Features / Reissue Theory

Welcome to another installment of The Second Disc’s long-unused column Reissue Theory, where we reflect on well-known albums of the past and the reissues they could someday see. As a classic force of television scores big at the Emmys this year – 50 years after their most significant series first started – it’s time to play the music, light the lights, and dream of a wider availability for the music of Jim Henson’s Muppets!

There’s a major diva looming over the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards this coming weekend. Hacks, HBO Max’s delightful comedy about an aging stand-up pioneer (Jean Smart) and the young writer she takes under her wing (Hannah Einbinder), wrapped up its victory lap final season this summer; it’s up for seven awards at the Peacock Theatre on Monday, September 14, including Outstanding Comedy Series (which it won in 2024) and a fifth consecutive nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy for Smart. If she wins, she’ll have taken the trophy for every season of the show’s run.

But with apologies to Deborah Vance, the preceding weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards celebration gave the gold to an even more deserving diva: Miss Piggy, along with her cast of funny felt characters in The Muppets, took home four Emmys for a special 50th anniversary revival of The Muppet Show, the beloved series that ran for five seasons from 1976 to 1981. (The special, aired on ABC and Disney+ with a special guest turn by singer Sabrina Carpenter, earned trophies for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), as well as Outstanding Writing, Picture Editing and Production Design for a Variety Special.)

It was hoped that the warm critical reception (and viewership, scoring more than 7.5 million viewers between network and streaming) might yield more new episodes of The Muppet Show. After a decade-plus of copyright holders exploring through reboots what the importance of characters like The Muppets or Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes “mean” in the 21st century, it’s refreshing to see a new mandate slowly taking hold: just make a good version of the thing everyone loved the first time. While The Walt Disney Company, shepherd of Jim Henson’s characters since 2004, has traded in on some of that goodwill (consider this summer’s rebranded Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, now featuring Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem where Aerosmith once rocked), you get a sense of absence in more than a few ways – and we’re not talking about the endless debates over current Kermit the Frog voice/controller Matt Vogel.

No, one has only to look on a music streaming service and discover that, while nearly every minute of The Muppet Show is on Disney+ (along with select films the characters starred in), there’s a dearth of options for Muppet music. Soundtracks to the films The Muppet Movie (1979), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2013) are readily available, as are companion albums for television specials A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (2009), Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021) and the 2023 series The Muppets Mayhem. (There’s also a pair of one-off singles tied to viral videos, the 2006 holiday album The Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas, and 2011’s Muppets: The Green Album, featuring more than a dozen alt-rock acts covering popular Muppet songs.)

While these offerings are certainly generous, the unpredictable ownership of Muppet rights after the 1990 passing of Henson (who was close to selling his company to Disney) means some nine original, Disney-controlled Muppet albums – many of which were divided up on long out-of-print CD compilations – remain unavailable to stream, download, or even enjoy on reissued vinyl. This includes at least two film soundtracks, four separate releases tied to the television show, and even a collection of original albums Henson and his company performed. With that vivacious catalogue spirit you’d expect from Team TSD, we’ve also identified and dreamed up some releases from the Muppet vaults that could make audiences happier than Statler and Waldorf ripping an insult from their balcony seats.

Disney’s musical priorities are intricate and, in many ways, unknowable. (How we hope the recently-announced commemorative album for the EPCOT theme park has a life beyond just vinyl, which is not ideal to take home in your suitcase after sweltering in the Florida sun!) In The Muppets’ ideal world, though, the idea of just one person believing in you could open up the floodgates to incredible things. Perhaps, in some far-off place for the lovers, the dreamers, and…us, the wish for more available Muppet music may yet come true.

Part I: The Muppet Show Albums

Jim Henson and his team made The Muppets a mainstay of television nearly since its inception. Developing the characters on projects like the syndicated Sam and Friends (1955-1961), a host of late-night talk-show appearances, the ongoing educational series Sesame Street (whose copyrights are held by the nonprofit that’s produced the series since 1969), and even a stint on the first season of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. It was SNL that perhaps provided a good bit of inspiration for the most famous Muppet movement: The Muppet Show, a combination of appealing vaudeville-style humor and sketches with a host of beloved human actors and singers who guested on the series. The Muppet Show won four Emmys (from 21 nominations), and only ended when Henson’s increasing ambitions for film and other visual projects eclipsed his interest in further production.

