The Polar Express: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the animated film of the same name. It features fourteen tracks, which include six songs original to the film, six popular Christmas carols that were also heard in the film, and two pieces of score. It was released on November 2, 2004 through Warner Sunset Records, eight days before the film's theatrical release.
The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in November 2007. It has sold 724,000 copies in the United States, making it the best selling film soundtrack/holiday album hybrid since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking music sales in 1991.
On February 27, 2005 at the 77th Academy Awards, the song, "Believe," performed by Josh Groban and the fourth track on the album, was nominated for Best Original Song. It was also sung at the 77th Academy Awards show by Groban with Beyoncé Knowles. A year later, it won a Grammy Award.
Track listing
| No. | Name | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | "The Polar Express" | Tom Hanks | 3:25 |
| 02 | "When Christmas Comes to Town" | Matthew Hall and Meagan Moore | 4:07 |
| 03 | "Rockin' on Top of the World" | Steven Tyler | 2:35 |
| 04 | "Believe" | Josh Groban | 4:18 |
| 05 | "Hot Chocolate" | Tom Hanks | 2:33 |
| 06 | "Spirit of the Season" | Alan Silvestri | 2:33 |
| 07 | "Seeing is Believing" | Alan Silvestri | 3:47 |
| 08 | "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" | Frank Sinatra | 2:35 |
| 09 | "White Christmas" | Bing Crosby | 3:05 |
| 10 | "Winter Wonderland" | The Andrews Sisters | 2:43 |
| 11 | "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" | Perry Como with The Fontane Sisters | 2:40 |
| 12 | "Silver Bells" | Kate Smith | 2:39 |
| 13 | "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" | Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters | 3:04 |
| 14 | "Suite from the Polar Express" | Alan Silvestri | 6:02 |
Trivia
- The two scores, as well as five of the six original songs, also appear on The Polar Express: Original Motion Picture Score.
| Merchandise | |
| Toy trains | Bachmann • Brio • Lionel |
| Board games | The Polar Express Game • Matching Game • Train-Opoly |
| Books | The Polar Express • A Guide for Using The Polar Express in the Classroom • The Art of the Polar Express • The Gift of Christmas • All Aboard the Polar Express • The Journey Begins • The Magic Journey • Trip to the North Pole • Keepsake Memory Book • Shadowbook • The Movie Scrapbook |
| Albums | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack • For Your Consideration |
| Other | Cereal • Video Game • CD-ROM Multimedia Edition |