Favorite Songs From Jim Henson's Muppets

Favorite Songs From Jim Henson’s Muppets

Louise Gold featured as one of the Muppet performers

Catalogue number: (Silver Eagle Records, 2 LP set) SE 1044, (Magic Video Publishing Company, LP, Volume 1): SE 1044-1, (Magic Video Publishing Company, LP, Volume 2): SE 1044-2, (Magic Video Publishing Company, Cassette, Volume 1) SM4 1044-1, (Magic Video Publishing Company, Cassette, Volume 2) SM4 1044-2 album produced in 1986

Cast

Jim Henson (as Kermit, Ernie, Rowlf, Mahna Mahna and other assorted characters)

Frank Oz (as: Sam the Eagle, Miss Piggy, Cookie Monster and other assorted characters)

Jerry Nelson (as: Gobo Fraggle, Pops, A Witch Doctor, Emmet Otter, Robin, and other assorted characters)

Richard Hunt (as various assorted characters)

Dave Goelz (as: Boober Fraggle, Gonzo, Beauregard, and other assorted characters)

Steve Whitmire (as: Wembley Fraggle, Rizzo The Rat, and other assorted characters)

Kathryn Mullen (as Mokey Fraggle, Gaffer the back-stage cat, A Nurse, and other assorted characters)

Karen Prell (as Red Fraggle and other assorted characters)

Caroll Spinney (as Big Bird and other assorted characters)

John Lovelady (as various characters)

Marilyn Sokol (as Ma Otter and other assorted characters)

Louise Gold (as Lou-the-Jugband Lady, Annie Sue Pig, A Nurse, and other assorted characters)

Greg Berg (as assorted Muppet Babies)

Katie Leigh (as Baby Rowlf)

Howie Mandel (as Baby Animal)

Laurie O’Brien (as assorted Muppet Babies)

Russi Taylor (as Baby Gonzo)

Frank Welker (as Baby Kermit, and, Baby Bunsen)

Barbara Billingsley (as The Muppet Babies Nanny)

Production Team

Produced by - Silver Eagle Records / Magic Video Publishing Company

Creative Director - Geni Sackson

Executive Producer - Jim Henson

Track Listing

Silver Eagle Records: SE 1044

Side 1

1. Muppet Show Theme - The Muppet Show Season 1 cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Dave Goelz (The Big Five))

2. Mahna Mahna - - Mahna Mahna, and the Two Snowths (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and, Richard Hunt)

3. Movin’ Right Along - Kermit and Fozzie (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

4. The Rainbow Connection - Kermit (Jim Henson)

5. Mr Bassman - Scooter and Floyd (Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson)

6. Fraggle Rock Theme - - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

7. I’m Gonna Always Love You - The Muppet Babies from The Muppets Take Manhatten (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt and Dave Goelz)

Side 2

8. Muppet Babies Theme - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

9. Dream For Your Inspiration - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

10. When The River Meets The Sea - Ma and Emmet Otter (Marilyn Sokol and Jerry Nelson)

11. Bein’ Green - Kermit (Jim Henson)

12. Tit Willow - Rowlf and Sam The Eagle (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

13. Coconut - A Nurse, Kermit, A Witch Doctor, and, another nurse (Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and, Kathryn Mullen)

14. Java - Instrumental

15. The First Time It Happens - Kermit, Miss Piggy and Cast (Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with: Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen)

Side 3

16. Rubber Duckie - Ernie (Jim Henson)

17. Workin - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

18. Happiness Hotel - Pops and Cast (Jerry Nelson with: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen (The Muppet Show Eight))

19. Good Things Happen In The Dark - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

20. Catch The Tail By The Tiger - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

21. Grandma’s Feather Bed - (Jim Henson, with: Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Steve Whitmire)

22. My Way - Gonzo (Dave Goelz)

Side 4

23. Halfway Down The Stairs - Robin (Jerry Nelson)

24. AB-C-DEF-GHI - Big Bird (Caroll Spinney)

25. C Is For Cookie - Cookie Monster (Frank Oz)

26. Cottleston Pie - Rowlf (Jim Henson)

27. It’s Up To You - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

28. Saying Goodbye - The Cast of The Muppets Take Manhattan (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen)

Magic Video Publishing Company (LP): SM 1044

Volume 1 (LP): SM 1044-1

Side 1

1. Muppet Show Theme - The Muppet Show Season 1 cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Dave Goelz (The Big Five))

