Walt Disney's Alice In Wonderland: Classic Soundtrack Series

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Product details:

Item number (ASIN): B000001M4E
Artist: Bob Hilliard
Category: Audio CD
Creator: Sammy Fain, Composer
Format: Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Records
Original Release Date: July 28, 1951
Package Dimensions: 54 x 497 x 555 (hundredths-inches)
Publisher: Walt Disney Records
Release Date: February 3, 1998

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Amazon.com customer reviews:

Average Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

Rating:

- The Wonderful Disney Sound
I am so grateful to Randy Thornton for producing this wonderful series of classic Disney soundtracks. Having grown up listening to my mom's old vinyl Disneyland records, I was already familiar with the songs from these animated gems, but these CDs bring so much more than that. Randy has given us not only the songs, but also the full score from each film, most never available until his restoration efforts. Each one is a listening experience, and this Alice in Wonderland CD is one of the most delightful. What makes this soundtrack unique from all of the others is that it flows from beginning to end. There's no real break anywhere, one song just leads to another. The overall result is that this CD creates a cohesive mood in a way that other Disney compilations do not. I suggest playing this CD on a rainy or dull afternoon because it will instantly feel like spring. It is true, as another reviewer wrote, that not all of the sound effects have been edited out of the music, but that doesn't detract from the listening experience in my opinion. The sound effects blend into the music and become part of the overall listening experience. The soundtrack to Alice in Wonderland is different because the movie is different. There were more individual songs written for this movie than any other classic Disney film, but they are all short and episodic in nature. None of them is a showstopper like you find from films like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. You won't leave humming any one song, but you will have felt that Disney magic, for Alice in Wonderland instantly brings a light touch of childhood joy to your day. Who could ask for anything more? Oh, and one last note about this CD. There is a hidden track at the end of the CD that should be listened for. The first time I played this, I had assumed it was over. I was puttering around when I suddenly heard the low murmur of voices. By the time I could pinpoint the noise, the subtle and creepy voice of the Cheshire Cat (Sterling Holloway) was saying, "I'm mad. You're mad. We're all mad here." Needless to say it made the hair on the back of my neck rise. It's never bothered me again, but that first surprise made it a memorable listening experience.

Rating:

- "Let's sing a song about all of us"
Alice's Adventures In Wonderland classic novel is truely one my most favorite children stories in english literature, and Disney did the story proud like no other Hollywood production ever did. The soundtrack is welcome, like so many recent Disney cd soundtracks, that they include opening credits, intro music, background melodies (that may get lost in noisy movie), occasional dialogue (to move the momentum of scene), and of course, the beloved songs Disney fans cherish around the globe. I bought this particular cd at the 20th Century Music Shop at Disneyland Main St. USA, and would like to start my own cd library of similar soundtracks from other animated movies. Highly recommended, and majestically packaged!

Rating:

- Fantastic
Another fine job at Disney Soundtrack restoration by master restoration producer Randy Thornton. He has taken music recorded in the 1940's and cleaned it up quite well. The movie's style required music that jumped out at you in short bursts and then dissapeared again, so most songs are very short in the movie. Randy tried to restore these songs to the length that they were originally recorded. The songs have a habit of jumping in and out of the underscore. Unlike many of Randy's other projects you do hear bits of sound effects now and then but rarely, most of the original material to use for this CD was lost to time and was no longer in the archives. Seven writers composed the music for the film, including the "UN-Birthday" song which was written by the songwriters that were working on Cinderella at the time. Most of the songs were composeded by Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain. Jerry Colonna, Ed Wynn, Vera Felton, Sterling Holloway, all sung in this movie along with many more. There is a great 15 page booklet with lyrics, great liner notes, and art including the always illusive concept art that Disney history buffs treasure. Quite a few novelty songs were created for this movie at Walt's request, and the movie featured 14 original songs, the most any Disney animated film had ever had. All total the CD lists 23 tracks and 1 hour of music. Overall a gem of Disney history and very fun to listen to. Very affordable too but buy it before it goes out of release.

Rating:

- Fun to listen to!
Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND makes a terrific soundtrack CD for several reasons. First, it has a delightful score, with such classics as "All in a Golden Afternoon," "I'm Late," and "The Unbirthday Song" -- not to mention "The Mad Tea Party," an absurdly hilarious musical scene. Second, it has one of the greatest vocal casts Disney ever assembled, led by the innocent-sounding Katherine Beaumont as Alice and the looney-voiced, giggling Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter. And thirdly, the CD is "produced" in such a way that the music is practically continuous, providing an experience quite different from that of watching the movie. The ALICE IN WONDERLAND soundtrack is a fun listening experience that brings back many fond childhood memories for me. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the movie.

Rating:

- GREAT CD, but...
I wish there'd been more liner notes about the brilliant Oliver Wallace, Bob Hilliard, and Sammy Fain. I also wished they'd included on this CD the MANY cool outtakes provided on the Laserdisc Box Set available.