The popularity of cartoon music, from Carl Stalling’s work for Warner Bros. to Disney sound tracks and The Simpsons ’ song parodies, has never been greater. This lively and fascinating look at cartoon music’s past and present collects contributions from well-known music critics and cartoonists, and interviews with the principal cartoon composers. Here Mark Mothersbaugh talks about his music for Rugrats , Alf Clausen about composing for The Simpsons , Carl Stalling about his work for Walt Disney and Warner Bros., Irwin Chusid about Raymond Scott’s work, Will Friedwald about Casper the Friendly Ghost , Richard Stone about his music for Animaniacs , Joseph Lanza about Ren and Stimpy , and much, much more. "Just try watching a classic Tom and Jerry or Bugs Bunny cartoon with the sound off, and see how flat the jokes fall," offers pop music critic Neil Strauss in this compilation of essays, interviews, and opinions. That thesis epitomizes the book's overriding purpose. Instead of addressing cartoons' obvious high art-low art baggage, the contributors (who also include critic Leonard Maltin) examine their existential problem: can the obnoxious soundtrack exist as art on its own? Goldmark, a professor and Rhino Records producer/editor, and Taylor, a Chicago-based author and journalist, offer a resounding yes. They explore the tune-toon symbiosis of Disney and Warner Brothers golden age composers (Leopold Stokowski, Carl Stalling), as well as of contemporary toonsmiths (e.g., Mark Mothersbaugh of Rugrats and Alf Clausen of The Simpsons). Insightful and surprisingly engaging, this book at the very least gives readers an excuse to watch the Yosemite Sam reruns Saturday morning. Recommended for all libraries. Eric Hahn, Fargo, ND Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ever since Walt Disney synchronized Mickey Mouse to "Turkey in the Straw" in 1928, music has been as integral to animated cartoons as talking animals and falling anvils. The vital contributions of cartoon composers over the years have remained largely unsung, but this compilation of some 30 essays and interviews goes a long way toward rectifying that slight. Historically, the collection begins in the golden age of the Hollywood cartoon, with a rare interview with Warner Brothers composer Carl Stalling and two essays by his MGM counterpart, Scott Bradley. The often cheesy but fondly remembered music for '60s and '70s TV toons is well considered in such pieces as a look at such two-dimensional rock bands as Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Archies. The contemporary cartoon resurgence is represented by interviews with former Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, now reaching a younger audience with Rugrats, and Alf Clausen, who parodies genres from rock to show tunes on The Simpsons . An invaluable resource that provides fascinating insights into a heretofore-neglected aspect of cinema history. Gordon Flagg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "A book I've wanted to read for 20 years . . . manna for those of us who listed to animated cartoons seriously." -- Cool & Strange Music "A must-have!" -- www.cartoonresearch.com "Absolutely fascinating" -- Cinescape "Academic and absorbing" -- The Village Voice "An excellent introduction to the vast world of cartoon music . . . a significant step forward in cartoon music scholarship" -- Animation Blast "An illuminating and entertaining compellation" -- Book News Inc. "Highly recommended . . . a fine and generous compendium worthy of your bookshelf." -- Animation World Magazine "I recommend this book for any dedicated fan of animated cartoons." -- Leonard Maltin "Not only does the book dispense a wealth of information, but it's also a fun read" -- Electronic Musician "The book ably outlines the breadth of emerging scholarship in this field . . . a handy anthology." -- Chicago Reader Daniel Goldmark is an assistant professor of music at the University of Alabama and for four years was an editor and producer for Rhino Records; his Tunes for ’Toons is scheduled to be published in 2003. Yuval Taylor is the editor of A Cappella; his edited collections include The Future of Jazz and I Was Born a Slave . The Cartoon Music Book By Daniel Goldmark, Yuval Taylor Chicago Review Press Incorporated Copyright © 2002 A Cappella Books All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-55652-473-8 Contents Foreword by Leonard Maltin, Acknowledgments, Introduction by Daniel Goldmark and Yuval Taylor, Main Title, Untitled by Chris Ware, Tunes for Toons: A Cartoon Music Primer by Neil Strauss, Part 1: An Episodic History of Cartoon Music, Animated Cartoons and Slap-Stick Comedy by Edith Lang and George West, Make Walt's Music: Music for Disney Animation, 1928–1967 by Ross Care, An Interview with Carl Stalling by Mike Barrier, Hidey Hidey Hidey Ho ... Boop-Boop-A Doop! The Fleischer Studio and Jazz Cartoons by Jake Austen, I Love to Hear a Minstrel Band: