A soundtrack so highly anticipated that even Homer would get off the couch to celebrate its arrival, THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY is finally here! Set for release on September 18, 2007 from Shout! Factory, THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY music CD spotlights material culled from award-winning composer Alf Clausen and features the unmistakable voices of America’s most beloved TV family: Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and Springfield’s various townsfolk (Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer). The soundtrack kicks off with Danny Elfman\'s unforgettable main title theme, and continues with a collection of the best songs from the last nine seasons of the longest running primetime comedy on TV today. The album arrives just in time to accompany the premiere of Season 19 of THE SIMPSONS on FOX.

Only on THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY can you find a range of great talents from Jackson Browne to “Weird Al” Yankovic, both willing to engage in self-parody that reflects the show’s uncanny irreverence. And then there is David Byrne, who while hearing a list of his vast musical accomplishments, adds with pride “And I used to wrestle under the name ‘El Diablo!’” It is Byrne who helps Homer realize the full odious potential of “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders,” even contributing an extended salsa remix, “No Me Gusta Flanders.” We’re also treated to the lyrical styling of the endearingly homicidal Sideshow Bob (as voiced by Kelsey Grammar) as he reexamines his overwhelming loathing of Bart Simpson on “The Very Reason That I Live.”

THE SIMPSONS: TESTIFY puts the music front and center, as the songs featured were mixed specifically for this new album. For the first time, the brilliant re-imagining of Broadway hits Evita, My Fair Lady, and The Sound Of Music can be fully appreciated for all of their satirical nuance. In “My Fair Laddy,” Groundskeeper Willie plays Eliza Doolittle to Lisa’s Henry Higgins, as Willie learns both elocution and manners to the refrain of “What flows from the nose, does not go on my clothes.” And in “Yokel Chords,” Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel and his hillbilly brood take the place of the von Trapp family, with Lisa again playing the role of teacher. In this memorable parody from the most recent season, the Sound Of Music line “I am sixteen going on seventeen” becomes “I have eight teeth, going on seven teeth.” Of course.

Any SIMPSONS fan will no doubt remember Ricky Gervais memorable appearance as the Marge-obsessed Charles Heathbar, who serenades Marge with “Lady,” which spends more time explaining its lyrics (in song) than actually saying anything romantic, with the possible exception of the closing exhortation, “don’t die.”

For those of us with a love of musical theater and the American popular songs, THE SIMPSONS has certainly carved out an iconic place in musical history by communicating in song at the highest level. Never in recent memory has a television series made such effective use of both songs and underscore to advance plot points, support the characters’ emotions and put a lasting smile on the viewer’s face.

Now entering its nineteenth season, THE SIMPSONS, a modern cult classic created by Matt Groening, remains one of TV’s most popular programs – in all demographics. The show premiered on FOX as a half-hour comedy series January 14, 1990, and received numerous Emmy® awards for Outstanding Animated Program. Nearly all of the music for this weekly animated half-hour series is composed or arranged by composer Alf Clausen, who has received 2 Emmy® awards and 20 Emmy® nominations for his Simpsons music.

THE SIMPSONS is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening, and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture – The Stuff You Grew Up On But Never Outgrew. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts Grammy®-nominated boxed sets, new releases from storied artists and lovingly assembled album reissues. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. For more on Shout! Factory, visit www.shoutfactory.com.

Simpsons Testify:
Selection Number: 826663-10537
Price: $18.98
Release Date: September 18

Track Listing:

1. “THE SIMPSONS” MAIN TITLE THEME

2. TESTIFY

3. THE VERY REASON THAT I LIVE (FEATURING KELSEY GRAMMER)

4. HE’S THE MAN (FEATURING SHAWN COLVIN)

5. STRETCH DUDE AND CLOBBER GIRL

6. “THE SIMPSONS” END CREDITS THEME (PERFORMED BY LOS LOBOS)

7. ODE TO BRANSON

8. SOLD SEPARATELY

9. ISLAND OF SIRENS

10. THEY’LL NEVER STOP THE SIMPSONS

11. YOU’RE A BUNCH OF STUFF

12. WHAT DO I THINK OF THE PIE?

13. BABY STINK BREATH

14. TASTES LIKE LIBERTY

15. JELLYFISH

16. HOMER & MARGE (FEATURING “WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC)

17. “EVERYBODY HATES NED FLANDERS” (MEDLEY) (FEATURING DAVID BYRNE)

18. I LOVE TO WALK

19. MARJORIE (FEATURING JACKSON BROWNE)

20. “THE PRESIDENT WORE PEARLS” MEDLEY

21. GLOVE SLAP (FEATURING THE B-52S)

22. O PRUNY NIGHT

23. AMERICA (I LOVE THIS COUNTRY)

24. AMERICA RULES

25. WELCOME TO MOE’S

26. WE ARE THE JOCKEYS

27. SONG OF SHELBYVILLE

28. “A STAR IS TORN” MEDLEY

29. WHO WANTS A HAIRCUT? (FEATURING BAHA MEN)

30. “MY FAIR LADDY” MEDLEY

31. SPRINGFIELD BLOWS

32. “KING OF CATS” ITCHY & SCRATCHY MEDLEY

33. LADY (FEATURING RICKY GERVAIS)

34. YOU MAKE ME LAUGH

35. LADY RIFF (FEATURING RICKY GERVAIS)

36. POPPA, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

37. “YOKEL CHORDS” MEDLEY

PREVIOUSLY UNAIRED BONUS TRACKS

38. HULLABA LULA (FEATURING KELSEY GRAMMER)

39. SONG OF THE WILD BEASTS

40. DANCING WORKERS’ SONG

41. OLDIES AND NUDIES