Amazon.com

There are thousands upon thousands of children's albums out there, but the one that quietly left its mark with more '70s children than perhaps any other album was this disc. Free to Be...You and Me was a pet project of proud feminist Marlo Thomas (a.k.a. "That Girl"), and it was born--according to the liner notes--by the desire to provide her niece with music "to celebrate who she was and who she could be." Harry Belafonte sings "Parents Are People," ex-football great Rosie Grier offers an incredible, touching melody titled "It's All Right to Cry," and Diana Ross waxes future-positive on "When We Grow Up." A great hour of brain food for young--and not-so-young--children. --Denise Sheppard ... Read more

Reviews (153)

Marlo Thomas & Friends- Free to Be You and Me
Most of the songs are delightful and positive. I do have one serious problem with one track however. The "Housework" track promotes a negative attitude toward housework that should not be instilled in anyone. My wife and I enjoy housework! Obviously, one's attitude toward housework is subjective, and therefore, should not be presented as a fact that mommy and daddy hate housework, and so will you when you grow up. Since we all have to do housework, we should promote a more positive attitude toward it. There is dignity in all honest work, including housework. I want my children to learn to enjoy housework. The track should focus primarily on the cooperative, fun, and rewarding aspects of housework. Incidently, if you want THE MOST FABULOUS (6 stars) children's music audio/video, check out Parachute Express' "Feel the Music." Our entire family dances and sings to it every day! It is absolutely fabulous! Ron Schlegel.

Makes me wish I grew up with this
On an episode of "Inside the Actor's Studio," Gwyneth Paltrow cited this album as one of her major influences in life. This piqued my interest, and I grabbed it at my local library. I was so pleased that I wished my parents had this for me when I was a child in the 1980s.

The messages are all very positive and life-affirming, even for adults. The "Free To Be... You And Me" theme song is just joyful. I love "William's Doll" for the pure affection of the Grandmother. The story of Atalanta is great, even for girls today. The line from Atalanta's father, the King, "Everyone gets married. It's what people do!" was surprisingly resonant. Not everybody gets married; some are meant for single life. The story's happy ending was satisfying, and good parents would be pleased if their daughter or son was happy whether they were married or not.

"When We Grow Up" and "Glad To Have A Friend" show how good friends in childhood can really form a child's personality and outlook on their future.

I love this, and I love that it sounds like the 19670s. Perfect.

Begs more questions than it answers
I read a ton of the reviews and decided to check this CD out at the library to listen to it before buying. I was not one of the nostalgic parents who remembered this from childhood. After listening to it, I decided not to buy it. I REALLY did not care for this CD. Not only did I feel there was too much talk and not enough music, but the talk itself begged questions that probably don't even cross the minds of your average 2-3 year old (such as the "girls are just as good as boys" theme)-- your girl won't even wonder if she's as good as a boy if you don't make a "thing" of it and just treat her right. Anyway, this CD bugged me a lot because of issues like that.

Still timely after all these years
I'm happy to finally own this album after having seen the video as an elementary school child. There are both songs that children can still sing when they feel they are too old for "children's music" such as "Free to Be You and Me" and whimsical songs smaller children would like such as "Helping." This album had a few pleasant surprises I didn't remember as a child, such as the hilarious "Housework" performed by Carol Channing. This album is startlingly ahead of its time with its message of self-esteem, liberating ideas on gender, and unselfconsciously racially integrated cast.

I feel the language and subject matter in this album can be safely rated G (even in "Boy Meets Girl," when a girl and boy baby humorously debate who is the girl and who is the boy). This album is safe for households concerned about media encouraging bad behavior in their children. On the other hand, this album is best avoided by households that wish to instill "traditional" gender roles in their children.

Yes! On to the next generation...
This album was one of my formative influences as a kid. Now that many of my friends are having kids of their own, I'm passing it along to all the new parents I know.

If you love(d) this album, do yourself a favor and get the companion book, _Stories for Free Children_. It explores the same themes of compassion, cooperation, and fun.

On a side note, it was a revelation to come back to "Free to Be" in my college years and realize how many of the performers were Famous People. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Not "Disney Movie" songs---traditional Americana!
...I was so surprised to find the traditional songs brought back to life in a format that everyone in the family loved. We ran our tapes right into the ground with thousands of hours of listening, singing along, and dancing to the music...Well, this series has stood the test of time for us through our older children, and I am so happy to find the tapes put on CD so our younger set can memorize them and love them as we do. Some kids' music makes the teenagers groan and beg to have turned off, but this isn't one of them.
I am not exaggerating, this is the best children's sing along you will ever find. The male voice is at a pitch that children can match, his folk guitar arrangements are just right, and children's voices add to the fun. You'll be so happy you purchased this for yourself, your friends, your children, your grandchildren, or for those who have never heard or forgotten about American folk music.

