The Little Mermaid was a turning point in Disney's fortunes and as such represents a fascinating starting point for this superb boxed set. The opening track is a much extended version of the opening number, Fathoms Below. This seems to have originally included dialogue as this demo version shows. It is perhaps better that it was cut to only a brief section as the final version seems to perfectly introduce the setting. The most fascinating tracks are more often than not the work tapes that are just Alan Menken and Howard Ashman messing around with ideas and the one for Part of your World. However, it would appear that not a lot was required to polish this song for the final version. The work tape for Under the Sea is even more fun and is Alan Menken attempting to communicate his calypso idea to Howard Ashman until they launch into a section of the song proper. The demo for this song shows what a great personality Howard Ashman was as not only a lyricist, but as a vocalist. His voice for Sebastian in Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl as well as his French chef for Les Poissons are great. The demos sometimes feature synth percussion and instruments or just singing with the piano, but all demonstrate what the potential for the songs were. Perhaps the somewhat samey sound through a lot of the songs means you need to have a little imagination to guess what they would be like in the end, but when you finally hear the film version, it all comes together perfectly.
Sebastian and Triton is interesting from the fact that it was a test run for Alan Menken to see if he could cut it as instrumental composer as well as song composer. That would also make it the first bit of underscore he composed for a movie and it certainly puts across the style he has maintained right to this day, even if he's got a little more sophisticated lately! There are quite a few of the other orchestral tracks that are placed at the right moment in the score as would have been heard in the film. I find this makes the more overtly comic moments more palatable as they are broken up just a little bit more. Only a couple of tracks of underscore are missing, but all the songs are there.
Silence is Golden is perhaps even more fascinating than the other demos since it wasn't actually used. I would have to admit that I'm glad that it wasn't as Poor Unfortunate Souls is a much better interpretation of a song for Ursula. The demo version is somewhat long winded and features more material for Ursula, rather than the final ending which features Ariel transferring her voice as she wordlessly intones her theme (from Part of Your World). In both cases, Ashman makes a superb Ursula! The final tracks segues from Alan Menken bashing his piano (like I am prone to do!) into the final minute of the final track and it is most thrilling when you hear the orchestra jumps in and concludes a superb and extremely interesting disk.
Total Time ~ 62:43