Amazon.com

Listeners familiar with Nicolette Larson's early work as a vocalist with Commander Cody will know right away that this project comes from her smoother-edged solo career. She scored big-easy rock hits, after all, a cynic might add, so it makes sense that her first release of the 1990s (nine years separate this recording and its predecessor, Say When) would be softened by keyboard washes and muted rhythms. But there's a simple reason for this CD's quietude, its floating gentleness: Larson writes in the liner notes that she wrote the songs as she sat by her daughter Elsie May's hospital bed as her daughter recovered. The music had to be all gentle and nonintrusive, and that's how it comes across. This is a great disc to spin as you rock the newborn. Larson's voice peeks out exceptionally as she covers an unreleased Neil Young tune ("Barefoot Floors") and presents a tender reading of "I Bid You Goodnight." Persistently fine layers of accordion and bowed cello give the keyboard-laden environments surprising warmth. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (130)

Our FAVORITE bedtime CD
We bought this CD before our first son was born almost 2 years ago (along with many others) and it's still our favorite music to listen to as he goes to sleep. It's soothing and enjoyable music for both parent and child. In fact, I've purchased this for my son's daycare room and they play it everyday during naptime too.

I purchased a third disc so that my second baby can enjoy it in his nightime ritual too. I've also given this as a baby gift to NUMEROUS friends - and they always make a point of saying how much they love the music and positive messages found in this beautiful collection of music.

A MUST have for new parents establishing a bedtime ritual with their baby. Buy one - you're SURE to LOVE it too!! You'll be back for more too...

Magical! A must for all young families
Magical indeed. Just after our little girl joined us this album made me cry tears of joy with the simple expressions a Mother (and daddy too) feels for her baby. It immediately became our evening feeding-time music.

Now it is part of our bedtime routine for our 1-month old. Daddy gently dances through the first few tunes which includes our baby, Erika's, favorite "Starlight, Starbright" (she really responds to that tune! or is it Daddy's dancing footwork?) Daddy then hands a happy relaxed baby to me for her late dinner and some cuddling. By the last song Erika is full, happy and asleep, Mom is relaxed and content and Daddy is a happy man too.

Another part of the magic from this CD is how it reminds Moms and Dads how special their baby is and how wonderful is the moment they are sharing with the baby. Very therapuetic for the parents, especially after a long day with a baby!

My favorite song is the Irish Lullabye but I love them all. Daddy's favorite is "The Moment I saw you" and the early "danceable" tunes. The whole CD is truly a gem! We look forward to this being a favorite for many years to come.

This is a must have for all young families!

THANK YOU NICOLETTE and company!

I've been buying it as gifts for years!
After three children I am still listening to this fantastic CD! My brother-in-law introduced it to me after hearing it in a store and we have been hooked ever since. Everybody I buy it for gets back to me and tells me how much they enjoy it. You can't help but relax when listening to it, and the words are so beautiful! Also, excellent vocals!

Still listening after six years
As a baby, my daughter had a terrible time getting to sleep, so one day my husband went out and picked up this CD. My daughter is now almost seven years old, and we still play it for her at night. We've played it every single night (and while she was a baby, for at least one or two naptimes) for all these years, and not one of us is tired of it. I can't imagine that I'd even be able to stand hearing the same music so many times, but Larson's tunes are soothing and melodic. I'm going to be very sorry when my daughter no longer plays it to go to sleep (probably when she's 20). Buy it and enjoy.

Soothing and Touching
My former boss gave me this CD at a baby shower when I was 8 months pregnant with my now 17 month old son. He admitted that he listens to it sometimes when he has trouble falling asleep. The songs are so touching and really convey what a new parent feels. Now, we listen to this CD every day at naptime and bedtime. It is an integral part of our daily routine. I still get teary eyed sometimes as I rock my baby to sleep, listening to the words of the songs, thinking about just how precious my little boy is to me! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A must-have for any Thomas fan!
My three year old son is a huge Thomas fan, and he loves this CD! We play it at least once a day. I love the CD myself and love singing the songs along with my son. We listen to the CD while playing with his Thomas trains, but also take it along with us in the car.

The songs are extremely catchy and lyrics are provided. Some of the songs teach important lessons without sounding too parental. 'Boo Boo Choo Choo' talks about not being afraid of the dark, and the 'Rules and Regulations' song is pretty self explanatory.

My only complaints: at the beginning of 'Come for the Ride' there is an annoying voice-over for a couple of seconds, and there isn't a musical lead-in on 'Night Train' like there is in the Sing-Along version on the 'Spills and Chills' DVD. I may be being biased here, because these two songs are our favorites.

Like the Soundtrack from a Musical -- For Kids
I checked this CD out from the library before buying it and was instantly hooked, so I bought a used copy from an Amazon.com Marketplace seller. The first and last tracks are music from the Thomas shows, and the rest are original songs sung by children about the various characters and story themes. The song melodies, lyrics, and performances are top rate. Each song feels a little like it came from a Broadway musical, and although there is a very unified style, the songs are unique enough that they don't all sound the same. My 2 1/2 year old loves this CD and I don't mind playing it over and over.

A lot of fun for Thomas Fans
A great CD for Thomas fans.

Our first Thomas CD--and what a hit!
My 2-1/2-year-old son can't hear this CD often enough...which is all right with me, because I also enjoy the upbeat music, sweet English children singers, and valuable lessons taught in many of the songs. Just putting the music on sends my son running to his Thomas train set to play with all the friends he hears about in the songs. But the music also comes with us in the car, where it keeps him entertained. I would highly recommend this music for any little Thomas fans.

Better than the first one
I didn't buy this CD yet. I will soon. Probally for my birthday. I like the song Little Engines from Percy's Chocolate Crunch and James the Really Splendid Engine from Salty's Secret. I wonder what videos will have the new songs like Rules & Regulations. We will just have to wait and see. This CD will be better than the first CD if I try it. Hope I'll like. I think I will. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No matter where you enter Ralph's World, you can't help but want to fling the doors wide open: here, finally, is an artist who's made good on his promise to deliver kiddie songs that don't drive the big folks batty. The titular Ralph is Ralph Covert, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter with an animated, slightly Arlo Guthrie-ish voice and a knack for complete naturalness--not such a breeze when belting out songs whose lyrics call for ecstatic beep-beeping ("Drivin' in My Car") and choo-chooing ("Choo Choo Train"). That Covert is the debut artist on the just-launched Mini Fresh label, also based in Chicago, speaks volumes: the company is the kid's offshoot of Minty Fresh, the independent label responsible for bringing hip groups such as the Cardigans, Veruca Salt, Komeda, and Tahiti 80 to the grown-up masses. Ralph's World follows a similarly hip, "wow 'em with something different" formula. The pure pop of "All My Colors," made meaty by the inclusion of the mandolin, will find parents pumping the gas pedal on cross-town car trips; the hand jive of "Four Little Duckies" (featuring Dobro, banjo, and duck calls) defies anybody beyond drooling age to sit still. The folk-infused "Name Song," with its mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and an off-the-charts tempo, will leave you laughing, if your lips don't fall off first. For background vocals, "Ralph's World" relies on a rhythm-rich quartet known as the Kids, who supply the record its party-on vibe. This is a CD that leaves no listener behind, lacks pretension, and, most important, will lead jaded parents to believe that sharing quality music with their kids isn't a lost cause. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (42)

