Shoebox Town

Shoebox Town. Performed by Tracy Newman. CD. Approx.43 min. Produced by Edward Auslender. 2018. $14.98.

Pre-S-Gr 2--

For her first album for children, Tracy Newman received Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold and NAPPA Gold Awards. Tracy honed her writing skills as an American television producer and writer, and helped create the hit ABC comedy, According to Jim (2001-2009). She is also the sister of talented comedienne Laraine Newman, known for being one of the original cast members on Saturday Night Live. In fact, Laraine chimes in on one of this album’s songs—“I’m Not Small.” Tracy performs 15 songs, 9 of which she wrote, and six covers. This second album features lovely harmonies and a variety of musical styles, including pop, folk pop, bluegrass, and Hawaiian folk. “I Love a Carousel” also features calliope-like sounds. The backup instrumentalists give excellent performances on guitar, banjo, ukulele, violin, cello, harp, bass, clarinet, flute, Irish whistles, trombone, bandoneon, accordion, drums and percussion. “Hide and Seek” celebrates that traditional children’s game. The “Little Bitty Fish” wants to be wiser and to wander. When mom gives her daughter an old shoebox, she makes a “Shoebox Town,” and is soon joined by her dad and brother. “Dance Like a Lady” will have listeners following along with the participatory movements. “Aren’t You Glad You’ve Got a Friend?” features Tracy’s daughter Charlotte. The sticky from a “Sticky Little Lollipop” ends up all over the house. Enjoying time playing outdoors, a youngster pleads “Don’t Let Time Catch Me.” Newman gives an awesome performance on Malvina Reynolds’ “Magic Penny” (“Love is something if you give it away”). And she asks if listeners would like to be a “Zilli Billionaire.” Silly rhymes abound in “Sing Along With Me.” There’s no place better to be than “Here in Hawaii.” Listeners are encouraged to slow down and “In Stillness Watch.” The final lullaby, “Sleep, Sleep, Sleep” is sung in English and French. This album will appeal to listeners young and old.

On a Roll

On a Roll. Performed by Tim Seston. CD. Approx. 52 min. Produced by Tim Seston. 2018. $14.99.

K-Gr 3—

Musical storyteller Seston presents 15 story songs in bluegrass, pop, classic rock, pop rock, country western, folk, and Dixieland jazz on his third album. His fellow musicians add pizzazz to the music with snazzy performances on guitar, bass, mandolin, banjolin, dobro, violin, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, kazoo, tambourine, and percussion. An enthusiastic children’s chorus joins in on several songs. “On a Roll” is based on the experiences of Tim’s son, who gets around in a wheelchair.  The “Bright Red Truck” is a fire truck  responding to different emergencies. “DNA” presents simple lessons on inheritance, respiration, digestion, and reproduction. “In Walked James” encourages listeners to follow along with the motions. “Rhymenocerous” meets Hiphopapotomus, and they team up to find fame and fortune. In “Owl’s Game,” Owl challenges a monkey, a bear, and a snake to catch him. The family singing in their cabin, enjoying the rain, say “Bring on the Thunder.” In a purple house, “In a Yellow Room” a small black mouse teaches two boys a song. The “Canker Sore” is a metaphor for all the things that can go wrong. Welcoming a newcomer into a group is one way “To Be Kind.” In “Rumble Tumble Grumble” a man walks two miles to town for groceries. In “Jelly and Coral,” a jellyfish tells the coral that he wants to travel across all the oceans and seas. As Jack gathers clues about the mysterious creature in the neighborhood, listeners can stomp, stomp, stomp “Like a Dinosaur.” Monsters of different colors romp through Charlie’s imagination in “Little Charlie’s Monsters.” In “Forward March,” listeners are encouraged to keep moving forward despite obstacles in their lives. These upbeat musical stories will inspire creativity and play, and give listeners some great advice for life situations.   

Every Voice

Every Voice. Performed by Kira Willey. CD. Approx.36 min. Produced by Zak Rizvi and Dave Padrutt. 2018. CD: $13.99; Download: $9.49.

K – Gr 3—

Award-winning Kira Willey shines on her 5^th album of 12 original songs in pop and pop rock musical styles. Her songs emphasize empowerment and encouragement for future leaders, and feature great harmonies. Excellent musicians add their expert performances on guitar, ukulele, bass, piano, keys, clarinet, trombone, drums and percussion. “Dream It Up” features guest musician Laurie Berkner, and is all about imagination. On every “Brand New Day,” everyone has a chance to forget the past and do better going forward. “Real Girl” encourages young girls to be themselves, and not struggle to be like someone else. Everyone can learn rhythm, because “Everybody’s Got a Heartbeat.” In “Every Voice,” listeners are encouraged to express themselves in story or song. Everyone can find “The Leader in Me” by using their own voice and making good choices. “Hello Hope” encourages listeners to fill the world with kindness, love and joy. The strong “Roots” under a person’s feet helps them know where they belong. In a “Community” everyone helps out each other. “Come On In” encourages inclusiveness and making new friends. No matter how far one roams, one loves “Home” best of all. The final track is a “Kindness Mantra” encouraging listeners to be loving, joyful, and kind. An upbeat album that will especially appeal to yoga enthusiasts. 

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.