Just what I've been looking for . . .
Highly recommended. This is one of the best collections of children's songs I've found. Volumes 1-4 together contain just about every song you want to sing to your kids but can't remember the words to. All the old favorites are there. The arrangements are nice -- sort of folky, not too cute, with sparing use of kiddie chorus that enhances rather than detracts. It completely avoids the hyper-energetic cutsiness of a lot of children's recordings. The songs are performed by a real live folk singer some may remember from way back named Larry Groce, and he does a good job -- he's engaging, inviting, enthusiastic, without embarrassing himself the way some of those kid singers do. For its completeness, for the good musical taste of the arrangements and production, and for the hours and hours of fun it contains, this entire collection is a must have in our book.

One of our favorites
We have a HUGE collection of kids CD's - this is by far one of the favorites. It has an adult singing in a very enjoyable tone - traditional arrangements and lyrics. We have had this in the CD changer in the car for almost a year, and my 2 & 6 year olds sing along every time it comes on.

I'd have these if I didn't have kids
These songs remind me of my childhood and listening to my parents and grandparents sing. My 70 y/o father ask for them for christmas after hearing them in my car. My kids love them!I play them on long trips when the kids start finally start to burst with boredom. I have even heard my husband humming.

oh so awesome!!
I absolutely love this cd! Unlike some of the other rubbish out there it doesnt destroy traditional childrens songs putting them to some stress filled modern music. Here are the songs the way I remember them and the way my son loves them! ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Fun! Fun! Fun!
I bought this CD for my son when he was 15 months old to listen to because he gets fussy before mealtimes. He loves to listen to music and this CD does the trick. It is a lot of fun for him to hear the other little children singing. Adults might find the little children singing off key, but hey they are only little kids. We are not looking for perfection, just something for our childrens pleasure. Me son loves to hear the kids singing and it has even helped him become more verbal. I really like the creative updated version of many songs, especially the wheels on the bus. This really is a very nice CD and I would highly recommend it. Thanks

Best Toddler CD Around
This is my 4 year old niece's favorite cd! It's really a very fun cd, that the adults can also enjoy. The woman singer has a fun style of singing, and blended with the kid voices, it makes this cd a keeper. My niece's favorite songs on this cd are Wheels On the Bus, Where Is Thumbkin, I'm A Little Teapot and Monkeys on the Bed, and I agree, after repeated listenings, these songs really stand out and have a fun sound to them that the kids will really enjoy. Even for adults listening, these songs are very enjoyable to listen to!

I highly recommended getting this CD for your little ones, it's a wonderful traveling cd, if you happen to have a cd in your car, it does keep them occupied!

Must have CD...fun tunes, inexpensive, my son loves it!
We only had Raffi's Baby Beluga (great CD), and I was needing a change...fast! After seeing the generally positive reviews for this CD, I took a chance...only 7 bucks. My 1 year old absolutely loves it. Yes, it is a little folksy, but that's one of its good points. It jazzes up all the traditional favorites. I like that its not just a cd full of kids singing, that would grate on my nerves. There are parts where kids do sing at times; its really cute and my son claps when they come on. Yes, the lead singer is not Barbra Streisand, but her voice is perfectly fine for the material, and she's silly. My son gets especially fired up for Wheels on the Bus, Where is Thumpkin and Five Little Monkeys. I played the CD at his 1st birthday party, and the other kids hearing it for the first time were loving it. Anyway, the point is, kids love this cd, I only see great, big smiles. If you're looking for an easy going fun cd with all the fav's, this is it. I give it 4 instead of 5 stars because it could be a little longer. Also, for some great unconventional kid's cd's, check out They Might Be Giants "No!" and For the Kids (Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan). If you like folksy, Ralph's World, and Dan Zanes. Enjoy.

They won't stop playing it !!!!
The CD arrived today and I have already heard it 6 times...all the way through. My son and daughter LOVE it! I love it since I can sing to it and make them laugh! The songs are great and to hear some kids singing along makes it really cool to my kids. My son just went to bed and wanted it on his CD player...again! No parent should go without this CD!