Arista Records released two albums of Muppet Show material – both original and adapted – in 1977 and 1978. The albums were moderately popular in America (the first won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children), but were enormous in the United Kingdom, where the series was filmed; the first LP, issued on the Pye label, was a chart-topper, and even spun off a Top 10 hit in Kermit the Frog’s nephew Robin’s rendition of the A.A. Milne nursery rhyme “Halfway Down the Stairs.” Indeed, the popularity of Muppets could not be overstated in the U.K., where British television mogul Lord Lew Grade enthusiastically fronted production of the series for the ATV network in England. (The show aired in syndication in America, often on CBS affiliates.)

This relationship led to some unique, hard-to-find gems for vinyl collectors. The Muppet Show would have “U.K. spots” in England: short sketches made possible by a longer running time and less commercials overseas. Four of those spots – which usually centered Muppets performing early 20th century tunes that meant nothing to American audiences – were collected on 1977’s The Muppet Show Music Hall EP, a Top 20 hit in England. U.K. pressings of The Muppet Show also featured two additional tracks from these U.K. spots, and Pye even issued a third LP, 1979’s The Muppet Show Music Album, featuring another 20 tracks.

It’s the first two Muppet Show LPs that offer perhaps the most fun for viewers, with favorite moments like “Mahna Mahna,” Robin’s “Halfway Down the Stairs,” performances by Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem and monologues by furry funnyman Fozzie Bear. The second more closely follows the structure of the show, offering spots for guests (Bernadette Peters and Peter Sellers) and covers of more modern pop fare (Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle,” Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind”).But The Muppet Show Music Album shouldn’t be overlooked either, thanks to renditions of favorites like Bobby Benson’s Baby Band running through “Pennsylvania 6-5000” on toy instruments, Kermit leading an unusual cover of Harry Nilsson’s “Coconut,” and unique renditions of the show’s opening and closing themes. (Our hypothetical track list includes one possibly unreleased gem: Henson and Sam Pottle’s “The Muppet Show Theme” was recorded for single release with unique sections, but chopped down for the album.)

In all sections, * denotes a track that is previously unreleased on CD.

The Muppet Show (originally released as Arista AB 4152, 1977 except as noted)

1. The Muppet Show Theme – The Muppets
2. Mississippi Mud – The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband
3. Mahna Mahna/Lullaby of Birdland – Mahna Mahna & The Two Snowths
4. The Great Gonzo Eats a Rubber Tire to “The Flight of the Bumble Bee” *
5. Mr. Bassman – Floyd Pepper & Scooter
6. Cottleston Pie – Rowlf *
7. The Amazing Marvin Suggs and His Muppaphone Play “Lady of Spain”
8. Pachalafaka – Hashim the Whatnot (U.K. bonus track – Pye Records NSPH 19, 1977)
9. Lydia the Tattooed Lady – Kermit the Frog *
10. Halfway Down the Stairs – Robin the Frog
11. Tenderly – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem
12. I’m in Love with a Big Blue Frog – Mary Louise *
13. Tit Willow – Rowlf and Sam the Eagle
14. Veterinarian’s Hospital: “A Soap Opera”: Rowlf (as Dr. Bob), Nurse Piggy & Nurse Janice *
15. Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear – Scooter with Fozzie Bear
16. What Now My Love? – Miss Piggy
17. A Monologue by Fozzie Bear
18. Hugga Wugga (U.K. bonus track – Pye Records NSPH 19, 1977) *
19. Trees – Wayne & Wanda
20. Sax and Violence – Nigel, Zoot & Mahna Mahna
21. Bein’ Green – Kermit the Frog

The Muppet Show Music Hall EP (originally released as Pye Records 7NX 8004 (U.K.), 1977) *

1. Don’t Dilly Dally on the Way – Miss Piggy
2. Waiting At the Church – Miss Piggy & Kermit the Frog
3. The Boy in the Gallery – Miss Piggy
4. Wotcher Knocked ‘Em in the Old Kent Road – Fozzie Bear with Statler & Waldorf

The Muppet Show 2 (originally released as Arista AB 4192, 1978)

