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+ | {{album|image=MuppAlphabetLPOrig.jpg|soundtrack=''[[Sesame Street]]''|date=[[1971]]|format=LP|label=[[Columbia Records]]|catalogue=CC 25503}} |
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− | [[Image:AlphabetAlbumLP.jpg|frame|''The Muppet Alphabet Album'']] |
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+ | [[File:1971 Muppet Alphabet Album ad.jpg|thumb|300px|1971 magazine ad.]] |
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− | 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 [[Michael Smollin|Smollin Associates]]. The album is notable as the first ''[[Sesame Street]]'' LP that was hosted solely by the Muppets without assistance from the regular cast. It was re-released on CD in [[1996]] under the title ''[[Sing The Alphabet]]''. The opening and closing tracks were merged with "[[The Sound of the Letter A]]" and "[[The Zizzy Zoomers]]," respectively, and a new version of "[[ABC-DEF-GHI]]" sung by [[Elmo]] was added. |
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+ | '''''The Muppet Alphabet Album''''' was the first ''[[Sesame Street]]'' album that was hosted solely by the Muppets without assistance from the human cast. It was originally packaged in a gatefold sleeve, featuring visualizations of each letter of the alphabet by [[Michael Smollin|Smollin Associates]]. The original package contained 26 small punch-out [[:Image:SSAlphabetSinglesBooks.jpg|letter-shaped books]] illustrating the songs, plus a letter-shaping pipe cleaner, a blackboard and chalk. The songs from this album were also released on [[Sesame Street singles#1971abcd|seven consecutively numbered 45-rpm, 7-inch records]]. The album was also released simultaneously on a "Carry About" [[Sesame Street 45 RPM sets#The Muppet Alphabet Carry About|boxed set]] of 45s. The LP edition reached #189 on ''[[Billboard]]'s'' Top LPs chart in early 1972. The album was also nominated for a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] for Best Recording for Children, but it lost to the cast album from ''[[The Electric Company]]''. |
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+ | The 1976 reissue dropped the inserts, and the gatefold contained new "Learn Your Letters" artwork which did not directly correspond to the content of the songs. In 1977, the album was reissued as part of the 3-LP boxed set, ''[[Letters, Numbers and Signs]]''. |
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− | ==ALBUM CONTENT== |
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+ | This album was reissued many times over the years on records, cassettes and 8-tracks, sometimes with slight title changes. In 1996, a new CD and cassette edition was released, under the title ''Sing the Alphabet'', with some minor changes (see below for details). |
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− | :# [[The Sound of the Letter A| The Sound of the Letter '''A''']]<br>''Big Bird'' |
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− | :# [[Oscar's B Sandwich|Oscar's '''B''' Sandwich]]<br>''Oscar'' |
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− | :# [[C is for Cookie|'''C''' Is for Cookie]]<br>''Cookie Monster'' |
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− | :# [[Dee, Dee, Dee|'''D'''ee, Dee, Dee]]<br>''Ernie'' |
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− | :# [[Two G Sounds|Two '''G''' Sounds]]<br>''Grover and George'' |
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− | :# [[J Friends|'''J''' Friends]]<br>''The Anything Muppets'' |
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− | :# [[La, La, La|'''L'''a, La, La]]<br>''Bert and Ernie'' |
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+ | ==Track listing== |
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− | + | #[[The Sound of the Letter A|The Sound of the Letter '''A''']] * - [[Big Bird]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by [[Jeff Moss]]</small> |
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+ | #[[Oscar's B Sandwich|Oscar's '''B''' Sandwich]] - [[Oscar the Grouch|Oscar]]<br><small>Music by [[Joe Raposo]], Lyrics by [[Jerry Juhl]]</small> |
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+ | #[[C is for Cookie (song)|'''C''' Is for Cookie]] * - [[Cookie Monster]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo </small> |
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− | :# [[Sammy the Snake|'''S'''ammy the Snake]]<br>''Sammy'' |
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+ | #[[Dee, Dee, Dee|'''D'''ee, Dee, Dee]] * - [[Ernie]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by [[Jeff Moss]]</small> |
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− | :# [[U Lecture|'''U''' Lecture]]<br>''Professor Hastings'' |
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+ | #[[Two G Sounds|Two '''G''' Sounds]] * - Grover and [[George (Sesame Street)|George]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss</small> |
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− | :# [[Just Because|'''Y''' Just Because]]<br>''Grover and a Little Girl'' |
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+ | #[[J Friends|'''J''' Friends]] * - [[Anything Muppets|The Anything Muppets]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss</small> |
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+ | #[[La, La, La|'''L'''a, La, La]] * - [[Bert]] and Ernie<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo</small> |
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− | ==PRODUCTION CREDITS== |
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− | :'''Produced by:''' |
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− | ::[[Jim Henson]] |
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+ | #[[The Question Song|The '''Q'''uestion Song]] * - Grover and a [[Lavender|Little Girl]]<br><small>Music by Jeff Moss, Lyrics by Jerry Juhl</small> |
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− | ::Diana Birkenfield |
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+ | #[[Sammy the Snake (song)|'''S'''ammy the Snake]] * - [[Sammy the Snake|Sammy]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss </small> |
