The Disney Channel movies High School Musical and High School Musical 2 were a surprise hit, and it's no surprise that High School Musical 3: Senior Year is making its debut on the big screen.

While the teen soap opera scripts and kid-stars were reason enough for the popularity of the High School Musical franchise, it's the music that tied everything together. Ask any pre-teen, and they'll probably be able to sing you a few verses without any additional prompting!

That's why it's also no surprise that there will be a soundtrack CD hitting stores right before the theatrical opening of the movie. On October 21st, the original soundtrack CD and the "Premiere Edition CD & DVD" package hits stores, featuring the cast singing new songs from the new movie, as well as a"Graduation Remix" of "We're All in This Together" which was one of the staples from the first two movies.

The two-disc Premiere Edition includes the soundtrack CD as well as a DVD of behind-the-scenes footage, the movie trailer, a music video, 3 ringtones, a voicetone, a mobile game, mobile wallpaper, plus digital downloads. If you have an HSM fan in your house, I think I know which edition you'll be getting!

The full press release for the soundtrack appears below. For more information about High School Musical 3: Senior Year, including a full plot summary, cast listing, photos, videos, and links to the official web site and more, please see the Information Page for the movie.

If you're interested in picking up one of the soundtrack CD's, I have included handy links to Amazon.com. Purchases through these links help support this site, so please consider doing so!

• Two-Disc High School Musical 3: Senior Year Premiere Edition [CD+DVD] [ENHANCED] -- Amazon.com
• Single Disc High School Musical 3: Senior Year [CD] [ENHANCED] -- Amazon.com

Press Release

"High School Musical 3: Senior Year" Reunites Cast Stars and World-Class Songwriters in New Walt Disney Records Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

October 08, 2008 04:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The kids from East High are still in this together, as the original stars from Disney Channel’s phenomenal “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2” reunite, this time on the big screen for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.” Walt Disney Records’ companion soundtrack CD features ten new songs written by world-class songwriters such as Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, Jamie Houston, Andy Dodd and Adam Watts, all of whom contributed to both previous “High School Musical” scores. Directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” opens in theaters on October 24, while the Walt Disney Records soundtrack hits stores October 21.

By every measure, “High School Musical” is the most successful film and soundtrack franchise of the decade. The phenomenon leaps onto the big screen in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR, in which America’s favorite high school students (ZAC EFRON, VANESSA HUDGENS, ASHLEY TISDALE, LUCAS GRABEEL, CORBIN BLEU and MONIQUE COLEMAN) hit senior year. Amidst a basketball championship, prom and a big spring musical featuring all of the Wildcats, Troy and Gabriella vow to make every moment last as their lifelong college dreams put the future of their relationship in question. A crew of sophomore Wildcats (MATT PROKOP, JUSTIN MARTIN, JEMMA MCKENZIE-BROWN) joins in the fun as the film’s incredible new music and exciting dance numbers take maximum advantage of the big screen.

Composer David Lawrence and music supervisor Steven Vincent also return to continue the “High School Musical” tradition. The Walt Disney Records soundtrack features all-new songs, including “Now or Never” (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), “Right Here, Right Now” (Jamie Houston), “I Want It All” (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), “Can I Have This Dance” (Adam Anders/Nikki Hassman), “A Night to Remember” (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), “Just Wanna Be With You” (Andy Dodd/Adam Watts), “The Boys Are Back” (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil), “Walk Away” (Jamie Houston), “Scream” (Jamie Houston), and “High School Musical” (Matthew Gerrard/Robbie Nevil).

Says director/choreographer Ortega: “The songwriters have turned out a soundtrack that I think is the best of all. It serves the story. It serves the characters. It’s dynamic, rhythmic, romantic, funny, orchestral, symphonic and choral. It gets as big as it can and as intimate as it can and everything in between.”

Earlier this year, “High School Musical” turned in the #1 best-selling album globally for the second consecutive year, according to the IFPI (which represents the recording industry worldwide). In 2006, the “High School Musical” soundtrack was the world’s best-selling album, with over 7 million units in sales, while “High School Musical 2” followed up with 6 million units sold, marking the first time the same franchise has topped the chart for two years in a row. Year to date, the “High School Musical” audio franchise has sold more than 14 million units worldwide.

About “High School Musical”

Disney’s “High School Musical” premiered in January 2006 on Disney Channel U.S. and posted the highest ever ratings for a Disney Channel Original Movie at the time. It went on to become a smash hit internationally, airing on 27 Disney Channels and free-to-air broadcasters worldwide. It has reached over 250 million viewers in over 20 languages across 100 countries including China. It was also the first TV movie to be offered on the iTunes Music Store.

The quadruple-platinum “High School Musical” soundtrack was the #1 album of 2006 and was the year’s #1 TV movie on DVD. It also delivered licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a best-selling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, a sold-out 52-date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America, and a popular touring ice show around the world.

Adding to its success, the film won two Emmy Awards, an Imagen Award and a Director’s Guild of America Award among other honors. It received a Billboard Music Award (Soundtrack of the Year) and was nominated for an American Music Award. Its critically acclaimed sequel, “High School Musical 2,” ranks as the #1 basic cable telecast of all time (18.6 million viewers for its August 17, 2007 premiere) and thus far has been seen by more than 293 million total viewers, in 24 languages, around the world. The High School Musical 2 soundtrack is triple platinum and its DVD release was the top-selling TV property on DVD for 2007. “High School Musical: Summer Session,” a talent search series, premiered in July on the ABC Television Network.

Source: Walt Disney Records