 Various Artists I think the time has finally come when we can discuss "Schoolhouse Rock!" apart from its moronic knee-jerk following. Fifteen years ago, no one really remembered "SR," but nowadays it's hard to go ten feet without some damn fool smugly looking for laughs by singing "I'm Just a Bill." "Oh my God, I remember that!" shouts Jane No-Brain. "That's hilarious," smirks Joe Jackass. That said, I will risk being lumped in with Joe and Jane by affirming my love for the "SR" songs. My affection is more from a songwriting perspective than from any nostalgia, and out of appreciation for Bob Dorough and friends. For the uninitiated, Mr. Dorough is a jazz great who served as the "SR" musical director and writer of some of the series' most memorable songs. Together with other writers like Lynn Ahrens (now a successful Broadway writer) and performers like the great Blossom Dearie, Jack Sheldon, and Grady Tate, Dorough helped to create a unique body of music that is greater than the "children's music" label it generally receives. The complete "SR" songs are available in a box set (not especially recommended as it has some unwanted bonus tracks by the likes of the Lemonheads) and in four individual volumes (clocking in at about 25 minutes apiece). Ideally, they'd have done the complete SR recordings on 2 discs, or at least added some demos or other archival bonus tracks, but that was not really the way they were marketing it. Oh well, it's hard to complain when the music is so good. Science Rock is my favorite of the four, as it contains some of the best songs and the fewest "classics." "Interplanet Janet" and "Telegraph Line" actually rank in my top 100 songs of all time; the latter I have been known to listen to upwards of 75 times in a row. Perfect songs, regardless of any childhood memories you may or may not have of them. "Them Not-So-Dry Bones" is one of Jack Sheldon's great performances ("Look out, here comes a BONE-HEAD play"), and "A Victim of Gravity" is as charming as it is clever. "Electricity, Electricity" is not as good as you remember it, but that's about the worst thing I can say about this CD. It's too bad things like "Schoolhouse Rock!" inevitably get appropriated by people who think they're all that, but the music is truly timeless. And while the CD is pitifully short, at least they didn't tack on Cloris Leachman's miserable songs from the late 80s SR video releases. Or wait, would that make it even better? I'd also like to award a special honor to Jack Sheldon, for Most Satisfying Pronunciation of the Word "Femur" in a Pop Song.
Review by Chink |