Last year, Bob Dorough, the first and most prolific songwriter of Schoolhouse Rock, passed away at the age of 94. I didn’t know this until I started leafing through the New York Times annual issue of The Lives They Lived a couple weeks ago. It inspired me to do a show on this timeless creation for kids that matched music with learning.
Schoolhouse Rock, a 1973-85 series of Saturday-morning short animations on ABC, used music and rhyme to help kids learn basic facts in science, math, grammar, civics, and history. Different Tribute albums have been released over the years, and besides some originals from the series, we’ll hear songs from Schoolhouse Rock Rocks and Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote.
TODAY’S PLAYLIST
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK THEME SONG – Bob Dorough and friends
ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR – Bob Dorough
INTERPLANET JANET – Man Or Astroman
THE PREAMBLE – Lynn Ahrens
VERBS – Jamaal Collier & friends recorded Live at WTMD
TYRANNOSAURUS DEBT – Bob Dorough
REPORT FROM THE NORTH POLE – Jack Sheldon, Bob Calliban, Barry Carl & Bob Dorough
Talking Tunes With Brian Simms & Tom Moon – Blossom Dearie
UNPACK YOUR ADJECTIVES – Blossom Dearie
LOLLY LOLLY LOLLY GET YOUR ADVERBS HERE – Buffalo Tom
THE TALE OF MR. MORTON – Skee-Lo
CONJUNCTION JUNCTION – Better Than Ezra
SUFFERIN’ TILL SUFFERAGE – Etta James
THREE RING GOVERNMENT – The Roots w/Jazzyfatnastees
THREE IS A MAGIC NUMBER – Blind Melon