5 stars is not enough!
If I could have rated this CD higher than 5 stars, I would have! We received it as a gift before traveling 850 miles with our 4 children ages 2, 3, 4 & 5 and I was prepared to play it once and put it away with the other music we have. To say the least, I was thrilled to finally enjoy listening to my children's music again! We must have played it the entire ride home, with my children (and us parents, too!) preferring it to watching a movie on the car TV! The music is sopisticated enough (and familiar, I should add) for us aging parents, and brings a welcome new sound to children's music. It has become a favorite of ours and I will continue to pass it along to friends with children for any occassion I can find. Every parent with children MUST have a copy of Ralph Covert's latest masterpiece. I will be forever grateful to the mom that gave us our copy!

This CD Saved Our Sanity!
As a musician and mom, I give "Ralph's World" highest praise!!

We just spent 5 weeks and 5,500 miles on the road with a 2 1/2 year old and an 8 month old. We must have listened to Ralph's World a bazillion times and we didn't go crazy (although I was hearing "Freddy Bear" in my sleep)! It was a difficult trip and I shudder to think what we'd have done without this recording. It really kept the kids happy every time. They love it!

Ralph's enthusiasm is genuine, as is the top notch musicianship on this project -- unlike so much of the computer generated drivel found on the shelf these days. Instead of a perfectly rehearsed choir singing songs that all end up sounding the same, this CD contains variety of songs styles and REAL kids having REAL fun which make it quite enjoyable. Ralph incorporated all of the elements that would be used in conducting a successful kid's music class. He obviously knows what he's doing! Even the youngest ones can latch onto "Riding in My Car" or "ABC" from the first listening, yet there's so much more to "go on" that bigger kids and adults won't tire of it easily. Bless you Ralph! This should go down as a kid's classic.

Kids Music That Parents Will Actually Enjoy Singing Along To
I bought this CD right before my daughter turned a year old. Needless to say, both of us knew it by heart in about a month! After a year and a half, this still gets daily play in the car and at home. With catchy and hip songs like "A Teddy Bear named Freddy Bear" and "Drivin' in My Car" you'll be swept up into the fun and find yourself still listening to it even after your kids get out of the car. A great alternative to listening to the radio in the car, it's a must-buy to keep your kids from growing up too fast. It also makes the perfect gift for your friends' kids or your nieces and nephews, since it's all just good clean fun!

Pardon me?
I am, quite honestly, astounded by the preponderance of positive reviews for this CD. Having worked at a shop which appeals primarily to children, this CD is played over our speakers all the time.

I can safely say that if you listen to this CD enough times, you will eventually choose to eat your children rather than continue to endure Ralph's inanities.

Go ahead. Try it out. You'll see.

Definitely grows on you
When I first listened to this album, I regretted buying an album that had such obvious kiddie themes as counting and alphabets. But I started getting into it when "All My Colors" (#8) came on. I found "The Name Song" and "You Can't Rollerskate in a Buffalo Herd" incredibly winning, and I enjoyed the rest of the album. The second to the last song, "Bedtime Girl" nearly brings me to tears every single time because it's so beautiful. The second listening on I was won over. The best thing about this album is the music, which doesn't get boring after repeated listenings.

One word of caution: "Driving in My Car" (#15) has the kids make spitting noises, so if you don't want to encourage such behavior this may not be a wise choice. (On the other hand, kids will probably pick it up in school regardless.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Of the many remarkable things about the follow-up to 2002's For the Kids CD, maybe most remarkable is its daring. Here's a disc with a spirit of adventurousness. Instead of relying on a parade of star power for its swagger (and its sales figures--Sarah McLaughlin, Tom Waits, and Barenaked Ladies went a long way toward explaining the success of the first installment), Too! plucks from an indie playing field that appeals with a below-the-radar, bubbling-under kind of cool. To that end, San Francisco-based acoustic idol Matt Nathanson gamely covers Prince's whimsical "Starfish & Coffee," Canada's Paper Moon memorably asks that you check your "Attitude Toward Cuttlefish" at the door, and Shivaree gets your house party (or car-seat party, or playroom party) shaking, in its somnolent way, with "Everybody Came." A sprinkling of big names--They Might Be Giants, Matthew Sweet--stud the proceedings, but mostly this disc is about discovery. It's also about good deeds: Where the first disc benefitted VH1's Save the Music Foundation, proceeds from Too! go toward the Lili Claire Foundation, which helps those born with neurological disorders. -Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Creative & Beautiful
I like classical music, but some of the pieces tend to be too long. When I saw this, I figured that I would give it a try. I really liked the character on the front, even though he was designed to get the attention of little ones.

The music on this CD is very easy to listen to. I listen to it when I'm putting laundry away, when I'm driving, etc. The pieces are short, so there aren't the super slow lagging sections. Each piece is also played by different instruments than the traditional classical music, so it makes it entertaining to listen to.

Whether you have little ones or not, if you enjoy classical music, you should give this CD a shot.

Ugh! Glorified Music-Box Music
My husband and I are fans of classical music with a substantial CD collection. When we found out we were pregnant, I picked up the Baby Beethoven CD from my local library to see what it was like.

It's glorified music box music... some of the pieces are almost impossible to distinguish without checking the jewel case for the name.

If you really want to expose your child to Beethoven, don't waste your time with this CD. For soothing sleepy-time music, try "Beethoven at Bedtime."

Great CD for little ones
I bought this for my son when he was 3 months old.He loved it instantly. I would put the cd on while we cooked dinner together. He would just sit in his high chair and listen intently. He is now over a year old and we still enjoy listening to it together. It's great background music while you play with them. Oh yeah did I mention this is my son's favorite cd. I highly recommend this cd. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

It's Sesame Street... You Can't Go Wrong
This is a no-brainer... it's Sesame Street songs... every kid loves 'em. Nothing bad to say at all... your kids like Big Bird? Get 'em this CD.

slightly disappointing
Having purchased the first Platinum CD a couple of years ago, I decided to go for it with Platinum Too. I saw some of the songs on it and was so amazingly excited, particularly "Somebody Come and Play," "Take A Breath," and "Mah Na Mah Na." Unfortunately, the versions of these songs I know and love are not the ones which appear on this CD. I will admit to finding this more than a little disconcerting, but, after a couple listens-through, I didn't mind so much.

