Jug-Band Freaks, Rejoice: "Emmet Otter" Soundtrack Seeing Release

November 1, 2018 | by James Greene, Jr.

Four decades have passed since the original airing of "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," the fur-laden yuletide special Jim Henson and cohorts created for HBO. In that time, the "Otter" faithful have long thirsted for an official soundtrack release so they may enjoy heart-warming hits like "The Bathing Suit That Grandma Wore" and "Carrots the Dancing Horse" outside of their dusty VCRs. Well, the wait is finally over — on November 2nd, the musical landscape that Paul Williams created especially for "Emmet Otter" will be released via CD and digital (don't worry, vinyl freaks, it's also coming to wax November 23rd).

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas Official Soundtrack packs 16 Otter-licious tracks, including the previously unreleased "Born in a Trunk." Also included are expansive liner notes featuring material from Williams and several "Emmet Otter" Muppeteers. "Emmet" heads in the New York area will get a special treat December 9th when Williams joins Jim Henson Legacy President Craig Shemin at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens for a talk about the former's work with your felt heroes.

There's no doubt about it, we're havin' a washboard scratchin', homemade guitar pluckin' River Bottom Christmas this year.