Hello, and welcome to my first reader requested review! I know it took me a little while to get to this, but with new releases in full swing for the summer, I really haven’t had time to review much else. But now, for my first reader request, I’ll be talking about…Mickey Mouse Disco. Yes, really. Now what is Mickey Mouse Disco, you ask? Well, buckle up ladies and gentlemen, you’re in for quite a ride.
Mickey Mouse Disco is a novelty record, released by Disney in 1979. As one might guess from the title, it is a compilation of disco renditions of classic Disney songs, as well as “Disney-fied” versions of popular disco tunes of the time. Despite the fact that this album is now entirely irrelevant, somebody at Disney saw fit to re-release it on Record Store Day this year, in honor of the album’s 40th anniversary. And if you think that’s crazy, my brother saw it fit to request that I put time and energy into reviewing the damn thing. So I guess that’s what I’m about to do.
I’ll just tell you all right of the bat, if you’re older than like five, you will probably find this thing pretty annoying. The songs are repetitive, the lyrics are stupid, and on tracks such as “Macho Duck” and “Watch Out For Goofy!” classic disco tunes are invaded by obnoxious impressions of Disney characters. I guess maybe it’s supposed to be funny, but I didn’t really laugh.
In terms of positives…well, I guess there’s a pretty soulfully performed rendition of “It’s a Small World.” And the musicianship and production are honestly world class, no complaints there. But then again, this is Disney we’re talking about. That’s like the bare minimum we can expect from any music to come from this company.
Perhaps my biggest point of confusion regarding this album is where the market for this was. I understand that disco was huge in the 1970s, but a Disney disco album? Could that really be profitable? Well apparently yes. Mickey Mouse Disco is certified 2x Platinum in the United States, selling over 2 million copies. I’m aware that there are many avid Disney collectors around who probably contributed to a big chunk of this number, but that’s also undoubtedly an alarming number of people who felt they needed to purchase Mickey Mouse Disco for the kiddos, or perhaps themselves. And if you were ever a parent who purchased this record, and your kids played it to death on the old family Victrola, let me just say, from the bottom of my heart I’m sorry.
In conclusion, Mickey Mouse Disco may be good fun for young…very young…children, but for me, and presumably most other adults besides my brother, it’s headache-inducing stuff. The performance and production are up to par with our expectations for Disney (and that’s where the points I give this album mostly come from), but that doesn’t make the songs themselves tolerable. But hey, if there’s anybody out there reading this who has just really been dying to hear a Disney album in the style of 1970s disco music, then I’m here to tell you, you’re in luck. As for me, Mickey Mouse Disco isn’t my style, or my sense of humor.
Score: 3/10
Favorite Song(s): It’s a Small World, Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Least Favorite Song(s): Macho Duck, Watch Out For Goofy!, The Greatest Band, Mousetrap
Phil Klinker Music Reviews 