On the whole, it's a good mixture of Sesame Street old and new...but I still think the first one is better.

In response to another review...
Mr. Whipple's store is the one with the Charmin. I think you mean HOOPER'S Store.
Really, now. That reviewer should be ashamed...

Just a Little Shy.
PLATINUM TOO is the follow-up album to the very popular PLATINUM. Both feature favorite songs from Sesame Street. PLATINUM TOO pretty much feels in the gaps left by the first album. Well that's not quite true because these albums only cover Sesame Street favorites through the early 1990s. Still, it's a great album and I've been giving it a lot of airplay on my webradio show. Some of my favorite tunes are:

"Counting is Wonderful"

"Caribbean Amphibian"

"The Grouch Song"

"Believe in Yourself"

"The Ballad of Casey MacPhee"

"Take a Breath"

"Mah Na Mah Na"

"One of These Things"

"One Small Voice"

This is a wonderful companion piece to PLATINUM and is a great album to own and play for kids.

Kids? Who said this was for kids?
As part of the first generation of Sesame Street kids (and I'm almost 40), this CD is for all of us who know deep in our hearts that C IS for Cookie and that Mr Whipple's store is right around the corner. I grew up with this music and had the privilege of growing up all over agin with my kids, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch and my personal favorite, Grover. If you were ever a kid that sat in front of the TV after school and laughed at Bert and Ernie, then this CD is for you. We are never to old to find our way back to Sesame Street. We love you, Jim Henson, wherever you are! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The party line on most Windham Hill products seems to be that it's either the greatest stuff since wave machines, or that it all sounds alike. On a Starry Night, with its collection of world songs and reputable artists such as Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, the Turtle Island String Quartet, and others, does lean toward a seamlessly understated, homogeneous quality that is broken only occasionally by Bobby McFerrin's piece and a couple of others. That said, there can hardly be a more mellow or sonorous album of kid's music anywhere. Starry Night could calm a nursery with no nurses; why, it could even soothe the pained yelps at the dog pound--and turn a freeway full of bumper-to-bumper sour pusses into pussycats. Effective? You've heard of mind control, haven't you? --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (29)

gentle music for children and adults
I believe that music is a powerful and innate force in our lives, so I bought a number of CDs geared toward children when I gave birth. Most were harmless enough, many became tiresome after a while .... this CD still gets played regularly at our house after three years.

International artists play and sing old favorites as well as songs new to us, but even the old favorites (Rock-a-bye-baby, Brahms Lullaby) are performed in engaging ways which renew their interest. Heaven knows, I am not one to seek out Kumbaya, but I even like that song here! Seventeen songs are presented from the US, Japan, Indonesia, Brazil, Ireland, Congo, Ghana, Cuba, Iceland, Israel, England, Russia and Germany. Some are sung, most are instrumental. All are very beautiful and soothing. The CD booklet contains a paragraph about each song with performance credits, original words and translation.

A remarkably soothing collection of lullabies.

Will definitely become one of your favorites!!
This CD is beautiful and so soothing. It really does give you a dreamy effect. It's good for the soul! We use it for bedtime music for our 4yr old, and not only does she love it, but we love it. I am so glad I found this CD. It raises the standard of what good lullaby compilations should sound like. First Class music, indeed. Don't hesitate if you're looking for good music for nightime or even a relaxing break in the day for your little ones-this is an excellent choice.

Soothing, dreamy music!
I just had to write a review of this cd. It was recommended to me by another mother, and I tried it and love it! We like to listen to it in the living room as nap time approaches, nursing with the lights dimmed. With the fan going and this cd on quietly, both momma and baby start drifting off to sleep. It's absolutely wonderful, and I recommend it to anyone who needs some instant R&R.

Your Baby Will Love This CD
We were given "Starry Night" as a gift when our son was born 21 months ago. It is one of the best gifts we have received as he has been sleeping to this CD from day one. The minute we turn the CD on and dim the lights he knows that it's time to sleep - whether it's for a nap in the afternoon or after a long day of running around.

We love this CD so much that both sets of in-laws bought it for our son...

Most relaxing compilation of music I've ever heard
This CD is a must-have! My 9-month-old puts her head on my shoulder to drift off to sleep as soon as she hears the first tune - no matter the time of day. She is always asleep before the end of the second track (the delicate, almost haunting Japanese Music Box) and I'm consistently teary by the end of the third (in English it's known as "Go to Sleep" - the lyrics will make any parent's heart ache with love for your child). It even gets the three- and four-year-olds to sleep in my older daughter's preschool class. What would really be great is if massage therapists would play this CD instead of that babbling brook, new age stuff - now THAT would be worth $100. ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Songs from the Funnies
I really wish I could have seen this musical. I love all things Peanuts, and I even memorized Charlie Brown's monologue from this play for my high school Drama class. But having this soundtrack is the next best thing. Here, you're treated to wonderful songs right out of your Sunday comics. The characters hold true to their comic strip personalities, and it's very easy to imagine that you've read this somewhere before.

There are quite a few highlights. "Kite" is a funny example of Charlie Brown almost succeeding at something. "The Book Report" takes each of the characters through the process of writing a report on Peter Rabbit. I especially love Schroeder's change to Robin Hood. My personal favorite is "My New Philosophy." Sally is coming up with new life philosophies as fast as she can. It's a hilarious song that gives Kristin Chenoweth a great chance to shine. Listening to this, it's easy to see why she won a Tony award for this roll.

I will agree with previous reviewers that have said Lucy's voice isn't the best. The actress just doesn't quite have the range to pull off the high notes that are required. But that only dampen two songs, and the rest of the time she sounds just like Lucy should.

All told, this CD really does belong in your collection. It's sure to cheer you up and touch your heart, just like the comic strip.

Simplistic, but Adorable!
When I first heard there was a Charlie Brown musical, I cringed. But then I heard the album and my opinion changed drastically.

The cast of this revival is absolutely stunning; they really add the "Peanuts" flair to it. Anthony Rapp (whom I loved and adored in Rent) is the perfect Charlie Brown. If you just listen to Rent you can tell what a great actor this man is- he can be a struggling would-be director one minute and a kid who's down on his luck the next. Ilana Levine, as Lucy, takes some getting used to (mainly on the high notes) but her attitude is perfect! She's so self-absorbed! *laughs* Stanley Wayne Mathis is terrific as Schroeder. He definitely embodies our favorite piano-playing Beethoven wonder boy. B.D. Wong, as Linus, is so adorable in "My Blanket and Me". He gives new meaning to the term 'security blanket'. Kristen Chenoweth is *perfect* as Sally (who, I've realized, is a mixture of Sally and Peppermint Patty), especially in her duet with Schroeder, "My New Philosophy". It's so adorable, and catchy! And last but not least, Roger Bart as Snoopy. He's great; I can really envision him as being a dog on a red doghouse. If only he had a Woodstock. *sigh*

Anyway, this album is truly worth getting. The songs are simple, but they really tell a lot about children and the joys of life. Not a waste of money at all!!

