Disney's Happiest Celebration On Earth

After countless collections of songs by current Disney pop stars, the studio finally throws fans of vintage Disney a bone with Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth, a collection of the music from Disneyland's attractions. Beginning with Walt Disney's dedication speech for the park's opening in 1955, the album captures Disneyland's joyous, and occasionally kitschy, appeal. The album functions as a virtual tour through the park's different areas, with "Alexander's Ragtime Band" representing Main Street, U.S.A.'s Coke Corner, and the gleefully goofy "Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" introducing Adventureland. New Orleans Square plays host to two of Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth's best tracks, "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and "Grim, Grinning Ghosts" from the Haunted Mansion. Several other popular rides and attractions are represented, and while the music from "Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin" and "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters" works well, older themes like the spooky exotica that soundtracks "Rainbow Caverns" and the dark, thrilling "Space Mountain" music have much more character. Likewise, "Space Mountain (New Daytime Track)" and LeAnn Rimes' version of Disneyland's 50th anniversary song, "Remember When," fall a bit flat. Still, there's so much childhood nostalgia on Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth that -- despite a few small quibbles -- it can't help but live up to its name. ~ Heather Phares

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