Oliver & Company (soundtrack)

In late 1984 or 1985,{{Efn|Although George Scribner has stated that the "Gong Show" happened in late 1984,{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=20}} several sources stated that it happened in 1985.{{cite web |last=Everett |first=Clayton |date=June 6, 2002 |title=Treasure Island as it has never been seen before |url=http://www.scene-magazine.com/archive/filmarchive.php?filmarcid=38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330210757/http://www.scene-magazine.com/archive/filmarchive.php?filmarcid=38 |archive-date=March 30, 2009 |access-date=May 8, 2011 |work=The Scene Magazine}}{{cite video |title=Treasure Planet DVD Bonus Materials: Visual Commentary |year=2003 |medium=DVD |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment |people=Ron Clements, Roy Conli, Dan Cooper, Roy E. Disney, Ian Gooding, Glen Keane, John Musker, John Ripa}}{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=|p=71}} It is unknown which time-frame is more accurate.}} Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg invited twenty film executives to pitch potential ideas for upcoming animated features, infamously called the "Gong Show".{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Thomas (reporter) |date=December 5, 1988 |title=Animation still draws the crowds: [Final Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/239277730 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=Ottawa Citizen |publication-place=Ottawa, Ontario |issn=0839-3222 |id={{ProQuest|239277730}}}}{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=|p=71}} After Ron Clements had pitched The Little Mermaid (1989) and Treasure Planet (2002) to Eisner and Katzenberg,{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=|p=71}} story artist Pete Young suggested, "Oliver Twist with dogs."{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=|p=71}} The next day,{{Cite video |title=The Little Mermaid: Platinum Edition — Audio Commentary |type=DVD |publisher=Walt Disney Home Entertainment |year=2006 |people=John Musker, Ron Clements, Alan Menken}} Katzenberg, who had previously developed a live-action adaptation of the musical Oliver! at Paramount,{{cite news |last=Culhane |first=John |date=November 13, 1988 |title='Oliver & Company' Gives Dickens A Disney Twist urban scene from an appropriate rooftop. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/13/movies/film-oliver-company-gives-dickens-disney-twist-urban-scene-appropriate-rooftop.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525085252/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/13/movies/film-oliver-company-gives-dickens-disney-twist-urban-scene-appropriate-rooftop.html |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |access-date=July 10, 2015 |work=The New York Times}}{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=|p=72}} approved the pitch for possible development, along with The Little Mermaid.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|pp=71–72}}

Early in production, there was an attempt to involve the music with the film.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} Director George Scribner wrote a "mental note" to not treat Oliver as a musical where the story would "abruptly stop" and "go into a song."{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} Each song of the film was instead written as an extension of a character.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}}

The soundtrack of Oliver & Company had multiple producers, with each song written with a different composer and producer, and a different arrangement date.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} Various songwriters submitted songs in a range of musical styles, but many of them did not fit with the film's premise.{{sfn|Koenig|1997|p=192}} Dodger's song "Why Should I Worry?" was the first song written for the film.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} It was originally written as dialogue, but Scribner suggested the songwriters, "Forget where we're going to take this music, or the fact that it will be on an album. I don't care if it's released as a single or not. Write for the picture, write for character."{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} Billy Joel was initially approached to write a song,{{cite news |last=Willistein |first=Paul |date=November 19, 1988 |title=A New York State Of Voice In Animated Film Billy Joel Speaks For Dodger The Dog |url=https://www.mcall.com/1988/11/19/a-new-york-state-of-voice-in-animated-film-billy-joel-speaks-for-dodger-the-dog/ |access-date=July 10, 2015 |newspaper=The Morning Call}}{{Cite news |last=Gelmis |first=Joseph |date=April 20, 1988 |title=Disney Going Back to the Kids: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/277941177 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=Newsday |publisher=Newsday LLC |pages=15 |publication-place=Long Island, New York |id={{ProQuest|277941177}}}} but he decided he would "rather act in the movie." Joel agreed to sing the song despite the song not written by himself.{{Cite news |last=Portman |first=Jamie |date=December 10, 1988 |title=Oliver with a twist – it's no dog |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1111647377/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=Telegraph-Journal |pages=37}} It was the first song sung by Joel that he did not write. A gospel and blues musical number was intended to open the film, but it was considered "too dark".{{sfn|Koenig|1997|p=|pp=192–193}} At his suggestion of his friend David Geffen, Katzenberg brought in lyricist Howard Ashman, who composed the song "Once Upon a Time in New York City".{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=89}} Tina Turner was also intended to sing the opening number.{{Sfn|Fleming|2016|p=191}} "It's a Jungle Out There",{{sfn|Koenig|1997|p=193}} written by Herbie Hancock, had Jenny playing with Oliver while playing a record with a "jungle rhythm", causing the setting to transition from Jenny's bedroom to an imagination taking place in a jungle.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}} The song was meant to be used in the film, but it was discarded after the story was revised.{{Sfn|McCracken|1989|p=23}}