True toddler favorite
My son (a toddler) loves this cd so much! It is one of the few alternatives to the Wiggles that he loves to listen to. The songs are bright and engaging. Although I originally bought this cd hoping it would have classic versions of old songs, I really like what they've done with them. The singers are obviously having a lot of fun. Unfortunately, my son loved "teapot", as he called it, so much that he eventually loved it to death (big scratch). We bought the 4 cd set put out by Music for Little People which has most of the songs from this cd plus 3 other cds. Unfortunately, the only song that the set doesn't have is "teapot". ... Read more

Amazon.com

For Our Children launched in 1990 and in many ways inspired the bounty of celebrity-philanthropy records for kids in its wake. From Bob Dylan and Sting to Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the roster on this cornucopia of great kid songs--and even greater interpretations--has donated all proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Although tilted toward baby-boomer parents, the tracks have a timeless, ageless appeal. You'll be hard-pressed to find another five-star children's recording this satisfying, including the follow-up effort, For Our Children, Too. Little Richard rocks "Itsy Bitsy Spider," McCartney turns his sweet, melodic gifts toward "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and Bruce Springsteen makes a lively stew of "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips." Other noteworthy moments include Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes doing the Beatles' "Golden Slumbers" and Carole King reprising the Disney Dumbo love theme, "Child of Mine." But surely the crowning touch is Dylan's unforgettable version of "This Old Man," phrased and delivered as only Dylan can with his mercurial invention and powerful character. This belongs in your children's collection. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (38)

A perfect children's cd
I always tuck this cd in the bag as part of a baby shower gift. I loved rocking my babies to these tracks in the middle of the night and can't believe it's been ten years that I've owned it but still love to listen and smile thinking about their nursery years. There are a number of different charity pop compilations that were released after but none can compare to this original. All of them have just enough stylized arrangements to make them as endearing to adults who know these artists as to kids.

If you need another reason to convince you to buy it - the profits go to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

My favorite tracks are:
"Gartan Mother's Lullaby" - Meryl Streep; "Child of Mine" - Carole King; "Child Is Born" - Barbra Streisand; and "Tell Me Why" - Pat Benatar - soft sweet soothing songs. Got my kids to sleep every time.
"Getting to Know You" - James Taylor - perfect song for his style. I remember this song being sung to me!

"Itsy Bitsy Spider" - Little Richard; "Blueberry Pie" - Bette Midler; and "Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips" - Bruce Springsteen - hilariously adorable.
"Golden Slumbers" - Jackson Browne - just a great song well done.
"This Old Man" - Bob Dylan - is so cute, so Bob Dylan - you'll have to hum along.

The Gartan Mother's Lullaby
I am both surprised and disappointed that nobody has mentioned the Gartan Mother's Lullaby. What is the Gartan Mother's Lullaby? Why, it's an absolutely lovely Donegal traditional lullaby. However, the most beautiful version I ever heard of it was sung-- surprise surprise, by Merryl Streep. Who knew she could sing? It's an absolutely beautiful rendition, perhaps the most beautiful you'll ever heard of this song. Magical.

The liner notes don't explain much about the song, so here it goes:

Sleep O babe, for the red bee hums the silent twilight's fall,
Aoibheall from the grey rock comes, to wrap the world in thrall.
A leanbhan O, my child, my joy, my love my heart's desire,
The crickets sing you lullaby, beside the dying fire.

Dusk is drawn and the Green Man's thorn is wreathed in rings of fog,
Siabhra sails his boat till morn, upon the Starry Bog.
A leanbhan O, the paly moon hath brimmed her cusp in dew,
And weeps to hear the sad sleep-tune, I sing O love to you.

Aoibheall - (EE-val) Meaning: the name of the queen of the northern fairies
leanbhan - (LYAN-uh-van) Meaning: little child, baby
Tearmann - (CHAR-uh-muhn) Meaning: tearmann = sanctuary, refuge, or church land, name of village near Lough Gartan
Siabra - (SHEE-vra) a prankster class of trooping fairies, also spelled Shefro or Siofra.

This song alone is worth the entire Album. But "Autumn To May" is also a beautiful rendition.

This CD is just the BEST!
Like so many other reviewers, I had this CD 20 years ago. I was a nanny at the time, and shared this music with so many different children and without exception, they all LOVED it! As fate would have it, the CD was lost, and I was devastated. When I saw that it was available again, I was beyond thirlled and ordered it immediately! This CD is an excellent way to fight childhood obesity - my own children (ages 5 and 6-1/2) just cannot sit still when they hear this music - they dance and sing throughout!

