matt groening's "flavors tape" that inspired the "simpsons" theme

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I gave Elfman what I called a 'flavors' tape, featuring the kind of sound I wanted for The Simpsons theme. The tape included The Jetsons theme, selections from Nino Rota's Juliet Of The Spirits, a Remington electric shaver jungle by Frank Zappa, some easy-listening music by Esquivel, and a teach-your-parrot-to-talk-record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSptqzfTSSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i51ahfJkATs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ8m7P3ZEAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NglD0H-cps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkJqvIg5zFU

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 07:14 (twelve years ago)

h/t dangerous minds:

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/1967_frank_zappa_linda_ronstadt_radio_ad_that_influenced_the_simpsons_theme

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 07:14 (twelve years ago)

sounds like elfman disregarded all but the jetson's theme 2 me

flopson, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:25 (twelve years ago)

i have to admit i don't really hear the esquivel.

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:27 (twelve years ago)

But you hear the parakeet training record?!

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:31 (twelve years ago)

i get how it contributes to the gestalt. plus i have no idea which actual parrot/parakeet record he used -- that's just the one i found on youtube.

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:35 (twelve years ago)

Just funnin'. Actually that whole gestalt (Zappa + TV themes + space age bachelor pad etc.) seemed pretty prevalent among a certain mindset. (B-52s were huge Rota fans, Pylon famously planned to use a bird training record as found vocal matter.)

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:41 (twelve years ago)

it would be fun to put together a playlist of what else groening might have put on that tape. kind of a "what's on your ipod, matt groening of the late '80s trying to help danny elfman compose a simpsons theme?"

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:44 (twelve years ago)

Totally! I never knew of that Remingon ad btw. "Up go the shaving heads, down go the shaving heads..."

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:46 (twelve years ago)

See also: Church of The Subgenius, Devo (especially the E-Z Listening stuff), "Ping-Pong Percussion" records...

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 17:50 (twelve years ago)

That remington ad is amazing! thanks.

wk, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:03 (twelve years ago)

i love the devo e-z listening disc!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9zkDq8qKqk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdf_uiwryAk

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:34 (twelve years ago)

Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" is total proto-Simpsons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaC0vNLdLvY

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:45 (twelve years ago)

It's been linked elsewhere, and surely ever Boingo fan has seen it, but here they are on The Gong Show in 1976. Elfman's signature syncopations already on display;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTRd1a5MVMw

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:51 (twelve years ago)

feel like some les baxter belongs on that tape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjTNM-XlmI&feature=share&list=PL4EBEF37DD0499219

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:01 (twelve years ago)

stupid youtube playlist format.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NjTNM-XlmI

pastoral mellotron soaked epic gnome and wizard shit (get bent), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:02 (twelve years ago)

That's okay, I had never seen those Latino Roots comps. Rowr!

Ermahgerd Thomas (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 20:30 (twelve years ago)


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