Two of the best-known songs to ever air as part of “Schoolhouse Rock!” demonstrate the breadth and ambition of the entire series. “Conjunction Junction” (1973) is a funky folk number that uses train imagery to explain how “if,” “and,” and “but” connect words, phrases, and clauses, while “I’m Just a Bill” is a soul-tinged story song that patiently explains how a bill becomes a law in the U.S. system of government. They’re very different songs, and yet they were recorded with the same personnel.
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Handling lead vocals on “Conjunction Junction” was Jack Sheldon, an accomplished jazz singer. He was also a trumpet player, and he contributed those skills to “Conjunction Junction,” alongside other prolific Los Angeles session musicians Leroy Vinegar (bass), Stuart Scharf (guitar), Teddy Edwards (saxophone), Nick Ceroli (drums), and Dave Frishberg (piano). That’s the same credits as those for “I’m Just a Bill.” Released two years after “Conjunction Junction,” it was recorded on the same day during the same session as “Conjunction Junction,” and Jack Sheldon sang lead on that one, too.
