Anastasia: Music From The Motion Picture (1997 Version)

One of the more successful attempts by another studio (here Fox) to make a quality animated film on par with Disney was Anastasia. The music by David Newman and songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (the Broadway team that won a Tony for Ragtime) give the movie a sturdy backbone. From the Zhivago-gone-Broadway opening number "A Rumor in St. Petersburg" to the Oscar-nominated get-up-and-sing "Journey to the Past," the CD is filled with bright numbers, including low-key pop versions of several of the songs. The vocal talent is exceptional, especially Liz Callaway (Grizabella in Broadway's Cats) as Anastasia (Meg Ryan supplied the speaking voice). Bernadette Peters and Jim Cummings (doing a mean Christopher Lloyd impersonation as the speaking voice of the movie's heavy, Rasputin) offer solid support, with kudos to Kelsey Grammer as Vlad, the portly sidekick. The album's (and film's) star is "Once Upon a December," simply one of the most beautiful songs ever from an animated film. Using a waltz motif that is heard throughout the film, the song--with sparse lyrics--builds into a sweeping and memorable number. It will have your dancing princesses asking for repeats. The CD's liner notes include complete lyrics.

Annie (Original 1982 Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Albert Finney, Ann Reinking, Martin Charnin, Aileen Quinn, Carol Burnett, Charles Strouse, Bernadette Peters,

Dreamgirls: Music From The Motion Picture [2-CD Deluxe Edition]

Dreamgirls Deluxe Edition features cast performances by Beyonce' Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson & Eddie Murphy which includes: 2 CD-Set * 36 songs * 36 page lyric and photo booklet

Grease (Original 1978 Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The movie is a 1970s take on 1950s musicals, providing all the kitsch anyone could hope for. It's John Travolta as Danny Zuko as Olivia Newton-John's pompadoured main squeeze, and the kids go crazy. Fresh from his astronomical success with Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, Bee Gee Barry Gibb penned the title track (sung by Frankie Valli). Sha Na Na is over-represented, and actress Stockard Channing struts her, um, versatility, singing a couple of tracks. This has become a touchstone in American culture, and so isn't likely to improve our standing in the world's eyes. Maybe the point is that it's supposed to sound amateurish, but it does manage to eke out some fun, most notably on the hit "You're the One That I Want."

High School Musical [ENHANCED] [SOUNDTRACK]

While on a family New Year's vacation, shy brainiac Gabriella meets high-school basketball star Troy. During a karaoke contest at the teen party, they discover their love for singing... and an interest in each other. But will they be able to break out of their "expected" cliques and discover new interests and talents within themselves? Find out... in High School Musical! Starring Ashley Tisdale from Disney Channel's original TV series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Zac Efron from the WB's Summerland. Soundtrack features all-new music performed by the cast of the movie plus a bonus track by one of today's hottest teen R&B music groups, B5! CD also includes two instrumental tracks for karaoke fun!

My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack)

Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack)

Shirley Jones, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Gordon MacRae

Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track

The double-disc soundtrack to the blockbuster Saturday Night Fever (available on a single CD) marks both the zenith and the nadir of disco. It was such a popular sensation that it catapulted the music to stratospheric levels of mainstream popularity, and the album was the bestselling movie soundtrack of all time (until The Bodyguard, and then Titanic). But "Disco Fever" became so hot, it could only flame out just as quickly (along with the careers of the Bee Gees). With this record, disco became a phenomenon and a fad. The Bee Gees' contributions are the strongest, especially the once-ubiquitous "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever," and they still hold up. Then there's Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven," a trivial piece of pop ephemera that may have set new standards for ephemeral triviality. How often will you listen to this record--and how much will you play when you do? There's no telling--but it remains a classic piece of pop history, and when you're in the mood it's a good thing to have around.

South Pacific (1958 Film Soundtrack)

Mitzi Gaynor, Giorgio Tozzi, Rodgers & Hammerstein

The Music Man (1962 Film Soundtrack)

Shirley Jones, Meredith Willson, Robert Preston

The Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie Soundtrack)

Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, Patrick Wilson, Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Tim Burton's: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Spec) [SOUNDTRACK]

Danny Elfman (Artist), Marilyn Manson (Artist), Panic!@ the Disco (Artist), Fiona Apple (Artist), Fall Out Boy (Artist), Paul Reubens (Artist), Catherine O' Hara (Artist), Citizens of Halloween (Artist), Patrick Stewert (Artist)