This week, I’m extremely grateful to welcome Paul Williams to the program to dive into two of his classic soundtrack projects: Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas & The Muppet Movie, with the latter including my favorite song of all time: Rainbow Connection. 

During the sit down, we talk about the stories behind the songs, the performances, the writing processes & working with Jim Henson. But that’s just scratching the surface…

We also discuss: his role as President of ASCAP; his work with Brian Henson on The Muppet Christmas Carol; working with his band on the Phantom of the Paradise soundtrack; the songs he wrote and recorded with Daft Punk & Portugal. The Man; seeing Metallica perform at Elton John & Bernie Taupin’s 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize event; My Morning Jacket’s cover of “Brothers / Our World” for the Muppets: The Green Album; his love of skydiving; working with both Willie Nelson & Jason Mraz on their respective covers of Rainbow Connection, and so much more!

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TRACK LISTING: EMMET OTTER’S JUG BAND CHRISMTAS

• The One Bathing Suit
• Jam Session
• Ain’t No Hole in the Washtub
• When the River Meets the Sea
• Barbeque (Jug Band)
• Carrots the Dancing Horse
• Barbeque (Yancy Woodchuck)
• Dancing Rabbit Act
• Squirrel Acrobatic Act
• Our World
• Brothers
• Riverbottom Nightmare Band
• Our World-Brothers
• Our World-Brothers Reprise
• When the River Meets the Sea Reprise
• Born in a Trunk

TRACK LISTING: THE MUPPET MOVIE

• Rainbow Connection (Kermit The Frog)
• Movin’ Right Along (Kermit The Frog & Fozzie Bear)
• Never Before, Never Again (Miss Piggy)
• Never Before, Never Again (Instrumental)
• I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along (Kermit The Frog & Rowlf The Dog)
• Can You Picture That? (Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem)
• I Hope That Somethin’ Better Comes Along (Instrumental)
• I’m Going to Go Back There Someday (Gonzo)
• America (Fozzie Bear)
• Animal… Come Back Animal (Instrumental)
• Finale: The Magic Store (The Muppets)