1. The Muppet Show Theme – The Muppets
2. Baby Face – The Chickens *
3. There’s a New Sound – Scooter
4. A Monologue by Fozzie Bear
5. Cuanto Le Gusta – Miss Piggy & The Pigs
6. Who? – Zelda and Her Singing Owl
7. Time in a Bottle – Muppet Whatnots *
8. An Editorial by Sam the Eagle
9. Borneo – Lubbock Lou & His Jughuggers
10. At the Dance – The Muppets *
11. Upidee – The Muppets
12. Just One Person – Bernadette Peters *
13. Happy Feet – Kermit the Frog
14. Pigs in Space – Link Hogthrob, First Mate Piggy & Dr. Julius Strangepork *
15. I’m Five – Robin the Frog
16. Sea Chantey – Link Hogthrob, Scooter, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo & Robin
17. New York State of Mind – Floyd Pepper *
18. Pig Calypso – The Pigs
19. When – Rowlf *
20. A Gypsy’s Violin – Peter Sellers *
21. Wishing Song – The Great Gonzo
22. Animal Sings Gershwin *
23. For What It’s Worth – Woodland Creatures
24. We Got Us – The Muppets
25. Closing Theme – The Muppets

The Muppet Show Music Album (originally released as Pye Records NSPL 18613 (U.K.), 1979)

1. The Muppet Show Theme (Extended Version) *
2. Hawaiian War Chant – The Pigs
3. The Rhyming Song – Fozzie Bear, Scooter, Annie Sue & Link Hogthrob
4. Blue Skies – The Prairie Dogs *
5. Eight Little Notes – Rowlf *
6. Do Wah Diddy Diddy – Geri & The Atrics *
7. Jamboree – The Great Gonzo
8. Henrietta’s Wedding – Jerry & Lou *
9. Jam – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem
10. Magic Garden – Kermit the Frog *
11. Macho Man – Link & The Pigs, The Great Gonzo & The Chickens
12. Mad About the Frog – Miss Piggy *
13. Pennsylvania 6-5000 – Bobby Benson’s Baby Band
14. Coconut – Kermit the Frog
15. Frog Kissin’ *
16. Dog Walk – Wayne
17. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Floyd Pepper *
18. Sixty Seconds Got Together – The Gill Brothers *
19. It Was a Very Good Year – Statler & Waldorf *
20. The Muppet Show Theme – The Muppets *

Part II: Muppet Movies

The inexorable tie-line between Muppets motion pictures and deeply moving songs was evidenced from the beginning. For 1979’s star-studded travelogue The Muppet Movie, Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher created a slate of astounding songs, including the Oscar-nominated standard “Rainbow Connection.” (The Muppet Movie was released on CD and vinyl for the first time in more than 20 years in 2013, with Disney keeping that album master preserved for digital audiences.)

The same cannot be said of the rest of the Muppet filmography, although this is partly to do with the sticky copyright entanglements with the films at this time. After The Muppet Show, Lord Grade and his company ITC Entertainment continued his financial backing of Henson on The Muppet Movie and 1981 follow-up The Great Muppet Caper (featuring songs and score by Joe Raposo, Sesame Street‘s principal songwriter and musical director). However, ITC’s financial struggles prevented them from continuing with Henson, and most of his material ended up in different portfolios. 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan – which featured an original score by jazz pianist Ralph Burns and songs by Sesame songsmith Jeff Moss – was produced by Tri-Star Pictures (now owned by Sony), while Henson’s company licenses the rights to non-Kermit escapades like the fantasy films The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986) and television projects like Fraggle Rock (1983-1987) and The Storyteller (1987). At the time, the Muppet music rights were largely controlled by Warner Bros. Records, whose sister label Atlantic issued The Muppet Movie and released the next two Muppet soundtracks. Given the temporary nature of some film soundtrack contracts, rights to the music of The Muppets Take Manhattan may have reverted to Sony as well, though I don’t expect anyone to untangle that mystery any time soon.

But this section would cover more than The Great Muppet Caper! In 1992 – two years after Henson died suddenly of a brief illness at the age of 53 – the company (including Jim’s son Brian and longtime creative right hand Frank Oz) soldiered on, partnering with Disney to adapt two classic works of literature with the Muppet gang and a select human ensemble. 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol (featuring Michael Caine in a command performance as Ebenezer Scrooge) and 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island (starring the late Tim Curry as the rascally pirate Long John Silver) were commercial hits that remain beloved with modern audiences. Christmas Carol, featuring new songs from a recently-sober Paul Williams, remains an in-print favorite and has even been pressed by Disney on vinyl several times. Treasure Island‘s album, while out of print, could be redelivered by Disney, offering a spate of songs by legendary songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and original score by Hans Zimmer. (One more Muppet film was produced by Tri-Star before Disney bought the Muppet gang – 1998’s Muppets from Space, which features no original songs – and is similarly not included herein.)