Awesome comeback with this album!
I bought this for my daughter in 1991 when she was a baby... She is now 13 yrs old. She new all the songs by heart by the time she was 1 1/2. My mom's favorite is Itsy Bitsy Spider. Unfortunately it was lost in a move and like many folks, who looked for it for years,I found it no longer in print. I had my 2nd child 5 yrs ago and by the time I tried to find a used one out in cyberspace I found, to my surprise, it was in print again(YAY!). Now my son enjoys this and still, so does my daughter. I am so glad they brought this back onto the market!!

In Harmony is better
I got this CD for my grandson. I was disappointed when I heard it. It was nice but surprisingly bland. In Harmony, while older, is a much better children's "album." ... Read more

Amazon.com

For centuries the world over, mothers (and fathers) have been cradling, cooing, and crooning to babies and small children with song. There's scarcely a one of us that cannot recall a particularly gentle song a special someone sang for a wee self--to calm, soothe, and aid slumber. This tender music is to the soul what mother's milk is to the body, and we call it the lullaby. Rooted in age-old tradition, Lullaby: A Collection presents an even dozen lullabies from around the globe. Particularly beguiling are the African "Be Still My Child" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the traditional Spanish "A La Nanita Nana" as sung by Tish Hinojosa, and Bobby McFerrin's "Common Thread," which you may recognize as the theme from the American documentary Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt. Other featured artists include Sweet Honey in the Rock, Judy Collins, Derek Bell, and Loreena McKennitt. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Wonderful!
I bought a number of lullaby CDs to make mix tapes for my mommy-to-be friends, and this CD was by far the best. It includes international lullabies as well as more familiar tunes (in new arrangements), resulting in a rich and deep collection of different musical styles that is both soothing and enjoyable. This is not "toy" music that will eventually insult adult ears after repeated playings -- I don't have kids, but have been listening to it simply because it's good stuff. Don't buy trite, condescending music for your baby -- complex music (like classical music) is better for them anyway. This is an intelligent, sophisticated collection of lullabies that I can't recommend highly enough!

A wonderful CD to share with your child at bedtime
I bought this without knowing anything about it while looking for lullabies for my newborn daughter. It is a great collection of international lullabies that instantly became our favorite. The songs are beautiful and very soothing. The variety of languages and styles really works and all of the artists are great. It doesn't make a bit of difference if you understand the language that the performer uses or not--the love that you feel while rocking your child to sleep comes through in every song. We listened to this almost every night for months at bedtime. Now that my daughter is a toddler, it is great music for "quiet time" or nap time during the day. My gift now to the new babies we know is a kids cassette player and this tape--I love it that much!

I'd give it 6 stars if I could.....
This has been our favorite lullaby CD. We decided to listen to the CD about three months before the baby was born to "try it out". We listened to it every night from that day on! The songs are all relaxing. The music and voices (even if you don't understand what is being sung) are beautiful. If you want a CD with a nice variety of songs that exposes your child to different languages you will not be disappointed!

Get it, but ANGELS ALL AROUND works better for sleep
This is one of the best lullaby CD's you could get. It's much better than most of the other kind of smooth jazz type lullaby CD's.

It's top notch for quality. But it's not the most quiet and soothing.

The most quiet and soothing one is GENIE's ANGELS ALL AROUND.
I would definitely get that one and all 4 Genie CD's if you want to relax yourself or your child for real.

Pure Gold
We received this album as a gift and fell in love with it immediately. It works like a charm getting our little ones to sleep. It's also relaxing for adults to listen to. We never take a long car trip without this CD! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Everything about this CD, from its eye-popping cool packaging to its beautiful booklet, is wonderful, perhaps peerless. It's a study that spans 16 countries, catching paeans to childhood sleep from varied traditions. The set traverses the Cape Breton Gaelic tradition with the Rankin Family, Haiti with pop stars Boukman Eksperyans, and the African continent with music from Tonga, Algeria, and Cameroon. Despite their distances from each other, at times the songs sound quite alike. Voices might begin alone but then gather into choral size, with a reliance on wordless passages to emphasize the flow of time as sleep encroaches. In execution, the surprises are many. Algerian Houria Aïchi sounds East Indian; the Traditional Japanese Music Ensemble of New York sounds poised somewhere between a stately concert of historical court music and a touching homage to childhood; and German singer Michelle sounds pop-music ready even as she toes the line on singing a sleep-triggering song. Beyond being a great collection of international music, this is probably the most interesting mix available of cultural voices approaching the issue of children sleeping. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Uniquely enchanting, lullingly blissful--a worldly baby gift
Initially, I ordered The Planet Sleeps to add to the multicultural music collection at my daughter's elementary school library; the CD arrived last night, and I became so taken with it that I already plan to order several more as new baby gifts as well as one for my own children. The hauntingly beautiful "Chi Mi Na Morbheanna" (which I listened to nearly 20 times in the first 24 hours) is worth the entire purchase price, but the other songs are marvelous too, and those that don't have immediate appeal will most likely grow on you. I was holding my toddler son in my arms while listening to the CD, and he fell asleep during the sitar lullaby from India. For those of us trying to raise our children with a familiarity and appreciation of other world cultures, this lullaby collection is truly invaluable.

