WORD FOR WORD: HAP PALMER
*************************
"Children love music and movement for its own sake, and
activities need not be centered around a specific concept or
skill. Parents, however, may wonder, What is the value of
singing nonsense songs and just plain acting silly? ...While
having fun, important learning is taking place." --child
educator, video producer, and recording artist Hap Palmer
Read more of Hap Palmer's essay on making children's music at
newCDnews.com
NEW AND NOTABLE
***************
"The Road to El Dorado"
Elton John
Check it out here!
This collection of songs, ostensibly from the DreamWorks
animated film "The Road to El Dorado," actually has more
Elton John songs than those used in the film. With lyricist
Tim Rice aboard, this is a musical ship that rocks and
floats and provides tender moments. Songs such as "Friends
Never Say Goodbye" carry an emotional message along with
grand flourishes.
"More Songs from Pooh Corner"
Kenny Loggins
Check it out here!
Having made Winnie the Pooh a staple of his career more than
30 years ago, Kenny Loggins presents this collection of
songs as a way of expanding Pooh's Corner. Here the corner
includes the music of "Tarzan," "The Tigger Movie," and
"Beauty and the Beast" (despite the fact that Disney had
nothing to do with releasing this CD). The concept is
grounded in Loggins's parental love for high-quality music
that kids will enjoy--and they'll love this.
"A Playdate with Blue"
"Blue's Clues"
Check it out here!
Here's another audio adventure starring Blue, his human pal
Steve, and a cast of inanimate friends that have come to
life. Tickety-Tock, Side Table Drawer, and Mailbox are just
some of the pals Blue and Steve call on to help them make
their playdate fun. The music's friendly enough to draw in
the kids and the story line is entertaining and well timed
in its unfolding.
"Victor Vito"
Laurie Berkner
Check it out here!
Singer Laurie Berkner approaches the art of making music for
kids with the experience of a child educator. Her songs are
disarmingly simple and highlight her voice and lyrics--both
of which are welcome to children's ears. Berkner sings about
playful stuff with a great sense of humor, bouncing through
rhymes with an agility that will appeal especially to kids
around first-grade age.
"VeggieTales: Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed"
"VeggieTales"
Check it out here!
The "VeggieTales" phenomenon grows everyday as it appeals to
an audience with basic moral ideals underpinned by
religion. Here Larry-Boy's story is delivered by a plethora
of musical styles, all of them built on his learning about
honesty and virtue. The songs come from a pair of
"Larry-Boy" videos and this CD includes flashy remixes that
are sure to tantalize the young and hip among us.
LEARN WITH MUSIC
****************
"American Heroes"
Jonathan Sprout
Check it out here!
Jonathan Sprout created this matrix of "American Heroes"
after reading that youth are increasingly idolizing
contemporary celebrities rather than important historical
figures. He responds to the trend with a string of songs--
rhythmically vivid and entertaining--about heroes such as
Thomas Edison, Sacajawea, George Washington, Amelia Earhart,
and Martin Luther King Jr.
"Oceans"
Twin Sisters Science Series
Check it out here!
If you're looking for a paean to the diversity of life in
the seas, you'll find nothing finer than this collection of
ocean-themed tunes. There's lots of friendly disclosure on
the underwater food chains and such odd tune fodder as the
manatee. The blend of kid and nonkid voices is fetching, as
is this CD's concept.
"Insects and Spiders"
Twin Sisters Science Series
Check it out here!
If you've got kids that fall in the under-10 category, this
is an excellent way to introduce them to the world of
insects. Critters that sneak underfoot and feed on leaves
sound entirely appealing on "Insects and Spiders," and the
entomology lesson is given through fun, cute songs that kids
can memorize to help organize what they've learned about the
world.
"Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar Rock"
Various artists
Check it out here!
Grammar is a building block and its many manifestations are
made lots of fun on the legendary "Grammar Rock." This
classic collection owes its existence to the world of the
education-themed cartoon "Schoolhouse Rock" and its content
remains appealing long after its creation. "Grammar Rock"
still educates with a fresh sound and the excitement of
musical discovery.
