Simpsons Sing The Blues, The - Simpsons (The)

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Lacking inspiration
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money

Advantages:	A blast from the Past !
Disadvantages:	slightly dated .  Some fillers .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Come on people, Let’s show our age now! Who here remembers sitting in front of the TV on a Saturday morning, hoping beyond hope that the “The Chart Show” would play ‘Deep, Deep Trouble’ by Bart Simpson? I’m talking about those of us, now in our twenties, who might have been around ten years old at the time. ‘The Chart Show’ doesn’t exist anymore on ITV. It hasn’t for quite a few years, being over taken by the likes of CD: UK. Which are so much sexier than what we had when we were young! I’d have sat in front of the TV for hours if I thought any of the Simpson’s song videos would have come on. After all, the Simpsons were big news in 1991, and for those of us, who didn’t have sky at the time, it was pure excitement to catch a glimpse of Bart of terrestrial television.

Riding the crest of a wave, the Simpsons created an album called “The Simpsons Sing the Blues.” It was the must have album for early 90’s kids. I had it on cassette, of course, CDs being terribly expensive at the time but over time it went lower and lower to the bottom of my music collection, eventually disappearing into the realms of time. I rarely thought about it. Sometimes it entered my mind, brought back sweet memories, then disappeared, but these times were rare.

A few weeks back, wandering through HMV in Coleraine, I was looking through a bargain shelf, laughing as I lifted CDs of Foster and Allen (?) and other people no one really knows, when by chance I lifted a CD of “The Simpsons Sing the Blues.” I showed it to my boyfriend and we had a little giggle at it. We split up to visit different shops at this stage and when we met for tea later he presented me with the CD, saying that as it had made me laugh so much, he thought I should have it. So when we got to the car we popped it in, and laughed the whole way home, singing along to old tunes we both recognised. And I’m sure it would be exactly the same for many of you out there!

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The Album Playlist
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1. Do the Bartman (5:10)
This is one of the few songs on the album that was released with its own video and I’m sure the young and old among us remember it well. It is a funky little number on which Bart basically raps about how naughty he is. I won’t write the whole song out here, as I don’t ever read that part when I read other music reviews! (No offence people, but I think Lyric quotes are a bit of a waste as people mostly just use them to bulk up their review!) Do the Bartman has a bit of a Michael Jackson hint from it, especially when Bart raps “I’m Bad! I’m Bad.” And of course at the end he says “Eat your heart out Michael” Do the Bartman is the Simpson equivalent of the Moonwalk. There is an old Internet rumour that this tune was actually written by MJ himself! I think it’s quite funky, you might think it’s dated. Each to their own.

2. School Day (3:56)
Lead Vocal by Bart Simpson and Buster Poindexter. The latter is a name adopted by “David Johansen” for comedy shows during the mid-80s. Personally I have no idea who he is either, but that’s who narrates this tune. It’s a cover of the old Chuck Berry tune, you know the one- “Hail, Hail Rock and Roll” but I’m afraid it lacks all the angst of the original! Not the best or catchiest tune on the album, but what can you expect from cartoon characters!?

3. Born Under a Bad Sign (3:08)
This is also a cover, and if you remember Homer sounded completely different in the early days. This is Homer’s solo effort, and it doesn’t sound too much like the Homer we know and love these days. Homer’s voice is rather crude but this is a blues tune, and so it kind of suits the style. The original has the line:

“Wine and women are all I crave, a long legged woman is going to carry me to my grave”
But as this is aimed at kids they changed the words to:
“Beer and Bowling is all I crave, a big bag of pork rinds is going to carry me to my grave”

So it is suitably more Homer-like. Worth noting is that BB King does the lead guitar on this tune. Sang by a very miserable Homer.

4. Moanin’ Lisa Blues (4:48)
Lisa sang this one in an episode and you might well recognise it when you hear it. It’s my favourite tune on the album, as Lisa’s gravely tones actually sound realistic on this guitar-heavy, saxophone soulful number. The lyrics are funny, as Lisa is singing how she has no mates other than her saxophone and that the other children at school think that she’s weird. Although a somewhat sombre number, the Simpson style makes it seem ok. to giggle at someone’s misfortune. Lisa just feels so misunderstood.

