The Music of the Muppets

Kirk pays a visit the musical world of The Muppets, from their Sesame Street origins in the 60s to the globe-hopping, cinematic heights of the 70s and 80s, with plenty of detours along the way. FEATURING: "Sesame Street Theme" by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone, and Bruce Hart "Mah Na Mah Na" by Piero Umilliani from Sweden: Heaven and Hell "Pinball Number Count" by Walt Kraemer and Ed Bogas, feat. The Pointer Sisters "Rainbow Connection" by Paul Williams (Lyrics) and William Ascher (Music), sung by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" by Josef Zawinul from Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Live at 'the Club') , Cannonball Adderley Quintet, 1966 "Sesame Street Theme" performed by Gladys Knight and the Pips "Sesame Street Theme" arr. Dennis DiBlasio for Maynard Ferguson on Storm , 1982 "Bein' Green," "'C' is for Cookie," "Happiness Hotel," and "Sing" by Joe Raposo Rowlf ( pitch Sesame Street in 1968 "Mah Nah Mah Na" on Sesame Street, 1969 ... and on The Muppet Show , 1976 "Groovin' High" by Dizzy Gillespie, recorded w/ Charlie Parker and Slam Stewart, 1945 A letter from Walt Kraemer on the writing and recording of "Pinball Number Count" "The Neutron Dance" by Allee Willis and Danny Sembello recorded by The Pointer Sisters on Break Out , 1983 "Red Clay" by Freddie Hubbard from Red Clay , 1970 "The Muppet Show Theme" by Jim Henson and Sam Pottle Buddy Rich vs. Animal drum battle from The Muppet Show , 1981 PINBALL NUMBER COUNT CHEAT SHEET Intro: 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 Verse: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 4 + 4 + 3 4 + 4 + 4 + 3 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 Solos: In regular 4/4, with a bar of 5 at the very end -------------------- APRIL 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONS Andy – Lisa Crotty – Elizabeth Culver – Meryl Allison – Robyn Metcalfe – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Jay Swartz – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Nathaniel Bauernfeind – Paul Delaney – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Dave Florey   APRIL 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONS Dave Douglass – Suzanne Crawford – PhantomMare – Kym Griffith – Rachel – Aruni Jayatilleke – Ryan Gillen – Terry Auvenshine – TB – Daniel Kaberon – Wiggy Hash – Whit Sidener – Julie Kellman – Simon Hellman – Bea – Claudia Carty – Dani – Glenn Jackson – Christopher Selby Spink – Philip Kelly – Daniel Nervo – Kevin Stafford – Lawrence – Sy Jacobs – Irritable – Ian Pidd – Andrew Hofer – Jordan Gatenby – Melissa Kuhns – Ashley – Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble – Kevin Marcelo – Samantha Coates – James – Jeff – Dan Cutter – Joseph Romero – Ol Parker – John Berry – Danielle Kriz – Clint McElroy – Mordok’s Vape Pen – Inmar Givoni – Michael Singer – Merv Adrian – Joe Gallo – Lauren Knotts – Dave Kolas – Henry Mindlin – Monica St. Angelo – Stephen Wolkwitz – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian John Peter – Chris Remo – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Lee R. – Callum Webb – Lynda MacNeil – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Grettir Asmundarson – Sean Murphy – Randal Vegter – Kellen Steffen – Kaya Woodall – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Alan Maass – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Carolina – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Tim Sheehan – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Jordan Block – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – David Futter – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Richard Sneddon – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – David McDarby – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Miles Forman – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jeffrey Bean – JRRJ – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Natalie Mistilis – Josh Singer – Amy Lynn Thornsen – Adam W. – Kelli Brockington – Victoria Yu – Min