The Lion King (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (Special 2-Disc Edition)

It's a story that rips off everything from HAMLET to one of Japan's favorite animated films. The original score was basically a redo of music from a different film (Hans Zimmer and Lebo M. previously collaborated on THE POWER OF ONE). The songs were by a great singer/songwriter who hadn't ever written a musical, and a lyricist who appeared to have had his best days behind him. And yet, when THE LION KING opened in theaters in 1994, it blew everyone away.

When Disney announced it would hire famed puppet theater director Julie Taymor to adapt the show for Broadway, a collective intake of breath could be heard around the world. Theater enthusiasts felt Taymor was selling out. Disneyphiles worried that the beloved story would be bloated beyond recognition. And the kids? Well, they just couldn't figure out how Simba would get off the screen and onto the stage.

The rest, as they say, is history. Disney's THE LION KING broke all records on Broadway (until...Read more

If you're thinking of not buying this CD because you already have the movie soundtrack, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! Not only does the Original Broadway Cast Recording have more songs than there are in the movie, but the original songs have been adapted and, in some cases, lengthened quite a lot. To be honest, there are a few poor attempts of "filler" and trying to add something with a rock edge, but the beautiful, rhythmic african chants and additions such as "Shadowland" and "Endless Night" bring tears to my eyes. They're worth paying for the entire thing. This CD gives you more of an emotional look at all of the characters and their despair. Disney followed the same trend they did with BEAUTY by adding a dozen songs with only a couple worth listening to, but they're tear jerkers and if you just sit back and listen to the chants and ballads, they're sure to touch your heart as they did mine... just skip the stuff in between. But it's a MUST...Read more

In my opinion, The Lion King is one of the best stories out there. I love the movie and the play. The play's soundtrack is better than the movie's though. With songs that were not even in the movie (The Morning Report, Endless Night, They Live In You, etc) this soundtrack seems more complete. All of the songs featured are incredible. They all have a certain amount of pep that can cheer me up after a hard day. All of the artists featured are incredibley gifted and are going somewhere as far as Broadway goes. I highly reccommend this to anyone who loves The Lion King as much as I do.