Nice little surprise. You won't regret picking it up...
To think, I had a chance to see this with the original cast but couldn't convince my friends to join me during our visit to NYC. Upon returning, I purchased this album and have been kicking myself since.

This is a great, fun story that's worthy of a revival. The assembled cast is brilliant, with Anthony Rapp at the helm as the forgotten child, Charlie Brown. Rapp's portrayal of the lead character is amazing, with a perfect blend of innocence, insecurity, and vulneribility. BD Wong is also surprisingly good as Linus, but Chenoweth outshines the cast with her presentation of Sally.

No point in explaining it, you just have to listen to it. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

Little Snoopy of Horrors
I got this recording out of curiosity, having enjoyed the original album and several productions over the years. And while the cast is talented--despite the overly shrill Lucy--and some of the songs are perfectly fine, on the whole, I can't recommend this version.

Why? For one thing, the new songs don't mesh stylistically with the original songs. In and of themselves, they're fine, but both in style and orchestration, they just don't match. If you want to write a new Peanuts musical, fine, but if this one ain't broke, don't fix it. For one thing, "Beethoven Day" doesn't sound at all like a song Schroeder would sing. For another, the new songs are entirely too polished and pop; like the strips, the beauty of the original songs is in their simplicity, the fact that you believe that they're being sung by children. Even in the orchestrations in this version, they take a perfectly good performance of one of the original songs and ruin it by adding a new ending at odds with the sound and tone of the rest of the song. Why do this? To make it seem more contemporary, I suppose. "My New Philosophy" is the only new piece that even remotely sounds in character, and even that is far too polished.

Performance-wise, it's a fine production, with good voices and musicians, but some questionable acting choices. The usually excellent B. D. Wong sounds ridiculous as Linus with a lisp; he sounds frighteningly like Ed Wynn most of the time. (If you know who Ed Wynn is, you know why that's a horrible mental image for Linus.) And as I said before, Ilana Levine as Lucy is entirely too shrill, too over the top, so much so that it's unpleasant to listen to her singing voice. These are character choices, but a better director might have improved or cut them. On the other hand, Kristen Chenowith is wonderful, as is Roger Bart.

As for the sound mix on the album, it varies from too loud to too soft--though again, the orchestrations are largely to blame. Either way, the sudden shifts from a soft to a loud song kept scaring my child, which is not what this show should do. I shouldn't need to sit with my hand on the volume control the whole time.

Overblown, brassy, aggravating. And just when they've done a song right, they blow it. I was surprised at their restraint in "Happiness," and literally as I was about to say that out loud to my wife, it came roaring back with guns blazing, filling the room with a wall of sound and schmaltz. God forbid we present anything with subtlety. This production, while decked out in a beautiful set and costume design right out of Schulz' pen, misses all the simplicity and wonder of Schulz' writing in the effort to make a Big Contemporary Broadway Show. There is no magic in this version, only calculation. It's no wonder this production only ran for a few months, while the original ran for four years.

It's possible to revive and reinvent a show well. "Chicago," "Anything Goes," "Guys and Dolls" and "Cabaret" all come to mind. None were slavish imitations of the originals, but all of them kept the spirit of original source material, and all had long, healthy runs.

If you want a slick, over-produced, polished recording, then by all means, get this version. If you're only used to Broadway scores from 1980 and later and can't conceive of a simple, small scale show, get this version. If you want a recording that sounds like the Peanuts characters despite being played by grown actors, which is no mean feat, go for the original cast.

A brilliant remake with and incredible cast
Having lately joined the pantheon of actors who have played Charlie Brown in this awesome show's history, I was thrilled to have this recording as a reference. Maybe my love for this recording is what primarily turned me off to the original cast recording, but this cast truly seems to get ahold of what Charlie Brown is really about. Childlike innocence, vulnerability, even naivete, but it still says something about society, relationships and life. Anthony Rapp is surprisingly (almost) perfect for Charlie Brown, Ilana Levine is very good as the supercrab herself, Lucy. Stanley Mathis as Schroeder does a great job as well (for the most part), and while I'm not terribly fond of B.D. Wong's interpretation of Linus, this show's brightest stars are definitely Roger Bart as Snoopy (Suppertime is nothing short of fantastic) and Kristen Chenoweth as Sally (My New Philosophy remains spectacular no matter how many times you hear it).

The reworkings of the original songs are most excellent, and the new songs are remarkable. For an up-to-date, but still sincere recording, look no further than the New Broadway Cast Recording. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another good Radio Disney CD
Radio Disney has been playing pretty good music for a long time, playing music that's getting lots of airplay and some good songs from a few years back. RADIO DISNEY JAMS 7 is another good addition to the Radio Disney CD series, and I recommend it to parents of preteens.

Standout tracks:
*Because You Live (Jesse McCartney)- I may be a bit biased because I'm a huge fan of McCartney's, but this is my favorite song on RADIO DISNEY JAMS 7. It's a nice song with a pretty catchy tune and good vocals. It's also on the Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack
*Over It (Anneliese Van Der Pol) - Over It was in the Disney Channel movie "Stuck in the Suburbs." Van Der Pol is also in the Disney show "That's So Raven," and she's got a very good voice. This song might not have the most creative lyrics ever ("Take me away, we'll jump in the car, drive til the gas runs out"), but they're fun.
*Tangled Up in Me (Skye Sweetnam) - I've heard people compare Sweetnam to Avril Lavigne, but I like Skye's vocals more. It's a fun song about being a little bit crazy and having a crush on someone out of your league.
*Ordinary Day (Vanessa Carlton) - This song is a bit older, but I love it. Vanessa has a unique voice, great piano skills, and it's overall a really great song.

