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In the Key of Disney
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| In the Key of Disney | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Length | 37:24 | |||
| Label | Walt Disney | |||
| Producer | Brian Wilson | |||
| Brian Wilson chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| NME | 8/10[2] |
In the Key of Disney is the ninth studio album by Brian Wilson, released on October 25, 2011, by Walt Disney Records as part of the Disney Pearl Series. The album is the second release by Disney for Wilson, after Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. Disney calls it "the album that marries the vision of two men who shaped the image of modern California – Brian Wilson & Walt Disney."[3]
Background
[edit]In the summer of 2009, Walt Disney Records approached Wilson about recording his own arrangements of songs from Disney films, which Wilson agreed to do after recording an album of Gershwin covers.[4]
In The Key of Disney was recorded in early 2011. After recording the album Wilson indicated that "The Beach Boys sound and the Disney people make a fantastic collaboration. I tried to do justice to all their songs."[5]
Amazon.com initially offered two bonus tracks; one appeared on the compact disc version of the album, and the other appeared on the MP3 version.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You've Got a Friend in Me" (from Toy Story) | Randy Newman | 2:40 |
| 2. | "The Bare Necessities" (from The Jungle Book) | Terry Gilkyson | 3:12 |
| 3. | "Baby Mine" (from Dumbo) | 3:28 | |
| 4. | "Kiss the Girl" (from The Little Mermaid) | 3:53 | |
| 5. | "Colors of the Wind" (from Pocahontas) |
| 3:59 |
| 6. | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (from The Lion King) | 3:39 | |
| 7. | "We Belong Together" (from Toy Story 3) | Newman | 3:56 |
| 8. | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" (from The Lion King) |
| 3:37 |
| 9. | "Stay Awake" (from Mary Poppins) | Sherman Brothers | 2:48 |
| 10. | "Heigh-Ho / Whistle While You Work / Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs / Pirates of the Caribbean) |
| 3:27 |
| 11. | "When You Wish Upon a Star" (from Pinocchio) |
| 2:45 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" (from Cinderella) | 2:51 | |
| 13. | "Peace on Earth" (from Lady and the Tramp) | 2:12 |
Personnel
[edit]- Brian Wilson – lead vocals, vocal arrangements, band arrangements, producer
- Jeffrey Foskett – vocals, 12-string guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, toy instruments
- Darian Sahanaja – vocals, Moog synthesizer, marimba, organ, vibraphone, harpsichord, 8-bit bicycle horn, celesta, toy instruments
- Scott Bennett – vocals, drums, marimba, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, vibraphone, synthesizer, toy instruments
- Probyn Gregory – vocals, slide guitar, trumpet, banjo, organ, vibraphone, electric guitar, nylon string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric 12-string guitar, guitar solo (on track 8), ukulele, Tannerin, toy instruments
- Nick Walusko – vocals, electric guitar, toy instruments
- Paul Von Mertens – saxophone, clarinet, wooden flute, flute, baritone saxophone, alto flute, piccolo, bass harmonica, band arrangements
- Mike D'Amico – drums
- Brett Simons – bass, acoustic bass
- Nelson Bragg – percussion
- Gary Griffin – B3 organ, piano, accordion
- Chris Bleth – oboe (on tracks 6 and 11)
- Leslie Stevens – musical saw (on track 10)
References
[edit]- ^ Bush, John. "Brian Wilson: In the Key of Disney Review". Allmusic. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ Cooper, Leonie (October 21, 2011). "Album Review: Brian Wilson - 'In the Key Of Disney'". NME. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
- ^ Brian Wilson: In the Key of Disney, Disney.go.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
- ^ Mansfield, Brian (August 17, 2011). Brian Wilson Sings 'In the Key of Disney', USA Today.
- ^ Breihan, Tom and Amy Phillips (August 19, 2011). Brian Wilson Announces Album of Disney Songs, Pitchfork.
