Ready or Not!

Ready or Not! Performed by The Not-Its! CD. Approx.37 min. Produced by Little Loopy Records. 2018. Download: $7.00.

K-Gr 5—

The Not-Its (Sarah Shannon, Danny Adamson, Michael Welke, Tom Baisden, Jennie Helman) perform 12 upbeat, toe-tapping, mostly very energetic rock and pop songs. With bold harmonies, guitar riffs, expert bass, and pounding drums, the band shares songs that children can relate to. “Hide and Seek” is all about playing that game. A child imagines that he shrinks down to the size of “Little Bug.” The listener is challenged to a “Staring Contest.” Although not specifically mentioned in the lyrics, “Heading Home” chronicles a child’s solo airplane journey from one parent to another. Starting out as a wooly bear, this caterpillar hatches into a “Tiger Moth.” Since the school budget is tight, parents and teachers are gearing up for “The Battle of Curriculum Night.” The family cat gets the blame for breakage in “A Lie Is a Lie.” A child’s imagination takes him around the world on his “Runaway Bike.” In the very short “Potty Mouth,” a child realizes he cannot take back the bad word he said. “Let the Games Begin” describes the excitement of an unspecified ball game, possibly soccer. A child who is afraid of a “Daddy Long Legs” crawling on him, decides it is not so scary after all. In bed, a child wonders “What Will I Be?” A great album that will speak directly to kids.

Why Why Why?

Why Why Why? Performed by Ants Ants Ants. CD. Approx. 45 min. Produced by Johnny Clay and Dave Gulick. 2018. CD: $15.99; Download: $9.49.

K – Gr 5—

Johnny Clay and Dave Gulick, a duo who recently formed the band Ants Ants Ants, serve up 12 delicious pop and rock songs that take listeners back to the 60s with sounds akin to the early Beatles and the Beach Boys. Back up musicians perform with excellence on guitar, bass, strings, saxophone, trombone, drums, and percussion. The vocals resound with great harmonies. “Morning Song” will have listeners up on their feet and shaking, smiling, and moving. While driving to the coast, the kids just want to ask “Are We There Yet?” The question of our lives is “Why Why Why?” The duo celebrates rhyming words in “Six Pickup Sticks.” Then they sing about what a “Pinwheel” has in common with a bicycle and a race car. Maple tree seeds can be called “Helicopter Leaves” or whirly birds. “Blue” is a blue whale swimming in the sea. Marching “Ants” wonder if they have time to dance and sing. “Where Does the Moon Go” asks where the moon and stars go during the daytime. If you could talk with a “Willow Tree,” what questions would you ask it? A final, soft lullaby reminds listeners that at bedtime, it’s time to turn on the “Stars.” I loved the classic rock sounds of this album. 

Hand in Hand

Hand in Hand. Performed by Suzi Shelton. CD. Approx.30 min. Produced by Greg Mayo and Dan Weiner. 2018. CD: $10.00; Download: $9.00.

Pre S – Gr 3--

            Suzi Shelton’s light, pleasing vocals give life to nine upbeat songs in rock, jazz, pop, and calypso musical styles, on this, her fourth album. The songs encourage self-discovery, kindness, inclusion, and doing good. The backup instrumentalists come through with great performances on guitar, ukulele, bass, upright bass, saxophone, trombone, and trumpet. An enthusiastic children’s chorus joins in on some of the songs. In “The Grass Is Always Greener,” Shelton wants to be a bird, then a whale, and then a fox. Shelton’s daughter Emma wrote and performed on the song “We Shall Walk” which decries racism and war. In “Blue Fin,” Shelton asks blue, red and yellow fish to dance with her. The other songs include “Put Your Hands in the Air,” “Ladybugs,” “Can You Feel the Power,” “Never Let You Go,” “Raindrop,” and “River Come Down.” Listeners will want to move and groove with these lively songs.

Howdy Do! Songs of the Urban Cowpoke

Howdy Do! Songs of the Urban Cowpoke. Performed by Hopalong Andrew. CD. Approx.32 min. Produced by Andrew Vladeck. 2018. CD: $11.98; Download: $9.49.

K – Gr 5 –

Hopalong Andrew (Vladeck) performs 11 parodies of well-known country western songs and one original song in country western and bluegrass musical styles. “Howdy Do!” parodies “The Happy Wanderer,” a song that I learned in elementary school. It was nice to hear that tune again. “Back in the City Again” parodies “Back in the Saddle Again” made famous by Gene Autry. A taxi driver claims “I’ve Been Everywhere in New York City” by naming most of its streets, a parody of “I’ve Been Everywhere.” The “Kaw-liga” parody, “Tyrannosaurus,” tells listeners of a night in the museum. Instead of “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” Hopalong says “Thank God I’m a City Boy.” Everyone runs for the ice cream truck in “Ice Cream Dude,” a parody of “Jingle Jangle Jingle.” Instead of a “Home on the Range,” Hopalong wants a “Home on the Town.” And he wants to “Bring Back My Cowgirl to Me” from the west (New Jersey) to New York, in a parody of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.” The remaining songs include “The Yodeling Ranger of Central Park” (“The Yodeling Ranger”); “Outside!” (“Rawhide”); “Broadway Was a Native American Trail” (“The Old Chisholm Trail”); and his original “Buffalo, Buffalo.” This is a fun, entertaining album for everyone, but especially for country folk who wished they lived in the city.

