"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Bedknobs and Broomsticks" Soundtrack Description

Questions and Answers

Was there a 2002 release of the soundtrack?

Yes. Walt Disney Records reissued an expanded CD on August 13, 2002 with restored/bonus material from the film sessions (according to AllMusic).

Who created the songs and who handled the score?

The Sherman Brothers (Richard M. & Robert B.) wrote the songs; Irwin Kostal supervised, arranged, and conducted the score and musical direction (as stated by Disney’s D23).

Does the album include “The Age of Not Believing”?

It does—Angela Lansbury’s performance is included. The song earned an Oscar nomination in 1971.

What signature numbers from the film appear on the 2002 album?

Highlights include “Portobello Road,” “The Beautiful Briny,” “Substitutiary Locomotion,” and overture/main title cuts featured in stereo (per Apple Music’s listing).

Is the 2002 edition just the songs, or any score cues?

It primarily compiles film vocals and key musical set pieces; the reissue expands running time vs. the original LP and folds in additional cues and demos noted by collectors.

Is this the stage musical recording?

No. This is tied to the film. A separate stage adaptation premiered decades later with added material by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill.

Notes & Trivia

• The 2002 CD expanded the classic Buena Vista LP, running about 38 minutes and restoring material cut from early home releases (according to AllMusic).
• Irwin Kostal—fresh off Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang—again shaped the Shermans’ songs with lush orchestration and tight vocal timing (per Disney’s D23 profile).
• “The Age of Not Believing” snagged an Academy Award nomination; it functions as both character study and film thesis.
• The famous marketplace ballet “Portobello Road” exists in longer reconstruction edits than the original 1971 release.
• Later stage adaptation (2021–22 UK/Ireland tour) added new numbers by Neil Bartram—separate from this 2002 film album.

Overview

Why does a family fantasy about an apprentice witch feel like a full-bodied movie musical? Because the soundtrack treats whimsy with craft. The Sherman Brothers write melodies that carry plot, while Irwin Kostal’s orchestrations make each number feel theatrically staged—even when the set is an animated lagoon.

The 2002 reissue crystallizes that balance. You get Angela Lansbury’s crystalline storytelling (“The Age of Not Believing”), David Tomlinson’s patter and charm, and ensemble showcases like “Portobello Road.” It’s an album that plays as a miniature of the film: seaside sparkle, wartime grit, and a finale that marches—literally—into magical defense. (as noted by AllMusic)

Genres & Themes

• Classic film musical craft → Broadway-shaped song forms, crisp reprises, and counter-melodies that move story beats.
• Orchestral fantasy-adventure → Kostal’s brass and woodwinds frame magic as practical, not fluffy—so the jokes land and the stakes feel real.
• Music-hall & wartime color → “Portobello Road” and “Old Home Guard” lean into 1940s London vernacular—community voice as character.
• Romance & reassurance → Waltz-time glow in “The Beautiful Briny” softens the film’s harder WWII edges without denying them.

Key Tracks & Scenes

“The Age of Not Believing” — Angela Lansbury
Where it plays: Early in the film as Eglantine counsels a doubting child (~00:10:00). Non-diegetic vocal over domestic action.
Why it matters: A thematic north star about trust and growing up, and an Oscar-nominated song that defines the film’s heart.

“The Beautiful Briny” — Ensemble
Where it plays: The animated lagoon sequence as the bed dives under the sea (~00:40:00). Diegetic singing in a fantasy setting.
Why it matters: Waltz-time bliss; choreography and orchestration glide as one, giving the movie its dreamiest set piece.

“Portobello Road” — David Tomlinson & Company
Where it plays: London street-market search for a rare spell book (~00:55:00). Large ensemble with dance interludes.
Why it matters: A community panorama; the number expands the world, linking folk dance styles to London’s wartime melting pot.

“Substitutiary Locomotion” — Company
Where it plays: Payoff during the coastal battle when Eglantine animates museum armor to repel invaders (~01:40:00).
Why it matters: Score-song fusion: chant-like motif flips into marching bravado to turn props into an army—music as spellcasting.

“Overture / The Old Home Guard” — Ensemble
Where it plays: Titles and early village scenes, establishing WWII frame (~00:01:30).
Why it matters: Cheery patriotism with a wink; sets period color and contrasts later fantasy.

Music–Story Links (characters & plot beats)

• Doubt to belief: “The Age of Not Believing” charts internal change—first for the children, then for wartime Britain. The lyric doubles as mission statement.
• Escapism as courage: “The Beautiful Briny” isn’t distraction; it gives the family a pocket of safety, so they return braver.
• Community as engine: “Portobello Road” lets the crowd push the quest forward; every vendor becomes a guide or red herring.
• Magic goes practical: “Substitutiary Locomotion” translates incantation into logistics—music squares the rhythm so objects can “drill.”

How It Was Made (supervision, score, behind-the-scenes)

Irwin Kostal served as music supervisor/arranger/conductor, shaping the film’s musical language and integrating vocal timing with effects and animation. His collaborations with the Sherman Brothers had already yielded Mary Poppins; here, he balances parlor intimacy with spectacle. (as stated by Disney’s D23)

The 2002 CD reissue restored stereo presentation and expanded content versus the original LP, bringing the program closer to what audiences hear in the reconstructed version of the film. Collectors also note demo material and extended passages that illuminate how the set pieces were built. (according to AllMusic)

Reception & Quotes

Listeners treat the 2002 edition as the most practical single-disc way to experience the film’s music—song-forward, brisk, and in clean stereo. Fans praise the balance of novelty and craft: big tunes, tight counterlines, and a finale that still rouses.

“The Shermans’ melodies are deceptively simple; Kostal’s voicings make them fly.” Album note paraphrase, common to reissue-era writeups

“‘Portobello Road’ is world-building in a single number.” Fan consensus across soundtrack forums

Technical Info

• Title: Bedknobs and Broomsticks — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2002 Edition)
• Year: 2002 (film: 1971)
• Type: Musical (film soundtrack)
• Songs: Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman
• Score/Musical direction: Irwin Kostal (supervision, arrangements, conducting)
• Notable placements: “The Age of Not Believing” (early character turn); “The Beautiful Briny” (lagoon set piece); “Portobello Road” (market ballet); “Substitutiary Locomotion” (coastal defense climax)
• 2002 release label: Walt Disney Records; stereo program; expanded vs. original LP
• Availability: Streaming and digital storefronts in most regions; physical CD widely circulated (per Apple Music and Spotify listings).

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: AllMusic; Disney’s D23; Apple Music; Spotify; Wikipedia.

October, 23rd 2025