Ol' Brown Ears is Back

Released	1993
Format	CD
Label	Jim Henson Records/BMG Kidz
Cat no.	74860-30023-2 74860-35023-2

Rowlf in the studio.

Cover photo by John E. Barrett.

Ol' Brown Ears is Back is an album featuring Rowlf the Dog in new recordings of songs that had all previously been covered on The Muppet Show.

Rowlf, at the piano, gives ebullient introductions and banter as he sings and plays some of his (and the Muppets') hit songs. The album was released on CD and cassette in 1993 by BMG Kidz/Jim Henson Records. The cassette and CD also included a poster depicting Rowlf behind the scenes, recording and prepping for the album.

Although the album was first released in 1993, three years after Jim Henson's death, the songs were actually recorded by Henson (as Rowlf) and Derek Scott (on piano) almost a decade earlier in January 1984. The original recordings were re-worked by producer Robert Kraft and associate producer Chris Boardman for the release, adding a backing orchestra to the seasoned vocal and piano tracks. The original intentions for the raw tracks and the reason for the 9-year recording-to-release gap are unknown.

The album's title, Ol' Brown Ears is Back, is a reference to Frank Sinatra's 1973 album Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back.

Track listing

1. Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
2. Eight Little Notes
3. I Never Harmed an Onion
4. Halfway Down the Stairs
5. Memory Lane
6. Cottleston Pie
7. Bein' Green
8. Carbon Paper
9. Garden Song
10. New York State of Mind
11. When
12. You and I and George
13. Wishing Song
14. Old Dog Trey

Liner notes

“This year, I'm celebrating my thirtieth anniversary in show business. (That would be my 210th anniversary in dog years). For those of you who are a little too young to remember, I got my big break back in 1963 as a regular on "The Jimmy Dean Show." After Jimmy left television for the sausage business, I sort of went into retirement until "The Muppet Show" came along.

Back in 1963, my good friend Kermit the Frog said to me, "Rowlf, you should put out an album." So, finally, here it is. Why did it take thirty years? Well, I don't like to rush things.

A lot of hard work went into this recording. We wanted to record some of the best songs ever written, but the songs on this album are the only ones I know how to play — just kidding. Many of these tunes were performed on "The Muppet Show." Some of them by me and some by others — but this is my album, so I'm singing them. Sorry, guys.

Show business is a tough life — some might even call it "Dog eat Dog," but I've really enjoyed it. Over the past three decades, I've had the pleasure of performing with some of the legends of the entertainment industry: Liberace, Victor Borge, Lassie. I'm a lucky Dog. And I hope I don't have to wait another 30 years to make my next album.”
—

Other releases

Cassette1993
Jim Henson Records/BMG Kids
74860-30023-4
74860-35023-4

Credits

Rowlf in the studio.

• Produced by Robert Kraft
• Associate Producer: Chris Boardman
• Creative Consultant: Larry Grossman
• Orchestra recorded and mixed by Dennis Sands
• Arranged and conducted by Chris Boardman
• Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles
• Mixed at Signet Sound Studios, Los Angeles
• Mastered by David Collins at A&M Studios, Los Angeles
• Cover Photo: John E. Barrett
• Special thanks to Lyndon Mosse, Daniel Obinger and Craig Shemin
• And a special thanks to Michael K. Frith
• Piano and Vocal Tracks Produced by Jim Henson
• Vocal: Jim Henson
• Piano: Derek Scott
• Engineer: Dave Hunt
• Assistant Engineer: Jonathan Ruttley
• Piano and Vocal tracks Recorded January, 1984, CTS Studios, London

External links

• ToughPigs.com: My Week with Muppet Music

See also

• Muppet discography