Beauty and the Beast - Special Edition Soundtrack [Soundtrack] [Special Edition]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
After the success of their score for The Little Mermaid, the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken returned to Disney for their second fairy-tale adaptation. Sadly, it was the duo's last completed score before Ashman's untimely death at age 41. This soundtrack contains more-conventional show music than The Little Mermaid, owing in large part to Broadway stalwart Angela Lansbury and to Jerry Orbach's Yves Montand impersonation. Most of the songs here were included in the subsequent Broadway adaptation and its cast album, but this disc is superior in its studio polish and cast, which is better suited to the score. --John Sanchez --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Prologue - Paige O'Hara
Belle - Paige O'Hara
Belle (Reprise) - Richard White
Gaston - Richard White
Gaston (Reprise) - Richard White
Be Our Guest
Something There - Paige O'Hara
Human Again - Angela Lansbury
The Mob Song - Richard White
Beauty And The Beast
To The Fair
West Wing
The Beast Lets Belle Go
Battle On The Tower
Transformation
Be Our Guest (Demo)
Beauty And The Beast (Work Tape And Demo)
Beauty And The Beast - Celine Dion
Death Of The Beast (Original Early Version)

Amazon.com essential recording

After the success of their score for The Little Mermaid, the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken returned to Disney for their second fairy-tale adaptation. Sadly, it was the duo's last completed score before Ashman's untimely death at age 41. This soundtrack contains more-conventional show music than The Little Mermaid, owing in large part to Broadway stalwart Angela Lansbury and to Jerry Orbach's Yves Montand impersonation. Most of the songs here were included in the subsequent Broadway adaptation and its cast album, but this disc is superior in its studio polish and cast, which is better suited to the score. --John Sanchez

Customer Reviews:

a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.......2007-05-10

when alan menken and howard ashman put together their second disney feature i dont think that anyone could have known what a masterpiece beauty and the beast would become. the film itself was praised for its maturity and remains the only animated film in history to every be nominated for a best motion picture academy award (it deserved it instead of silence of the lambs) musically the film was magnificient as well. it was adapted into a full length broadway musical three years later. but this original piece will forever remain the benchmark for all other animated works and their music.

alan menken's hauntingly beautiful score is a true masterpiece. the musical scores for the west wing and the beast lets belle go are moving and powerful. the emotional level that every piece reaches is amazing and menken absolutely deserved this oscar for best score. this is not only his best score, but quite possibly one of the greatest musical scores in history.

SCORE 5 out of 5

the songs are all quite powerfull and fun with a definate broadway, its no wonder that it was so seamlessly turned into a broadway musical.

BELLE - this is the strongest opening to ever appear in a disney film. the broadway feel makes it a great way to kick off the film it is both fun and quirky but definately contains a more serous undertone. this was originally suppossed to be shortened down, but luckilly it was left intact. paige o'hara as belle is nothing short of amazing.
5 out of 5

BELLE (REPRISE) - this is short but is very strong due again to o'hara's vocals. her vocals paired with ashman's stirring lyrics of longing make this short but definately a winner.
5 out of 5

GASTON - this is a fun song that is both witty and darkly clever. ashman's lyrics and richard white's performance as gaston carry this song. it may be the weakest of the piece, but it's still fun and catchy and shouldn't be missed
3 out of 5

GASTON (REPRISE) - this is really just an extention of the song listed above, but this one is much more twistidly clever and is actually stronger that the first song.
3 out of 5

BE OUR GUEST - this is one of the most famous songs from the soundtrack and its obveous why after just one listen. jerry orbach and angela landsburry both give great performances that along with menken's french-influenced score and ashman's fun clever lyrics make this song sound fun and fresh. its a great song that really does epitimize the fun of the piece and of ashman's lyrics.
5 out of 5

SOMETHING THERE - this is a short little song but it is the first hint at belle and the beast as lovers. o'hara and robby benson both give great but short performances. orbach, lansbury and david ogden stiers also give fun performances as the objects. this is beautiful and romanticly sweet little song.
5 out of 5

HUMAN AGAIN - this wasn't included in the original theatrical film (why i dont know) this is a great song that is fun and brilliant. ashman yet again outdoes himself with great lyrics and again the household objects give dynamic performances. im so glad that this is back for the special edition since its a real gem that shouldn't be missed.
5 out of 5

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - this is the most famous song from the movie and it won the oscar for best original song. just one listen shows why. lansbury gives a beautifully moving performance as mrs potts singing this. this is of course the song that shows the beast and belle as lovers and it does so perfectly. this song never dumbs things down it goes for the full romantic punch. well done
5 out of 5

THE MOB SONG - this is possibly the cleverest piece. the use of shakespearean lyrics make this a twisted and dark piece that effectively shows human nature that still rings true today. this is an overlooked but strong song that again is lifted by white's performance as the now sinister gaston.
5 out of 5

the best part of all these songs is how none of them dumb down the romance or more "adult" themes for the kiddies. this film allows itself to be fully romantic and that's why it has been so praised and lived on in such a flattering light. the near-perfect music not only aided this, but were a crucial part of this maturity.

SONGS OVERALL 5 out of 5

as i said earlier, this is one the greatest film scores of all times. it may not be as recognizable or memorable as say star wars or gone with the wind, but the emotional punch that it makes elevates it far past these other two scores. menken truly outdid himself and ashman's lyrics work perfectly. the performances from all the performers are dynamic, fun, powerful, and intense. everythign works perfectly here and truly makes for an experience that is truly magical.

Great Disney CD: For Children of all ages.......2007-02-19

I really enjoyed this CD. IT is the soundtrack for Beauty and the Beast.
I especially enjoyed " BE our Guest". This is an all around excellent Disney CD with lots of vocals,and intrigue. The singers are very talented, and well re-hearsed. I love this CD. It's worth the money. Go and buy it!!!

got this as a present for someone else.......2007-01-04

This was a present to a friend. She liked it. I love soundtracks and Disney music, so it's pretty good.

The Story Captured Through Song........2006-09-29

Disney's revival as a major animation studio began in 1989 with the release of THE LITTLE MERMAID and reached its pinnacle with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (the only animated film ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar). As much as the film is a visual delight, its also a musical feast for the ears. People had said for over a decade that the musical movie was dead, but BEAUTY AND THE BEAST proved otherwise and paved the way for later big-screen adaptations of famous stage musicals. Some of my favorite songs on the album include:
"Be Our Guest"--this song revived the huge dance numbers that were once commonplace in movie musicals.

"Something There"--BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is a love story and though that love is often brought to mind by the title song, it is this number that truly captures the essence of what happens between Belle and Beast.

"The Mob Song"--out of all the songs on the album, this is the one with the most masculine appeal. It's a song about burning down castles and killing an unfamiliar creature that poses no threat. There's nothing like a dash of good old violence to get the blood flowing.

This is a great soundtrack for any Disney fan, any patron of musicals, and people who love the film.

My children listen to this CD over and over.......2006-08-25

My kids (5 year old boy and 2 year old girl) LOVE this soundtrack. They make me play it repeatedly in the car, EVERYTIME we go anywhere. It is word-for-word an exact replication of the movie. I highly recommend it for any Beauty and the Beast fan.

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