Lion King SE Soundtrack - Yay or Nay?

[Jake Lipson]

If you know where to look, Disney's official Lion King DVD web site confirms my theroy: The CD soundtrack will be reissued as a Special Edition soundtrack this fall, presumably including the new Morning Report number added to the film for the DVD, as was the Beauty and the Beast CD when it debuted in IMAX format with the new Human Again sequence.

My delima is this: I already have the original 1994 CD and am very happy with it. I also am about to purchase the original Broadway cast recording, where Morning Report originated, which I know has a very satisfactory version of the song on it, having previously heard bits of the CD. However, I pride myself on having the complete Disney-authorized Lion King discography (not including best-of-Disney CDs which only have one or two songs from any given movie.) This includes The Lion King original motion picture soundtrack, Return to Pride Rock (the original soundtrack for Simba's Pride), the spinoff album Rythym of the Pride Lands, and the Broadway original cast recording. If I do not buy the Special Edition soundtrack CD, I will no longer have the complete TLK discography. Also, if it is like the Beauty and the Beast SE CD, it will have a few other extra new tracks of intrest (such as demo recordings or alternate score) in addition to the Morning Report number, which might make it worth buying. I have seen the new Morning Report sequence online and do not like it within the context of the film but think that I may enjoy it on its own as a recorded version of the song on a CD. However, I'm on a very tight budget what with all of the things coming out this year. However, it might be a nice companion to the DVD, or nice to have if only for completeness. But I sort of feel like I'm supporting Disney adding in new material where there was never a basis for it if I buy it when I already have the Morning Report-free 1994 version of the CD; Then again the same case could be made for buying the DVD when I already have the Morning Report-free 1995 VHS of the movie. So, I dunno...maybe I'm just really over-analyzing the situation. That's probably it, yeah....

So - do you think that I should buy the re-released soundtrack? Why or why not? Thanks!

[indianajdp]

I see no reason to update the 1994 release...is it really worth $12 to upgrade? IMO, nope.

[Luke]

If it has something new that's worthwhile on it besides "Morning Report", then I'd get it if I were you. Otherwise, I'd pass. If it's otherwise, a re-release of what you already have, then $12 would most certainly be better spent on a movie than a single song, I think.

[wdwleesa]

Well, Jake, I am going from the obsessed collectors standpoint! (I mean, I have both Peter Pan dvd releases as well as three Bug's Life!) I myself will most certainly buy the new released CD-just as I did for Beauty and the Beast. I am a completist and must have it all!! Seriously, if you are a serious collector, as myself, you will want it. So it only has one new tune? I am sure it will have a newer, lovelier packaging, just as Beauty and the Beast did.
And no, I am not made of money! I am just a collector like everyone else but I will buy Disney stuff before I buy food!!


Leesa

[Jake Lipson]

I am sure it will have a newer, lovelier packaging, just as Beauty and the Beast did.

The packaging for my copy of the Beauty and the Beast reissue - including the jewel case - fell apart within days of my purchasing it; the disc now sits on top of two or three other caseless CDs I have obtained and is all scratched up. I need to replace it. And worse off it is the only copy of the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack that I have. For some reason I never picked up the original 1991 version.

As an obsessed collector I'll probably end up buying the new Lion King sooner or later but I think that what priority I give to it really comes down to what else it has on it besides Morning Report, because I'm extremely satisfied with the Morning Report from the Broadway cast CD. As far as Disney recordings go, I'm definitly giving more priority to the Brother Bear soundtrack this fall.

[MickeyMouseboy]

I think Disney will add more score pieces that were missing from the 1994 soundtrack. Maybe the alternate version of Circle of Life will be included

[Starion]

I think the Morning Report gives us the long and the short?


One rumor says that there will be four versions of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" on the Special Edition Soundtrack:

+ Version in the movie: Timon, Pumbaa, Simba and Nala's version in the movie.


+ End Title / Original Version - Sung by Sir Elton John. Elton John won an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Grammy for this song.


