Saturday Morning: Cartoons' Greatest Hits

by

Various Artists

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There is so much to embrace here! It seems like there's a new tribute album released every day, but the misses usually outweigh the hits.

This album is one of the great few hits. It opens with The Banana Splits by Material Issue (and Liz Phair on vocals!), which is one of the best tracks on the CD. They put a raw energetic indie-style spin on the song, but without losing the essence of the original.

The unmistakable Ramones sound hits home with their take on Spiderman. Like Liz Phair & Material Issue, the Ramones keep the passion of the tune we knew and loved as kids, but sped it up, and we hear Joey, in that traditional high-octane Rock & Roll spirit, yell "Look Out!" before going into the instrumental portion.

About the only songs that left me cold were Sponge's "Speed Racer" and Helmet's "Gigantor." The theme songs we knew and loved as kids were unrecognizable; only the lyrics give you a clue which tune they cover.

Other shining moments are Reverend Horton Heat's "Johnny Quest" and Frente's "Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sun Shine In." There's nothing quite like Pebbles & Bam-Bam singing the latter tune, but these cats do a great cover!

So much to enjoy on this CD! Worth the money and time!

"Saturday Morning - Cartoon's Greatest Hits" is a fun spin for anyone who grew up watching cartoons in the early to mid 1970s. You probably ate a lot of overly hyped sugary cereal, but the Cocoa Puffs, Trix and Quisp trivia is another story. This collection from 1995 was one of those "tribute" disks featuring altern/modern rock artists.

Liz Phair (with Material Issue) has a fun time with "The Tra La La Song" from Banana Splits. Sponge doesn't fare so well with their take on "Go Speed Racer Go." I recently heard a remix that used samples of the actual theme and sound effects from the show, as well as some of those bad voiceovers. Hilarious. But again, I digress. Matthew Sweet's version of "Scooby-Doo, Where are You?" is faithful to the original and one of the best cuts on the disk. Both Helmet's "Gigantor" and Ramones "Spider-Man" really rock. My favorite cut is probably the Reverend Horton Heat medley of "Jonny Quest/Stop that Pigeon," a bizarre combo, with some blistering guitar work on J. Quest. Multiple key changes, dramatic time alternations. Very cool.

Dig also does a fairly faithful "Fat Albert Theme" comlete with "Hey hey hey!" Watch out for Sublime's version of "Hong Kong Phooey" which is a little edgier than the dog janitor may have intended.

Some other choices are less obvious, like "Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sun Shine In" from the Flintstones, rather than the theme that everyone knows. Another is the Violent Femmes "Eep Opp Ork ah-ah (means I love you)" from The Jetsons.

Okay, and what is Happy, Happy Joy, Joy from Ren and Stimpy doing here?

Pour yourself a bowl of Cap'n Crunch, put on this disk, and enjoy reading the back of the box, or in this case, the interesting liner notes.