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The Simpsons Sing the Blues

 
Album Review: The Simpsons Sing the Blues
 

  • Artist: The Simpsons
  • Rating: StarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1990
  • Total Time: 40:13
  • Genre: Rock

Review

This musical spin-off of the animated television series retained the same skewed-life humor that made the show a hit and tried to instigate a dance craze ("Do the Bartman"). Not really a comedy album, though it certainly contains funny moments ("Look at All Those Idiots," "Deep Deep Trouble"). Despite its smart-ass front, it sneaks in some subversive musical education, too: no album that includes Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child," Randy Newman's "I Love to See You Smile" and a parody of King Curtis's "Memphis Soul Stew" (redone as "Springfield Soul Stew") can be all bad. ~ Brian Mansfield, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Do the Bartman Bryan Loren The Simpsons (5:10)
School Days Chuck Berry The Simpsons (3:57)
Born Under a Bad Sign William Bell, Booker T. Jones The Simpsons (3:08)
Moanin' Lisa Blues John Boylan, Jai Winding, Mike Reiss The Simpsons (4:48)
Deep, Deep Trouble Matt Groening The Simpsons (4:28)
God Bless the Child Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog Jr. The Simpsons (4:30)
I Love to See You Smile Randy Newman The Simpsons (3:07)
Springfield Soul Stew The Simpsons (2:37)
Look at All Those Idiots John Boylan, Jeff Martin, Jai Winding, Sam Simon The Simpsons (3:51)
Sibling Rivalry John Boylan, Jai Winding The Simpsons (4:42)

Credits

Brian Mann (Accordion), Dr. John (Piano), Buster Poindexter (Vocals), John Sebastian (Harmonica), Joe Walsh (Guitar), Joe Walsh (Slide Guitar), John Capek (Keyboards), John Capek (Programming), John Capek (Keyboard Programming), Kim Richmond (Sax (Alto)), Tom Scott (Sax (Tenor)), Andrew Gold (Guitar), Andrew Gold (Guitar (Rhythm)), Marcy Levy (Harmony Vocals), Michael Thompson (Guitar), Michael Thompson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Bryan Loren (Instrumental), Bryan Loren (Vocals (Background)), Bryan Loren (Producer), Bryan Loren (Engineer), Bryan Loren (Mixing), The Simpsons (Main Performer), Lisa Angelle (Harmony Vocals), Gerry Beckley (Programming), Michael Botts (Drums), John Boylan (Programming), John Boylan (Producer), John Boylan (Sampling), Alexandra Brown (Harmony Vocals), Rosemary Butler (Harmony Vocals), Emilio Castillo (Sax (Tenor)), David Cole (Vocals), Victor Emanuel Cooke (Assistant Engineer), Victor Emanuel Cooke (Assistant), Richard Cottrell (Engineer), DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Scratching), DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Keyboards), DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Producer), DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (Drum Programming), Guy DeFazio (Engineer), George Doering (Guitar (Acoustic)), Chuck Domanico (Bass (Acoustic)), Kevin Dukes (Guitar (Rhythm)), Bob Glaub (Bass), Steve Grove (Sax (Tenor)), Paul Grupp (Engineer), Mick Guzauski (Engineer), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), B.B. King (Guitar), Nick Lane (Trombone), Julie Last (Assistant Engineer), Mark Leonard (Bass), Mark Leonard (Fretless Bass), Steve Madaio (Trumpet), Roger McGuinn (Banjo), Brian Mendelsohn (Synclavier), Doug Norwine (Sax (Baritone)), Timothy B. Schmit (Harmony Vocals), Duane Seykora (Assistant Engineer), Duane Seykora (Assistant), Stephanie Spruill (Harmony Vocals), Barton Stevens (?), Barton Stevens (Assistant Engineer), Barton Stevens (Assistant), Barton Stevens (Shouts), Brett Swain (Assistant Engineer), Brett Swain (Assistant), Ron Taylor (?), Lee Thornburg (Trumpet), Wally Traugott (Mastering), Maxine Willard Waters (Harmony Vocals), David Woodford (Sax (Tenor)), Harry Shearer (?), Carol Farhat (Score Supervisor), Stephen Kupka (Sax (Baritone)), Michael Hart Thompson (Guitar (Rhythm)), Ernie Rose (Engineer), Lee Thornberg (Trumpet), Greg Adams (Trumpet), Lester Cohen (Photography), Bill Merryfield (Producer), Bill Merryfield (Design), Jai Winding (Piano), Jai Winding (Keyboards), Jai Winding (Programming), Jai Winding (Associate Producer), Jai Winding (Keyboard Programming), Jai Winding (Assistant Producer), Jesse Kanner (Engineer), Jesse Kanner (Assistant Engineer), Jesse Kanner (Assistant), Julia Tillman (Harmony Vocals), John Chamberlin (Assistant Engineer), John Chamberlin (Assistant), Julie Kavner (Vocals), Bleeding Gums Murphy (Vocals), Jeff Rach (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Rach (Assistant), Laurie Rox (Shouts), Richard Voltrop (Shouts), Teri Weigel (Vocals), Teri Weigel (Production Coordination), Matt Groening (Percussion), Matt Groening (Vocals), Matt Groening (Sampling), Bob Cobban (Engineer), Dan Castellaneta (Vocals), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Scratching), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Keyboards), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Drum Programming), John Moyer (Engineer), Nancy Cartwright (Vocals), Yeardley Smith (Vocals), Maggie Simpson (Percussion)
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Wikipedia: The Simpsons Sing the Blues
Top
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
The Simpsons Sing the Blues cover
Studio album by Matt Groening and The Simpsons
Released December 17, 1990 (Worldwide)
Recorded September 1990
Genre Various
Length 42:22
Label Geffen Records
Producer John Boylan,
Bryan Loren,
DJ Jazzy Jeff
Professional reviews
Matt Groening chronology
Crazy Backwards Alphabet
(1987)
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
(1990)
Stranger than Fiction
(1992)
The Simpsons chronology
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
(1990)
Songs in the Key of Springfield
(1996)
John Boylan chronology
The Simpsons Sing the Blues
(1990)
Chipmunks in Low Places
(1992)

