Jerry Springer—The Opera CD Hits London Stores in November

By Andrew Gans
and Ernio Hernandez
10 Oct 2003

The Jerry Springer--The Opera original cast recording.
The Jerry Springer--The Opera original cast recording.

The original cast recording of Jerry Springer—The Opera will be released in London Nov. 10.

That day also marks the official reopening of the musical, which was a hit at the National Theatre before moving to the Cambridge Theatre, where it begins previews Oct. 14. Jerry Springer was recorded live during its run at the National's Lyttleton Theatre and will be released as a two-CD set. The complete track listing for each disc follows:

Disc One
"Overly-Tune"
"Audience Very Plainsong"
"Ladies and Gentleman"
"Have Yourselves a Good Time"
"Bigger Than Oprah Winfrey"
"Foursome Guest"
"I Been Seein Someone Else"
"Chick with a Dick"
"Talk to the Hand"
"Adverts 1"
"Intro to a Diaper Man"
"Diaper Man"
"Montel Cums Dirty"
"This Is My Jerry Springer Moment"
"Mama Gimme Smack on the Asshole"
"I Want to Sing Something Beautiful"
"Adverts 2"
"The First Time I Saw Jerry"
"Backstage Scene"
"Poledancer"
"I Just Wanna Dance"
"It Has No Name"
"Some Are Descended From Angels"
"Jerrycam"
"Clan Entrance-End Of Act 1"

Disc Two
"Gloomy Nurses"
"Purgatory Dawning"
"Eat Excrete"
"The Haunting"
"Him Am the Devil"
"Every Last Mother Fucker Must Go Down"
"Grilled and Roasted"
"Transition Music"
"Once In Happy Realms of Lights"
"Fuck You Talk"
"Satan Spate"
"Adam and Eve and Mary"
"Where Were You"
"Behold God"
"It Ain't Easy Being Me Part 1"
"It Ain't Easy Being Me Part 2"
"Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
"The Big Cheesy Jerry Springer Moment"
"Jerry It Is Finished"
"Jerry Eleison"
"Please Don't Die"
"Take Care"
"Finale De Grand Fromage"
"Playout"

Jerry Springer — The Opera features music by Richard Thomas with book and lyrics by Stewart Lee and Thomas. The opera began as a "scratch night" event in 2001 with creator-composer Richard Thomas, then underwent a number of workshops before making a splash — in concert version — at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2002. New National Theatre Artistic Director Nicholas Hytner, who had followed the show's evolution, decided to present it as his first production and the National's first new opera, saying "It's exactly the kind of work the National should be doing: bold, scabrous, funny and beautiful."

The stage work centers on its title character, talk show host Jerry Springer, and his widely followed television program. Known for its volatile and outrageous guests — who at times assault each other — the show's topics have ranged from "Hillbilly Love Triangles!" and "A Transsexual Turned Me On!" to "Surprise! I Have a Bisexual Lover" and "I Refuse to Wear Clothes." After the traditional "Jerry! Jerry!" chant, the show concludes with Springer's Final Thoughts — in which the host comments on the proceedings in an attempt to make sense of it all. The London cast features Alison Jiear, David Bedella, Valda Aviks, Michael Brandon, Wills Morgan, Benjamin Lake, Lore Lixenburg and Sally Bourne.

The West End show-business shop Dress Circle is already accepting pre orders for the CD, which is priced at £17.99. Visit www.dresscircle.co.uk for more information.