The Great Muppet Caper (An Original Soundtrack Recording) (originally released as Atlantic SD 16047, 1981)

1. The Main Title – Joe Raposo
2. Hey a Movie! – Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear & The Great Gonzo
3. The Big Red Bus – Joe Raposo
4. Happiness Hotel – The Muppets
5. Lady Holiday – Joe Raposo
6. Steppin’ Out with a Star – Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear & The Great Gonzo
7. The Apartment – Joe Raposo
8. Night Life – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem
9. The First Time It Happens – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy
10. Couldn’t We Ride – The Muppets
11. Miss Piggy’s Fantasy – Stuart Kale & Kermit the Frog
12. The Great Muppet Caper (The Heist/The Muppet Fight Song/Muppets to the Rescue) – Joe Raposo
13. Homeward Bound – Joe Raposo
14. Finale: Hey a Movie! – The Muppets
15. The First Time It Happens (Reprise) – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy

Muppet Treasure Island (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (originally released as Angel 37159, 1996)

1. Treasure Island – Hans Zimmer
2. Shiver My Timbers – The Muppet Pirates
3. Something Better – Kevin Bishop with Gonzo & Rizzo
4. Sailing for Adventure – The Hispanola Crew
5. Cabin Fever – The Hispanola Crew
6. A Professional Pirate – Tim Curry with The Muppet Pirates
7. Boom Shakalaka – Hans Zimmer
8. Love Led Us Here – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy
9. The Map – Hans Zimmer
10. Captain Smollet – Hans Zimmer
11. Land Ho – Hans Zimmer
12. Compass – Hans Zimmer
13. Long John – Hans Zimmer
14. Rescue – Hans Zimmer
15. Honest Brave and True – Hans Zimmer
16. Love Power – Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
17. Love Led Us Here – John Berry & Helen Darling

Part III: Muppet Albums

So talented was the Muppets team that the idea of Muppet projects without any physical Muppets were soon floated. In 1981, Warner Bros. capitalized on the trend of the bestselling Jane Fonda’s Workout video series with a porcine twist: Miss Piggy’s Aerobique Exercise Workout Album featured original songs by Raposo sung by Oz as Miss Piggy (with a few cameos from Henson as her long-suffering paramour Kermit). With Piggy’s stock at a considerable high – consider this terrific Vulture piece on her, or the idea of actresses Emma Stone and Jennifer Lawrence working with Cole Escola (writer of the delightfully batty hit Broadway play Oh, Mary!) on a Piggy-centered film – this would be a fun novelty to reissue.

Most of The Muppets’ original musical moments wouldn’t be further conceived until the next decade, after Henson’s passing – but there were still a few buried treasures therein. In 1993, the BMG label struck a deal with The Jim Henson Company to create its own label, getting the Muppets film soundtracks on CD (with new cover art) and overseeing two new collections, Muppet Hits and Muppet Hits Take 2. (These discs were built from the three Muppet Show LPs – the closest any of them have gotten to a CD release.)

Also part of this deal was the recording of two new albums, featuring Henson’s successor Steve Whitmire as Kermit and the surviving Muppet performers, including Oz, Dave Goelz and Jerry Nelson. (Richard Hunt, who voiced characters like Scooter, Beaker and Statler, died of AIDS in 1991.) 1993’s Muppet Beach Party and 1994’s Kermit Unpigged were lavish studio affairs, with the latter offering guest turns from Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Buffett, Linda Ronstadt and others. Videos were made for Beach Party‘s covers of The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo” and The Surfari’s “Wipe Out” (with Animal beating his drum kit into submission), as well as Unpigged‘s cover of Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy” (a clip featuring even more celebrity cameos). Sold most frequently on cassette, these titles are of particular sentimental value to Muppet millennials.

