musical History

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The CDs

When I first heard about this CD compilation, I thought it sounded like
a great set, but didn’t figure I’d be buying it. The words “too
expensive” flashed in my brain in response to the $125 price tag,
and since I’m not a big collector, I didn’t think much of it. Having moved
away from the Disneyland area almost two years ago, my trips to the park
have declined from my days as an annual passholder. However, even from
my distant vantage point on the opposite coast, I have been caught up
in the 50th Anniversary fervor. When I read that the CD set was being
released for online purchase from Disney Direct and that sets were “going
fast,” I was swept away by the buying frenzy and ordered my copy.

I tracked my purchase online, watching as the package traveled from the
warehouse to me. I waited at home, anxiously awaiting its arrival, and
resisted hugging my mail carrier as she presented me with the cheery white
box covered in red script with that familiar script Disney font.

I wasted no time opening the box and was immediately impressed with the
quality of the set packaging. The red cloth-covered box bears a gold and
black label of Sleeping Beauty castle and the title, 50th Anniversary
– A Musical History of Disneyland. A black cloth folder contains
the 6 discs, arranged in a pattern reminiscent of a “hidden Mickey.”
Each disc bears an image related to the Disneyland area music that it
contains: some images are concept art, while others are attraction posters
or photographs. The accompanying 72 page hardcover book, entitled Sounds
of Disneyland, has a golden yellow cover. The limited edition version
of the set also includes a limited edition gold-vinyl reproduction of
Walt Disney Records’ first ever album release, Walt Disney Takes You
To Disneyland: A Musical Tour of The Magic Kingdom. The box also includes
a golden ribbon to help you get all of the goodies out of the tightly
packed set.

Uploading the tracks to my computer for transfer to my digital music
player, I began to skim through the Sounds of Disneyland book. An introduction
by Richard Sherman opens the book. The Sherman Brothers are responsible
for writing such great songs as “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room” and
“There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” among others. The
book contains detailed background and historical information on the Disneyland
attraction; photos of Disneyland throughout the years are included alongside
concept art and attraction posters related to the various music and sounds
included on the CDs The additional information complements the CD set
very nicely. I enjoyed the stories and anecdotes relating how certain
rides came about; of particular interest was how the 1964 World’s Fair
was a significant factor in the development of some of Disneyland’s most
popular rides, including Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion.

The six-disc set is more of a concept album than a mere collection of
Disneyland hits, and lends itself to extended listening. The tracks are
laid out in a sequence that follows a roughly clockwise path around the
various lands of Disneyland: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, New Orleans
Square, Critter Country (with some tracks from its former incarnation
as Bear Country), Frontierland, Fantasyland, Toontown, and Tomorrowland.
The sixth disc provides a sampling of seasonal attractions including Country
Bear Christmas Special, “it’s a small world” Holiday, Haunted
Mansion Holiday, Main Street Electrical Parade, and Fantasmic.

The audio quality of the set is top-notch. The producer, Randy Thornton,
has restored the quality of these tracks to a level above and beyond anything
available before. Some tracks include ride dialogue or show effects, while
others are only the background music. The stereo effects of the attractions
have been retained and are especially striking in the tracks for Pirates
of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Enchanted Tiki Room. Interspersed
with the attraction music are sounds of attractions recorded around the
park, creating the impression of a walk around Disneyland as you listen.
Moving from the Tiki Room track, you hear the sounds of Jungle Cruise,
then segue into Indiana Jones Adventure, followed by the Swisskapolka,
and a Tarzan’s Treehouse medley. As if continuing down toward the Rivers
of America, you hear the steam whistle of the Mark Twain Riverboat sounds.
Just by closing your eyes and imagining a stroll, you can be transported
to the Disneyland of today and yesterday.

The Pirates of the Caribbean track includes preshow queue music, as well
as the talking skull and other ride narration. Those elements, along with
the sound of the “splashdowns,” seagull calls and cat meows
provide an excellent virtual ride experience. Critics of the “PC
makeover” undertaken in the ’90s will be happy to note that the lustful
pirate in search of a woman hiding in the barrel has been restored to
his former lecherous glory. The crisp audio allows you to hear and understand
all of the songs and dialogue. No longer will you be reduced to singing
“We pillage we something, we mumble, we something. Drink up me hearties,
yo ho!” Now you can annoy your fellow passengers with an uncannily
accurate rendition of the ride. But remember… “Dead men tell
no tales.”

