Various Artists - Toy Story Soundtrack

Randy Newman began his partnership with Disney Pixar in 1995 with the Toy Story Soundtrack, a collection of pop tunes and orchestral compositions about Woody, Buzz, and friends. Newman's classic "You've Got a Friend" alone makes this album one of the best Disney Pixar soundtracks of all time.

The Artist

Singer/songwriter Randy Newman ("I Love L.A.," "Short People," "Mama Told Me {Not to Come}") has composed five soundtracks for Disney Pixar, beginning with Toy Story in 1995, followed by A Bug's Life in 1998, Toy Story 2 in 1999, Monsters, Inc. in 2001, and Cars in 2006.

His songwriting career began back in 1964 with tunes recorded by Irma Thomas, Jerry Butler, Gene Pitney, and Cilla Black, among others. Newman's first soundtrack effort was 1971's Cold Turkey, although his next effort, 1981's Ragtime, really put him on the soundtrack map.

The Music

There's no denying the appeal of Newman's first three songs on the Toy Story Soundtrack. It wouldn't have mattered if "You've Got a Friend in Me" had been a radio hit, a television show theme song, or a movie soundtrack tune, this ditty was destined to be a classic. The soulful rocker "Strange Things," a song reminiscent of Newman's pop hit "I Love L.A." and the heartbreaking "I Will Go Sailing No More" are also great tunes written by Randy Newman specifically for the Toy Story Soundtrack.

The rest of the Toy Story Soundtrack is comprised of orchestral pieces composed by Newman, including the heroic and stately "Buzz," the mysterious and exciting "Soldier's Mission," and the "Mutants" theme, which brings in swatches of "You've Got a Friend in Me" to show that the mismatched toys are friends, too.

Other highlights include the tender "Hang Together," the strident "On the Move," and the thrilling and adventurous "Infinity and Beyond." The Toy Story Soundtrack ends with a second version of "You've Got a Friend in Me," this time a nifty duet between composer Randy Newman and singer Lyle Lovett. Both "You've Got a Friend in Me" and "Infinity and Beyond" were included on the recently-released Disney Pixar Greatest Soundtrack CD.

The Verdict

The Toy Story Soundtrack was given an Annie Award for "Music in an Animated Feature Production" and a Chicago Film Critics Association Award for "Original Score." Because of Toy Story's place in animation history and the universal popularity of Randy Newman's "You've Got a Friend in Me," the Toy Story Soundtrack will always be considered a classic.

Released November 22, 1995; Walt Disney Records

Track Listing

1. "You've Got a Friend in Me" Performed by Randy Newman (2:04)
2. "Strange Things" Performed by Randy Newman (3:18)
3. "I Will Go Sailing No More" Performed by Randy Newman (2:57)
4. "Andy's Birthday" (5:58)
5. "Soldier's Mission" (1:29)
6. "Presents" (1:09)
7. "Buzz" (1:40)
8. "Sid" (1:21)
9. "Woody and Buzz" (4:29)
10. "Mutants" (6:05)
11. "Woody's Gone" (2:13)
12. "The Big One" (2:51)
13. "Hang Together" (6:02)
14. "On the Move" (6:18)
15. "Infinity and Beyond" (3:09)
16. "You've Got a Friend in Me" Performed by Randy Newman and Lyle Lovett (2:42)