I like almost every song on RADIO DISNEY JAMS 7 (except for the fan_3 track and "Cinderella"), and I definately recommend it to parents. The lyrics to each song are innocent and fun, so you don't have to worry about what your kids are listening to. (At the same time, the music is mature enough where you won't mind listening along as well)

Overall grade - B
... Read more

Amazon.com

Instrumental albums from Walt Disney's mega-empire are a rarity. But judging from the excellence of Disney's Lullaby Album--from the superb arrangements to the surprise song choices--you'll probably be hearing more of them. Producer and arranger Fred Mollin exhibits not only good taste and restraint in his approach, but his song choices sweetly complement one another. Treading the fine line between Muzak and genuinely soothing music, Mollin lands softly and sentimentally on such Disney movie song classics as "Baby Mine," "When You Wish upon a Star," and "Stay Awake/Feed the Birds," as well as on other chestnuts such as "Brahms Lullaby" and Kenny Loggins's "House at Pooh Corner." The real delights, though, are the Beatles' "I Will" (rendered beautifully on piano and strings), Louis Armstrong's timeless "What A Wonderful World," the classic "Beautiful Dreamer," the old doo-wop favorite "Good Night My Love (Pleasant Dreams)," and an inspired reprise of "Brahms Lullaby" joined with Gershwin's "Someone to Watch over Me." Complete with sleeping tips from psychology professor Jodi Mindell, Disney's Lullaby Album almost guarantees that you'll fall asleep before the baby does--for all the right reasons. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A wonderful CD...and very effective!
I got this CD when my daughter was about 6 months old and she has been falling asleep to it for over a year now. The arrangements are very beautiful and wonderful to listen to, and the selection of songs is very good, so good it is hard to choose a favorite. I got the Disney Babies Lullaby album at about the same time, but realized that with WORDS, the volume of the CD varied, which was not as restful for my baby as I wanted. I love both CD's but use the Disney Babies one to rock my baby and sing to her, and use the instrumental one in her room for her to fall asleep to: it's a one-two PUNCH! This is the most hauntingly beautiful "muzak" you will ever hear, and the sound quality and soothing rhythms are even all throughout, perfect for lulling baby to sleep. I rank it higher than the Disney Babies CD and was surprised it got a bad review. It is wonderful because IT WORKS and because long after your baby has fallen asleep, the melodies will play on in your head, they are THAT beautifully done. Highly recommended!!!

An absolutely beautiful CD. We play it every night.
My daughter is 2.5 and this CD was given to us as a gift when she was 2 months old. It has been on continuous play in her room every night since we got it and it puts and keeps her to sleep. It has so many favorites that I grew up with and enjoy hearing myself. I have given this CD as a baby gift to family and friends that are expecting and they have fallen in love with it. I too recommend that you purchase Disney's Princess Lullaby CD which is my daughters night night music of choice for the car. Enjoy!

my favorite cd that is not mine!
I love this CD so much!I bought it when I found out I was pregnant.I thought a nice lullaby CD would be something I would like my baby to drift off to sleep to.Little did I know it would become a staple in my CD player the following year!I have finally given it up to my now two year old.He falls asleep by the second song!I have to say untill he came along I would only be able to review the first two myself,I was off in sleepy lullaby land after that myself!The songs are so soothing and soft.My only criticizm is the songs often have an almost melencoly feel.I have actually cried listening to a few of them!Mabey it was those after pregnancy hormones!I can't reccomend this enough to anyone who wants a relaxing soft cd that will almost certainly put you to sleep!I also love the princess & christmas lullaby CD's I hope they are not the last in the collection!

apachedoctor
LOVE IT! My eight month old has had this disc since he was 3 weeks old. I heard it at a friend's house & had to get it right away. The music sounded so sweet, it brought tears to my eyes as I listened to the instrumental sounds. We keep it on 24/7 in our house. You can hear it throughout the house with the baby monitor turned on. We have several other lullaby cd's, but this one is the best by far. We don't even bother listening to the others. I have a friend expecting a baby in August, and I plan to purchase one for her, too.

For Little AND Big Babies!
I bought this album for my children, never knowing I was going to fall in love with it also. This is probably the most relaxing CD I've ever come across. Don't let the Disney label mislead you. I'll be using this one for myself for a long time to come. AND it will be a definite for any future baby gifts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1996 follow-up CD to For Our Children packs less romp and more hush. Although the stellar lineup includes Celine Dion, Seal, Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, Cher, Luther Vandross, and others, For Our Children, Too is really a lullaby album and its predecessor is a party record. There are more ballads, more R&B singers, and more arrangements mired in overproduction. That said, if you want a gentler collection of songs, this might be your first choice. Seal turns in a poignant rendition of "Puff the Magic Dragon," while Natalie Cole's "Both Sides Now" shows how universal that old Joni Mitchell classic really is. James Taylor and Carly Simon's memorable hit "Mockingbird" is also featured, along with Cher doing a predictable interpretation of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella. Celine gives "Brahm's Lullaby" her trademark Dion treatment and Luther Vandross turns the protest anthem "If I Had a Hammer" into a moving meditation on peace and equality. Did someone say this music might be too sophisticated for kids? Still, it's for a great cause. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (19)

kids music adults can listen to
This CD, along with the original For Our Children, contains artists you know, singing songs you remember from your childhood. We had to replace our first version of this CD, because the kids played it so often that they scratched it beyond any use at all. My 5 year old son knows all the words to If I had a Hammer, and You are my Sunshine, and his favorite of all time is Puff the Magic Dragon- this version is the best I've ever heard. My personal favorite is the Elton John song about a boy who first meets his newborn brother. Stop now and go get this CD- you won't be sorry!!

Puts them right to sleep
This CD was given to me by another mom when my son was born as a "must have". We have listened to it every night for a soothing entrance to sleepy land for 6 months. Most of the songs are serene and lullabies in nature. They are a nice twist from the original format of the songs. The artists do beautiful and fun jobs with the remakes. It is a nice break from Barney and the music never gets tiring even month after month. Now I buy it for all my friends who are new moms.

A must have
We received this CD as a gift when our first child was born. I have bought it for all our friends who have babies since then. It contains the most beautiful renditions of many songs from our own childhood. Everyone who has received it, loves it!!! In addition, the few songs we were unfamiliar with turned out to be some of our favorites!

Music with a conscience for children.
I bought this CD for my daughter when she was an infant. Now she's 5 and loves to sing along with all her favorites like 'If I had a Hammer' and 'Puff-The Magic Dragon'. Her most favorite is "Love Lights The World". In light of the way things are going around the world today, this song expresses sentiments that should be encouraged in all our children.

I like this. Thanks Rino
I like this because it's absolutely cool. I like all the tracks including Come Take A Trip In My Airship. I like how the singers performed these songs I also like Faith Hill's version of Over The Rainbow. I highly recommend this to future fans of music. ... Read more

Album Description

Best Seller! Winner of the Canadian Juno Award, Parents' Choice Classic Award and American Library Association Award. A Canadian Gold Record with 4 Hugs a Day, Octopus(Slippery Fish), I am a Pizza, I Wanna Be a Dog and Looking for Dracula. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent CD for Children
They played this CD in the Day Care that my daughter goes to. She never really cared to dance and sing to music before, but now with these songs, she loves to dance and sing. Her favorite song is Slippery Fish, at Day care they even made puppets act out the song. Its so cute! Highly recommend this CD!!