The extensive liner notes (36 pp.) are often quite moving, offering details about each artist, country, song, and recording experience as well as a song translation. The back of the case says "music meant to bring bliss into a frantic world." This collection certainly achieves its goal--and it's not just for bedtime by any means.

The most beautiful CD ever to grace my home.
This CD is exactly what I have been looking for. I play it softly as background music while playing with my 2 year old and 6 month old. "Ana Latu" is one of our favorites. I also feel that the write-up on "Oj Talasi" alone is worth buying the album. David Field journals his work at compiling these lullabies, adding to the feeling of connectedness that imbues from this collection. I was especially glad (and surprised) to find a lullaby from my own distant heritage, "Yahnaway Hay Yowna". This disc makes a wonderful baby shower or blessingway gift for expectant parents. The "jewel" case is all-natural, too, better for our Mother Earth!

Perfect for Calming
I started listening to this CD when I was 7 months pregnant to help myself go to sleep. Since my daughter was born 5 months ago, we put it on whenever she has trouble calming down to go to sleep. As soon as the music starts she begins to relax and takes her nap. We all love hearing the beautiful lullabies play throughout the house.

A relaxingly adventurous album!!!!
I can't understand most of the songs (I think there's only one in English, if that), but the music speaks a lot just as the words do, so it's good. Each song is enchanting and engrossing, you get lost in the melodies. They are all smooth and calm, peaceful. I suggest this album to anyone who just wants to unwind and let loose all the stress of the day!

Dream Time
I have been listening to this album for the past seven years and never grown tired of it. I bought it to play for the children I taught, but I have come to love it myself. It is the sure cure for nighttime tension, and beautiful to listen to at any time.

The material is interesting and eclectic, but above all, lovely. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

very playful.Cute and lively.
This music is so fun! Lets children learn to love and appreciate classical.My children beg for this cd! Its nicely put together.

Not just for babies
This CD contains lightly arranged pieces which suit children very well. I am a 19 year old college student, and I use it personally for study music-it is really good background music without any of the distractions that usually arise from trying to listen to music and do homework at the same time. Highly recommended for children as well as adults.

A wonderful CD
I received several classical music CD's as gifts before my daughter was born, and out of all of them (also including classical CD's I had already owned) this is definitely my favorite. It stands out because it is not full of simply "traditional" arrangements but rather is very light and playful - there are all sorts of cute little chirping and whirring noises that add to it as well. It is just a lot of fun, and provides the perfect background for cuddling with your new little one.

There is one comment below from someone who thought the music was too simple and was of poor quality. I would agree that the music is very simple (not a bad thing), but disagree with the notion that it is poor quality. Anyway, this should be just one CD in a library of different types of music, classical and other, to help your child's music appreciation develop. If it happens to expand other developmental skills as well, even better!

Works as advertised-
The Mozart Effect - Music for Babies is a pretty good disc. Admittedly not the best Mozart recordings around, but then my child is not exactly picky. I prefer Genie's Angels All Around as a lullaby CD but either The Mozart Effect or Angels All Around would make excellent baby shower gifts.

Works Like A Charm
This is a must have for all infants and a terrific baby shower gift. My son is 14 months old and he has been listening to this CD for about 10 months. It has a TERRIFIC soothing effect on him. I think Mozart has become a musical comfort object for him, much like his soft blankie has become a comfort object. If he is cranky in the car and trying to unwind for a nap, I pop this CD in and he is automatically soothed. It's like magic.

