The Simpsons › The Simpsons Sing the Blues

The CD comes packaged in a perforated longbox that turns into a self standing image of Bart.

The Simpsons: Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson); Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson); Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson); Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson);

Matt Groening (Maggie Simpson).

The Simpsons Guest Artists: Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Smithers); Ron Taylor ("Bleeding Gums" Murphy); Buster Poindexter ("School Day" Narrator).

Additional personnel: Timothy B. Schmidt, Lisa Angelle, Gerry Beckley, Stefani Spruill, Maxine Waters, Alexandra Waters, Julia Tillman (vocals); Bart Stevens, Richard Voltrop, Laurie Rox (shouting); Bryan Loren (vocals, various instruments); Andrew Gold (vocals, guitar); Michael Thompson, Kevin Dukes, Paul Jackson Jr., Joe Walsh, B.B. King (guitar); George Doering (banjo); John Sebastian (harmonica); Brian Mann (accordion); Kim Richmond (alto saxophone); Tom Scott (tenor sax); Doug Norwine (baritone sax); Jai Winding (piano, keyboards); Dr. John (piano); D.J. Jazzy Jeff (keyboards, programming, scratches); Brian Mendelsohn (synclavier); Bob Glaub, Mark Leonard (bass); Michael Botts (drums).

The Tower Of Power Horn Section: Steve Grove, Emilio Castillo (tenor saxophones); Stephen Kupa (baritone saxophone); Greg Adams, Lee Thornburg (trumpets).

Producers: Bryan Loren, Jai Winding, D.J. Jazzy Jeff; John Boylan.

Engineers include: Richard Cottrell, Julie Last, Bart Stevens.

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

Genre:

• Comedy CDs

Music Categories:

• Comedy: Music

Product Series:

• Bargain Audio CDs & Priceless Collection