No CZ--She's a real Diamond!!
Charlotte Diamond is not well known here in the states--I couldn't even find her CD's in Canada(and she is a native)! This woman is incredibly talented and knows how to turn kids on to music. I have been an elementary vocal music teacher and the kids adore her music. She knows what kids like and her voice is velvet!! We love "I am a Pizza!" and "Four Hugs a Day" is a favorite. I must mention "Looking for Dracula"--This is a real favorite with the kids too. This is one artist I would love to meet--just to tell her how very much I admire her style, her class and her musicality. WOW!! Keep singing, Charlotte!!

Wonderful !!
My son attends a special education preschool and there they teach him the songs on this cd with sign language and pictures. It has really helped my son achieve new words and also sign language. I was so amazed to hear him remember word for word the Octopus Song. He loves it. It is a wonderful cd, I went right out and bought it for my son to listen to it at home and the car.

This is my daughter's all time FAVORITE CD!!
I am a (taking time off to raise her kids) teacher who used to use this CD in the classroom. It's one that every kid in the USA should own, that's how much I like it (not to mention my kids!)

Some of the songs are enormously funny, hugely entertaining, and some will bring tears to your eyes! Our favorites are "I am a pizza" (your kids will learn a little French!) "I wanna be a dog" (you'll laugh 'til your face turns blue!) "Slippery Fish" (hilarious.. make up actions to go with this one.. your kids will sing it in the tub!) and my all time favorite "Four Hugs a Day" (it'll make you think!)

Enjoy this one, and get your own copy.. I'm keeping mine!

Pure fun for everyone...
I have been a preschool teacher for over nine years. And in that time, I've listened to a lot of children's music. 10 Carrot Diamond has got to be one of the best children's albums today. The songs are easy to learn and memorize. (Lyrics are printed inside the jacket cover.) Making up routines to go along with the songs is very easy. "I Wanna be a Dog" is one of the favorite songs the kids love to do at circle time. They love getting down on all fours and pretending to be little puppies. "Four Hugs a Day" and "I am a Pizza" are also classroom favorites anytime of the day. The entire cd is just plain fun to listen to...and sing along with. And when you put it on with a group of kids, chances are you won't be singing alone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Songs from the Street, the boxed set that stretches back to "Sesame Street's" 1969 debut, is the kids' record of the year, if not the decade: Big Bird and the gang might've pulled it off themselves--for a crew of fix-it store workers, shopkeeps, and goofball monsters, the talent quotient's off the charts--but when you've got this many names to drop, they've got to land somewhere. What impresses most in three discs is the lack of a single thud. Cab Calloway, Pete Seeger, and James Taylor mosey in on disc one; Johnny Cash, BB King, and Tony Bennett take seats on the stoop for disc two; and the Dixie Chicks, Gloria Estefan, and R.E.M. raise the brownstone roof on disc three--and that's leaving out stars like Lena Horne, Stevie Wonder, BillyJoel, and Trisha Yearwood. When it comes to inspiring preschoolers and their parents to sing the praises of rubber duckies, bein' green, and the people in their neighborhood; "The Street" gets busy. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Not quite as definitive as I'd hoped
We all know a few Sesame Street songs and chances are they appear on this collection which features 31 cast originals and 32 celebrity appearances. If you've been watching Sesame Street, you can probaly add those up to a grand total of 63 songs! Of the 31 cast originals, all but one track (HENSON KING OF EIGHT) has been previously released on LP or CD. It would have been nice to have more never-before-released tracks. That said, it's great to have some of the tracks appearing on CD for the first time. As for the 32 celebrity appearances, 25 of them have never been released before. So this is definately the set for you if you're a fan of the celebrity versions.

Inside the 10.5" cardboard case, the 3 Cds are presennted in cardboard slip covers and a 68 page booklet is included. The booklet is really impressive as it not only has credits and lyrics for every song, but also offers a brief timeline of the series from it's debut through the present day, as well as extensive liner notes.

I was really miffed that the original broadcast version of LADYBUG'S PICNIC wasn't used. In order to make this THE definitive Sesame Street collection I believe the broadcast version of all songs should have been used. That said, the remix version of the PINBALL NUMBER COUNT and SESAME STREET THEME are terrific!

For the casual Sesame Street fan this set is terrific. For the Sesame Street fan who has a few CD's but never owned or knows what an LP is, this set will offer you a few things you've never heard before like the Lena Horne and Grover classic HOW DO YOU DO. But if you want original broadcast versions of the songs and don't care for the celebrity intrepretations, then this is not the set for you.

This set gets close to being definitive, but misses the mark by not including original broadcast versions and focusing a bit too heavily on the celebrity appearances.

Great Set For Sesame Street Fans Young And Old
This was a great CD set. I bought it as soon as I heard about it on "The Playground" a 3 houg children's music show on Emerson Colege Radio 88.9 in Boston. (Weekend nights from 5-8.) It was great to hear Mr. Hooper on "I've Got Two" without the static of my old Record. I love Children's music and I still have all my old Sesame Street Records. I wish the would release the old records on CD. There are so many out of print Sesame Street Songs that should be brought back. Remember Susan's "Someday Little Children(will Be Living On The Moon)". This is great with all the famious stars on this box set. They should of included included more songs with Mr. Hooper. I miss him on the show. They did not include my favorite sesame street song "We All Sing With The Same Voice". ("We All Sing with the same voice, The Same song, The same voice"). All in all Great set for anyone who wants to hear their sesame street favorites again.

Fell in love so fast...haven't gotten to all of the discs!
Our whole family fell in love with the first disc we popped in that we still haven't made it through all of them! But I can't wait until we do. For now, we listen to Oscar the Grouch and Johnny Cash singing "Nasty Dan" all the time in the car and around bath time. I think by now I can recite all of the lyrics. What a great way to share music with your child!

35 Years and a lot of missing memories...
Anxiously awaiting this box set, I was thoroughly disappointed when I found there were so, so many songs left out. There are so many songs from "today's Sesame" - what happened to the songs of Sesame from years ago? I was expecting to see more of the classic, unavailable songs from my record collection, but sadly, they can't be found on this box set. Disc 3 is a disappointment - who wants to hear another Aerosmith song???!! Not me. Give me the Ernie & Bert Rhyming song and you would have made my day. Sorry, I have to give it 2 stars. Most of these songs are available on all their other CDs. Shame on you Sesame Street! This box set is just as lame as Season 35.

Let's go back to the Street!
Like millions of children before and after me, I grew up with Sesame Street. I even credit the show for teaching me how to read at the young age of 5. So, it was only natural that Songs from the Street would attract my attention. Still, because of its price, I hesitated... after a few months, I finally decided to buy it and am I ever glad I did!!!

Everyone who's ever watched Sesame Street will find at least a few personal favorites... And make some discoveries along the way! For instance, Stevie Wonder's 1-2-3 Sesame Street (previously unreleased on album) is a great funky number that could have been used as a theme song for the show. It's THAT good.

And how can anyone listen to Mah Na Mah Na and not have it stuck in the head all day? (Yes, the Mah Na Mah Na song appeared on Sesame Street before being associated with the Muppet Show.)