I like that this CD is organized into more up tempo songs for playtime, and slower paced songs for sleepytime. I admit I wouldn't buy this CD if I were looking for some real Mozart listening pleasure, but this is for my infant, not for me. (Although I do admit, I am also soothed too by a little Mozart Effect.) And, I wish there weren't two versions of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but it is still worth the $$. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Cute CD of Classic Kids Songs
This is a great collection of songs for toddlers and my son enjoys most of the songs on the CD. The only downside of the CD is that after a while it can become a little boring to him and me compared to his other CDs like the Wiggles. But if you are looking for some classics mixed in with some christian favorites for a cheap price then this is a perfect cd to add to your collection.

very nice
It is cute, up beat and Faith, (my daughter), really likes this CD. It is also very easy for me to listen to. My only thought is that it would be nice to be just a little bit more varied in the beats or the tone or instruments or something, from one song to the next. My daughter always enjoys when I put this on for her...but after a while she is a bit disinterested and has me switch to another CD.

All in all I think it is a good CD to own and I enjoy the Christian quality.

Be warned...
While I thought most of the songs were cute, I would have appreciated a warning that this is CHRISTIAN baby songs. There are a couple of songs that are clearly religious... and I was uncomfortable with my child listening to this CD.

Fun for the toddlers, at a fantastic price
THis CD is very fun and bouncy.
My kids, especially the older ones, also love to sing and play to the SCRIPTURE ROCK and Worship Rock series.

Great CD for preschoolers!
I pop this CD into the player we have in our kitchen often, to give him something to listen to while painting or while I'm doing other things. The songs are fun, the kids who sing them aren't annoying, and there is just the right mix of traditional favorites combined with Christian songs for little ones. I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

THE BEST OF THE CLASSICS!
WHAT MORE CAN I SAY I LOVE THEM ALL AND THEY ARE COMPILED GREAT

Great
I just purchased this cd and am totally amazed at the quality. Not only that, me and my husband both love it. If you don't have kids this cd is still worth getting.

What fun!
Having grown up with Disney movies and cartoons, this collection of memorable songs is a lot of fun to sing along to in the car (especially with some friends as we are driving up to Walt Disney World). These songs are from some of the best-loved movies in Disney history. They are all in digital quality (not those audiotapes I used to make by hooking my cassette player to my VCR). The liner notes even include the full lyrics to these classics.

Great CD but save money w/the 5 dics set
This CD is great. It has both old and new Disney classics. But...for about [$$$] more you can get all these songs and about 80 more. The 5 disc set sold here at Amazon has 99 Disney classics and sells for about the price of 2 CDs. The 5 disc set includes songs such as Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah from the no-longer released Song of the South, songs from the theme parks like the Electric Light Parade theme, It's a Small World from the NY World's Fair...it has them all! Buying the CDs seperately you probably spend twice as much + shipping; save some money--the 5-CD set is the way to go.

Old School Disney Fan
With the possible exception of "Mulan", I haven't found any Disney movie made after "The Lion King" up to par (though I've yet to see "Tarzan"). That said, don't overlook Classic Disney, Volumes 1 and 2 (there are more, but the producers really started to add a lot of "filler" songs). They contain many of the songs some of us might indeed consider "classic" Disney. ... 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

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

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 on while you eat, everything! Those little kids heads would just be-bop away, and mine would, too! It has great rhythms, fun words (even when you can't pronounce them!). The insert that tells the stories behind and the the English words to each song is very interesting! I could listen to this CD every day, more than once a day. I always said it would be a great CD to clean the house to! I am ordering it for my 2 year old and cannot wait for the shipment to arrive! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dust off your blue suede shoes and polish up the tail fins on the Chevy: this album transports listeners back to the 1950s and early 1960s with all-time classic rock & roll. Children will love the strong rhythms, (sometimes) silly words, and easy-to-follow vocals. Adults will enjoy the cruise down memory lane with megahits like "Rock Around the Clock," "Willie & the Hand Jive," "Rockin' Robin," and "Name Game." Retaining all the spunk and sparkle they did when rock was young, these digitally remastered tunes are ready to inspire a whole new generation of little boppers. --Deborah L. Moore ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A Child's Celebration of Rock 'n' Roll
My daughters and I love this CD. It is fun to sing along and we have a great time listening to it. I think that the songs provide my children with exposure to older music which is much different from the sounds they usually listen to. We really enjoy it for how fun and invigorating it is to listen to.

A rockin' good time!
This CD is so much fun for our daughter. Nothing beats those great ole tunes. You can't help but dance to this music with your child! My only complaint is there are a few songs that we skip over, but most of them are worth listening to time and time again.