ON BROADWAY
***********
"Sing Broadway"
Broadway Kids
Check it out here!
The Broadway Kids are a fantastic lot. They've got chops
galore, belting out classic and contemporary Broadway
themes. They've also got a kid's sense of the music's spirit
and keep the fun factor alive and well. The tunes are taken
from such shows as "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "The
Lion King," "Annie," and the fanciful, imagination-spurring
"Shenandoah."
"Annie" 1999 television soundtrack
Various artists
Check it out here!
Lots has been said of the 1999 television adaptation of
"Annie," but let it be known that this rendition of the
rags-to-riches tale is bright and big in its production and
full of the original's charm. Audra McDonald makes a fine
showing, as does Annie, played by Alicia Morton.
"The Lion King: Original Broadway Cast Recording"
Elton John and Tim Rice
Check it out here!
The animated film's soundtrack for "The Lion King" is of
course the official musical take on Simba, Sarabi, and Nala,
but the Broadway version is similarly splendid. Here the
songs are belted out in a much more colorful, eventful
setting. Yes, "The Lion King" caused controversy when it
beat out "Ragtime" and won a Tony Award, but this is
first-rate music for preadolescent kids.
"A Child's Celebration of Show Tunes"
Various artists
Check it out here!
Who wouldn't love Julie Andrews singing "Do Re Mi" or "My
Favorite Things"? This collection of show tunes reveals the
range of the genre--from "Oliver!" to "Fiddler on the
Roof"--in a way that will make kids adore not only the songs
but their underlying stories.
1999 Music for Children, Editor, Andrew Bartlett.... The themes in children's music during 1999 were numerous. Classical for babies picked up speed, as did an the reissue of soundtracks from time-tested television features. It was a big year also for international music aimed at parents. And even though we might not like the win/lose language such determinations require, these are the best children's music CDs released in 1999.
1. "On the Good Ship Lollipop"
The Persuasions
Check it out here!
What makes the Persuasions so important in 1999 is their
immense contribution to children's music with just one
CD. The Persuasions enhance the widening musical universe
for children, bringing a form that originated on urban
street corners to young listeners and teaching them the art
of vocal dynamism. Whether it's grammar, language, singing,
or the relationship of one singer to the group, there are
many points from which kids can learn.
2. "All You Need Is Love: Beatles Songs for Kids"
Various artists
Check it out here!
This charming collection of Beatles songs focuses on the Fab
Four's later work, much of which veered between silly
ditties and serious mind-expanding gems. Here the focus is
on the fun stuff, from "Yellow Submarine" to "Ob La Di, Ob
La Da" and "All Together Now." The melodies are so strong
that kids will easily hang onto the lyrics in their original
form. Kids sing most of the tracks, remarkably well in fact,
adding another layer of attraction for young listeners.
3. "Putamayo Presents: World Playground"
Various artists
Check it out here!
The folks at Putamayo have enacted a brilliant plan to
document contemporary international music. This collection
draws on both their expertise and their artists' writing for
children. The CD's theme is, of course, the global constancy
of play. Following that aim, the tunes are each playful and
funny, attracting the ear and enlivening the mind with vivid
dimensions from non-Western musical traditions. A strong
effort indeed, "World Playground" will likely end up in
heavy rotation.
4. "Singin' in the Bathtub"
John Lithgow
Check it out here!
From the TV situation comedy "Third Rock from the Sun" to
this swinging affair seems like a long route, but John
Lithgow takes it in stride. Backed by a big band (and the
occasional banjo or musical saw), Lithgow takes on topics
from multiple births (the Alice in Wonderlandesque
"Triplets"), the alphabet ("A, You're Adorable," which
recalls "Alligators All Around" from Carol King's "Really
Rosie"), and a veritable menagerie ("The Gnu Song," "I Had a
Rooster," "The Hippopotamus Song," and "The Inchworm"). He
kicks off the title song with a reminder: "Grab your ducky,
grab your toy boat--let's make this fun!"