The sound is pretty good, you can even hear some details that you weren't supposed to hear. For example, on Sweet-A Little Baby, sung by guest star Pete Seegers and the kids, you can hear faint shushing to cue the kids from singing along when the chorus is over.

There is only thing, though: Why wasn't Matt Robinson credited as Gordon? He does appear on at least one song (I've got two -- from 1970's Sesame Street 1 album, featuring the original cast). It would have been nice to see the original Gordon credited alongside the best-known Gordon, Roscoe Orman.

In any case, this is a great box set. I just hope that Sesame Workshop will release a DVD with the best early years' sketches (don't you want to see Mr. Hooper again?).

Happy 35th anniversary, Sesame Street!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Add Ultimate Jams to the ever-mounting stack of kids' records you grudgingly admit to liking yourself. Here, you haven't got a lot of choice: right when the Village People get done coaxing you, against your good grown-up judgment, into flapping your arms wildly to form the letters "YMCA," James Brown comes along and clobbers you with "I Got You (I Feel Good)." Yes, the nearly unbearable not-so Bubblicious bubble-gum pop numbers that only an 8-year-old could love crop up too (see "Blue [Da Ba Dee]" and "The Hampster Dance Song"), but no parent under 50 should consider herself cool unless she cops to bouncing, reflexively, to at least a few of these songs. In other words, don't be a snob: cue up the Jams and cut loose with the kids. Once you're pooped--and you will be--pop in the companion DVD. Six tracks spring to metabolism-speeding life as the radio stars clamber onto the small screen. Much stuff is strutted, most of it exhilarating. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Like most of the others said...
Thos CD rocks! I feel like jumping up and down, going crazy, and just screaming at the top of my lungs because I got this CD. This is what actually gave me the rainbow I needed to brighten up my life. ( anyway, it has a "rainbow" on the front cover!)yay! I'm so happy to have recieved this wonderful CD!

The colorful, dream CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This CD has at least one song for a girl with any taste!!! I can't keep it away from me! These songs are great to dance to, too!!!! Here is my opinion about each song:

I Can't Wait- Hilary Duff = 4/5 I don't like Hilary Duff all that much, but I have to admit, this song was pretty fine!

Dig It- D Tent Boys = 5/5 This song is SOOOO catchy! It is so upbeat and so fun, too!

Spinnin Around-Jump 5 = 4.5/5 This song is so wonderful and exciting, though it does get pretty annoying after listening to it a few times

Juliet- LMNT = 4.5/5 This song is great and all, but it seems like it should be a faster song. It also has a mix of all types of music! (rap, disco, classical)!!!

Blue-Eiffel 65 = 3/5 Somehow, it is too repeative and says the same thing over and over again! I only like the part when they tell the story in the song.

Get ready for this-2 Unlimited = 4.5/5 It does seem like it goes on forever, but if you are dancing to it, it's like you can never run out of moves!

Can't help falling in love-A*TEENS = 2.5/5 If you get it stuck in your head, it gets really sickening.

Disney Mambo #5-Lou Bega = 4/5 All I can say is that it has a fun and exciting beat, but this is also sort of repeative!

YMCA-Village People = 4.5/5 One of the older songs, but still brings joy to us kids!

I Got You-James Brown = 2/5 Yucky!!! I truly don't like it!!!

YMMFLAS-The Beu Sisters = 4/5 I don't listen to this song too often, so I don't have much of an opinion of it.

Pump Up the Jam-Technotronic = 2/5 I kind of hate it! It sounds like one of those rap songs where the singer is trying to be cool.

All for Love- Stevie Brock = 5/5 I love it! It is so cute and romantic! Stevie is a pretty great singer!

The Hampster Dance Song- Hampton the hampster = 5/5 So cute!!! I just love it soooooooooo much!!!

Move it Like This- Baha Men = 4/5 Has a funky attitude, is all I can say about it!

VIDEOS:

I Can't Wait = 5/5 I like the way they showed little clips of the TV series "Lizzie Mcguire" in it!!!!!!

Spinnin Around = 5/5 Used SO many special effects, and also really showed Jump 5's true and amazind talents!!!

Disney Mambo 5 = 3/5 I don't like it, because it doesn't give you such a colorful picture! It's all white!!!!!!!!!

All for love = 5/5 Stevie looks so cool as he acts with this girl in his song!!!!!!

The Hampster Dance Song = 5/5 It is very cute, because it is animated!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disney Mania 2 = 4/5 It shows you good songs, but they are putting it in an advertising way and are only showing you about 3 seconds of each song!

After all that, I'd say it'd be at least an A-! Even that deserves ***** (5 stars)!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! I am not exaggerating when I say that I listen to it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! If you had the same taste as an average, (any age), person, you would get the same, tingley feeling as me, when YOU buy it. The title of this CD, ("Radio Disney Ultimate Jams"), definitely doesn't lie! They ARE the ultimate jams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd give it extra credit if I could!!!!
People say the Mega Movie Mix CD brings you more to the theatre than any other. THEY HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!!! The radio disney ultimate jams CD/DVD bring you WAY more to the theatre than ANYTHING else! Just put the DVD part of it on a big screen TV, (or anything that can play DVDs), and grab some popcorn!!!! That's what I call a "movie excert"!!

GREAT for 10 year olds' and up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Mega Movie Mix CD is lame, because if you've seen the movie, you've heard the song! Also, the radio disney ultimate jams CD, I think, is actually more of a "movie" than the Mega Movie MIx, because it actually has 6 different video excerts that you can watch!!!! The radio disney CD has every song that an average, 10+ years old, girl would absolutely LOVE!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Wiggles, that wacky, kid-wowing Australian outfit, welcome preschoolers for a lively, loopy musical fiesta with Toot Toot! Chiming in on this 23-track charmer of a dance- and sing-along are the usual wiggly suspects: Captain Feathersword relates how he loves to dance in his pirate pants on the spoken-word "Raincoat Story"; Henry the Octopus's "marvelous talent" for baking, roasting, and frying seaweed pies is celebrated on "Henry the Octopus"; and Henry's tireless tentacles also inspire the next get-you-moving tune, "Move Your Arms Like Henry." The gang drops in on Dorothy the Dinosaur on "Tell Me Who Is That Knocking?" Then rascally pup Wags gets down on "Wags the Dog, He Likes to Tango" (which, we're reminded, rhymes with mango). Mostly, this is silly, groove-along good fun, but the goofball foursome of Anthony, Murray, Greg, and Jeff also slip in a solidly educational number here and there: "Look Both Ways" drives home an important safety message for little pedestrians, and "John Bodlelum" and "I Climb 10 Stairs" reinforce recently acquired counting skills. As always, the Wiggles dish up a dose of Australianisms, but here they're easy to digest. Listening to "Food, Food, Food," curious kids who don't hail from Oz will want to know what paw-paws and rock melon are; chalk it up as a chance to turn a song they'll like into a foreign-culture learning experience, and keep on wiggling. --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Wiggles are amazing
to toddlers. We just got this CD in the mail yesterday, and my 17 month old daughter couldn't wait to listen to it. She ran with the CD to the stereo. She danced from start to finish. This CD has a lot of the songs from her Wiggle Time video so she really was excited to dance along, and amazingly I enjoy singing and dancing with the Wiggles also. I highly recommend this CD for anyone looking to purchase Wiggle music.