Winterland

Winterland. Performed by The Okee Dokee Brothers. CD. Approx.48 min. Produced by Dean Jones. 2018.

CD: $12.49; Download: $9.49; Vinyl: $25.00.

K-Gr 5—

The Grammy and Parents’ Choice award-winning duo, The Okee Dokee Brothers (Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander) perform sixteen cold and shivery songs celebrating winter, in bluegrass, folk, zydeco, country, shanty, Hawaiian folk, pop, and jazz musical styles. Their guest musicians, including Dean Jones of Dog on Fleas give outstanding performances on banjo, guitar, ukulele, bass, fiddle, upright bass, violin, piano, organ, flute, saxophone, trombone, harmonica, accordion, and percussion.

     “Blankets of Snow” keep people warm on cold days. “Welcome Home” is played to the tune of the traditional Irish ballad “Whiskey in the Jar,” and welcome’s Joe’s newborn son. The only thing biting is the weather at the “Ice Fishin’ Shack.” “Keep Me Warm” and snug as a bug in the rug uses a traditional Irish tune, “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” which is a circle game for children. The “Abominable Yeti” is horrible, deplorable, and indomitable, among other things. Stay true to yourself is the message of “You You You.” Children are like “Candles,” so let them shine; this song partly uses the tune “This Little Light of Mine.” In the duo’s first recorded a cappella song, “Slumberjacks” don’t cut down trees. Learning to play a “Ukulele in a Snowstorm” is one way of staying warm. The duo wants to “Howl” with a pack of wolves. “Snowpeople” are dressed in various ways. There is just so much to do on a “Lazy Day.” The silver maple lying on its side, “Great Grandmother Tree,” shows that out of death comes life. The “North Country Dance Band” lit a fire in the dance hall. The “New Year” brings a new baby boy. Daffodil sprouts are just one of the “Signs of Spring.” The accompanying booklet has an illustration and a sentence for each of the songs. This is a wonderful album to listen to while huddling by the fireplace on a cold winter day. 

Here is a link to their video "Snowpeople":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGMScC1i1d8&feature=youtu.be

Back to the Land

Back to the Land. Performed by Hot Peas ‘n Butter. CD. Approx. 40 min. Produced by Steve Jabus and Danny Lapidus. 2018.  CD: $12.97; Download: $8.99.

K – Gr 5—

            The members of Hot Peas ‘n Butter include Danny Lapidus (band leader), Steve Jabas, Rich Mercurio, Lee Nadel, Ian Baggette, Lisette Santiago, Jorge Vazquez, and Chris Tedesco. On this 8th album, they perform 11 songs in bluegrass, folk, Dixieland jazz, South African folk, country, and Caribbean Latin musical styles. These talented musicians make beautiful music on guitar, banjo, ukulele, fiddle, bass, keys, saxophone, cajon, accordion, percussion, and drums. The band is joined by some special musical guests on their title song: Laurie Berkner, Dan Zanes, and Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary). In addition, the children from the Brooklyn Children’s Theater lend their vocal talents to several of the tunes. “Back to the Land” urges listeners to help protect the Earth. In “Listen to the Water,” all kinds of animals can be found by the water side. Each child is a “Big World Kid,” whether from the country or the city. “Come Go With Me to That Land” is a traditional gospel song inviting listeners to come along to Heaven. And “Ven Conmigo Para Esta Tierra” is a Caribbean style arrangement of that gospel song, using vocals and drums (bongos?) only. “Fung Alafia” is a traditional South African folk song, with guest vocalist and Liberian Marcelle Davies-Lashley. “Little Fox” has to run from the farm dogs after trying to steal his dinner there. The remaining songs include “Firelight,” “Come Into My Kitchen,” “Rainbow in Your Eyes,” and their arrangement of “Somos el Barco,” sung in English and Spanish. This album will appeal as much to parents as to their children.

Red Yarn's Old Barn

Red Yarn’s Old Barn. Performed by Red Yarn. CD. Approx. 43 min. Produced by Red Yarn Productions. 2018.  CD: $13.99; Download: $9.49.

Pre-S – Gr 4—

Red Yarn, aka Andy Furgeson, is joined by several guest musicians on several of the 12 songs: Dean Jones (Dog on Fleas), Justin Lansing (Okee Dokee Brothers), Jazzy Ash, and Jenny Conlee (Decemberists).

The musicians provide excellent performances on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, bass, banjo, piano, organ, harmonica, accordion, percussion, and drums in bluegrass zydeco, country and rock musical styles. The farmer decides to throw a party in the “Old Barn.” And another party’s going on “Down in the Meadow.” In “Go Little Gator,” a young boy is looking forward to his dad teaching him to drive ATV. Critters are invited to Red Yarn’s ranch for a “Barn Dance.” And the “Barn Fire” was started by the animals. A farmer who freed all his animals says he’ll be singing “Till the Cows Come Home.” After a fire, it takes a village “To Raise a Barn.” And everyone is invited to come to the party, because “My Barn Door is Open.” Red Yarn adds his own original lyrics to these traditional tunes: “Old Hen Cackled,” “Sally Ann,” and “Did You Feed My Cow?”  He also covers an old song popularized by Porter Wagoner: “I’m Gonna Feed You Now.” This fifth album by Red Yarn aptly reflects his roots in the Texas Hill Country.