Rainbow Brite and the Brook Meadow Deer by Sarah Leslie

There were several factors at work, among them that Disney’s in-house record company was firing on all cylinders in the early ‘80s. When Tim Hollis and researched our book, Mouse Tracks: The Story of Walt Disney Records, one of our many questions was, “Why were the Rainbow Brite records so especially good?” Even so, the overwhelmingly high quality of the melodies and the scope of the productions exceed just “sweet” and “cute.” These are truly spectacular records, an example of how high the level can be, regardless of a somewhat limited budget, even for Disney. Of course, much more is to be expected of Disneyland and Buena Vista Records. Kid Stuff’s extensive record line featuring Rainbow’s berry-biggest rival was already in almost every store (the soundtrack albums are in this Spin). Characters like Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake and the like were everywhere at the time. However, if one was a Disney record enthusiast, it would be obligatory to add to one’s library, regardless of the affinity.

Let’s face it-when Rainbow Brite and the other denizens of Rainbow Land were popular characters on TV and mountains of merchandise back in the 1980s, their appearance on records might only cause rejoicing if one was a fan.

Songs: “Make Room for a Rainbow Inside,” “The Pits,” “Starlite-Rainbow Brite” by Patrick, Bourland, Gift and Hughes “In the Twink of An Eye,” “A Color Symphony,” “The First Part of Friendship is Friends,” “Bink! Bonk!” “Paint a Rainbow in Your Heart” by Patty Silversher, Michael Silversher “Rainbow Land” by Joey Carbone, Lois Blaisch. Michael Silversher (Twink) Corey Burton (Murky Dismal) Pat Fraley (Lurky) Will Ryan (Starlite) Stacey O’Brien (Patty O’Green) Lois Blaisch (Soloist on “Rainbow Land”), The Color Kids. Performers: Bettina Bush (Rainbow Brite). Children’s Choral Direction: Betty Joyce. RAINBOW BRITE: PAINT A RAINBOW IN YOUR HEARTīuena Vista Records #62523 (Standard Vinyl) #63156 (Picture Disc) (12” 33 1/3 RPM / Stereo) A perfect storm of talent at Disney’s Buena Vista label turned Hallmark’s contribution to adorable ’80s character franchises into some of the most outstanding records of the era.

Rainbow Brite and the Brook Meadow Deer by Sarah Leslie