5. "Cool Songs for Cool Kids"
Daddy a Go Go
Check it out here!
Tackling subject matter from the merits of toothbrushing to
the pleasures of fatherhood to carpooling and diaper
changing, Daddy a Go Go fill the gap for hip parents and
kids who have a hankering for something that is cooler and
more substantive than Barney and edgier than Raffi. Daddy a
Go Go makes jubilant jangle-pop recalling '80s-heyday-era
Athens as well as '60s three-chord pop.
6. "African Lullaby"
Various artists
Check it out here!
"African Lullaby" is more than a stellar music collection.
Its delightful liner notes provide ample context for these
"love songs for children" and the collection's innovative
earth-friendly packaging is a work of art in itself.
Commencing with the bewitching Zulu harmonies of Ladysmith
Black Mambazo, "Thula Mtwana" sets the tone, creating an
atmosphere of warmth, safety, and peace, and is followed by
a baker's dozen that reflect the gentle rhythms of an
abundantly diverse continent.
7. "Really Rosie" (1975 television special)
Carole King
Check it out here!
Carole King's 11 songs for the "Really Rosie" TV special (it
originally aired in 1975) came from characters found in
Maurice Sendak's books "The Sign on Rosie's Door" and
"Nutshell Library," but it can easily be argued that the
characters never really lived until given voice by King.
She enlivens the characters with an excited, sometimes
irreverent attitude, making this an easy winner.
8. "Bach for Babies: Fun and Games for Budding Brains"
Various artists
Check it out here!
These Bach compositions run the emotional gamut, from the
gently eye opening to the jumpy arm raising, collecting each
set of pieces under a thematic header. The first several
selections ("Waking Up") feature solo piano works that come
from Bach's more pedagogic works, intended for students as
exercises to loosen their touch. Played superbly by pianist
Sviatoslav Richter, as well as the Romero brothers (Pepe and
Celedonio) on warm guitar, these compositions urge the ear
open. And then you come to the pieces gathered under the
"Playtime" heading: jazz pianist John Lewis picks up a
couple, as do the folks in Canadian Brass. Synapses will
fire for this one.
9. "Lullabies of Latin America"
Maria del Rey
Check it out here!
Gifted with a gracefully pliant midrange soprano, Maria Del
Rey here turns her attention to lullabies and to an
immersion of culture and language with Latin American poems
adapted and translated for this purpose. Del Rey delivers
the first half of "Lullabies of Latin America" in gently
fluid Spanish, then follows up in the second half with a
repeat of the same songs sung in English. She's a stellar
talent.
10. "Cinderella" (1957 television cast)
Check it out here!
CBS's 1957 TV production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's
"Cinderella" has the polished yet untainted sound of a live
Broadway musical recording, despite the fact that the album
was recorded before the television broadcast. Julie Andrews
stars as Cinderella, and her clean yet vulnerable voice
perfectly suits her role as the picked-on dreamer in
rags. This is a classic.
"Toddlers Sing Playtime"
Various artists
Check it out here!
Now there are two episodes in the bright, funny "Toddlers
Sing" series. This sophomore CD is as energetic as the
debut, with short ditties sung with glee and fondness,
making it ideal for the dark months of winter, when parents
yearn for entertainment outside the "box" of
television. It's eloquent, educational, and sweet.
"Nursery Rhymes and Other Fun Songs"
Teletubbies
Check it out here!
In the hands of Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po,
everything on their second CD--from "Little Miss Muffet" to
"Jack and Jill"--has a unique spin on it. Narrators recite
most of these tales, with the characters providing
flourishes. Po translates "curds and whey" as "eating tubby
custard," and on "Grand Old Duke of York Song" the
Teletubbies recall Cab Calloway. As if that weren't enough,
Tinky Winky just can't get enough of "Pat-a-Cake."
"Listen to the Storyteller"
Wynton Marsalis, Edgar Meyer, and Patrick Doyle
Check it out here!
