It is hard to find a dud among the more than 50 years of recordings by the , but this 2023 release, marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Walt Disney Studios, is among the more ambitious of the bunch. It didn't have to be; the match of the ' pop inflections with material was perfect to begin with, but there is more. The group commissions fresh arrangements from a variety of composers, several of them quite well-known ( makes an appearance), and they offer fresh angles on familiar songs. Try the rather ruminative . Moreover, the line up world-class guest stars, including mezzo-soprano and trumpeter , and these get into the spirit of the recording. Best of all, the album succeeds satisfyingly in its aim of paying tribute to the music of . The songs date back to , from 1937's , but most are quite contemporary, and they show the remarkably unified thread that runs through the studio's musical productions. This thread is one that rock ( , in ) and country ( , in the delightful "Not in Nottingham") songwriters have adapted themselves to. In short, this is a release that is splendidly listenable from start to finish. ~ James Manheim