Songs in the Key of Springfield is a soundtrack/novelty album from The Simpsons compiling many of the musical numbers from the series. The album was released in the United States on March 18, 1997, and in the United Kingdom in June 1997. This was the second album released in association with the Simpsons television series; however, the previous release, The Simpsons Sing the Blues, contained original recordings as opposed to songs featured in episodes of the series.
Songs in the Key of Springfield | ||||
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Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | March 18, 1997 | |||
Recorded | June 1989 – August 1996 | |||
Genre | Soundtrack | |||
Length | 55:27 | |||
Label | Rhino | |||
Producer | ||||
The Simpsons chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The album was followed by The Yellow Album, a second album of original songs. Hollywood Records released the album on digital and streaming platforms on December 9, 2021.
The first track is an extended version of the main title theme listed as being from the episode "Cape Feare". However, Lisa's saxophone solo featured in the album track is different from the solo that was used in that episode. The theme version matching the one on the album (with the same sax solo) that matches the one on the CD was used, complete with the same sax solo, for the episodes "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", "Simpson Safari" and "The Bart Wants What It Wants", which all aired well after the album's release. In addition, syndicated reruns of "Cape Feare" replaced the original opening with a shorter opening without the extended "chorus line" couch gag.
The title is taken from the Stevie Wonder album Songs in the Key of Life. Another FOX TV show, The X-Files, had a soundtrack album entitled Songs in the Key of X. The Simpsons podcast Pods in the Key of Springfield is named after this album.[2]
Compared to the previous album released in The Simpsons franchise, The Simpsons Sing the Blues, the album failed to match the success of their previous record. It managed to peak at number 18 in the United Kingdom, where it would become the last charting album for the franchise in that country.
The album was less successful in the United States, where it peaked at #103 on the Billboard 200. However, it was successful on Billboard's Top Kid Audio chart, where it peaked at number one, becoming the first number one on that chart for the franchise.
The album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry twice in the UK. On March 19, 1999, on the Warner Records label[3] and again on July 22, 2013, on the Rhino Entertainment label.[4]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[8] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[9] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |