| Julie Andrews Selects Her Favourite Disney Songs | ||||
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 10 May 2005 | |||
| Genre | Show tune, pop | |||
| Label | Walt Disney | |||
| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
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Julie Andrews Selects Her Favourite Disney Songs is a compilation album released by Walt Disney Records on 10 May 2005 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. The album was released as part of the larger 50th Anniversary: A Musical History of Disneyland celebration. Featuring 15 tracks chosen by Andrews, the compilation spans multiple eras of Disney music, from early animated classics to the studio’s late-20th-century Renaissance period, blending nostalgic favorites with more contemporary selections. Some songs are tied directly to her Mary Poppins role, while others highlight the broader range of Disney’s musical legacy.
Reception was generally positive, with critics noting the variety and historical scope of the tracklist. Reviewers praised its appeal for both families and longtime fans, the mix of original film recordings and live-action interpretations, and Andrews’s ability to lend a unifying presence even when not performing on most tracks. The release was positioned as both a personal curation from an iconic Disney figure and a contribution to the wider celebration of Disneyland’s musical heritage.
Background and release
[edit]The album is part of a larger celebratory release titled 50th Anniversary: A Musical History of Disneyland. Julie Andrews, who famously portrayed Mary Poppins in the 1964 Disney film, was invited to curate a personal selection of her favorite Disney songs for this project.[1]
The album contains 15 tracks that span various eras of Disney films, including early classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, and Lady and the Tramp, as well as more modern entries from Disney's late '80s and early '90s Renaissance period, like The Lion King and Tarzan. Andrews's selection was intended to offer a mix of nostalgia and quality, featuring many songs in their original film versions as well as some live-action interpretations, including her own performances.[2]
The release was promoted as part of a broader set of musical tributes celebrating Disneyland's history. Alongside this compilation, Disney released a 6-CD box set, a 72-page collectible book titled The Sounds of Disneyland, and a limited-edition gold vinyl of Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland, among other materials. The Julie Andrews album was available both individually and as part of this box set collection, and her involvement was highlighted as a special contribution due to her iconic status within Disney history.[1]
In this collection, Andrews performs or introduces several classic songs, including "Chim Chim Cher-ee", "Feed the Birds", both associated with her role as Mary Poppins. While some tracks are love songs like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" or "You'll Be in My Heart" others are more playful or nostalgic in tone, such as "He's a Tramp" and "The Bare Necessities" the latter performed by Peggy Lee and Phil Harris.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Parenting | Favorable[4] |
| The New York Times | Favorable[5] |
Heather Phares from AllMusic highlighted the collection's range and the quality of the original recordings, noting that the compilation serves as a rich cross-section of Disney's musical history. The reviewer emphasized that the album's diversity matched the broad appeal of Andrews herself, stating that it brings together "classic Disney voices and tunes" in a way that is both accessible and enduring. Songs such as "He’s a Tramp" and "The Bare Necessities" were pointed out for their timeless charm, while ballads like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" added emotional depth. According to Phares, even though Andrews herself does not perform many of the songs, her influence is felt in the thoughtful and carefully selected tracklist, which spans multiple Disney eras and styles. According to him, this alignment between the selections and Andrews's legacy as a beloved Disney icon added a personal, almost narrative dimension to the listening experience.[3]
Erika Milvy from Parenting magazine echoed this sentiment by positioning the album as an ideal choice for both families and longtime fans of Andrews. The reviewer described the compilation as "one-stop shopping at its best", suggesting that the album provides a satisfying overview of classic Disney music with Andrews's endorsement serving as a mark of quality.[4] John Flansburgh from The New York Times offered a more nuanced take, acknowledging that it was unclear how involved Andrews was in the actual production or song selection. Still, the critic observed that her name and legacy bring a level of refinement and cinematic nostalgia that defines the collection. The reviewer described the album as "tasteful" and "cinematic", a nod to its careful balancing of sentimentality and musical craftsmanship. According to him, the inclusion of Andrews's own performances, particularly from Mary Poppins, helped ground the album in a specific Disney tradition, while her broader selection of hits allowed it to serve as a curated journey through the emotional and stylistic evolution of Disney music.[5]
The album was also featured in lists and reviews on some journals, such as the Herald Sun,[6] and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.[7]
Track listing
[edit]Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of Julie Andrews Selects Her Favourite Disney Songs record.[8]
- Compilation Producer: Jay Landers
- Executive Producer: Chris Montan
- Art Direction: Steve Gerdes
- Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
- Artist Coordination: Dani Markman
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The Biggest Musical Celebration in Disneyland History is about to Begin..." Business Wire. 30 March 2005. p. 1. ProQuest 445449870. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ "UltimateDisney.com Presents: Walt Disney Records - Summer 2005 CD Roundup". DVDizzy. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Phares, Heather. "Julie Andrews Selects Her Favorite Disney Song... | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ a b Milvy, Erika (June 2005). "Julie Andrews Selects Her Favorite Disney Songs". Parenting. Vol. 19, no. 5. San Francisco: Meredith Corporation. pp. 214–217. ISSN 0890-247X. ProQuest 203319263. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ a b Flansburgh, John (22 August 2008). "He Might Be Giant, but He Knows Children's Music (Published 2008)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ "The hit list... nine things we love this week". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Vic: Nationwide News Pty Ltd: I02. 22 June 2006. ISSN 1038-3433. ProQuest 360823141.
- ^ Uebelher, Jan (24 May 2005). "Stuff to do, to buy, to talk about". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wis.: 1. ISSN 1082-8850. ProQuest 263538106. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ^ Julie Andrews (2005). Julie Andrews Selects Her Favourite Disney Songs (liner notes). Various artistas. Walt Disney Records. 050086129171.