Buena Vista Records to Release Gnomeo & Juliet Original Soundtrack on February 8th

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Buena Vista Records is set to release the soundtrack for the Touchstone Pictures animated comedy adventure film "Gnomeo & Juliet" on February 8, 2011. The 14-track album features nine new and classic songs by one of pop music's all-time greatest songwriting teams, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and performed by Sir Elton himself. Among the key tracks are two new songs, "Hello Hello" and "Love Builds a Garden," as well as a sensational remake of Elton's #1 hit from 1973, "Crocodile Rock," sung as a duet with Nellie Furtado. The soundtrack also includes selections from Oscar®-nominated composer James Newton Howard and Chris Bacon. 

Classic Elton John recordings featured in the soundtrack include "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (a duet with Kiki Dee), "Bennie and the Jets," "Tiny Dancer" and "Your Song."    Said Elton, "I've always written with Bernie. He writes the lyrics and I write the melody, and I like it that way.  The film is a big love story and very funny."

Multiple Tony®, Grammy® and Oscar®-winning singer, songwriter, musician and humanitarian Sir Elton John is one of pop music's living legends. Over his four-decade career, he has sold more than a quarter of a billion records, and enjoyed more than 50 Top 40 hits. His success runs the gamut, from recorded music and the concert hall, to film and Broadway triumphs. Billboard Magazine has ranked him the most successful male solo artist in history.  His first effort writing music for an animated film was "The Lion King," a 1994 box-office hit that spawned the Tony®-award winning Broadway show.

Like his longtime writing partner, Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful songwriters in pop history. Said Taupin of the songs he and Elton wrote for the film, "In describing the music all I can say is that I had to reevaluate myself with any pop sensibilities still lurking in my decidedly un-pop brain. Cue some old Beatles circa 'Magical Mystery Tour' and voila, that sounded like a good starting point."

James Newton Howard and Chris Bacon created the score for the movie, incorporating iconic Elton John-Bernie Taupin melodies such as "Tiny Dancer," "Rocket Man," "Bennie & The Jets" and "I'm Still Standing," among others in his score, several selections of which are included on the soundtrack. A former member of Elton's band, Howard has written the scores of such films as "Pretty Woman," "The Fugitive," "The Sixth Sense," "Michael Clayton" and the recently released "The Green Hornet."  Bacon apprenticed with Howard for several years before branching out on his own, scoring films like "Space Chimps" and "Waking Sleeping Beauty."

Based on William Shakespeare's immortal love story, "Gnomeo & Juliet" gives the play a comic off-the-wall makeover. Two garden gnomes, Gnomeo (voice of James McAvoy) and Juliet (voice of Emily Blunt) try to avoid tragedy and find a happy ending to their star-crossed love affair. But with plastic pink flamingos, feuding neighbors and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?   Also featured in the cast are the voices of Oscar®-winners Michael Caine and Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Ozzy Osbourne, Dolly Parton and Hulk Hogan.

What drew Elton John to the project? "'Romeo and Juliet' is one of the greatest love stories of all time," says Elton John, who also served as executive producer. "And garden gnomes are huge in many countries throughout the world.  We thought this would be a really good idea."

In U.S. theaters on February 11, 2011, "Gnomeo & Juliet" is produced by Baker Bloodworth, Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish, and executive produced by Elton John. The film is rated G by the MPAA. 

The "Gnomeo & Juliet" soundtrack will be available wherever music is sold on February 8. For more information on Buena Vista Records' releases, please visit Disney.com/music, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusic or follow us at Twitter.com/disneymusic. 

SOURCE Buena Vista Records