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− | :'''Written by:''' |
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+ | #[[U Lecture|'''U''' Lecture]] - [[Professor Hastings]]<br><small>Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo</small> |
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− | :'''with the talents of:''' |
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− | :'''Musical Director:''' |
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− | ::Joe Raposo |
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+ | #[[Just Because (Grover)|'''Y''' Just Because]] - Grover and a Little Girl<br><small>Written by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo</small> |
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− | ::Arthur Shimkin |
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− | :'''Studio Control and Editing by:''' |
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− | ::James Timmens |
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− | :'''Visuals by:''' |
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− | ::Smollin Associates |
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+ | ::<nowiki>*</nowiki> this track is known to have been performed on the show |
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− | ==CREATORS and CAST== |
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− | :'''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]]''. |
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+ | ==Edits== |
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− | :'''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]]." |
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+ | On some later non-record editions of this album, the following section of dialogue has been cut from the end of side 2, after Big Bird says, "What's the alphabet?" and everybody groans: |
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+ | :Bert: Well, don't just sit there. Turn the record over and let's start again. |
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− | :'''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. |
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+ | :Big Bird: Hey, if they turn the record over, won't we all fall off? |
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− | :'''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." |
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+ | Then the closing music plays, on all versions. |
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− | :'''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]].'' |
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+ | ==Other releases== |
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− | :'''Caroll 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]].'' |
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+ | <gallery> |
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+ | Image:AlphabetAlbumLP.jpg|{{GNH|LP}}1976<br>[[Sesame Street Records (label)|Sesame Street Records]]<br>CC 25503<br>(reissue cover) |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}Sesame Street Records<br>C 5003 |
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+ | Image:MuppetAlphabetAlbum8track.JPG|{{GNH|8-track}}Sesame Street Records<br>T 5003 |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}Sesame Street Records<br>C 79010<br>''The Muppet Alphabet Cassette'' (reissue title) |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}[[Sight & Sound]]<br>GNL-206 |
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+ | Image:MuppAlphabetAlbumCassette.jpg|{{GNH|Cassette}}Sight & Sound<br>62229 |
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+ | Image:MuppetAlphabetAlbumSingAlongPack.jpg|{{GNH|Cassette}}1987<br>MPI Production<br>Sing-Along Pack |
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+ | Image:GoldenSSAlphabetTape.jpg|{{GNH|Cassette}}1990<br>[[Golden Music]]<br>4107<br>''The Sesame Street Alphabet Album'' (reissue title) |
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+ | </gallery> |
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+ | ==International releases== |
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− | :'''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.'' |
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+ | <gallery> |
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+ | File:AxisAlphabetAlbum.jpg|{{GNH|LP}}[[Australia]]<br>[[Axis Records]]<br>AXIS 6322 |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}Australia<br>Axis Records<br>TC-AXIS 6322 |
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+ | File:MuppetAlphabetAlbumSummitAustralia.jpg|{{GNH|LP}}Australia<br>[[Summit Records]]<br>8002 |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}Australia<br>Summit Records<br>8002 |
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+ | File:Sesalpha.jpg|{{GNH|CD}}[[Japan]], 1991<br>Sony Records<br>SRCS 5451<br>''Sesame Street Alphabet Album'' (reissue title) |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|CD}}Japan, 1997<br>Sony Records<br>SRCL 4060<br>''Sesame Street Alphabet Album'' (reissue title) |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|CD}}Japan, 1999<br>Sony Records<br>SVWC 4004<br>''Sesame Street Alphabet Album'' (reissue title) |
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+ | </gallery> |
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+ | ==''Sing the Alphabet''== |
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− | :'''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.'' |
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+ | [[Image:Sing the Alphabet (CD).jpeg|thumb|300px]] |
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+ | {{album|image=|soundtrack=''[[Sesame Street]]''|date=[[1996]]|format=CD|label=[[Sony Wonder]]|catalogue=LK 67747<br>LK 67748}} |
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+ | Released in 1996, '''''Sing the Alphabet''''' is a retitled CD and cassette reissue of ''The Muppet Alphabet Album''. The opening and closing dialogue tracks from the original album are included. The opening is combined with "The Sound of the Letter A", and the closing, which is combined with "The Zizzy Zoomers," omits some dialogue mentioning that this is a record album (see "Edits" section above). This version of the album opens with a remake of [[ABC-DEF-GHI]], sung by [[Elmo]], and includes a lyric booklet. |
