Various Artists - Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits

At least since the mid-'60s, there has been a dubious but undeniable connection between kids' television and novelty pop songs. With the rise of the Archies in the latter part of the decade, Saturday morning TV became saturated throughout the early '70s with wacky adventures of young-ish hipsters who just happened to be able to break into super-groovy songs at any moment. Producer Ralph Small has capitalized on his self-confessed jones for Saturday morning TV with Saturday Morning Cartoon's Greatest Hits.

What makes this more than just another compilation co-optation is Small's recognition of the mind-melting nature of kids' TV, and the great liner notes. Artist prospective, show/song bios, and an essay from Small make this a truly fun collection. With minimal experimentation or revisionist arrangements, the tunes stick to their mind-numbing, ear-catching simplicity.

Of course it's guaranteed that you'll be singing along, but the faithful pairing of artists and songs makes it extra sweet. Groovy grrls Liz Phair ("The Tra La La Song"), Mary Lou Lord ("Sugar Sugar"), and Juliana Hatfield and Tanya Donnelly ("Josie and the Pussycats") spin a rainbow of sonic cotton candy. Matthew Sweet caves into his teen idol fantasies with a dreamy, safely psychedelic "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?." Sponge probes their Motor City roots via Japanamation with "Go Speed Racer Go," and several other acts seem to be channeling their childhood heroes: Butthole Surfers/"Underdog," Helmet/"Gigantor," Ramones/"Spiderman," and Sublime/"Hong Kong Phooey."

While the depth goes about as far as a Scooby Doo plot, this collection is great for parties -- or a Saturday morning hangover. ~ Theresa E. LaVeck, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Rhodes Assistant Engineer Andrew Catlin Photography Andrew Davis Illustrations Andrew Garver Assistant Engineer Angie Hart Vocals Brad Haehnel Assistant Engineer Brad Nowell Vocals, Guitar Brian Ritchie Vocals (Background), Xylophone, Bass Bryan Wakeland Percussion, Drums Butthole Surfers Performer C.J. Ramone Bass Caram Costanzo Assistant Engineer Carl Nappa Assistant Engineer Carlos Castro Assistant Engineer Chad Yaro Guitar, Vocals (Background) Chris Gorman Percussion, Drums Collective Soul Performer Dan Wilson Guitar, Vocals (Background) Daniel Denholm Organ Daniel Rey Guitar (Electric) Darrel Herbert Guitar, Vocals (Background) Dave Dysart Assistant Engineer Dave Georgeff Vocals, Bass Dean Fisher Bass Dean Roland Guitar (Rhythm) Dig Performer Eddie Miller Assistant Engineer Eric Wilson Vocals (Background), Bass Face to Face Performer Frente! Performer Gabe Chiesa Assistant Engineer Gary Panter Illustrations Gibby Haynes Vocals Glenn Barr Illustrations Gordon Gano Vocals, Guitar Guy Hoffman Drums, Vocals (Background) Heather Grody Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals Helmet Performer Ian Bryan Assistant Engineer Jacob Slichter Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Drums, Percussion Jeanne Venton Project Coordinator Jeff Bender Photography Jeff DeMorris Assistant Engineer Jim Champagne Assistant Engineer Jim Ellison Vocals, Guitar Joe McGinty Keyboards Joe Sib Vocals Joey Mazzola Guitar Joey Ramone Vocals John Falls Photography John Stanier Drums Johnny Ramone Guitar Jonathan Mooney Assistant Engineer Josh Coffman Photography Juliana Hatfield Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals, Performer King Coffey Vocals (Background), Drums Krish Sharma Assistant Engineer Leslie Ann Jones Assistant Engineer Lisa Mednick Organ (Hammond) Lisa Sutton Design Lisa Umbarger Bass, Vocals (Background) Liz Phair Vocals, Performer Luis Quine Assistant Engineer Mark Pirro Bass Mark Reznicek Drums, Vocals (Background) Mark Yeend Assistant Engineer Marky Ramone Drums Mary Lou Lord ?, Performer, Vocals (Background), Vocals Material Issue Performer Matt Riddle Vocals (Background), Bass, Guitar Matthew Sweet Performer, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals Michael Halsband Photography Michael Lavine Photography Michael Muller Photography Michael Railton Keyboards Mike Zelenko Drums, Percussion Murmurs Performer Page Hamilton Vocals, Guitar Paul Leary Bass, Guitar, Vocals (Background) Peter McCabe Mixing, Engineer Phil Friedmann Bass, Vocals (Background) Ralph Sall Liner Notes, Concept, Mixing, Art Direction, Executive Producer, Producer Reverend Horton Heat Performer Richard Huredia Assistant Engineer Richard Lloyd Guitar Rick Rooney Assistant Engineer Rob Echeverria Guitar Rob Kurth Drums, Vocals (Background) Ross Childress Guitar Scott Churilla Drums, Vocals (Background) Scott Hackwith Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar Semisonic Performer Simon Austin Guitar Sponge Performer Stephen Marcussen Mastering Sublime Performer Tanya Donelly Performer, Vocals, Guitar (Rhythm) Ted Ansani Bass, Vocals The Ramones Performer Tim Cross Bass Tim DeLaughter Vocals Toadies Performer Todd Lewis Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tom Gardocki Horn, Guitar, Vocals Tony Marsico Bass Trever Keith Vocals, Guitar Tripping Daisy Performer Violent Femmes Performer Wax Performer Wes Berggren Guitar Will Turpin Vocals (Background), Bass