Katzenberg wanted to recruit a team of singer-songwriters to provide a song, which included Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, and Huey Lewis.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=89}} Disney's former senior vice president for feature animation Peter Schneider felt Katzenberg's idea was a wrong way to approach a musical.{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=89}} According to Schneider, The Little Mermaid (1989), which was concurrently in development, was the right approach as the film needed "a unifying score and lyrics."{{sfn|Stewart|2005|p=103}} Billy Joel and Bette Midler, who voiced Dodger and Georgette respectively, also performed their characters' songs, "Why Should I Worry?" and "Perfect Isn't Easy".{{Cite news |last=Willistein |first=Paul |date=December 2, 1988 |title=LIP SERVICE VOICES BEHIND 'OLIVER & COMPANY' HAD TO SHOW A LOT OF CHARACTER: [FIFTH Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/392308522 |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=The Morning Call |publisher=Tribune Publishing Company |location=Allentown, Pennsylvania |issn=0884-5557 |id={{ProQuest|392308522}}}} The instrumental score tracks were composed by J. A. C. Redford, under the supervision of Carole Childs.{{cite interview |last=Noyer |first=Jérémie |title=Once Upon A Time In New York City: Oliver & Company's Composer J.A.C. Redford! |url=http://animatedviews.com/2009/oliver-co-composer-jac-redford/ |access-date=July 10, 2015 |website=Animated Views |date=February 2, 2009}} Redford was hired to compose the score because of his previous collaboration with Disney music executive Chris Montan on the television series St. Elsewhere.

The soundtrack was first released on November 11, 1988 by Walt Disney Records.{{Cite news |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=November 7, 1988 |title=Pop Goes the Kiddie Record Market: [Home Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/280581278 |access-date=February 2, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=1 |publication-place=Los Angeles, California |id={{ProQuest|280581278}} |quote=Some of pop's biggest selling acts-including Billy Joel, Huey Lewis and Bette Midler-will be featured on the sound track to "Oliver & Company," a new animated feature from Disney that is aimed at children. The album is due Friday on Walt Disney Records.}} It was the first soundtrack album release under the Walt Disney Records label.{{Cite magazine |last=DiMartino |first=Dave |date=November 19, 1988 |title='Oliver' Track Launches Disney Subsid Label |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/226988366 |url-status=live |access-date=November 27, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |location=New York |pages=84 |volume=100 |issue=47 |issn=0006-2510 |id={{ProQuest|226988366}}}} No songs were released as singles due to contractual agreements.{{cite news |last=Willistein |first=Paul |date=November 19, 1988 |title=A New York State Of Voice In Animated Film Billy Joel Speaks For Dodger The Dog |url=https://www.mcall.com/1988/11/19/a-new-york-state-of-voice-in-animated-film-billy-joel-speaks-for-dodger-the-dog/ |access-date=July 10, 2015 |newspaper=The Morning Call}} However, "Why Should I Worry?" did receive radio airplay in Philadelphia. The soundtrack was re-released on February 29, 1996.{{Cite magazine |last=McCormick |first=Moira |date=September 21, 1996 |title='Oliver': Promos, glorious promos |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/227083791 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |location=New York |pages=61–62 |volume=108 |issue=38 |issn=0006-2510 |id={{ProQuest|227083791}}}}

