Hercules Soundtrack (1997): Hercules is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy comedy film from Walt Disney Feature Animation, loosely based on the Greek myth of the hero Heracles (Hercules), son of Zeus. It was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and produced by Alice Dewey (Goldstone), with music by longtime Disney composer Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel.
Quick Facts
| Title | Hercules |
| Release Date | June 27, 1997 |
| Director | Ron Clements and John Musker |
| Producer | Alice Dewey (Goldstone) |
| Composer | Alan Menken (music), David Zippel (lyrics) |
| Studio | Walt Disney Feature Animation |
| Budget | $85 million |
| Box Office | $252.7 million worldwide |
| Soundtrack Release | May 27, 1997 (Walt Disney Records) |
| Where to Watch | Disney+ |
Who Composed the Hercules Soundtrack?
The songs were written by composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) with lyricist David Zippel, who joined the project in 1994. Co-director John Musker suggested building the songs around gospel music as a modern stand-in for the Greek chorus, an idea Menken embraced even though he had originally leaned toward a more classical, Greek-influenced sound. Most of the songs are performed by a five-woman gospel group playing the Muses: Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, and Vanéese Y. Thomas.
The film’s score was also composed by Menken and orchestrated by Danny Troob and Michael Starobin. For the single version of “Go the Distance,” Menken personally selected pop singer Michael Bolton to record it; the song went on to earn nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, both ultimately lost to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic. The soundtrack album was released May 27, 1997 by Walt Disney Records and later certified Gold in the US and Canada.
Hercules Soundtrack List (Every Song)
You can listen to the soundtrack on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, and Apple Music.
| No. | Song | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Long Ago…” | Charlton Heston (Narrator) |
| 2 | “The Gospel Truth I/Main Title” | Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
| 3 | “The Gospel Truth II” | Roz Ryan |
| 4 | “The Gospel Truth III” | Lillias White, LaChanze, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
| 5 | “Go the Distance” | Roger Bart |
| 6 | “Oh, Mighty Zeus” | Alan Menken (score cue) |
| 7 | “Go the Distance (Reprise)” | Roger Bart |
| 8 | “One Last Hope” | Danny DeVito |
| 9 | “Zero to Hero” | Tawatha Agee, Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
| 10 | “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” | Susan Egan, Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
| 11 | “A Star Is Born” | Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
| 12 | “Go the Distance” (single version) | Michael Bolton |
| 13 | “A True Hero/A Star Is Born (Finale)” | Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, Vanéese Y. Thomas |
Cast
The voice cast includes Tate Donovan as the adult Hercules, Danny DeVito as Philoctetes (“Phil”), James Woods as Hades, Susan Egan as Megara (“Meg”), Rip Torn as Zeus, Samantha Eggar as Hera, and Charlton Heston as the film’s narrator.
Where to Stream Hercules
Hercules is available to stream on Disney+. Released theatrically on June 27, 1997 by Buena Vista Pictures, the film underperformed relative to earlier Disney Renaissance titles like The Lion King and Aladdin, grossing $252.7 million worldwide against an $85 million budget, but it received generally positive reviews and remains a fan favorite for its gospel-infused soundtrack and comic performances from James Woods and Danny DeVito.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Hercules soundtrack?
The songs were composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by David Zippel. Menken also composed the film’s underscore, which was orchestrated by Danny Troob and Michael Starobin. It was Menken’s final full Disney Renaissance-era animated feature.
Who sings “Go the Distance” in Hercules?
Broadway actor Roger Bart sings “Go the Distance” and its reprise in the film itself. A separate single version, included at the end of the soundtrack album, was recorded by Michael Bolton, who was personally chosen by Alan Menken.
Who are the Muses that narrate Hercules?
The five Muses who narrate and sing much of the score are voiced by Lillias White, LaChanze, Roz Ryan, Cheryl Freeman, and Vanéese Y. Thomas, performing in a gospel style that co-director John Musker suggested as a modern stand-in for a Greek chorus.
How much did Hercules make at the box office?
Hercules grossed $252.7 million worldwide against an $85 million budget. It underperformed compared to other Disney Renaissance films of the era but still turned a profit and received mostly positive reviews.
Where can I watch Hercules (1997) today?
Hercules streams on Disney+. It’s also available to rent or purchase digitally on major platforms like Amazon Video and Apple TV.
Related reading: Browse more movie soundtracks, visit the Disney+ streaming guide, or check the streaming hub for more platforms.