I'm due for a Top 5 list, but a recent release from Disney sparked this article, and I felt the need to write about it while it's still current. So, let's take a look at a new piece of Muppet Stuff.
The Beatles famously did it with The White Album. Several artists like Jay-Z, Metallica and even Prince did it with The Black Album. Now, it’s the Muppets turn as last week saw the release of The Green Album from Walt Disney Records. Muppets: The Green Album is technically not by the Muppets, but rather is a tribute album of sorts with some of the most famous and not so famous of Muppet songs being interpreted by a diverse lineup of today’s artists.
I had heard rumblings about this album some time ago and was happy to see that something new and hopefully interesting was being done with my beloved Muppets. OK, I guess they’re our beloved Muppets, but I prefer to think of them as mine. The Muppets occupied a significant portion of my childhood, considering I was born in 1968 and was part of the first Sesame Street generation. I was of the perfect age for The Muppet Show and the ensuing films, and–as some of you may know–began my career working for Jim Henson Productions right around the time of Jim’s untimely death in 1990. Needless to say, The Muppets are important to me and the merger of Disney and The Muppets seemed to put me at some sort of ease that they would continue to go on forever despite losing their creative genius so many years ago.
To be honest, the lack of quality Muppet material has troubled me over the years. I lived through a time when The Muppets were global phenomena and Jim’s creations were truly bridging gaps across the world. To see them become shells of their former selves and enter the “straight to DVD” world has been quite disheartening. I’ve turned my kids onto them and I’m quite sure that there are plenty of other parents out there that have done the same. So why aren’t The Muppets global phenomena once again? That’s a tricky question, and I’m not here to theorize on that (That’s a whole other article!), but hopefully a few things are going to increase their profile. Our biggest hope right now is coming on November 23rd when the new Jason Segel–scripted Muppet film is released. Jason is a mega–Muppet fan who pitched the film to Disney. To me (and this is no offense to Disney) that’s a huge positive. He wrote this as a fan that wants to see his beloved Muppets back on the big screen again; not as a corporate giant that wants to utilize an interest that they paid a bundle for. This is a great way to start. I’m hoping that he succeeds. I know my family will be there on the 23rd. You can count on that.
In anticipation of that hopeful Muppet rebirth, Walt Disney Records has released Muppets: The Green Album. I think it’s a great idea to get them back on the radar; not just through the usual glut of promotions and toy tie-ins, but through putting out some quality Muppet material in advance to remind people just how great the Muppet heyday was. The Muppets, much like Disney, have a huge musical treasure trove in their vaults. Like many of the most popular Disney tunes, some of the biggest Muppet songs are great songs, not just great kid songs. I think The Green Album does justice to these classics and hopefully will bring them back into the collective memory of the public. I bought this CD—not online, not at a record store (Are there any of those left?), but at Starbucks. I miss the days of flipping through the racks at Tower Records, but making sure this CD was available at Starbucks counters around the country was a stroke of genius. You certainly can’t miss Kermit’s face on the cover. I went in for a Venti Iced Tea and walked out with a new Muppet CD. Double score!
So, what’s good about this new compilation? Several things. First, as I just mentioned, Kermit’s iconic image on the cover constructed by the artist’s names is a great bit of eye-catching design.
The cover of Muppets: The Green Album. © Walt Disney Records.
The imagery on the inside cover and the liner notes booklet is fun:
Artwork on the inside cover and the CD itself. © Walt Disney Records.
The liner notes booklet. © Walt Disney Records.
I love the Statler and Waldorf pose on the back of the liner note booklet:
Statler and Waldorf on the back cover of the booklet. © Walt Disney Records.
Nice job of packaging, but how’s the music? That’s really the crucial part isn’t it? Let’s take a look at the included tracks.
1 – “The Muppet Show Theme” performed by OK Go. This one grew on me. I wasn’t crazy about the electronic sounds in the beginning, but after awhile I got it. Interesting take. There's a video available here to watch. Check it out. It's kind of fun.
2 – “The Rainbow Connection” by Weezer and Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams. Careful, this is sacred ground here. Seriously, Rainbow Connection has always been my favorite Muppet song and actually one of my all-time favorite songs in general. SO, don’t screw it up! Many artists have done nice versions of this classic: Willie Nelson, Sarah McLachlan, and Jason Mraz to name a few. Jim Henson’s version as Kermit is certainly the most endearing. This version is quite good. It’s understated and emotional enough without going over the top.
3 – “Mahna Mahna” done by The Fray. This is a pretty straightforward version of this bizarre but memorable song from The Muppet Show. Who can forget the Snowths, those cow-like Muppets, singing the Doo-Doo-Do-Do-Doo in the background?