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+ | This album was reissued on CD by [[Koch Records]] on March 4, 2008. The re-released album included the same track listing; however, it featured new cover art. |
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− | '''Special thanks to [[Donald Sahlin]] and the puppet makers...for the Muppets.''' |
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− | == |
+ | ==Credits== |
− | + | *Produced by [[Jim Henson]] |
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− | :I love the concept of this album, and I think it may prove to be of real value to all of our children. |
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+ | *Studio control and editing by [[Jim Timmens]] |
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+ | *Visuals by [[Michael Smollin|Smollin Associates]] |
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+ | ==Cast== |
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− | :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. |
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+ | *[[Frank Oz]] as [[Bert]], [[Cookie Monster]], [[Grover]], [[Harvey Kneeslapper]], [[Professor Hastings]], and [[Lefty the Salesman|The Salesman]] |
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+ | *[[Caroll Spinney]] as [[Big Bird]] and [[Oscar the Grouch]] |
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+ | *[[Jerry Nelson]] as [[George (Sesame Street)|George]], [[Herbert Birdsfoot]], [[Herry Monster]], [[Sammy the Snake]], and [[Sherlock Hemlock]] |
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+ | *[[Fran Brill]] as [[Prairie Dawn]] and A Little Girl |
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+ | *[[Jim Henson]] as [[Ernie]] and [[Guy Smiley]] |
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+ | ;Uncredited |
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+ | *[[Jerry Juhl]] as the Queen, with [[Jeff Moss]] and [[Joe Raposo]] as background voices |
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+ | ;''Sing the Alphabet'' only |
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+ | *[[Kevin Clash]] as [[Elmo]] |
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+ | ==Other releases== |
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− | :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 friends, who have proven themselves brilliant at creating material for children and Muppets and are all part of the Sesame Street team. |
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+ | <gallery> |
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+ | Image:SingAlphabet.JPG|{{GNH|Cassette}}1996<br>Sony Wonder<br>LT 67747<br>LT 67748 |
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+ | Image:KochSingTheAlphabet.jpg|{{GNH|CD}}2008<br>Koch Records<br>KOC-CD-4475 |
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+ | </gallery> |
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+ | ==International releases== |
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− | :After a great deal of writing and planning, we recorded with the vocal talents of Frank Oz, Caroll 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. |
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+ | <gallery> |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|CD}}Australia<br>EMI<br>72435 31857 2 |
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+ | Image:Noimage-big.png|{{GNH|Cassette}}Australia<br>EMI<br>72435 31857 4 |
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+ | File:ABC2013SingtheAlphabetAustralia.jpg|{{GNH|CD}}Australia, 2013<br/>ABC Music |
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+ | </gallery> |
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+ | ==Notes== |
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− | :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. |
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+ | * [[Farley]] and [[Roosevelt Franklin]] appear on the original cover art of this album, but are not present in any of the tracks. |
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+ | * For the 1991 Sony Japan release, Elmo and [[Little Bird]] can be seen on the cover despite not appearing anywhere in the album. |
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− | '''CC 25503''' by Children's Records of America |
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− | ==See |
+ | ==See also== |
− | *[[Sesame Street |
+ | *[[Sesame Street discography]] |
+ | ==External links== |
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⚫ | |||
+ | *"[http://www.henson.com/jimsredbook/2012/09/20/920-241971/ Jim Henson's Red Book]" entry, 9/20-24/1971 – 'Recording Alphabet album at night.' |
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+ | |||
+ | __NOWYSIWYG__ |
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+ | {{DEFAULTSORT:Muppet Alphabet Album, The}} |
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⚫ | |||
+ | [[Category:Alphabet]] |
Revision as of 22:03, 9 March 2020
Songs from | Sesame Street |
Released | 1971 |
Format | LP |
Label | Columbia Records |
Cat no. | CC 25503 |
The Muppet Alphabet Album was the first Sesame Street album that was hosted solely by the Muppets without assistance from the human cast. It was originally packaged in a gatefold sleeve, featuring visualizations of each letter of the alphabet by Smollin Associates. The original package contained 26 small punch-out letter-shaped books illustrating the songs, plus a letter-shaping pipe cleaner, a blackboard and chalk. The songs from this album were also released on seven consecutively numbered 45-rpm, 7-inch records. The album was also released simultaneously on a "Carry About" boxed set of 45s. The LP edition reached #189 on Billboard's Top LPs chart in early 1972. The album was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children, but it lost to the cast album from The Electric Company.