The Haunted Mansion segment is presented in stereo, re-creating the 3-D
ride experience. The presentation of the audio allows you to hear all
the overlapping elements that contribute to the wonderfully rich sound
of the ride, particularly in the graveyard sequence. You also hear the
entire Madame Leota narration from start to finish, whereas in the ride
you typically pass through this room before she has finished.

“it’s a small world” drives some people crazy, but is one of
my favorite must-do attractions whenever I visit Disneyland. I love the
layers and variations on the main song theme as you travel through the
different lands, and the CD track lets you appreciate each one individually
without the overlap of audio that occurs on the ride. Particular highlights
for me are the “whees” and “ooh la las” of the French
can-can girls as well as the little German yodeler.

As I sat listening to the set, I got a huge, goofy grin on my face and
started tearing up as the track for Enchanted Tiki Room began to play.
This attraction is one of my favorites, and the fantastic audio transports
me back; the Tiki Room material even includes all of the gods and goddesses
from the Garden Show and a portion of the “Barker Bird” that
used to sit above the entrance to entice people to come and watch the
show. I found it hard to resist singing along with the birds and drumming
along with the tikis. I was also surprised by the presence of the famed
Offenbach number, which had been removed from the show some years ago.
I had only heard mention of this from other Disney fanatics but had never
heard it myself. It was a nice surprise to find it here.

One of the highlights of the entire set is the Matterhorn Yodelers. I
challenge you to listen to this one without laughing out loud. There’s
just enough yodeling to drive your non-Disney-loving friends and neighbors
insane. The track is book-ended by the sounds of the whooshing Matterhorn
bobsleds, capped off by the distant roar of the yeti. You can almost feel
the wind in your face and the jerking of the bobsled as track plays. The
final, “Remain seated please. Permanecer sentados por favor,”
had me smiling from ear to ear.

The inclusion of many former attractions is a great way for people like
me who didn’t grow up with them to have the ride experience, even if it’s
only by listening. Some didn’t translate well for me – America Sings
seemed a bit hokey and dated without the accompanying animatronics. However,
I enjoyed Adventure Thru Inner Space quite a bit, especially for its “’60s
sci-fi” vibe. The Tomorrowland section of this set is especially
rich with history: the Monorail Song, the Carousel of Progress and its
World’s Fair predecessor Progressland, Nation on Wheels, Flight to the
Moon, and the Submarine Voyage are all included.

The second to last track of the set is the music for the new fireworks
show, Remember… Dreams Come True. This show reflects the variety
of elements that went into the anniversary collection, and is a fantastic
finale for this wonderful set of music and sound.

No matter what your favorite attraction at Disneyland, fans of the park
need to have this collection. Not want; need. There is something for everyone,
from young to old, just as Walt Disney intended Disneyland to be.

I don’t get back to Disneyland as often as I’d like, but now I have a
great substitute. Since listening to this collection, a trip to Disneyland
will never be the same for me. It will now be about listening as well
as seeing. Closing my eyes, I’m at the Frontierland train station as the
engine pulls to a stop with a whoosh of steam, drowning out the clicking
of the telegraph. I can practically smell the popcorn and churros in the
air.

CD Basics

Title: 50th Anniversary – A Musical History of Disneyland

Year of Release: 2005

Total Running Time: 7:41:50

Limited Edition Set (Edition size 5000) also includes:

• 72 page hardcover book, The Sounds of Disneyland
• Limited Edition Gold Vinyl Reproduction – Walt Disney Takes You To
  Disneyland: A Musical Tour of The Magic Kingdom.

Due to overwhelming demand for this set, Disney has decided to make a
“Special Edition” available for sale at Disneyland, Walt Disney
World and online through Disney Direct. The Special Edition will contain
all of the same elements as the Limited Edition, but it will not be numbered
and the vinyl will be a standard black vinyl pressing.

A version of the set with just the CDs will be released in September,
and made available wherever Disney Records are sold.