In the Key of Disney
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and development
Concept and inception
In late summer 2009, Walt Disney Records approached Brian Wilson with a proposal for a two-album deal, building on his reputation for reinterpreting classic American songbooks and leading to the inception of what would become In the Key of Disney.[7] The deal, announced on October 8, 2009, paired an album of George and Ira Gershwin covers with a second project featuring reinterpretations of Disney film songs, reflecting Disney's interest in Wilson's unique production approach to their catalog.[8] Following the release of his first Disney album, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, in August 2010, Wilson committed to the Disney songs project in early 2011. He saw the endeavor as an opportunity to merge his signature Beach Boys-era harmonic style—characterized by lush, layered vocals—with the whimsical storytelling inherent in Disney's timeless melodies, creating a harmonious fusion of his California-rooted sound and the company's magical narratives.[9] Disney promoted the album as a thematic bridge between Wilson and Walt Disney, portraying both as visionary architects who shaped the cultural image of modern California through innovation and optimism.[10] Recording sessions for In the Key of Disney commenced in early 2011, shortly after the Gershwin project concluded, allowing Wilson to apply his interpretive techniques directly to the selected Disney material.[11]Song selection process
The song selection for In the Key of Disney involved a deliberate process led by Brian Wilson, who drew from Disney's extensive catalog spanning animated films from 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to 2010's Toy Story 3, prioritizing tracks that aligned with his personal favorites and offered strong harmonic potential for reinterpretation in his signature style of lush vocal arrangements.[2] Wilson emphasized songs with inherent "sweetness" and emotional depth, such as those composed by figures like Randy Newman, whose work he admired for its lyrical and melodic qualities.[11] Central to the selection were tracks like "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story and "When You Wish Upon a Star" from Pinocchio, chosen for their emotional resonance and compatibility with Wilson's harmonic sensibilities—"When You Wish Upon a Star," in particular, held personal significance as it originated from his favorite Disney film and even influenced his composition of the Beach Boys' "Surfer Girl."[11][9] These selections allowed Wilson to infuse Disney classics with Beach Boys-inspired harmonies while honoring the originals.[9] To highlight variety across Disney's eras and themes, the album incorporated a medley combining "Heigh-Ho" and "Whistle While You Work" from 1937's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" from the Disneyland attraction, blending whimsical folk elements with adventurous pirate motifs.[2][9] Exclusive editions featured additional bonus tracks, such as "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from 1950's Cinderella, selected to further explore Disney's magical ballads and extend the album's appeal.[2][3]Production
Recording sessions
The recording sessions for In the Key of Disney took place in early 2011 at Ocean Way Recording and Henson Recording Studios in California, with Brian Wilson serving as the producer and overseeing the entire process.[12] These sessions focused on reinterpreting Disney songs through Wilson's distinctive production lens, emphasizing a blend of live instrumentation and layered vocals to evoke the harmonic richness of his Beach Boys era.[6] To capture the album's Beach Boys-inspired sound, the tracks were recorded using a live band setup, allowing for dynamic interplay in harmonies and orchestration that infused the Disney material with Wilson's signature warmth and complexity.[6] Wilson later described the project as a "fantastic collaboration" between the Beach Boys aesthetic and the Disney songbook, noting how seamlessly the elements merged during production.[13] Following the initial live recordings, extensive overdubs were applied to build intricate vocal layers, enhancing the emotional depth of each track. The standard edition of the album clocks in at a total length of 37:43, reflecting a concise yet richly textured final product.[12]Personnel and instrumentation