2. Mahna Mahna - - Mahna Mahna, and the Two Snowths (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and, Richard Hunt)

3. Movin’ Right Along - Kermit and Fozzie (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

4. The Rainbow Connection - Kermit (Jim Henson)

5. Mr Bassman - Scooter and Floyd (Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson)

6. Fraggle Rock Theme - - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

7. I’m Gonna Always Love You - The Muppet Babies from The Muppets Take Manhatten (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt and Dave Goelz)

Side 2

8. Halfway Down The Stairs - Robin (Jerry Nelson)

9. AB-C-DEF-GHI - Big Bird (Caroll Spinney)

10. C Is For Cookie - Cookie Monster (Frank Oz)

11. Cottleston Pie - Rowlf (Jim Henson)

12. It’s Up To You - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

13. Saying Goodbye - The Cast of The Muppets Take Manhattan (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen)

Volume 2 (LP): SM 1044-2

Side 1

1. Rubber Duckie - Ernie (Jim Henson)

2. Workin - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

3. Happiness Hotel - Pops and Cast (Jerry Nelson with: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen (The Muppet Show Eight))

4. Good Things Happen In The Dark - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

5. Catch The Tail By The Tiger - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

6. Grandma’s Feather Bed - (Jim Henson, with: Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Steve Whitmire)

7. My Way - Gonzo (Dave Goelz)

Side 2

8. Muppet Babies Theme - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

9. Dream For Your Inspiration - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

10. When The River Meets The Sea - Ma and Emmet Otter (Marilyn Sokol and Jerry Nelson)

11. Bein’ Green - Kermit (Jim Henson)

12. Tit Willow - Rowlf and Sam The Eagle (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

13. Coconut - A Nurse, Kermit, A Witch Doctor, and, another nurse (Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and, Kathryn Mullen)

14. Java - Instrumental

Magic Video Publishing Company (Cassette): SM4 1044

Volume 1 ? (Cassette) SM4 1044 1

Side 1

1. Muppet Show Theme - The Muppet Show Season 1 cast (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Dave Goelz (The Big Five))

2. Movin’ Right Along - Kermit and Fozzie (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

3. The Rainbow Connection - Kermit (Jim Henson)

4. Mr Bassman - Scooter and Floyd (Richard Hunt and Jerry Nelson)

5. Fraggle Rock Theme - - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

6. I’m Gonna Always Love You - The Muppet Babies from The Muppets Take Manhatten (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt and Dave Goelz)

Side 2

7. Mahna Mahna - - Mahna Mahna, and the Two Snowths (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, and, Richard Hunt)

8. Halfway Down The Stairs - Robin (Jerry Nelson)

9. AB-C-DEF-GHI - Big Bird (Caroll Spinney)

10. C Is For Cookie - Cookie Monster (Frank Oz)

11. Cottleston Pie - Rowlf (Jim Henson)

12. It’s Up To You - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

13. Saying Goodbye - The Cast of The Muppets Take Manhattan (Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen)

Volume 2 ?(Cassette) SM4 1044 2

Side 1

1. Rubber Duckie - Ernie (Jim Henson)

2. Workin - Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey, and, Red Fraggle (Jerry Nelson, Steve Whitmire, Dave Goelz, Kathryn Mullen, and, Karen Prell (The Fraggle Five))

4. Good Things Happen In The Dark - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

6. Grandma’s Feather Bed - (Jim Henson, with: Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Steve Whitmire)

7. My Way - Gonzo (Dave Goelz)

Side 2

8. Muppet Babies Theme - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

9. Dream For Your Inspiration - The Muppet Babies (Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, and, Barbara Billingsley)

10. When The River Meets The Sea - Ma and Emmet Otter (Marilyn Sokol and Jerry Nelson)

11. Bein’ Green - Kermit (Jim Henson)

12. Tit Willow - Rowlf and Sam The Eagle (Jim Henson and Frank Oz)

13. Coconut - A Nurse, Kermit, A Witch Doctor, and, another nurse (Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, and, Kathryn Mullen)

14. Java - Instrumental

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold and Kathryn Mullen were the eight main puppeteers on The Muppet Show, which John Lovelady and Karen Prell also puppeteered on. (Although John Lovelady only puppeteered on the first series).

