ReviewI came into this album with low expectations. I had just listened to "Sing-Along Party" and "Freddie & His Dreaming Knights" back-to-back, so I had almost given up on the idea that there were any lost gems hidden in the grooves of the albums from this often forgotten era of the band. I was shocked to then find that this album is middlingly enjoyable, albeit in moderation. "The Ugly Bug Ball" kicks this album off, and I'm surprised with how much life they kick into this one, it almost sounds like a real rock song. Mind you, I've never heard the original, so take this with a grain of salt. "When You Wish Upon A Star" shows just how good of a singer Freddie could be. He may be overly-reliant on his mediocre falsetto, but he hits every note perfectly. The arrangement is also phenomenal, albeit nearly identical to the original. "When I See An Elephant Fly" is a wonderful song with great lyrics, although that credit should go (begrudgingly) to Disney. I must say, I can easily see why Mr. Garrity went on to be a children's T.V. host, as his voice suits a song like this perfectly. The ending sounds somewhat ominous though, which is perfectly out of place on a song like this. Wonderful! "Winnie The Pooh" is not the best Disney song IMO, but they do it alright, I guess. "Chim Chim Cheree" If I had a nickel for every time that I've heard this song, I would have about $1.95, although it feels like I'd be a millionaire. To say that I'm sick of this song is an overstatement, but this version is nothing new. "Heigh Ho" is the only song on this album that I had heard before, and it's easily the best thing on here. The off-key intro is brilliant, the harmonies are wonderful, the strings are beautiful, the horns are triumphant, and it's one of only two times on the album that we get any backing vocals (the other time being the final track) and I actually prefer this version to the original. "The Unbirthday Song" is another song that I've never heard before, but I wish that I had. I do think that Freddie could've done with a few more takes, as he's a bit off in spots. "The Siamese Cat Song" ignoring any outdated factors there are in this song, this just isn't very good to begin with. But I mean, come on! That accent? That won't fly under my roof. I expect better from you, Freddie, although at this point, I'm not sure why. "Whistle While You Work" is one of the best songs every featured in a Disney movie, and is a perfect choice for this album. It's not as good as I want it to be, but it makes me think of simpler times, and I'm very young, so that's impressive. If you want a better version of this song, I highly recommend NRBQ's version. "Give A Little Whistle" I used to think that this and the last song were the same song, and it's easy to see why. I may actually prefer this song to "Whistle While You Work", both with Disney, and with Freddie. "The Ballad Of Dick Turpin" Never heard this one either, but I'm going to have to seek out the original. The arrangement is again wonderful, and for once, the guitar is given more of a chance to shine. It almost sounds like a real band at some points. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" We all know how brilliant this song is, and so does Freddie. He delivers it perfectly, and so does everybody else on it. For once, Freddie's manic personality actually adds something to the song. It's energetic, fun, and makes a good finale.
Overall, this is a pretty good album, although there are very few instances where it sounds like the work of a Rock group. But comparing it to the band's other albums around this time, this a masterpiece, and yes, I'm aware of how ridiculous that may sound. And yes, it isn't actually that good. But seriously, those other albums are awful.