The 1976 reissue dropped the inserts, and the gatefold contained new "Learn Your Letters" artwork which did not directly correspond to the content of the songs. In 1977, the album was reissued as part of the 3-LP boxed set, Letters, Numbers and Signs.
This album was reissued many times over the years on records, cassettes and 8-tracks, sometimes with slight title changes. In 1996, a new CD and cassette edition was released, under the title Sing the Alphabet, with some minor changes (see below for details).
Track listing
Side One
- The Opening - Cast
- The Sound of the Letter A * - Big Bird
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - Oscar's B Sandwich - Oscar
Music by Joe Raposo, Lyrics by Jerry Juhl - C Is for Cookie * - Cookie Monster
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - Dee, Dee, Dee * - Ernie
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - E What's My Letter * - Guy Smiley and Prairie Dawn
Written by Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo - Four Furry Friends - Grover, Herry Monster, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - Two G Sounds * - Grover and George
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - Ha Ha - Harvey Kneeslapper, Herry Monster and Big Bird
Music by Joe Raposo, Lyrics by Jerry Juhl - I Stand Up Straight and Tall * - Grover
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - J Friends * - The Anything Muppets
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - K Herbert's Silly Poem - Herbert Birdsfoot
Written by Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo - La, La, La * - Bert and Ernie
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - M-M-M Monster Meal * - Herry Monster and Cookie Monster
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - The Noodle Story - Big Bird and Oscar
Written by Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo
Side Two
- Would You Like to Buy an O? * - Lefty the Salesman and Ernie
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - P My Favorite Letter * - The Anything Muppets
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - The Question Song * - Grover and a Little Girl
Music by Jeff Moss, Lyrics by Jerry Juhl - The R Machine - Ernie and Bert
Written by Jim Henson - Sammy the Snake * - Sammy
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - The Tale of Tom Tattertall Tuttletut - Herbert Birdsfoot and the Anything Muppets
Written by Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo - U Lecture - Professor Hastings
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - Very, Very Special Letter - Big Bird
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Moss - The National Association of W Lovers * - Bert
Music by Joe Raposo, Lyrics by Jerry Juhl - X Marks the Spot! * - Sherlock Hemlock
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - Y Just Because - Grover and a Little Girl
Written by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl, Music by Joe Raposo - The Zizzy Zoomers * - the Anything Muppets
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo - The Closing - Cast
- * this track is known to have been performed on the show
Edits
On some later non-record editions of this album, the following section of dialogue has been cut from the end of side 2, after Big Bird says, "What's the alphabet?" and everybody groans:
- Bert: Well, don't just sit there. Turn the record over and let's start again.
- Big Bird: Hey, if they turn the record over, won't we all fall off?
Then the closing music plays, on all versions.
Other releases
International releases
Sing the Alphabet
[[Image:|center|280px]] | |
Songs from | Sesame Street |
Released | 1996 |
Format | CD |
Label | Sony Wonder |
Cat no. | LK 67747 LK 67748 |
Released in 1996, Sing the Alphabet is a retitled CD and cassette reissue of The Muppet Alphabet Album. The opening and closing dialogue tracks from the original album are included. The opening is combined with "The Sound of the Letter A", and the closing, which is combined with "The Zizzy Zoomers," omits some dialogue mentioning that this is a record album (see "Edits" section above). This version of the album opens with a remake of ABC-DEF-GHI, sung by Elmo, and includes a lyric booklet.
This album was reissued on CD by Koch Records on March 4, 2008. The re-released album included the same track listing; however, it featured new cover art.
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, Caroll Spinney, Jerry Nelson, Fran Brill and Jim Henson
- Original Concept and Design by Arthur Shimkin, Producer
- Studio control and editing by Jim Timmens
- Visuals by Smollin Associates
Cast
- Frank Oz as Bert, Cookie Monster, Grover, Harvey Kneeslapper, Professor Hastings, and The Salesman
- Caroll Spinney as Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch
- Jerry Nelson as George, Herbert Birdsfoot, Herry Monster, Sammy the Snake, and Sherlock Hemlock
- Fran Brill as Prairie Dawn and A Little Girl
- Jim Henson as Ernie and Guy Smiley
- Uncredited
- Jerry Juhl as the Queen, with Jeff Moss and Joe Raposo as background voices
- Sing the Alphabet only
- Kevin Clash as Elmo
Other releases
International releases
Notes
- Farley and Roosevelt Franklin appear on the original cover art of this album, but are not present in any of the tracks.
- For the 1991 Sony Japan release, Elmo and Little Bird can be seen on the cover despite not appearing anywhere in the album.
See also
External links
- "Jim Henson's Red Book" entry, 9/20-24/1971 – 'Recording Alphabet album at night.'