The soundtrack received acclaim from film critics, particularly "Why Should I Worry?" and "Perfect Isn't Easy". Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave a positive review on the songs in his review, praising three songs, including "Why Should I Worry?" and "Perfect Isn't Easy".{{cite news |last=Canby |first=Vincent |date=November 18, 1988 |title='Oliver,' With Twists, From Disney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/18/movies/reviews-film-oliver-with-twists-from-disney.html |access-date=November 2, 2021 |work=The New York Times |page=C8}} Beth Dunlop of The Miami Herald commented that "the music has a wonderful range from sweetness to syncopation."{{Cite news |last=Dunlop |first=Beth |date=November 20, 1988 |title=Oliver & Company: New film Disney delight for kids, parents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/634211843/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20songs |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=The Miami Herald |pages=868}} Bob Ross of The Tampa Tribune praised the soundtrack as "sappy".{{Cite news |last=Ross |first=Bob |date=November 26, 1988 |title=2 animated films merit holiday viewing" / "'Oliver' boasts snappy songs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/337795959/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20songs |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=The Tampa Tribune |pages=78–79}} Dave Jewett of The Columbian commented that "Why Should I Worry?" "sounds like like it could be Joel's next hit."{{Cite news |last=Jewett |first=Dave |date=November 23, 1988 |title=Disney's 'Oliver' a twist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/817177389/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=The Columbian |pages=34}} Lin Connery of Calgary Herald praised "Why Should I Worry?" and "Perfect Isn't Easy", the latter being stated that Midler "almost steals the show with her petulant performance."{{Cite news |last=Connery |first=Lin |date=December 16, 1988 |title=Oliver is perfect holiday fare |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/484466366/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=Calgary Herald |pages=74}} Joe Baltake of The Sacramento Bee stated that "the few songs [there] are delightfully urbane in a childlike way."{{Cite news |last=Baltake |first=Joe |date=November 22, 1988 |title='Oliver' doesn't have the Disney look |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/624378779/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=39}} Glenn Lovell of Knight-Ridder picked "Why Should I Worry?" and "Perfect Isn't Easy" as the most memorable songs in the film.{{Cite news |last=Lovell |first=Glenn |date=November 24, 1988 |title='Oliver & Company' shows positive step for Disney animators |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/788663344/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 11, 2025 |work=The Chapel Hill Herald |pages=6}} Malcolm L. Johnson of Hartford Courant described "Once Upon a Time in New York City" and "Why Should I Worry?" as "boffo opening numbers" and "Perfect Isn't Easy" as a "show-stopper".{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Malcolm L. |date=November 19, 1988 |title=Disney puts new twist on 'Oliver' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/373814451/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Hartford Courant |pages=36}}

Jeff Strickler of Star Tribune commented that "Why Should I Worry?" is the "snappiest song", with the other songs that stood out being "Streets of Gold" and "Perfect Isn't Easy".{{Cite news |last=Strickler |first=Jeff |date=November 18, 1988 |title=Disney movie: new Twist, old delight for kids 3 and up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/191149759/?terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Star Tribune |pages=5E–6E}} Ben Yagoda of Philadelphia Daily News stated that a few of them are "so catchy that [he was] still humming them a week after seeing the film."{{Cite news |last=Yagoda |first=Ben |date=November 18, 1988 |title=Nicely Twisted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186484750/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Philadelphia Daily News |pages=56}} Linda Cook of Quad-City Times had an enthusiastic response about the music, praising the songs as "great, particularly 'Why Should I Worry?'." Cook also commented: "Other offerings from Bette Midler, Huey Lewis, and Ruth Pointer could a provide a best-selling soundtrack."{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=Linda |date=November 24, 1988 |title=A musical 'Oliver' is the cat's meow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/306225436/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=29}} Bruce R. Miller of The Sioux City Journal said that the "Top 40 score", along with the choreography, "both work beautifully". Miller described "Once Upon a Time in New York City" as "Oscar-worthy" and stated that "by the time Billy Joel checks in with 'Why Should I Worry?', the film is rocking."{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Bruce R. |date=November 18, 1988 |title='Oliver' joins Disney's best |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/337197205/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=The Sioux City Journal |pages=24}} Jack Daugherty of Record-Journal positively reviewed the soundtrack as "one of the most contagious musical scores of any of Disney movie in recent memory."{{Cite news |last=Daugherty |first=Jack |date=November 25, 1988 |title='Oliver & Company' pure Disney |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/676881064/?match=1&terms=oliver%20and%20company%20why%20should%20i%20worry |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=Record-Journal |pages=40}} During the film's theatrical re-release in 1996, Barry Walter of The San Francisco Examiner praised "Perfect Isn't Easy", saying that it "suggests the wit and panache of gay sensibility that Disney would embrace with great success in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast."{{cite news |last=Walters |first=Barry |date=March 30, 1996 |title=Bones to pick with dog movies, old and new |url=http://www.sfgate.com/style/article/Bones-to-pick-with-dog-movies-old-and-new-3148287.php |access-date=July 10, 2015 |work=San Francisco Examiner}}

