Post #144030 by Atomobile on Tue, Mar 1, 2005 3:49 PM

Last week I had the chance to listen to the Disneyland 6 CD set (95% completed) that I've helped out a bit on. Mostly, I was blown away by the material and it's quality. There were a few issues I pointed out and hopefully will be fixed. The box set will include the COMPLETE Enchanted Tiki Room show AND the pre-show. The source of the Tiki Room material is from the newly restored sources (same with the pre-show). All I can say is that the Tiki Room has NEVER sounded this good. Of course, I couldn't tell what the edits on the actual show will be (i.e. Offenbach) because the box set will include the complete show while the actual show will be slightly edited as has been in the last 10 years. You can hear every instrument and vocal as never before. Please do not make a big deal out of this (or I'll get in trouble), but those overdubs made in the 90's (i.e. Female vocals added to Heigh Ho) are still present and that one gong sound was still missing (but was added to the box set version). The pre-show is of AMAZING sound quality. They are all the original voices, but some of the sound effects were replaced by newly recorded ones. At first it freaked me out, but then I heard the original tracks and concluded that (as much of a purist as I am) the new SFX are a real improvement. I only noted 2 obvious changes: The "Midnight Dancer's" drums are newly recorded with the same drums and same drum beat patterns, but now with new clarity. The most stricking change is Pele and the Earth Balancer's SFX. The low-end earthquake rumble sounds like a THX demonstration, and when Pele's fire erupts, it does so with explosive sounds. Actually, I found this to be very impressive. The announcer's welcome is still the same from 1963 but HEAVILY edited. I believe these edits were made a few years ago. Basically they cut out the references to no food, drinks allowed as they now allow them. And of course the references to United Airlines which were cut back in the 60's. It makes for a very short welcome announcement. I can say for sure that the box set audio is the definite version to own. Down the line, the Enchanted Tiki Room CD soundtrack sold at Disneyland will be updated with the newly restored version and will continue to have the great Adventurous Jungle Cruise track featuring Thurl (Tangaroa). As far as I know, the pre-show will still not be on this single CD, but I'll try my best to convince them otherwise. The Jungle Cruise track will not be on the box set. What WILL be on the box sets sold at Disneyland is an acurate reproduction of the Walt Takes You to Disneyland LP on golden vinyl which includes all the background music heard on that Jungle Cruise track.
I could go on and on about the box set, but I don't want to be quoted on all those Disney websites. Besides, the box set will be coming out soon enough. The target release date is 05-03-05, but I assume Disneyland will hold off selling it until 2 days later when the 50th celebration starts. There will also be 2 CD set of the Disneyland Resort (meaning Disneyland and California Adventure) sold as a souvenir for the not-so-hardcore collectors. Besides those 2 releases, there will be an even shorter 1 CD 50th released nationwide only. The box set is expected to eventually make a nationwide release minus the vinyl record.
Ok, I'll keep this short. I just wanted you all to know that the Tiki Room material is well represented on the box set and to save moeny for it ($125). The box set is actually worth every penny. Besides 6 CDs (nearly 8 hours of audio), it will also include a fancy hardcover book with Disneyland music info and great rare pictures, as well as the vinyl all house on a great big box (around 12 X 12).
Other Tiki Room merchandise rumors I heard are: Barker Bird reproduction, Tangaroa lamp, 60's Tiki Room Aloha shirt reproduction. We've also heard here on TC about the Adventureland mug by Shag/Tiki Farm.
Did I say I was keeping this short?
Your friend,
Louis