The Simpsons - Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons

Throughout its near-decade-long run, The Simpsons has maintained an astounding level of high quality, turning out episodes dense with verbal wit, visual humor, and musical parodies. Since each episode moves so swiftly, it's easy to take the high quality for granted, especially as far as the music is concerned. It's presented without any fanfare -- it's just simply part of the Springfield universe. That's why Go Simpsonic with the Simpsons, Rhino's sequel to the first collection of Simpsons music Songs in the Key of Springfield, is so welcome; it serves as a reminder of the sheer brilliance of the music within this peerless show. Much of that musical brilliance is due to Alf Clausen, who co-writes, arranges, produces, and conducts nearly all the music on the show. Hearing all of this music, ranging from the first to the ninth season, in one place confirms how Clausen and his collaborators can master everything from show tunes to commercial jingles. What's really impressive is that the music is every bit as funny, sometimes more so, than the lyrics -- and that's no easy trick to pull off. Go Simpsonic not only picks up where Songs in the Key of Springfield left off in 1997, but it compiles some overlooked highlights from 1990-1996, adding four previously unreleased alternate versions and tunes along the way. Sure, in one sense it's an archival release, a way to get the "Cape Feare" medley on the same disc as Kirk VanHouten's immortal "Can I Borrow a Feeling?," but the best thing about Go Simpsonic is that it never feels like a sop to the show's rabid fan base -- it's simply a hell of a listen on its own terms as it winds its way through 53 tracks, each one as good, if not better, than the one that came before it. It's a sequel that's truly equal to its predecessor. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alf Clausen Producer, Liner Notes, Discographical Annotation, Orchestra, Adaptation, Orchestration, Compilation Producer, Conductor, Engineer, Arranger Antonia Coffman Show Consultant Armin Steiner Engineer Arthur Sullivan Performer Bob Beecher Editing, Associate Producer, Music Editor Bobby Mackston Dialogue Editor Carol Farhat Score Supervisor Cary Butler Engineer Chris Ledesma Editing, Associate Producer, Music Editor Dan Castellaneta Performer Daniel Goldmark Editing, Editorial Research David Dorn Executive Producer, Liner Notes Dell Hake Orchestra, Orchestration Dick Wells Performer Emily Cagan Project Coordinator Gary Peterson Liner Notes, Discographical Annotation Gary Stewart Executive Producer Gedde Watanabe Performer Hank Azaria Performer Hank Williams, Jr. Performer Harry Shearer Performer Hugh Brown Art Direction Jackie Mason Performer Jim Hagopian Photography JoAnn Kane Music Preparation John Tempereau Project Consultant Julie Kavner Performer Maggie Roswell Performer Mchael Horner Project Consultant Michael Horner Project Consultant Mike Rubin Contractor Nancy Cartwright Performer Pamela Hayden Performer Peter Alexander Art Direction Phil Hartman Performer Rick Logan Performer Rick Riccio Engineer Robert Vogien Mastering Robert Vosgien Mastering Sab Shimono Performer Sally Stevens Performer Sonic Youth Orchestra, Orchestration Stan Milander Project Consultant Steven Chean Editorial Supervision, Editing Terry Cashman Performer Terry Harrington Sax (Baritone) The Ramones Orchestra, Orchestration Tim Conway Performer Tito Puente Performer Tommy Morgan Harmonica Travis Powers Sound Effects Tress MacNeille Performer Yeardley Smith Performer