4 – “Moving Right Along” by Alkaline Trio. This fun song from The Muppet Movie is a bit sped up as this band offers more of a pop-punk take on it. Nice job.
5 – “Our World” performed by My Morning Jacket. “Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas” is one of those forgotten Muppet treasures remembered by fans but not on the typical list of Christmas special standards like Charlie Brown and The Grinch. That’s a shame. It should be. This song is a great tribute to a lost classic.
6 – “Halfway Down the Stairs” from Evanescence singer Amy Lee. Who can forget Kermit’s nephew Robin singing his tender little song on The Muppet Show? This version is a little eerie at times, but Amy Lee’s voice is fitting for the song.
7 – “Mr. Bassman” performed by Sondre Lerche. A Norwegian Indie star covering Muppets Scooter and Floyd who were in fact covering Johnny Cymbal’s 1963 hit, “Mr. Bassman.” Sounds good to me and very Muppet Show-ish.
8 – “Wishing Song,” The Airborne Toxic Event. This is actually a pretty sad song sung by Gonzo on The Muppet Show. This take keeps the dark overtones while putting the bands own stamp on it.
9 – “Night Life” from Brandon Saller and Billy Martin. Originally from The Great Muppet Caper, Saller, from a band called Atreyu, and Martin, from Good Charlotte, turn in a pretty heavy-handed version of this song. It’s not very “Muppety,” but then the original was played by the heaviest band of all time, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
10 – “Bein’ Green” performed by Andrew Bird. Once again…tread carefully here. Perhaps the ultimate Muppet song, “Bein’ Green,” written by composer Joe Raposo, first appeared on the first season of Sesame Street and became Kermit The Frog’s signature song. Many people have covered it over the years; most notably, Frank Sinatra, Van Morrison, and Ray Charles. Caroll Spinney, performing as Big Bird, broke our hearts at the Jim Henson Memorial service with his tearful version. So, as with “Rainbow Connection”…my message is…don’t screw it up! I don’t know much about Andrew Bird, but his tender vocals strike the right chord. I could deal without the whistling solo in the song’s center, but his violin solo fits right in.
11 – “I Hope That Something Better Comes Along” by Matt Nathanson. Another Paul Williams gem from The Muppet Movie. Rowlf and Kermit sing this together at the bar, as Kermit is feeling down over Miss Piggy. As with the previous song, I don’t know too much about Matt Nathanson, but this is a nice version of this underrated song.
12 – “ I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” performed by Rachael Yamagata. Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher were just perfection for The Muppets. This song, the previous one, and of course “Rainbow Connection,” all captured the emotional side of the Muppets so adeptly. The songs made us care about these supposedly lifeless pieces of felt and helped bring them to life. This scene from The Muppet Movie has always been my favorite as Gonzo sings in the desert. Muppeteer Dave Goelz brought such a sense of longing and simplicity to the original version and this version by singer-songwriter Rachel Yamagata captures the original sentiment quite nicely.
Overall, I was very happy with The Green Album. I was worried because the songs are etched into my brain in a certain way and cover songs or tribute albums run the risk of ruining that for the listener. Some succeed tremendously and others seriously miss the mark. I think the brilliance of this album is its choice of artists. This could have been an album of superstars. There are plenty of mega-stars out there of the right age to cover these songs. Weezer, My Morning Jacket and The Fray are certainly not unknowns—not by any means. But they were interesting choices and interesting artists. That way, the songs stand out and not the mega-stars singing them.
The other route that this album could have taken was thankfully avoided. Happily, Disney didn’t go to their stable of tweens and teens from The Disney Channel and release an album of auto-tuned drivel. They’ve done that in the past with some of our beloved Disney classics and…well I’ll just leave it at that. This was a much better avenue to go down. It’s a fitting tribute and a great reminder of this wonderful music.
When The Muppet video for Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody went insanely viral and won a Webby award, I hope the “powers that be” took notice and realized that there are many of us out there yearning for quality Muppet material. Let me say that word one more time…quality. We Muppet fans ask only one thing: honor Jim’s genius and legacy with quality Muppet material. Please.
I find this CD a big step in the right direction. It's not perfect, but there's some great talent here and some real nice renditions of Muppet classics. I think it's respectfully done.
Now, let’s all keep our fingers crossed for Disney’s The Muppets coming to a theater near you this Fall on November 23rd.
If you've got some thoughts on the upcoming Muppet movie or if you've heard the CD let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time with another Disney Top 5, more Disney Stuff and hopefully some more of that great Muppet Stuff.