Great fun.
My son loves this cd and I like it too.

Great tunes and parents love it too!
Our infant daughter finds this music very relaxing. It's great
"travel in the car" entertainment for both adults and children.
The music is all the old time favorites that everyone can sing along and it's a great collection. Makes a great gift for children and their parents.

My kids love it!
These are probably the songs my grandparents didn't want my parents listening to when they were kids. Oh, well. Change happens. These tunes are super fun for my grammar-school-aged children. They get such a kick out of the "Purple People Eater" that they have to play it for any new friend who comes over. They have had hours and hours or fun singing and dancing to these old classics from the early days of Rock 'N Roll. And parents will enjoy it, too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What could possibly be cooler than hipping kids to some of the best pop music ever made? Music for Little People makes this project simple by producing a batch of the Beatles' sunniest songs performed by a prime adult band and your children's peers and slightly reworked in kid-friendly keys. The result is largely devoid of over-the-top cutesy-poo histrionics--these kids can really sing and the harmonies are quite commendable. Young listeners will be thrilled to sing along on the bouncy chorus of "Life Goes On," to count and do the alphabet on "All Together Now," and to distinguish the amusing sounds of a penny whistle, mandolin, and zither. Both Raffi and blues artist Eric Bibb make guest appearances, but the shining star at this party is child singer Bernie Steinberg, who takes lead on three tunes, including the touchingly performed "Mother Nature's Son" and the amazingly soulful "Birthday." --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Two thumbkins up!
While my kids love repetition, I myself was getting tired of "I'm a Little Teapot" and "Monkeys on the Bed", so when I stumbled on this CD I thought, "Great!" At first, I thought it was going to be original Beatle songs, with the Beatles actually singing, but it's not and actually I'm GLAD about that. My daughters (ages 3 and 1) don't know the Beatles, but they DO love to hear other children sing, offkey or not.

I only wish that the Beatles had written "Puff the Magic Dragon." It surely would have been included in this wonderful compilation.

Psssst! Hey, kid. . . .
Wait a minute. Considering the song selection, you might as well just make a tape or whatever of the originals, and throw 'The End' into the bargain.

Get the Beatles instead
I thought I had a pretty high threshold for kids music but this is really just bad. I even passed it around my office and solicited comments about which song was, in fact, the worst. I ended up mixing my own Beatles versions of these songs for my son. I'd recommend picking up the Beatles albums and skipping this.

Brings Kids and Parents together
"Beatles Songs for Kids" is an excellent way to close up the generation gap between parents and their children. The only thing that keeps me from giving this a perfect rating of 5 is the noticable absence of such hits as "Why Don't We Do it in the Road", "Happiness is a Warm Gun", and "Maxwell's Silver Hammer".

Please??????
First I know alot of people are saying that this is for kids and people shouldn't complain. But I do not see the point, its not like little kids have a particular attachment to the beatles. I'm sure that there is someone out there that is willing to write songs for this venue there is no reason to destroy classic songs to line the pockets of Michel Jackson(who owns the publishing rights to these songs).
And I also feel that songs like "with a little help from my friends" do not belong here, after all the song is about getting high with friends. Whats next? nine inch nails for kids featuring the song "closer". These songs aren't written for children, they are written for older people, introduce your kids to the beatles when they get a little more understanding for them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is a family album in the truest sense. With entertainers like Burl Ives, Danny Kaye, Pete Seeger, Loggins & Messina, Taj Mahal, and James Taylor performing some of their best-loved kids' titles, adults and children can share in the joy and fun of this multigenerational collection. Be it quacking with "The Ugly Duckling," singing along with folksy "This Old Man," bopping to the calypso beat of "The Banana Boat Song," or daydreaming to "House on Pooh Corner," every member of the family will find a favorite in this compilation of songs by the original artists. --Deborah L. Moore ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Excellent CD for kids & adults will like it too
This is one of our 2 year-old daughter's favorite CD's and it's also satisfying for adults as well. There are some old and popular favorites that I remember from being a child (Puff the Magic Dragon, Skip to my Lou, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Bannana Boat song...) and some songs new to me, but that we all love: Sweet Honey of the Rock's Little Red Caboose and James Taylor's Jelly Man Kelly are especially beloved. It also lends itself well to dancing. A good buy.

Collected past points way to future
This album is quite a compilation of favorites, time-tested songs performed by adult-popular artists of great musicianship. Kids start life new, so you can never go wrong with classics like these no matter how much the songs age.

