Awsome

We got The Little Mermaid's full score, and now we have Beauty and the Beast, too. In my opinion, these two are Alan Menken's and Howard Ashman's greatest works. It's a real treat to hear the complete score, in such an amazing quality. Even the songs themselves sound better than on the previous releases the soundtrack had. A fantastic release of an equally fantastic soundtrack, all in a beautiful digibook packaging.

I am very happy that the tale as old as time has joined the Legacy Collection series of soundtrack reissues. In fact Beauty and the Beast has been on my Legacy Collection wishlist ever since the series started. I doubt I have been excited about a Legacy Collection issue as I was when this volume was announced. This is a spectacular release that presents the entire score in an audio-only format. Although there is only one omission (the half-a-minute sliver of music between Something There and Human Again), I am so pleased that we can all hear the complete score. The sound is comparatively clearer and more sparkling than the original CD release of the soundtrack. In addition, this issue has some attractive bells and whistles in the booklet, starting with Loreley Bove's spectacular artwork. In addition, the composer (Menken) himself contributes the moving sleeve note in which he reflects on his collaboration with Ashman and the writing process of the songs. He also includes an excerpt of a work session recording when he and Ashman were writing the title song. This is a spectacular Legacy Collection issue worthy of Menken's beautiful score, and it makes me hope that there could be more Menken scores in the Legacy Collection series alongside the new-to-CD scores or the classic soundtracks that are already in the series.

At long last, the complete score to "Beauty and the Beast" is now available. Featuring all the songs, the whole score, and some very rare unheard demos by Academy Award-winners Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. This set is a must-own to rediscover the "tale as old as time."