The Lion King (1994 soundtrack)

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Artwork for original release
Soundtrack album by
Elton John, Hans Zimmer and various artists
Released
  • May 31, 1994 (original release)
  • September 30, 2003 (Special Edition)
Recorded1992–1994[1]
Studio
Genre
Length
  • 46:40 (1994 original release)
  • 52:08 (2003 Special Edition)
LabelWalt Disney
Producer
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology
Aladdin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1992) 		The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1994) 		Pocahontas: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
(1995)
Elton John chronology
Duets
(1993) 		The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1994) 		Chartbusters Go Pop
(1994)
Singles from The Lion King: An Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  1. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
    Released: May 2, 1994
  2. "Circle of Life"
    Released: August 9, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic (for 2003 Special Edition)[2]
Robert ChristgauC[3]
Filmtracks[4]
Smash Hits3/5[5]
Sputnikmusic5/5[6]
Vox(10/10)[7]

The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the eponymous Disney film. It contains songs from the film written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer. Elton John has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include Lebo M, Carmen Twillie, Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Joseph Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Sally Dworsky. The album was released on May 31, 1994, on CD and audio cassette. The soundtrack was recorded in three different countries: the U.S., the U.K. and South Africa. It is the best-selling soundtrack album to an animated film in the United States with over 7 million copies sold, with 4,934,000 copies sold in 1994.[8] Hans Zimmer was awarded an Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995. An expanded version of The Lion King soundtrack, featuring 30 minutes of previously unreleased material, was released as part of the Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection series on June 24, 2014. In 2014, Hot Topic released a vinyl picture disc of the soundtrack.[9]

In 2010, Rhapsody included the soundtrack as one of 10 essential Disney and Pixar soundtracks.[10]

  1. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/24/movies/lion-king-simba-jason-weaver.html#:~:text=During%20an%20hour%2Dand%2Da,pridelands%20from%20his%20father%2C%20Mufasa.
  2. ^ Legget, Steve. "The Lion King – Hans Zimmer". AllMusic (Allrovi). Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1994). "Consumer Guide: Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  4. ^ Clemmensen, Christian (September 24, 1996). "Review: The Lion King". Filmtracks Publications. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  5. ^ Cochrane, Emma (July 20, 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits. p. 61. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  6. ^ "Soundtrack (Disney) - the Lion King (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic".
  7. ^ Phillips, Shaun. "Review: Various Artists – The Lion King (Phonogram 522690-2)". Vox. No. VOX48, September 1994. p. 104.
  8. ^ Grein, Paul (April 30, 2014). "Chart Watch: Sell 14K Albums, Make The Top 10". Yahoo Music.
  9. ^ Grisham, Lori (May 7, 2014). "Walt Disney Records to release legacy collection". USA Today. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  10. ^ 10 Essential Disney & Pixar Soundtracks Archived October 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Referenced July 27, 2010