With narratives drawing on the Afro-Caribbean, Celtic, and
Native American traditions, "Listen to the Storyteller" is
quintessentially democratic. Scored in the classically
appealing style of Prokoviev's "Peter and the Wolf," this CD
features exquisite compositions by Wynton Marsalis, Patrick
Doyle, and Edgar Meyer; expert playing by the famed
Tennessee duo of bassist Meyer and dobro player Jerry
Douglas, as well as trumpeter Marsalis and the vaunted
Orchestra of St. Luke's; and narration by Kate Winslet.
"A Child's Celebration of Silliest Songs"
Various artists
Check it out here!
In an age when children are expected to meet the seriousness
of living with their own early sobriety, a good bit of
goofin' seems in order. And levity is just what "A Child's
Celebration of Silliest Songs" delivers: campfire favorites
like "On Top of Spaghetti" and "John Jacob Jingleheimer
Schmidt," schoolyard rhymes such as "Tiny Tim" and "Apples
and Bananas," and ticklishly wholesome renditions of "Three
Little Fishies" and "Shake My Sillies Out."
"Singin' in the Bathtub"
John Lithgow
Check it out here!
You've seen him on the television show "Third Rock from the
Sun," and perhaps elsewhere on stage and in films. And
you've probably realized that John Lithgow is both eccentric
and a gifted performer. Here he combines his unique
character with undeniable talent, creating a silly, snappy
set of songs to delight bathers and nonbathers alike.
"Softly We Sing"
Various artists
Check it out here!
The independent Twin Sisters record company has struck
artistic gold more than once before, but this gentle,
soothing collection is a winner on many fronts. It is both
elaborate and simple, creating a weave of sounds that will
both lull the tired and delight as an homage to sleeping
babies and children.
"Really Rosie"
Carole King
Check it out here!
In the annals of children's television, "Really Rosie" is a
classic, with its art by Maurice Sendak and its compositions
by Carole King. The original music returned with added
luster in 1999, only to win legions of new listeners and a
host of accolades. Cheery and as smart as any other Carole
King work, "Really Rosie" seems brand new even today!
When pianist Vince Guaraldi wrote music for the original
Charlie Brown television special, he helped usher in a
fertile meeting ground between jazz--often considered too
complicated for kids--and the ears and hearts of children.
"A Boy Named Charlie Brown"
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Check it out here!
Though Guaraldi wasn't the first to play piano to accompany
an animated special for kids, he wrote some unforgettable
melodies based on Charles Schulz's cartoon-strip mainstays,
Charlie Brown, Linus, Schroeder, and Lucy. Here's the
original jazzy score for the TV special.
"Dave Digs Disney"
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Check it out here!
Pianist Dave Brubeck hails from the same neck of the woods
as Vince Guaraldi, and while this Disney tribute isn't at
all predictable, instantly familiar fare, it's as creative
as Guaraldi's "Charlie Brown." It's a father's understated
testament of love for the Disney art, which was busy
charming his own future-musician clan of kids as he made
this album.
"Go with the Flow"
Josh Greenberg and the Mother Goose Jazz Band
Check it out here!
Here's an ecstatic curve ball between jazz and... Mother
Goose! Josh Greenberg leads a jazz ensemble that sounds as
committed to the art of great tunes as they do to the great
tradition of nursery rhymes. The songs are familiar--aptly
so!--and the music spruces them up and smartens the
delivery of what could seem dated.
Find more jazz for kids at
Check it out here!
It boggles the mind to think that classics from the Rabbit
Ears series could ever disappear. But that's precisely what
has happened in the years since they were initially
released. With a cast of great actors telling timeless
stories--Denzel Washington, for example, sharing "John
Henry" and Robin Williams chiming in on "Pecos Bill"--the
drama is often only matched by the music. The series brags
Ry Cooder, B.B. King, and several others, all of whom make
fantastic, fun entertainment at a perfect price!
"John Henry"
Denzel Washington and B.B. King
Check it out here!
"Pecos Bill"
Robin Williams and Ry Cooder
Check it out here!
Find more Rabbit Ears selections at
Check it out here!