Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedMay 27, 1997
Recorded1996–1997
Genre
Length47:56
LabelWalt Disney
ProducerAlan Menken, David Zippel
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
(1996) 		Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
(1997) 		Mulan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
(1998)
Singles from Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
  1. "Go the Distance"
    Released: May 27, 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Filmtracks[2]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[3]

Hercules: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1997 Disney animated feature film, Hercules. It consists of music written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel, orchestrated by Daniel Troob and Michael Starobin,[4] with vocals performed by Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Roger Bart, Danny DeVito, and Susan Egan among others. The album also includes the single version of "Go the Distance" by Michael Bolton.

Background

In 1994, David Zippel was attached to write the lyrics for the songs for the film, teaming up with Alan Menken.[5] Zippel had previously collaborated with Menken on the cabaret revue titled It's Better With a Band, and the musical Diamonds, directed by Harold Prince.[6] Distinctively for the film, the idea to incorporate gospel music for the songs was suggested by co-screenwriter and co-director John Musker, although Menken preferred "something very classic and Greek—a Candide approach".[7] Musker explained, "Gospel is a storytelling kind of music. It can be exhilarating, especially when it gets everybody on their feet. We were looking for a modern equivalent for the Greek references and this style of music seemed to be entertaining and a real departure at the same time."[8] The Spice Girls were originally approached to portray the Muses following an invitation to sing one of the songs, but declined the offer due to scheduling conflicts.[9]

For the single version of "Go the Distance", Michael Bolton was personally chosen by Menken to record the song,[10] in which Columbia Records paid an undisclosed figure to Walt Disney Records for the rights to the soundtrack.[11] For the Spanish version of the film, "Go the Distance" was redone by Ricky Martin and released as a single under the title "No Importa La Distancia" and was also very successful, both inside and outside the United States. In the Turkish version of the film, "Go the Distance" was sung by Tarkan, who also performed the vocals for the adult Hercules. "Go the Distance" was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, but ultimately lost both to Celine Dion's hit "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic.

Belinda Carlisle recorded two versions of "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)" as well as a music video for promotional purposes. Though the English version eventually opted not to use it, several foreign dubs have it in place of the reprise of "A Star Is Born" in the ending credits. These dubs include, but are not limited to, the Swedish one, the Finnish one, the Icelandic one and the Russian one. The DVD release of the Swedish dub has replaced it with the reprise of "A Star Is Born".

Track listing

All lyrics are written by David Zippel; all music is composed by Alan Menken

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Long Ago..."Charlton Heston0:30
2."The Gospel Truth I/Main Title"Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas2:25
3."The Gospel Truth II"Roz Ryan0:59
4."The Gospel Truth III"Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas1:05
5."Go the Distance"Roger Bart3:14
6."Oh Mighty Zeus" 0:46
7."Go the Distance (Reprise)"Roger Bart0:57
8."One Last Hope"Danny DeVito3:00
9."Zero to Hero"Tawatha Agee, Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas2:20
10."I Won't Say (I'm in Love)"Susan Egan, Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas2:20
11."A Star Is Born"Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas2:04
12."Go the Distance (Single)"Michael Bolton4:42
13."The Big Olive" 1:07
14."The Prophecy" 0:53
15."Destruction of the Agora" 2:07
16."Phil's Island" 2:25
17."Rodeo" 0:39
18."Speak of the Devil" 1:30
19."The Hydra Battle" 3:28
20."Meg's Garden" 1:14
21."Hercules' Villa" 0:37
22."All Time Chump" 0:38
23."Cutting the Thread" 3:23
24."A True Hero/A Star Is Born (Finale)"Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman and Vanéese Y. Thomas5:33
Total length:47:56

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ^ "Hercules [Original Soundtrack] – Alan Menken | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  2. ^ "Filmtracks: Hercules (Alan Menken)". www.filmtracks.com. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  3. ^ "Review: Soundtrack (Disney) – Hercules | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  4. ^ Hercules (Original Score) at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. ^ Gray, Tim (March 17, 1994). "Disney puts on a glitzy 'Lion' show". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  6. ^ Longsdorf, Amy (December 17, 1994). "Lyricist David Zippel Helping To Put The Tune In Cartoons". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  7. ^ Snetiker, Marc (January 22, 2015). "Alan Menken tells the stories behind songs from 'Little Mermaid,' 'Aladdin,' and more Disney classics". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  8. ^ "Hits from a myth; Hercules has memorable melodies and glorious gospel...but not a bouzouki in sight". Sunday Mirror. October 5, 1997. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  9. ^ Millar, John (June 20, 1997). "No Spice for Herc; Girl power flexes some muscle at Disney, as John Millar finds out". The Daily Record. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Vincent, Mal (June 27, 1997). "Herc Goes Hip Disney Offers A New Take On Greek Mythology With "Hercules," The Movie". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2015. (Partial rendition from HighBeam Research archived article)
  11. ^ Sandler, Adam (March 4, 1997). "Bolton going the 'Distance' for 'Hercules' soundtrack". Variety. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3257". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  13. ^ "Top 200 Albums | Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. 1997-07-26. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  14. ^ "Michael Bolton - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  15. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – Hercules - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Music Canada. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  16. ^ "British album certifications – Alan Menken – Hercules - Ost". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Hercules". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
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