The Wiggles Are Wonderful!!
My 21 month old daughter is absolutely amased by the Wiggles. She watches all of their videos daily. They have really cute songs (which I catch myself singing all of the time!!) And I don't mind her watching their videos because she is learning something. The CD's are great for the car too. She will sing and laugh going down the road. I highly recommend the Wiggles to anyone with young children.

???????
I did a tour in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. I day dreamed of a thick oniony burger at Tommy's in L.A., Ann Margaret's incredible legs, lot's of beer at a Red Sox-Yankees game, Ann Margaret's legs again.

But I never once dreamt I would be dancing, thirty years later, with my two grandsons to "Wags the dog, he likes to tango" and "I climb ten stairs."

Never. Rock on, my Australian brothers. Great stuff. I don't fully understand it, but I know it's great. 5 stars. Larry Scantlebury

One of the Wiggles Best CDs
My son has always loved the Wiggles but this is by far his favorite Wiggles CD! Every single song has catchy lyrics and a really fun beat that keeps him singing and dancing throughout the entire CD. The songs also teach him things like crossing the street and numbers. And the CD doesn't get that annoying the tenth time in the car or at home as some of his other CDs tend to.

Excellent!!!
This CD is great! My son loves it, and my husband and I end up humming and singing these silly songs all day long. The songs do kind of get stuck in your head, but at least they help kids learn counting, etc. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This anthology of children-related tracks originates from the globally conscious Putamayo Records catalog. Artists from Africa (Senegal's Touré Kunda, Congo's Ricardo Lemvo), Europe (France's Manu Chao), the Caribbean (Jamaica's Cedella Marley Booker), North America (Buckwheat Zydeco and Eric Bibb from the U.S.; Canada's Teresa Doyle), South America (Brazil's Nazaré Pereira), and Australia (Trevor Adamson) offer tracks, and while the styles and moods vary, the album gels excellently. Even if the multicontinent angle strikes you as too catholic, it bears reiterating that this is a "playground" session, a collection that begins with a Senegalese in-line dance and continues through "Mardi Gras Mambo," a bongo-playing French monkey, and much more. And while the songs are playful, there's nothing in the way of tossed-off music. It's all first-rate, with the artists at the top of their games.--Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Perfect Introduction to World Music for Young and Old Alike
This is a great CD to foster an interest in world music for young people at home or in the classroom. It is also good to promote an appreciation for other cultures.

The collection of songs are very diverse and are sung in an array of languages. In addition to the four songs sung in English, you'll also hear songs sung in Spanish (two of them), Mandingo, Pitjantjatjara (an Aboriginal language), Greek, Portuguese and Hebrew.

The extensive liner notes take you through each song complete with lyrics and a story behind the song. If the song is not sung in English, the lyrics are provided both in English and the original language.

The liner notes are written in plain English, so that elementary school age children can understand them. For example, "Three Little Birds," performed by blues legend Taj Mahal and Cedella Marley Booker (Bob Marley's mother) is described as "a reggae song about three birds who sing a song of hope." [Of course the same song was made popular in the 1970's by Bob Marley & the Wailers.] Unusual words include pronounciation and many songs include a glossary as well. So not only can a child sing along, but her or she can learn what a "tuckerbag" (food sack) is or learn to pronounce Pitjantjatjara (piddin-JAH-ra).

Now what about the music you say? It's all first-rate. For little kids, the best tracks are probably, "Three Little Birds" and "Bongo Bong." The latter was recorded by Manu Chao from France (but recorded in English). Older kids might appreciate "Tik Tik Tik," sung in Greek by Glykeria. It describes the nervous feeling one has when he or she becomes infatuated with someone.

What's also nice about this CD is the diversity of themes. There are light and playful songs, but there are also ones with a more somber tone. For example, "Zichronot M'Africa" (Memories of Africa), sung by Shlomo Gronich and the Sheba Choir (in Hebrew), tells the story of Ethiopian Jews who were flown in huge airlifts to Israel during 1991's "Operation Solomon."

In short, "World Playground" will entertain and inform your child about the world. Adults will also get a lot out of the CD and may learn new things as well. I certainly did. What a joy to make a discovery with a child? Seriously consider taking this musical journey.

Fun listening!
I'm a preschool music teacher in the D.C. area, and I occasionally do in-store programs for area bookstores. One store asked me to put together a program using the Putomayo World Playground CD, since it had just been released. I had a hard time deciding what songs to feature, since my daughters (age 9 and 12) and I liked so many selections. Our favorites were Mardi Gras Mambo (which I used in preschool classes around Mardi Gras time, complete with shakers and masks!), and Boom Boom Tarara -- great rhythm for dancing and rhythm instruments. Actually, we also LOVED the slow version, in Aboriginese, of Waltzing Matilda -- we made up a dance, and our Junior Girl Scout troop used this music for an international program. Everyone loved it! The CD is packed with danceable music, and even babies and toddlers will respond to the exciting rhythms and melodies. Lots of fun, and not the same-old-thing for kids to listen to -- we LOVE World Playground!

SUPER CD!!
My family & I are in love w/ all the Putamayo Playground CDs!! Not only are we being exposed to music from all over the world, we are listening to ENJOYABLE children's music. These CDs have really spoiled me, it is hard to go back to more "traditional" children's music after listening to these amazing CDs! I can't wait to see what they come out w/ next.

Benjamin's Favorite
I bought this album when my son was only a few months old but then we moved and I didn't get around to unpacking all my CD's. I finally put this on for him (he is 18 months old now)and this is by far his favorite CD. I have a good collection of Raffi, classical, Sesame Street (35 yrs on the street), etc. but this is the only one that ENGROSSES him completely. The other CD's he listens to in the background, this one he stops whatever he's doing and stands and listens, dances, chants and it just absorbs him. I sometimes think that kids like what they hear the most because repetition is so important to how they learn at this age, but I don't play this anymore than the others, he just is really interested in it. I'm going to get world playground 2 today!

Child Development Classes LOVE this CD!
Before becoming a stay at home mom I worked in a Child Development Lab with infants and toddlers. Every child we had, from age 8 months to 3 years, absolutely LOVED this CD! It is great to dance to, to make art to, to have