The Simpsons Sing the Blues is the 1990 album released as an offshoot of The Simpsons. The album contained originally recorded music not featured in the series save for the first verse of the track "Moaning Lisa Blues" which was first featured in the episode Moaning Lisa, aired February 11 1990.

An early musical number, "Do the Bartman", leads the album as the first track and the first single released. It was an international success, including being the UK number one single on February 16, 1991, staying there for a further two weeks being certified Gold after selling over 400,000 copies.[1] This was over 5 years before the show was actually shown on mainstream British TV, though it had premiered on the satellite channel Sky One in 1990. The album was released in the same month, and reached number six. This song is considered a style parody.

Though "Bartman" was hugely popular on North American radio and video music channels, it was not released commercially as a single.

The second single released, "Deep, Deep Trouble" also did well in the UK, reaching number 7. Both "Do The Bartman" and "Deep, Deep Trouble" were released as music videos in 1991.

Different cast members lent their voices to the album with both new material and cover songs.

There were a number of notable musicians who appeared on the album, including B. B. King, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dr. John and Marcy Levy.

Contents

Chart Performance/Sales

The album The Simpsons Sing the Blues was released in September 1990 and was a success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest charting Simpsons album.[2] On February 13, 1991 it was certified 2x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[3]

The album was also a success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at #6 on the country's albums chart. The album was eventually certified Gold in the UK.

Track listing

  1. "Do the Bartman" (anonymously co-written and co-produced by Michael Jackson)
  2. "School Days" (originally by Chuck Berry)
  3. "Born Under a Bad Sign" (originally by Albert King)
  4. "Moanin' Lisa Blues"
  5. "Deep, Deep Trouble" (Matt Groening)
  6. "God Bless the Child" (originally by Billie Holiday)
  7. "I Love to See You Smile" (originally by Randy Newman)
  8. "Springfield Soul Stew" (based on "Memphis Soul Stew" by King Curtis)
    • Marge Simpson
  9. "Look at All Those Idiots" (Jeff Martin, Sam Simon, Jai Winding)
  10. "Sibling Rivalry" (John Boylan, James L. Brooks, Jai Winding)
    • Bart Simpson
    • Lisa Simpson

Singles

Information
"Deep, Deep Trouble"
  • Released:
  • Written by: Matt Groening, DJ Jazzy Jeff, the Fresh Prince
  • Produced by:
  • Chart positions: #7 (UK)
"Do the Bartman"
  • Released: November 20, 1990
  • Written by: Bryan Loren, Michael Jackson (uncredited)
  • Produced by: Michael Jackson
  • Chart positions: #1 (UK)
"God Bless the Child"
  • Released:
  • Written by: Billie Holiday & Arthur Herzog Jr.
  • Produced by:
  • Chart positions:

Discography

Country Label Format Catalog
USA Geffen Cassette M5G 24308
USA Geffen Vinyl GHS 24308
USA Geffen CD 9 24308-2
USA Geffen Goldline Cassette M5G 24308
USA Geffen Goldline CD 24308
Canada Geffen Cassette GEBBC-24308
Canada Geffen CD GEBBD-24308
Canada Geffen Vinyl
Germany Geffen Cassette
Germany Geffen Vinyl
Germany Geffen CD 7599-24308-2
Germany Geffen CD GED 24 308/GEFD 24 308
UK Geffen Cassette
UK Geffen Vinyl
UK Geffen CD GFLD 19201
USA Geffen CD Promo 9 24308-2

References


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Simpsons Sing the Blues" Read more

 

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