On
June 26, 1999, Disneyland released (in conjunction with the Art of the Haunted
Mansion special event held at the park) a 30th anniversary limited edition
CD honoring the Haunted Mansion. The disc was produced by Red Dot Net, a
digital on demand company, meaning that each CD is burned individually,
rather than being "pressed" from a glass master disc as most mass-marketed
CDs are. The discs were sold for $19.99 through the same channels that sold
the now-defunct on-demand "Disneyland Forever" custom CDs, although
the Haunted Mansion discs came in special pre-assembled jewel cases with
a very informative booklet. The track listing, as it appeared in the booklet,
is listed below.
The Haunted Mansion 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Compact Disc
Track 1: Walt Disney 0:26
In this 1965 clip from the "Disneyland 10th Anniversary"
television program, Walt takes eager viewers behind-the-scenes to
preview concepts for the Haunted Mansion, joined by Disney legend
Marc Davis and the first Disneyland Ambassador, Julie Reihm.
Track 2: Welcome 2:02
A pair of unused introductions to the Mansion, performed by actress
Eleanor Audley (Madame Leota) and brilliant voice talent Paul Frees
(The Ghost Host).
Track 3: The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland 22:28
The original chills and thrills, from the first creaking threshold
to the last groaning tombstone. Paul Frees "etherealizes"
as our Ghost Host while Thurl Ravenscroft's distinctive bass voice
resounds through the graveyard. Stay alert, though; this soundtrack
assembly includes a few never-before-heard surprises.
Track 4: The Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World
1:00
When the Haunted Mansion materialized in 1971 in the Magic Kingdom
at the Walt Disney World Resort, it was nearly identical to the Disneyland
show, with the addition of these brief but eerie audio tracks, actually
recorded at the same time as the Disneyland soundtrack.
Track 5: The Haunted Mansion at Tokyo Disneyland
1:31
When Tokyo Disneyland opened in April of 1983, the Haunted Mansion
was there, towering over Fantasyland. The attraction was a duplicate
of the Walt Disney World show - in English - except for a chilling
narration delivered by a Japanese speaking Ghost Host (T. Hori).
Track 6: Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris 12:48
In 1990, Vincent Price recorded a narration for Phantom Manor - but
the show concept changed and his narration was never used. (Editor's
note from Doombuggies.com: This statement is apparently untrue. It
seems that Price's narration WAS heard in the attraction, for a limited
time.) Mr. Price's performance is heard hear for the first time anywhere.
The entrancing musical arrangements were created by John Debney.
Track 7: The Genius of Paul Frees 4:01
A collection of out-takes and unused narration from the original Haunted
Mansion, providing a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at the work of
Paul Frees. The voice of Marc Davis can be heard in the background,
as he and X. Atencio direct the recording sessions.
Track 8: Otherworldly Music 3:32
World-renowned organist Gaylord Carter performed these unheard versions
of the Haunted Mansion music under the direction of composer and Disney
Legend Buddy Baker.
Track 9: Three Ghostly Voices 2:55
First, Eleanor Audley, who voiced several Disney animated villains,
awakens "creepies and crawlies" with these out-takes from
her recording sessions as Madame Leota and the Raven. Next, veteran
Disney character actor Pete Renoudet gives a supernaturally good audition
performance as the Ghost Host. And third, Imagineer Leota Toombs (who
appeared as both the face of Madame Leota and the face and voice of
Little Leota) is heard in these never-before-released vocal takes
for Madame Leota.
Track 10: Spooky Sound Effects 4:48
Here are some of the eeriest music tracks and sound effects from the
Haunted Mansion. Many of the sound effects were created by Disney
Legend Jimmy MacDonald.
Track 11: Original Radio Advertisements 2:55
Original radio advertisements in the summer of 1969 featured Lennie
Weinrib as the Daring Reporter, Ginny Taylor as the Ghost Son, and
Paul Frees recreating his role as the Ghost Host, as well as playing
the parts of Phineas Pock, Willie the Wisp, and Granny Ghoul.
Track 12: Breakdown and Unload Spiels 0:55
The show's writer, X. Atencio, provided his own voice for the foreboding
"breakdown" spiels and some "unload" spiels that
never materialized.
Additionally, the first 999 CDs sold contained a
13th Bonus Track:
Track 13: (Bonus Track) 1:58
In order to create "otherworldly" sounds, composer Buddy
Baker experimented with new ways to create haunting music. For the
flute player in the Graveyard Combo, he wrote out the sheet music
for "Grim Grinning Ghosts" in a backwards order. The sound
engineers then recorded the musician playing this reversed sheet music.
When the tape is played "backwards" in the attraction, the
melody once again becomes "Grim Grinning Ghosts," but with
the air being pulled through the instrument in the opposite direction.
Here is the isolated flute track-"backwards" as it is heard
in the attraction, then, heard for the first time since Spring of
1969 when it was originally recorded, "forwards" as it was
actually played. As the flute plays forwards, the drum track plays
backwards. In order to create the sound of bones beating on a tombstone,
the drummer counted out the rhythm while his drumsticks pounded on
two rocks!
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