Brian Wilson served as the lead vocalist, vocal arranger, band leader, and producer for In the Key of Disney, overseeing the reinterpretation of Disney classics with his signature harmonic style.[2][14] The core band included longtime collaborator Jeffrey Foskett on acoustic and electric guitars, including 12-string, along with backing vocals; Brett Simons on acoustic bass and bass; and Gary Griffin on keyboards and accordion, notably featured on track 11, "When You Wish Upon a Star."[2][15] A prominent vocal ensemble provided rich harmonies, comprising Probyn Gregory (vocals, multi-instrumentalist), Taylor Mills (vocals), and Darian Sahanaja (vocals, keyboards, celesta). Gregory contributed extensively on instruments such as slide guitar, trumpet, banjo, organ, vibraphone, ukulele (on track 10, "Heigh-Ho/Whistle While You Work/Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)"), 12-string electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and toy instruments. Sahanaja added celesta for ethereal touches, while Paul von Mertens handled woodwinds including flute, clarinet, and bass harmonica, and co-arranged the band elements with Wilson.[2][12][15][16] Instrumentation emphasized acoustic and orchestral textures to suit the Disney material, incorporating ukulele for whimsical tracks, accordion for folk-inflected medleys, and full orchestral elements in the Disney-approved arrangements to evoke cinematic grandeur.[2][6] A&R direction was provided by Brian Malouf, with engineering by Mark Linett.[2][12]Musical content
Arrangements and style
Brian Wilson's reinterpretations on In the Key of Disney prominently feature his signature lush vocal harmonies and crisp pop arrangements, infusing the Disney originals with elements of the Beach Boys' nostalgic sound.[10] He produced the album, overseeing all vocal arrangements while collaborating with longtime associate Paul Von Mertens on the band arrangements, resulting in a polished, layered production that emphasizes emotional resonance.[10] This approach inverts many of the songs' original structures, simplifying chord progressions and employing a spotlessly digital approximation of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound instrumentation to create a glossy, pre-1960s aesthetic drawn from doo-wop, Northern soul, and Tin Pan Alley influences reflective of Wilson's formative years.[6] The album shifts the songs away from their film-specific whimsy toward a traditional pop genre that prioritizes depth and maturity, often transforming upbeat, genre-bound originals into orchestral pop interpretations. For instance, "The Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book receives an inversion with grinningly professional marimba solos and Beach Boys-style harmonies, elevating the original's laid-back folk vibe into a more intricate, harmony-driven piece.[6] Likewise, "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid—originally a calypso-inflected number—undergoes a stylistic overhaul to orchestral pop, incorporating gunshot-like drums and expansive Wall of Sound harmonies that evoke the Ronettes' girl-group era.[6] Key examples highlight Wilson's fusion of disparate elements for emotional impact, such as the medley combining Snow White tracks like "Whistle While You Work" with "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" from the Pirates of the Caribbean theme park attraction, where counterpoint arrangements blend the originals' playful motifs into a unified, harmony-rich pop narrative.[6] Subtle updates to classics like "Baby Mine" from Dumbo further exemplify this, with added vocal harmonies enhancing the lullaby's tenderness and underscoring Wilson's intent to honor the songs' melodic essence through his pop sensibilities.[9]Track listing
The standard edition of In the Key of Disney consists of 11 tracks, each a cover of a song from a Disney film, arranged and produced by Brian Wilson.[17] The album applies Wilson's signature harmonic style to these selections.[1] The total runtime is 37 minutes and 42 seconds.[1]| No. | Title | Original Disney film | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "You've Got a Friend in Me" | Toy Story (1995) | Randy Newman | 2:42 |
| 2 | "The Bare Necessities" | The Jungle Book (1967) | Terry Gilkyson | 3:13 |
| 3 | "Baby Mine" | Dumbo (1941) | Washington/Churchill | 3:30 |
| 4 | "Kiss the Girl" | The Little Mermaid (1989) | Ashman/Menken | 3:55 |
| 5 | "Colors of the Wind" | Pocahontas (1995) | Schwartz/Menken | 4:01 |
| 6 | "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" | The Lion King (1994) | Rice/John | 3:42 |
| 7 | "We Belong Together" | Toy Story 3 (2010) | Newman | 3:57 |
| 8 | "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" | The Lion King (1994) | Rice/John | 3:39 |
| 9 | "Stay Awake" | Mary Poppins (1964) | Sherman/Sherman | 2:50 |
| 10 | Medley: "Heigh-Ho / Whistle While You Work / Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) / Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) / Pirates of the Caribbean attraction (1967) | Morey/Churchill / Morey/Churchill / Atencio/Bruns | 3:29 |
| 11 | "When You Wish Upon a Star" | Pinocchio (1940) | Washington/Harline | 2:45 |
| No. | Title | Original Disney film | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" | Cinderella (1950) | 2:51 |
| 13 | "Peace on Earth" | Lady and the Tramp (1955) | 2:12 |