+ Early version where Simba and Nala sing the entire song - 3:12 minutes long. This song was on the LaserDisk.

http://www.lionking.net/movies/cyftlt-early.mov


+ Timon and Pumbaa sing the entire song

http://dvd.ign.com/articles/432/432927p1.html has this to say about this version:

Apparently Disney was going to give Elton John's Can You Feel The Love Tonight to Timon and Pumbaa, until John saw an early cut of the movie and said to the producers "I can't imagine what were you thinking having Timon and Pumbaa sing that song." They quickly agreed and shifted the song to the two lions. The outtake will show the original pencil drawings and have the audio of the two singing the song, very badly, I might add.

www.Lionking.org/sequals/ says this about The Lion King soundtracks:

There also there will be a multi disc set which includes the new Special Edition soundtrack with the Rhythm of the Pridelands and Return to Pride Rock CD's all in one package. Release should be in September.

[reaganhockey]

Well, Jake, I am going from the obsessed collectors standpoint! (I mean, I have both Peter Pan dvd releases as well as three Bug's Life!) I myself will most certainly buy the new released CD-just as I did for Beauty and the Beast. I am a completist and must have it all!! Seriously, if you are a serious collector, as myself, you will want it. So it only has one new tune? I am sure it will have a newer, lovelier packaging, just as Beauty and the Beast did.
And no, I am not made of money! I am just a collector like everyone else but I will buy Disney stuff before I buy food!!


Leesa

I totally agree! So glad to have found someone whos as much as a nut as me! I bought both the Beauty and the Beast DVD even tho I have the vhs, and I bought both Peter Pan dvds even tho I already had the vhs of the first one. My mum thinks I'm crazy. But what can I say.

[Luke]

I think upgrading from VHS to DVD is standard operating procedure around here, naturally. This is more like upgrading for a trailer, in my opinion.

[Starion]

Possible release dates for the US Special Edition Soundtrack.

Buy.com lists the release date for The Lion King-Special Edition (OST) as September 23, 2003. That's two weeks before the Special Edition DVD and VHS will be out.

However, Amazon.com, Best Buy and Circuit City say September 30, one week before The Lion King Special Edition will come out.

I still haven't seen any large pictures of the cover art or track listing.

[Jake Lipson]

Re cover art - If you go to Disney's official site for The Lion King DVD and click on Sweepstakes, a window will pop up that shows you some of the prizes you can possibly win in the sweepstakes. Near the bottom are the words "The Lion King Special Edition Soundtrack" with the Walt Disney Records name and logo. It then shows a small picture of what seems to be the CD cover - which seems to be identical to the IMAX poster.

Me, I'd personally rather have the DVD cover function as the CD cover too. The IMAX poster symbolizes to me the IMAX run, and the Morning Report number wasn't in there.

With the reissue of the CD timed for just prior the DVD release, I wonder if stores like Target or Best Buy will do one of those deals where they'll knock $5 off your combined total purchase if you buy the DVD and CD. I would really appriciate that and would probably pick it up in that case (although I must give prefrence to the Down With Love DVD, which also comes out on October 7, over a CD with only a few tracks, if that, which would be new to my collection. The Lion King DVD takes prederence over Down With Love of course, but hopefully I can get both the same day.)

[Starion]

Possible release dates for the US Special Edition Soundtrack.

Buy.com lists the release date for The Lion King-Special Edition (OST) as September 23, 2003.

Buy.com updated the release date for the soundtrack. It now says September 30.

[Starion]

Cover art for the Lion King (Special Edition) as seen on amazon.co.uk

[Starion]

Jake Lipson, The Special Edition soundtrack has two songs that the 1994 soundtrack does not: "The Morning Report" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" remix. Here's the track listing I saw on barnesandnoble.com and CircuitCity.com:

1. Circle of Life / Carmen Twillie
2. I Just Can't Wait to Be King / Rowan Atkinson
3. Be Prepared / Whoopi Goldberg
4. Hakuna Matata / Joseph Williams
5. Can You Feel the Love Tonight / Kristle Edwards
6 The Morning Report / James Earl Jones
7. This Land
8. ...to Die For
9. Under the Stars
10. King of Pride Rock
11. Circle of Life / Elton John
12. I Just Can't Wait to Be King / Elton John
13. Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title) / Elton John
14. Can You Feel the Love Tonight / Elton John (CircuitCity.com says that this track is a remix)


Source:
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/ ... 0086012473

[Jake Lipson]

Really odd that Morning Report is being placed after the other songs. On the Beauty and the Beast reissue CD, Human Again is in its proper place after Something There.

