Alan Menken

The score and songs are (of course) sublime, but for a once fancy legacy collection, the later entries in this series have really gone downhill. Where earlier sets had the amount of discs needed for the material, here we're served up what can fit on two. The list of deleted and alternate songs as long as my arm previously published in other releases of the score are nowhere to be seen, only a single one is included here. This also extends to the booklet, which has a long and loving show more introduction by Menken, but little else. Even the small concept art section manages to be wholly without a single credit to the artists whose works are being used. Come on, Disney. Either stop making these, or go back to the thorough, loving productions the earliest installments in the product line were granted. "Aladdin" deserves a lot better than this. show less

A delight from one end to the other. And amazingly, the second disc with Menken and Ashman's demos are (sound quality aside) almost as good as the actual soundtrack (which never happens with demos), thanks in no small part to Ashman's giving it all in every vocal performance.

Fantastically fun and quick to read. A little different from the script that is used when productions are licensed now but still a great read to those who love the wit and humor of the musical.

The soundtrack to the Disney cartoon, with songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

2/4 (Indifferent).

I'm not a fan of this style of musical. Despite the excellent craftsmanship (especially the lyrics of "Gaston"), I just have no interest in listening to any of these songs.