An interview with John Boylan,
producer of 'The Yellow Album'

Part One: 'Blues' success sparked sequel
The newest collection of music from "The Simpsons" features the improbable duet of Homer Simpson and Linda Ronstadt on a country tune by Willie Nelson. But John Boylan, producer of "The Yellow Album," says Ronstadt isn't the only one who gives a credible musical performance on "Funny How Times Slips Away."

Dan Castellaneta, the voice of Homer, also hits all the right notes while staying very much in character, Boylan says. "(W)hen you put that Homer voice on, you know, you're constricting your instrument a lot, doing weird things with it, and yet he still pulled off that amazing harmony," says Boylan, a Buffalo native who has produced albums for Boston, Charlie Daniels and others. (Read a bio of John Boylan for more information on this legendary producer.)

Geffen originally planned "The Yellow Album" to be a timely follow-up to the hugely successful 1991 album "The Simpsons Sing the Blues," which Boylan also produced. "Blues" sold 4 million copies and spawned the hit single "Do the Bartman."

But after Boylan assembled the second album, Geffen postponed its release date several times before finally putting the compact disc in stores in late November 1998. A company representative didn't return calls seeking an explanation for the five-year delay, and Boylan says he isn't certain of the reasons.

He does concede that the delay means some of the hip-hop and other rock music on "The Yellow Album" no longer has the contemporary sound it had back in 1993. "Obviously, if we had our druthers," Boylan says, "I would have put it out then. Then it would have been current. With further druthers, it wouldn't have hurt to do some more (recordings in 1998). But neither the time nor availability was there."

Throughout the album, there are winks to The Beatles, including a title that's inspired by the Fab Four's so-called "White Album." The design of the new Simpsons album features more than 50 of the show's characters posed into a parody of the famous "Sgt. Pepper" cover. (You can check out a photo of the cover and read a complete playlist in our review of "The Yellow Album.")

In a wide-ranging interview with us in late December 1998, Boylan spoke about these topics and more -- even offering his behind-the-scenes comments on each of the songs from "The Yellow Album."

Q: Did everyone originally plan to make "The Yellow Album," or did Geffen Records look at the success of the first ("The Simpsons Sing the Blues") and then say, "Let's come out with another one"?

John Boylan: I believe originally there were options for more than one album. But the monstrous success of the first one, you know, mandated a second one. We started on it pretty well right away.

Q: What what your role as producer for both of these albums?

John Boylan: The first album I was actually much more involved than the second album. The first album, David Geffen was still involved with Geffen Records. And he and ... (others at Geffen) called me and said, "Listen, we did a deal with 'The Simpsons.' We've got to get something out this year." I think it was '91. I think I was the only producer on the short list who was available at that time, because I had a cancellation. (Simpsons executive producer) Jim Brooks approved me because I had known him before. We had had contact before, so I guess that's why they chose me -- a combination of availability and the fact that Jim Brooks knew who I was.

Q: Did you know Brooks from any particular project?

John Boylan: I had met him on the set of "Terms of Endearment." (Brooks directed the film.) And we just stayed friendly. I had seen him at basketball games, and various functions here and there. I think he liked my work. You'd have to ask him. I guess the recognition factor had something to do with it.

Q: Were you trying to do something different with the second album than what you did with the first?

John Boylan: With the first album, we sat down and said, "Listen, the major criteria is: It's got to be character-driven and true to the show." Then given that, we had to make it in a big hurry. So we obviously knew there would be no guest stars, because of the timing involved. Logistics were impossible. Jim came up with the idea of "Simpsons sing the blues," which itself was funny. We all picked some material. Lots of people pitched in with ideas, and I just went in there and cranked it. I was running two studios just trying to get it out -- really, really cranking it out. And we got it out, and it did 4 million (albums sold) worldwide.

The second album, we stepped back a little. We realized we'd go out to some independent, hot producers who could deliver individual tracks, which is why we approached C&C Music Factory, why we approached some of the other people we approached. We knew we also had the time and the luxury of guest stars. And that's why I went and asked Linda (Ronstadt) to do the duet with Homer, and that's why I went and asked Ann and Nancy Wilson (of rock group Heart) to do the duet with Lisa.

Q: You had worked with Linda previously on a couple of albums?

John Boylan: Yes, I produced a couple of her albums. I managed her for two years, from '71 to '73. We're old friends, still are. In fact, we're going to do a project next year.

Q: So as a producer of "The Yellow Album," were you actually sitting there in the studio for all of the recordings?

John Boylan: If you look at the credits, you'll see the ones I actually produced. The ones I did not, I was the executive producer and hired the people and gave them their overview. I also worked on some of the songs as a writer, as well.

I was sort of like a utility infielder, because I guess (Simpsons creator) Matt (Groening) and Jim (Brooks) felt comfortable with me knowing the show and knowing what the characters would do. And having worked with the writers, they felt comfortable I would make sure that nothing un-Simpsons-like would get past the gates. Of course, they approved everything that went through.

Q: For both albums?

John Boylan: Oh, yeah.

Q: Going back a moment to "Sing the Blues," did Michael Jackson write "Do the Bartman"?

John Boylan: No, actually, it was written by somebody who works with Michael, a guy named Bryan Loren.

Q: Because there were a lot of rumors over the years that Jackson wrote that song.

John Boylan: He was involved. There's no question. He brought Bryan into the process and helped Jim with it. He and Jim are friendly. There's no question Michael is a big fan of the show, and he was involved in it. But he was not involved in any official way.

Next: Putting the album together.

Copyright 1999, William LaRue.

Updated: 10/16/99