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SSBook&Record
Songs from Sesame Street
Released 1970
Format LP
Label Columbia Records
Cat no. CS 1069
SSBookRecord-backcover

Back cover to the original release.

SS1970PartsOfBodyPoster

The poster that came with the first release.

SSOriginalCast74Reissue

1974 reissue, as Sesame Street 1.

SSOriginalCast74Reissue-backcover

Back cover for the 1974 reissue.

The Sesame Street Book & Record is the very first record album of Sesame Street material ever released. It was originally packaged in a gatefold sleeve that contained a full-color poster teaching parts of the body and a 24-page book featuring illustrations by Brian Cranner, as well as lyrics to all of the songs. It was also released simultaneously in a less expensive edition with a different cover, no book, and no poster. The songs from this album were also released on nine consecutively numbered 45-rpm, 7-inch records. The first six of these were also available in a "Carry About" boxed set, and the final three were also available as a set.

Recorded in April 1970[1] and issued that summer,[2] Jeff Moss recalled years later that the album was recorded in one 24-hour marathon session in "an old studio that had once been a church"; referring to Columbia's famed 30th Street Studio (nicknamed "The Church").[3]

The album peaked at #23 on Billboard's Top LPs chart in 1970, and was certified Gold (sales of 500,000 copies) by the RIAA. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children. It was subsequently reissued many times (without the book or poster), first on Columbia under several different titles and covers, then on other labels (see below for details). It was also later issued as part of the 1977 2-LP set Sesame Street Gold!

The entire album was released on CD for the first time under the title The Sesame Street Record, as part of the 3-disc set Old School: Volume 1 on March 23, 2010, along with Big Bird Sings! and Bert & Ernie Sing-Along.

Track listing[]

Side One

  1. Sesame Street - The Entire Cast [sic]
  2. ABC-DEF-GHI - Big Bird
  3. I've Got Two - Big Bird and Oscar plus everybody including Mr. Hooper
  4. Goin' for a Ride - Anything People
  5. What Are Kids Called - Bob and Susan
  6. Everybody Wash - Ernie and Bert
  7. One of These Things - Bob and Susan
  8. Up and Down - Two Monsters
  9. Green - Kermit

Side Two

  1. Somebody Come and Play - The Kids
  2. I Love Trash - Oscar
  3. A Face - Bob
  4. J-Jump - The Kids
  5. The People in Your Neighborhood - Bob and The Anything People
  6. Rub Your Tummy - Gordon
  7. Number 5 - The Kids
  8. Five People In My Family - Anything People
  9. Nearly Missed - Susan
  10. Rubber Duckie - Ernie

Edits[]

On all releases that don't contain the book, the song "One of These Things" was edited to remove the following material after Susan says "Ernie's Rubber Duckie!":

A woman: "Here are some more sounds. Listen."
(three bells ringing one at a time, followed by a trumpet playing)
(three dogs barking one at a time, followed by a cat meowing)

Then the closing music plays on all versions.

Notes[]

  • Although the spine and cover call this album The Sesame Street Book & Record, the actual label simply says Sesame Street.
  • On the Old School: Volume 1 release, the original cover is featured, but altered so that the sign simply says The Sesame Street Record and has a pink round "sticker" that says "Features Rubber Duckie."
  • On Side 2, after "Rubber Duckie", there is a short track where the cast tells the listener goodbye. Although this track is not listed on the LP or album cover, the 8-track lists it as "Tag"; it is retained on the 8-track despite Gordon telling the listener to turn the record over.
  • The 1974 cassette release (C-5064) features a different running order: "What Are Kids Called" plays before "I've Got Two," and the final track "Rubber Duckie" is preceded by "Up and Down," "I Love Trash," and "A Face." Additionally, the closing tag, where Gordon instructs the listener to turn the record over, is omitted.
  • The 1974 reissue cover is a Season 5 cast photo featuring several human and Muppet characters who were not introduced when the album was originally recorded, including David, Maria, Luis, Mr. Snuffleupagus, The Amazing Mumford, and Sherlock Hemlock.

Book pages[]

Other releases[]

International releases[]

Cast[]

Sesame Street Book & Record gold certificates

Matt Robinson, Bob McGrath, Frank Oz, Will Lee, Caroll Spinney, Loretta Long, Joe Raposo, and Jeff Moss hold copies of the gold record certification.

SSBookRecord-MailIn

A mail-in certificate from paperback editions of books originally from The Sesame Street Learning Kit.

Production credits[]

Sources[]

  1. Jim Henson's Red Book entry, 4/1970 - Record 1st Sesame Street cast album.
  2. Billboard: Col Bows 'Sesame Street' Cast LP/ Book Package - June 20, 1970
  3. Moss, Jeff, The Sesame Street Songbook introduction

See also[]

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