The Jim Henson Records era yielded one emotional surprise from the vaults, too: an entire album recorded by Henson in character as the Muppet Theatre’s piano-playing dog Rowlf was discovered. Accompanied by Muppet Show pianist Derek Scott, the album featured pop standards and favorite songs that had appeared on other Muppet albums (“Halfway Down the Stairs,” “Bein’ Green,” “New York State of Mind”); for its release nearly a decade later, producer Robert Kraft and arranger Chris Boardman oversaw the recording of a full string orchestra to further augment the Sinatra-esque vibe of the album, cheekily titled Ol’ Brown Ears is Back.

The Henson/BMG partnership was short. In 2002, to coincide with The Muppet Show‘s 25th anniversary, Rhino licensed the Muppet works for a new collection. The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More offered 14 tracks from the first two Muppet Show albums along with a sampling of Muppet film songs (including the sole Muppet-related tune on the Muppets from Space soundtrack: Goelz, as The Great Gonzo, singing a new version of Paul Williams’ “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday”). Disney’s first Muppet album was a 2005 compilation featuring some of the selections from Music, Mayhem, and More alongside new songs from a Muppet-centric adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, with new songs by a relatively-unknown Michael Giacchino.

Miss Piggy’s Aerobique Exercise Workout Album (originally released as Warner Bros. 23717, 1981) *

1. Stereau Warmup
2. Snackcercise
3. Lift the One You Love
4. Exercise Your Rights
5. Dream Dancin’
6. La Vie Aerobique
7. Sit Down
8. Breathe Easy
9. A Little Chin Music
10. Hairobiques Made Simple
11. Au Revoir

Rowlf, Ol’ Brown Ears is Back (rec. 1984 – originally released as Jim Henson Records 74860 30023-2, 1993)

1. Lydia, the Tattooed Lady
2. Eight Little Notes
3. I Never Harmed an Onion
4. Halfway Down the Stairs
5. Memory Lane
6. Cottleston Pie
7. Bein’ Green
8. Carbon Paper
9. Garden Song
10. New York State of Mind
11. When
12. You and I and George
13. Wishing Song
14. Old Dog Trey

Muppet Beach Party (originally released as Jim Henson Records 74860 35027-2, 1993)

1. Surfin’ USA – Kermit the Frog & Clifford
2. Wooly Bully – Gonzo, Rizzo & Fozzie Bear
3. Under the Boardwalk – Clifford & The Surf Rats
4. Sugar Shack – Gonzo & Rizzo
5. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy
6. Limbo Rock – Fozzie Bear & the Muppets
7. Papa Oom Mow Mow – Clifford, Kermit the Frog & Rockapella as The Giant Clams
8. Kokomo – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy
9. Surfin’ – The Surf Rats
10. Walkin’ on Sunshine – Clifford, Gonzo & Rizzo
11. Fun, Fun, Fun – Robin the Frog & The Frog Scouts
12. Wipe Out – Animal

Kermit Unpigged (originally released as Jim Henson Records 78400 10004-2, 1994)

1. She Drives Me Crazy – Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy
2. Daydream – Vince Gill & Kermit the Frog
3. On Broadway – George Benson with Clifford & the Rhythm Rats
4. All I Have to Do is Dream – Linda Ronstadt & Kermit the Frog
5. Born to Be Wild – Ozzy Osbourne & Miss Piggy
6. Mr. Spaceman – Jimmy Buffett, The Great Gonzo & Rizzo the Rat
7. Bein’ Green – Don Henley & Kermit the Frog
8. Wild Thing – Animal, Floyd Pepper & Kermit the Frog
9. Can’t Get Along Without You – Kermit the Frog & Robin the Frog
10. All Together Now – The Muppets with Harry Smith on tuba

PART IV: Can You Picture That? The Muppet Vaults

With 10 potential titles to go back into print, it’s certainly not like Muppet fans would be hurting from these digital deliveries. But…dare fans ask for more? In researching this piece, three archival ideas stood out that would excite Hensonites even more than getting classic albums on streaming.

Licensing the music of a guest-packed variety show is certainly daunting – but it’s not without precedent. In 2020, Universal Music Enterprises struck a deal with Sofa Entertainment – the rights holders of The Ed Sullivan Show – to release dozens of performances from key artists as digital audio and video products. With much of The Muppet Show successfully licensed for Disney+ (including the series’ latter two seasons, which were never issued on DVD), it’s not hard to imagine an album featuring some of those most notable guest appearances. Everyone’s got their favorites – here are 12 of ours!