5. Deep, Deep Trouble (4:27)
Flashback 1991, April to be precise. Don’t pretend you aren’t old enough to remember! ‘Deep, Deep Trouble’ was number seven in the charts and the whole country has Simpson-mania. The song is a very eloquent rap by Bart Simpson about how he’s really quite naughty and keeps getting into trouble. DJ Jazzy Jeff (remember of ‘Boom Shake the room’ fame?) wrote and produced this song and it does sound like early 90’s trendy rap, with record scratching and funky voice-overs. As Bart says “Well you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.” That’s basically the lesson of the song. Unfortunately for Bart his punishment is to have his beloved spikes cut off at the barbers!

6. God Bless the Child (4:29)
Oh, this is such a boring tune. Lisa sings it, and she demands live musicians rather than the synthetic music she’s been given. Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa is shown to have the best singing voice throughout this album, but the songs are slightly, dull. It also features ‘Bleeding Gums Murphy’ who teaches her saxophone in the series. It was originally sang by Billie Holiday way back in 1941 and the original is jazzier than this, and as you might expect, much better!

7. I Love to see you Smile (3:07)
A soppy duet between Homer and Marge. It is quite sweet, and not too jazzy really compared to other songs on the album. There is quite a lot of piano on this track and it is very simple. Randy Newman sang the original. I don’t personally recognise this tune, but then it is so dull, I doubt I’d recognise it again if I heard it. Certainly not one you’ll hum to yourself all day. More of a filler in my opinion. Not a great tune at all.

8. Springfield Soul Stew (2:37)
This is Marge’s solo effort. She just really talks through a recipe of ‘soul stew,’ you know the sort of stew… Half a teacup of bass, a pound of fat-backed drums (?), four tablespoons of boiling Springfield guitar. Thankfully it’s a short one, lasting only two and a half minutes. If you know your soul music, then you’ll recognise it as being Memphis Soul Stew.

9. Look at all those Idiots (3:51)
Finally a cameo appearance from the wonderful Mr Burns for this tune. It is a song about the laziness of the employees in the nuclear power plant. Burns complains about the staff to Smithers. I love Mr.Burns, I think his character is terrific, and it comes across in this rather insulting tune. ‘Smithers’ does a rather nifty guitar solo! Of course Homer gets a mention in Burns’ rant against his employees, who are ‘drinking water like it’s free!’ This is one of the less soulful tunes on the album, sounding rather poppy.

10. Sibling Rivalry (4:40)
This is a sweet number quite poppy rather than blues, which you’d assume was innocent until you listen to the lyrics. It is a very apt description of the interaction between brother and sister. How we want what the other has and get jealous when the other gets praise or attention. I remember this was my favourite track when I was younger, as I could relate to the relationship between Bart and Lisa, as it was as turbulent as the one I had with my brother. It tells how you love your sibling, but sometimes act like you hate them. It’s very sweet that they come together in song and realise that they have their jealousy in common- they both try to hurt each other. And despite trying to annoy each other they are actually really close. Bless!

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Final Word
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So if you’re a Simpson’s fan you’ll probably already have this album in your collection, but if not I wouldn’t panic, and I certainly wouldn’t rush out to buy it at full price! I reckon the four quid we paid for it in HMV was ample enough. I think it’s a rather cool little album to have, and with the Simpson’s still quite popular it would still be a success with children. If you are a blues fan, then you are likely to be horrendously disappointed in the Simpson’s covers of old classics, but if you were buying it for a giggle, then it would be worth the £4!

I also think it would be a good way to ease children into jazzy music, and to help them get an appreciation of music other than pop at a young age. Jazz is quite underrated, so this old gem might help revive some interest with the children of today! Inside the sleeve you get to see photographs of the people who voice the characters, and they're dressed in ever-so-trendy early 1990 style. Oh and rather hilariously, there is an offer to send off for a T-shirt in the back sleeve of the CD, but I’m afraid the offer ended in December 1991!