All of the scores listed were composed by J. A. C. Redford.{{track listing

| headline = Side one

| extra_column = Recording artist(s)

| total_length = 17:59

| title1 = Once Upon a Time in New York City

| note1 = ^{{{anchor|ref_A}}[A]}

| length1 = 3:55

| writer1 = {{hlist|Barry Mann|Howard Ashman}}

| extra1 = Huey Lewis

| title2 = Why Should I Worry?

| note2 = ^{{{anchor|ref_B}}[B]}

| length2 = 3:32

| writer2 = {{hlist|Dan Hartman|Charlie Midnight}}

| extra2 = Billy Joel

| title3 = Sykes

| note3 = Score

| length3 = 2:17

| title4 = Bedtime Story

| note4 = Score

| length4 = 4:39

| title5 = Streets of Gold

| note5 = ^{{{anchor|ref_C}}[C]}

| length5 = 3:36

| writer5 = {{hlist|Dean Pitchford|Tom Snow}}

| extra5 = Ruth Pointer

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Side two

| extra_column = Recording artist(s)

| total_length = 17:41

| title1 = Perfect Isn't Easy

| note1 = ^{{{anchor|ref_D}}[D]}

| length1 = 2:58

| writer1 = {{hlist|Barry Manilow|Jack Feldman|Bruce Sussman}}

| extra1 = Bette Midler

| title2 = Good Company

| note2 = ^{{{anchor|ref_E}}[E]}

| length2 = 2:30

| writer2 = {{hlist|Ron Rocha|Robert Minkoff}}

| extra2 = Myhanh Tran

| title3 = The Rescue

| note3 = Score

| length3 = 3:24

| title4 = Pursuit Through the Subway

| note4 = Score

| length4 = 3:45

| title5 = Buscando Guayaba

| length5 = 3:48

| writer5 = Rubén Blades

| extra5 = Blades

| title6 = End Title

| note6 = Score

| length6 = 1:16

}}

• A{{anchor|endnote_A}}^ Produced by Stewart Levine
• B{{anchor|endnote_B}}^ Produced by Phil Ramone
• C{{anchor|endnote_C}}^ Produced by Tom Snow
• D{{anchor|endnote_D}}^ Produced by Barry Manilow
• E{{anchor|endnote_E}}^ Produced by J. A. C. Redford

{{Notelist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last=Beck |first=Jerry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fTI1yeZd-tkC |title=The Animated Movie Guide |date=October 28, 2005 |publisher=A Cappella Books (Chicago Review Press) |isbn=1-55652-591-5 |edition=1st |location=Chicago, Illinois |access-date=September 19, 2024}}
• {{cite book |last=Koenig |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/mouseunderglasss0000koen |title=Mouse Under Glass: Secrets of Disney Animation & Theme Parks |publisher=Bonaventure Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-964-06051-7 |location=Irvine, California |url-access=registration}}
• {{cite book |last=Stewart |first=James |author-link=James B. Stewart |url=https://archive.org/details/disneywar00jame_0 |title=DisneyWar |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2005 |isbn=0-684-80993-1 |location=New York |url-access=registration}}

{{Refend}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{Cite news |last=McCracken |first=Harry |author-link=Harry McCracken |year=1989 |title=Once Upon a Time in New York City: An Interview with George Scribner, Director of Oliver & Company |url=https://archive.org/details/animato_201912/Animato%2018/page/20/mode/2up?view=theater |access-date=September 1, 2024 |work=Animato! |pages=20–23 |publication-place=Cambridge, Massachusetts |issue=18 |issn=1042-539X}}
• {{Cite news |last=Fleming |first=Patrick C. |year=2016 |title=Dickens, Disney, Oliver, and Company: Adaptation in a Corporate Media Age |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1813155689 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |work=Children's Literature Association Quarterly |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |pages=191 |publication-place=Baltimore, Maryland |volume=41 |issue=2 |issn=0885-0429 |id={{ProQuest|1813155689}}}}

{{Refend}}{{Oliver Twist|state=collapsed}}{{Howard Ashman}}{{Billy Joel}}{{Authority control}}

Category:1988 soundtrack albums

Category:1980s film soundtrack albums

Category:Soundtracks by American artists

Category:Disney animation soundtracks

Category:Howard Ashman soundtracks

Category:Albums produced by Phil Ramone