The Muppet Show Moments (a newly-constructed, hypothetical album of guest appearances) *

1. Crocodile Rock – Elton John with Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem
2. Grandma’s Feather Bed – John Denver with The Muppets
3. You’ve Got a Friend – Vincent Price with Muppet Monsters
4. Blue Bayou – Linda Ronstadt with The Frogs
5. A Song for Kermit – Julie Andrews
6. Orange Blossom Special/Jackson – Johnny Cash with Miss Piggy, Lubbock Lou & His Jughuggers
7. Turn the World Around – Harry Belafonte with The Muppets
8. The Gambler – Kenny Rogers with The Muppets
9. Welcome to My Nightmare – Alice Cooper
10. Sad Song – Paul Williams with The Muppets
11. Fever – Rita Moreno with Animal
12. Rainbow Connection – Kermit the Frog with Debbie Harry

In addition, we’ve curated for this column another short collection of additional songs from The Muppet Show. These five tracks – most of which were never on CD – come from a pair of vinyl compilations issued in the mid-’80s during a short-lived period when Henson’s company had its own label, Muppet Music.

The Muppet Show Memories (a newly-constructed, hypothetical EP of Muppet odds and ends)

1. Memory Lane – The Great Gonzo & Rowlf *
2. I’m My Own Grandpaw – The Gogolala Jubilee Jugband
3. When the River Meets the Sea – The Muppets *
4. My Way – The Great Gonzo *
5. Java – The Two Javas *

Tracks 1-2 originally released on Jim Henson Presents Silly Songs – Muppet Music MLP 1201, 1984
Tracks 3-5 originally released on Favorite Songs from Jim Henson’s Muppets – Muppet Music/Silver Eagle SE1044, 1986

Finally, 35 years after it premiered, it would be a delight to have the audio from Muppet*Vision 3D, the short film that screened at Disney theme parks for decades. As one of the last performances by Jim Henson of Kermit, it holds sentimental value – and although the show closed in 2025, Brian Henson confirmed the entire show was filmed with special cameras before its closure that would preserve the show experience as a possible virtual reality venture.

Muppet*Vision 3D EP (1991) *

1. The Muppet Show Theme (1991)
2. Dream a Little Dream of Me – Miss Piggy with Bean Bunny
3. A Salute to All Nations (But Mostly America) – The Muppets
4. Closing Theme (1991)

Part V: There’s a New Sound

While the present-day Muppet ventures are decently represented on audio streaming, there’s no reason to stop now! The full audio of The Muppet Show special, featuring performances by guest star Sabrina Carpenter and Muppet-tastic covers of The Weeknd and Queen, would be a delight to hear beyond the great re-recording of the show’s classic theme that was released as a single earlier this year. (In an amazing nod to show continuity, the show’s latest closing theme builds on the orchestration heard in the last season, some 45 years ago.)

The Muppet Show (Original Soundtrack from the Television Special) (2026)

1. The Muppet Show Theme (2026) – The Muppets
2. Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter *
3. Blinding Lights – Rizzo the Rat *
4. Islands in the Stream – Sabrina Carpenter, Kermit the Frog & Miss Piggy *
5. Don’t Stop Me Now – The Muppets *
6. Closing Theme (2026) – The Muppets *

And with Disney’s Hollywood Studios offering thrills, chills, and upside-down spills on the rebranded Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, wouldn’t it be a hoot to hear the new recordings of rock favorites by Blur, Steppenwolf, The Ohio Players, Def Leppard and Katrina & The Waves – including some very special guest performers leading Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem in the process?

Who’s to say if any of these would happen, but maybe four Emmys can change more than you might think; whatever the outcome, we at The Second Disc are hoping for sensational, celebrational, inspirational, Muppetational times ahead!

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (2026) *

1. Song 2 – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem
2. Born to Be Wild – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem feat. Camilla the Chicken
3. Love Rollercoaster – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem feat. Jennifer Hudson & Questlove
4. Rock! Rock! Until You Drop – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem feat. Def Leppard
5. Walking on Sunshine – Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem feat. Kelly Clarkson

What Muppet audio, archival or otherwise, would you want to hear to stream, download, or acquire on CD or LP? Sound off in the comments below!