I'm low on cash right now, having just obtained five DVDs in three days and used up nearly all of my birthday money for it, so I doubt I'll be getting this any time soon, especially since I'm very satisfied with the 1994 CD and Morning Report seems to be the only new track of intrest, and I can hear a better version of that on the Broadway CD. It's really a big disappointment, as I was hoping they'd take this chance to pull out all the stops and give us all of the music from the entire film, complete score and all, in proper chronological order as well as all of the pop versions made over the years (Elton John's three, plus the Hakuna Matata from Rythym of the Pride Lands, and the Circle of Life track from the Circle of Stars music video, just for completion.) Also, what about inserting Warthog Rabsody next to Hakuna Matata so it's easier to compare the two, and maybe give us the extended HM and alternate Can You Feel the Love Tonight. If they'd done all this I would've bought this in a heartbeat, but I guess not....

[Starion]

Hi Jake, I was hoping that DisneyRecords would include the new version of Circle of Life on the special edition soundtrack.


Edit
Corrected track list of Vinyl LP Record:


Track List:

1.Circle of Life - Carmen Twillie
2.I Just Can't Wait to Be King - Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Laura Williams
3.Be Prepared - Jeromy Irons, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Jim CUmmings
4.Hakuna Matata - Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Joseph Williams
5.Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Kristle
6.The Morning Report - James Earl Jones, Jeff Bennett, Evan Saucedo
7.This Land [Instrumental]
8....to Die For [Instrumental]
9.Under the Stars [Instrumental
10.King of Pride Rock [Instrumental]
11.Circle of Life
12.I Just Can't Wait to Be King - Elton John
13.Can You Feel the Love Tonight (End Title) - Elton John
14.Can You Feel the Love Tonight [Remix] - Elton John


Jeff Bennett voices Jasper in 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. Evan Saucedo is a 14 year old multi-talented, multi-ethnic
Sag, Equity and Aftra performer from the heart of Southern California.

[Matt]

Yes, I will be buying the soundtrack because I do not have the original one! This is the only soundtrack that I did not buy because I figured they would make a Special Edition one to it! If they make a new Edition with Aladdin, I will just download the new song that will be added to the movie! LOL I am sure they will add a new scene to the movie now!

[Matt]

Hi Jake, I was hoping that DisneyRecords would include the new version of Circle of Life on the special edition soundtrack.


Here are the track details of the Vinyl LP I saw on bordersstores.com:


Track List:

1. Circle Of Life - Carmen Twillie
2. I Just Can't Wait To Be King - Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Laura Williams
3. Hakuna Matata - Nathan Lane/Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, Joseph Williams
4. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Joseph Williams, Sally Dworsky, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Kristle Edwards
5. Morning Report, The - James Earl Jones, Jeff Bennett, Evan Saucedo
6. To Die For - (instrumental)
7. Under The Stars - (instrumental)
8. King Of Pride Rock - (instrumental)
9. I Just Can't Wait To Be King - Elton John
10. Can You Feel The Love Tonight (End Title) - Elton John
11. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John (remix)


Jeff Bennett voices Jasper in 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. Evan Saucedo is a 14 year old multi-talented, multi-ethnic
Sag, Equity and Aftra performer from the heart of Southern California.

I have a feeling the new Circle Of Life song will be on Diney Mania 2 CD that will be coming out! WOOHOO!

[Lady]

remember not to buy the lion king special edition soundtrack until AFTER you buy the lion king dvd. i remember last year in the beauty and the beast dvd there was a coupon for $2 off the beauty and the beast special edition soundtrack. i know $2 isn't much, but this way you'll feel less guilty buying the sountrack when you have a perfectly fine copy (the original) already at home.

[Starion]

Edit
Corrected track list of Vinyl LP Record:

CircuitCity.com says that the LP is a picture disc. A picture disc is a vinyl record with a picture design inside it. It is manufactured by pressing 2 sides of clear vinyl onto printed paper.

More technical information is available at: http://www.vinylunderground.net/article.html