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen also sang on Muppet Show Music Album, from which The Lime In The Coconut is taken from. That album also includes a different version of The Muppet Show Theme.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitemire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen were the eight main puppeteers on The Great Muppet Caper, on which Caroll Spinney did a cameo puppeteering job. Joe Rapso’s songs The First Time It Happen, and, Happiness Hotel come from this film

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and Kathryn Mullen also sang on The Great Muppet Caper Soundtrack album, which Happiness Hotel and The First Time It Happens are taken from

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen also sang on John Denver And The Muppets A Christmas Together, another version of When The River Meets The Sea can also be found on that album. Many tracks from that album were included on Christmas For Kids, and, John Denver Christmas and a few on John Denver & The Muppets Merry Christmas 45RPM.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen can also be heard on Muppet Music Sampler (on which the tracks: Mahna Mahna, Rainbow Connection, The First Time It Happens and part of The Rhyming Song can also be found).

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen puppeteered on The Muppets Go To The Movies.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz and Louise Gold also sang on: The Muppet Show Music Hall, The Muppet Show 2 (which includes a different version of The Muppet Show Theme), For What It’s Worth, and Jim Henson Presents Silly Songs (the latter was also produced by Geni Sackerson, and includes an excerpt of a version of The Muppet Show Theme - but its hard to tell which version); They also represented The Muppets on The Royal Variety Performance (1977).

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, Kathryn Mullen, and, John Lovelady can also be heard on: Muppet Hits 1 (on which the songs: this version of The Muppet Show Themei with some cuts, The Lime In The Coconut , Mr Bassman and Mahna Mahna can also be found), Muppet Hits 2 (on which the song Titwillow can also be found, along with a different version of The Muppet Show Theme), and, Music Mayhem And More (on which the songs: this version of The Muppet Show Theme with some cuts, Mahna Mahna, Bein’ Green, Movin’ Right Along, Rainbow Connection, The Happiness Hotel, The First Time It Happens, and, I’m Gonna Always Love You can also be found)

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Kathryn Mullen, Karen Prell, Greg Berg, Katie Leigh, Howrie Mandel, Laurie O’Brien, Russi Taylor, Frank Welker, Barbara Billingsley, and, Louise Gold can also be heard on Muppet Music Mix, on which the songs: this version of The Muppet Show Theme with some cuts, Rainbow Connection, Fraggle Rock Theme, Dream For Your Inspiration, The Muppet Babies Theme, and, The First Time It Happens can also be found.

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen puppeteered on The Dark Crystal, for which Jerry Nelson did some voice-work.

Dave Goelz, Jim Henson, Kathryn Mullen, Frank Oz, Steve Whitmire, and, Karen Prell puppeteered on Labyrinth.

Louise Gold, Dave Goelz, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Karen Prell, and, Steve Whitmire went on to puppeteer on The Muppet Christmas Carol, which had a score by Paul Williams; The puppeteers also sang on The Muppet Christmas Carol Soundtrack album.

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold also sang on Born To Add

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Caroll Spinney, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold all sang on Elmo’s Lowdown Hoedown , which also included songs by Joe Raposo.

Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, Steve Whitmire, Louise Gold, and, Kathryn Mullen appeared in “a burlesque show with some of the Muppet-company”

Jerry Nelson and Louise Gold with an introduction by Jim Henson can also be heard on Jerome Kern The First 100 Years (although they are credited simply as ‘The Muppets’, rather than as individuals).

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on Muppet Treasure Island.

Dave Goelz, Steve Whitmire, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on The Animal Show, on which Frank Oz did a guest puppeteering appearance.

Louise Gold, Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Karen Prell, and, Steve Whitmire all puppeteered on Tale Of The Bunny Picnic.

Jerry Nelson, and, Dave Goelz (besides puppeteering on Fraggle Rock itself) did voice-work on the UK Co-Production of Fraggle Rock, on which Louise Gold puppeteered.

Louise Gold, and, Frank Welker worked on Spitting Image.

Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Richard Hunt, Kathy Mullen, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Karen Prell, Caroll Spinney, and, Steve Whitmire went on to perform at Jim Henson’s Memorial Service (where Jerry Nelson again sang When The River Meets The Sea, this time with Louise Gold; Jerry Nelson also sang Halfway Down The Stairs, and, Frank Oz sang Cottleston Pie).

Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Jerry Nelson, Karen Prell, and, Steve Whitmire’s recording credits include A Green And Red Christmas.

Louise Gold, Richard Hunt, and, Karen Prell went on to puppeteer on The Ghost Of Faffner Hall.

Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, and, Louise Gold went on to puppeteer on The Secret Life Of Toys

Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Caroll Spinney, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen went on to puppeteer together on Sesame Street (in the early 1990s).

Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Richard Hunt, Jerry Nelson, Louise Gold, Steve Whitmire, and, Kathryn Mullen featured on the television documentary Of Muppets And Men, on which Karen Prell also appeared.

Jerry Nelson, Richard Hunt, and, Louise Gold’s recording credits include The Count’s Countdown, however there has been some debate as to whether Louise Gold actually sang on it.

Review

by Emma Shane

If, like me, you enjoy Muppet songs, then it is almost imperative, to admire the talents of Jerry Nelson, one of the most outstanding Muppet singers. One of the highlights of this album is his famous performance of Halfway Down The Stairs. But it is not just as a soloist that Jerry Nelson is outstanding, this album like so many Muppet albums, is one where he of course stands out, as both a member of: The Muppet Show Eight (along with Richard Hunt and Louise Gold), and, The Fraggle Five. Happiness Hotel, for example, although involving all of The Eight, is led by Jerry Nelson, in the character of Pops the doorman. It is a wonderfully silly number, and to my mind one of Joe Raposo’s best. Another Joe Raposo number featured on this album, also from The Great Muppet Caper, is the award winning The First Time It Happens, this is a nice song, sung by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with strong support from the other six members of The Eight, especially the wonderfully strong-voiced Louise Gold. Another great number from a muppet film is Movin’ Right Along from The Muppet Movie, which is sung with a lot of enthusiasm by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, with some support from the other American members of the team.

The delightful British Muppeteer, Louise Gold, gets her real chance to shine on Coconut; where, performing a nurse, she sings the initial narrative in a voice that is about as close to her own as any of her muppet characters ever get. The other players in the number is Jim Henson as Kermit, taking the songs central character, followed by Jerry Nelson as a Witch Doctor, finally there is some back-up from Kathryn Mullen as another nurse.

Another number I really enjoyed hearing is Catch The Tail By The Tiger. This is very ablely sung by The Fraggle Five, especially Jerry Nelson, but the best thing about it is its wonderful lyrics, that transpose a number of clichés, to produce such lines as “Catch the tail by the tiger” and “Take the horns by the bull”.

Perhaps two of the greatest numbers on the album though, and certainly the most influential, are Bein’ Green and Rainbow Connection, both sung by the gentleman for whom they were written, Jim Henson. Although Bein’ Green has been sung and indeed recorded by various artistes, including Frank Sinatra. On this album it is sung by the man who, I think does it best, the Muppet Master himself, Jim Henson. I do not think there is anyone, except perhaps Steve Whitmire, who could give this song as much sincerity and feeling as Jim Henson gives it. Joe Raposo wrote this song for him to perform, and although the song has been sung by other people, in the end it is one of those songs (like those glorious musical-comedy numbers Cole Porter et al wrote for Ethel Merman) that works best when sung by the person for whom it was written, or else a singer who has the gift of being stylistically the closest thing to that person. Rainbow Connection, by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, has not been done quite so much, but it too is one of those very special songs that will only really work best sung by people who belong to that very special group for whom it was intended, The Muppets (in fact the only other version that springs to my mind was when a West End actress used it in her cabaret act, and fortunately that particular ‘actress’, Louise Gold, also happens to be one of that special group of people to whom this beautiful song truly belongs).

Overall the album has some good songs on it, which are worth having if you don’t have any other recording of them. But many of the best numbers on this album can also be found on various other Muppet albums. Unfortunately sometimes on the Magic Video issue of the album, the two volumes of the album have been split up, so sometimes you will find only Volume 1 and not Volume 2 or vice versa. Of the two I think Volume 2 is the best, largely because most of the contributions from The Muppet Show on Volume 1 (including The Muppet Show Theme) come from the First Muppet Show album, before The Muppet Show team had got anywhere near their full musical potential (and before the addition of the last three members of The Eight, one of whom, Louise Gold, after all, made some very notable contributions to a lot of their musical numbers, but doesn’t feature on Volume 1 at all!). I for one definitely prefer the Silver Eagle Records version of the album, for one thing both LP’s are in a single sleeve, and therefore less likely to be split up, and secondly, the tracks have been arranged slightly differently, in such a way that the best stuff is a little more evenly spread throughout the album.

Critics Comments

Links about Favorite Songs From Jim Henson’s Muppets

Muppet Wiki page for this album: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Favorite_Songs_From_Jim_Henson%27s_Muppets

Return To Site Guide | Return To Recordings |