The Muppet Alphabet Album



CC 25503 by Children's Records of Amercia

Released in 1971, The Muppet Alphabet Album was originally packaged in a gatefold sleeve the inset of which featured visualizations of each letter of the alphabet by Smollin Associates. The album is notable as the first Sesame Street LP that was hosted soley by The Muppets without assistance from the regular cast.

ALBUM CONTENT

 * SIDE ONE
 * The Opening - Cast
 * The Sound of the Letter A (Moss) - Big Bird
 * Oscar's B Sandwich (Juhl/Raposo) - Oscar
 * C Is for Cookie (Raposo) - Cookie Monster
 * Dee, Dee, Dee (Moss) - Ernie
 * E What's My Letter (Juhl) - Guy Smiley and Prarie Dawn
 * Four Furry Friends (Raposo) - Grover, Herry Monster, Oscar, and Cookie Monster
 * Two G Sounds (Moss) - Grover and George
 * Ha, Ha, Ha Song (Juhl/Raposo) - Harvey Knee Slapper, Herry Monster and Big Bird
 * I Stand Up Straight and Tall (Raposo) - Grover
 * J Friends (Moss) - The Anything Muppets
 * K Herbert's Silly Poem - Herbert Birdsfoot
 * La, La, La (Raposo) - Bert and Ernie
 * M-M-M Monster Meal (Moss) - Herry Monster and Cookie Monster
 * The Noodle Story (Juhl) - Big Bird and Oscar


 * SIDE TWO
 * Would You Like to Buy an O? (Raposo) - Left The Salesman and Ernie
 * P My Favorite Letter (Moss) - The Anything Muppets
 * The Question Song (Juhl/Moss) - Grover and a Little Girl
 * The R Machine (Henson) - Ernie and Bert
 * Sammy the Snake (Moss) - Sammy
 * The Tale of Tom Tattertall Tuttletut (Juhl) - Herbert Birdsfoot and the Anything Muppets
 * U Lecture (Raposo) - Professor Hastings
 * Very, Very Special Letter (Moss) - Big Bird
 * The National Association of W Lovers (Juhl/Raposo) - Bert
 * X Marks the Spot! (Raposo) - Sherlock Hemlock
 * Y Just Because (Henson/Juhl) - Grover and a Little Girl
 * The Zizzy Zoomers (Raposo) - the Anything Muppets
 * The Closing - Cast

PRODUCTION CREDITS

 * Produced by:
 * Jim Henson
 * Associate Producer for the Muppets:
 * Diana Birkenfield
 * Written by:
 * Joe Raposo, Jeff Moss and Jerry Juhl
 * with the talents of:
 * Frank Oz, Carroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill and Jim Henson
 * Musical Director:
 * Joe Raposo
 * Original Concept and Design by:
 * Arthur Shimkin
 * Studio Control and Editing by:
 * James Timmens
 * Visuals by:
 * Smollin Associates

CREATORS and CAST

 * Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, has produced and directed a number of television specials. The Muppets have been innovators in puppetry and television for many years.  On "Sesame Street," Jim plays the parts of Ernie and Kermit.


 * Joe Raposo, is musical director of "Sesame Street' and "The Electric Company." His delightful music for Muppets includes the TV specials of "The Frog Prince, "Hey Cinderella!," and "The Great Santa Claus Switch."


 * Jeff Moss, is the Head Writer of "Sesame Street" composer of the hit, "Rubber Duckie" and together with Joe Raposo, writes musical material for that program.


 * Jerry Juhl, has written most of the television material that The Muppets have done for the past several years, including book and lyrics for The Frog Prince, and The Great Santa Claus Switch. He is currently writing for "Sesame Street."


 * Frank Oz, is a brilliant puppeteer who has been a lead performer with The Muppets for many years. He is currently "Sesame Street's" Cookie Monster, Bert, Grover, The Salesman (aka Lefty), Harvey Kneeslapper, Professor Hastings, and many of the Anything Muppets.


 * Carroll Spinney, star puppeteer and artists-cartoonist, has been a performer in the Boston area, but is best known as Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch.


 * Jerry Nelson, actor-puppeteer and featured member of the Muppet group for the last several years, is known on "Sesame Street" as Herbert Birdsfoot, Sherlock Hemlock, Farley, Herry Monster, and various Anything Muppets.


 * Fran Brill, actress, is a new addition to The Muppets, and has appeared on "Sesame Street" as Little Bird, various Little Girls, Queens, and Anything Muppets.

Special thanks to Donald Sahlin and the puppet makers...for the Muppets.

A Note from Jim Henson:

 * I love the concept of this album, and I think it may prove to be of real value to all of our children.


 * The idea is very simple - a little song or skit about each of the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. A child listening to the record, and maybe smiling or singing along with it, can, at the same time, get acquainted with each letter.  I thought it would be great if we could just give a child something to remember-a handle, or a few clues that would make learning to read just a little easier and a bit more fun.


 * So I called Joe Raposo, Jeff Moss, and Jerry Juhl together, and we divided up the letters of the alphabet. These are three extremely talented friend, who have proven themselves brilliant at creating material for children and Muppets and are all part of the Sesame Street team.


 * After a great deal of writing and planning, we recorded with the vocal talents of Frank Oz, Carroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson and Fran Brill - our Sesame Street performers - one of the most talented group of puppeteers in the country. Many long hours were spent in the studio, and this is what we have to show for our efforts.


 * I do hope you and your children enjoy it...but beyond that, I hope it does some of the things we want it to do for our kids.