I noticed that many reviewers were thankful in particular that this is a CD that remains enjoyable to them as adults while their kids play it over and over again, because of the excellent songs and top musicianship--these qualities are definitely missing from lots of kids music.

However, I can wholeheartedly recommend one artist whose music is rich in texture and variety, singable and is just as much fun for parents as kids; the underexposed Skip West has put out two stellar albums, 'Blue Sky City' and 'All Around the World', chock full of original songs to delight and expand little minds while having the musicianship and depth to keep parents sane on the 7th listen of the day. Enjoy :^) You can thank me later, hee hee.

Bundle With "Over The Rainbow With Joey" Book For Great Gift
This CD when given to a new parent with the beautiful board book, "Over The Rainbow With Joey" makes the perfect new baby gift. The classic soundtrack found on this CD with other favorites will be enjoyed by baby and parent and make lasting memories.

A CD that lasts
I bought this for my daughter when she was 6 months. Now she is four and my son is two and they still love it. "Little Red Caboose" is there absolute favorite. Plus, I love the original renditions of Puff and several others. A great CD, you will not be disappointed.

Absolutely Fabulous
My kids and I love singing along to all of these wondergul songs. I love to hear the singers that I know and recognize. I love Burl Ives, Danny Kaye, James Taylor the list goes on and on. It is a great addition to our music collection. We won't leave home without it. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

My daughter likes it, and I like it
For the money, this is a great CD. Yes, they have kids singing on it, and sometimes those kids aren't exactly Shirley Temple - if you are picky about that, then maybe it's not for you. But I don't think my little girl can tell the difference. She always quiets down to listen. The music itself is done well. The production is very good as well. Some of the songs are indeed quite catchy. One song, "Pick a Bale of Cotton", just stays in my head long after it's over...

It's a Hit!
I stumbled upon this CD in our local library for my 2 going on 3 year old daughter. She immediately fell in love with this CD! And I was not annoyed by the grown up singers or the children. (let's face it, most children's CDs can grate your nerves after a while). We took it with us for a road trip and she listened to it on her big brother's CD player. Talk about a quiet ride!! Who needs a DVD player in the truck?! We also used it as the background music at her third birthday party. It was a bonafide hit! All the kids loved it and all the mothers kept asking, "Where did you get this CD? It's great!" I'm buying two copies!

Rather Disappointing
I was interested in this CD for my infant daughter particularly because it has so many classic songs on it--many of which I've forgotten since I was young. However, the arrangements are pretty annoying; it's just not a pleasure to listen to. I'd suggest looking for something that's done better musically, even if the songs aren't standards. My daughter and I both enjoy Hap Palmer much more, for instance, even though his arrangements include new lyrics and interludes.

music
I bought this for a my friend's son's 1st birthday because he loves it when his mom sings songs to him. I thought I'd give her vocal cords a break & increase his repertoire. Mom & Dad both dislike the CD BECAUSE it's got kids singing. (Most small kids don't care about staying in tune and it gets annoying if you have good pitch, which both parents do.) Nick isn't so sure yet but he may change his mind. This is not the CD to buy if you're going to play it in the car unless you like listening to small children sing (picture the little kids' choir from church or pre-school programs). Needless to say I will not buy this CD for any of my other friends who recently had children.

Waste of money
Most of the CD has children singing - that could be cute but they don't pronounce the words properly and I don't want my daughter to learn to say "the wheels on the bus go wound and wound" ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's safe to assume that every kid in the United States--outside of those raised among fringe groups--grew up harboring fantasies of shoving aside the animated star of the latest hit Disney film and inhabiting the character's cartoon shoes him- or herself, at least until the end credits rolled. Such an assumption is not lost on the clever folks at Disney, who've launched the Disney Karaoke series, consisting of favorites from the company's perennially popular movies, first sung in apple-pure, completely unironic Disney style and then presented instrumentally, giving closet crooners a chance to show their stuff. Highlights on the first volume include 10 songs from 10 films, including "Just Around the Riverbend" (from Pocahantas), "Reflection" (from Mulan), and "A Whole New World" (from The Little Mermaid) as well as the feel-good "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" (from Song of the South), the infectious and entirely irresistible "Hakuna Matata" (from The Lion King), and the sentiment-stirring classic "When You Wish Upon a Star" (from Pinnochio). Even without the karaoke concept this CD would make lots of can't-miss lists; the song selection alone adds up to pure fun. Even so, Disney, not wishing to disappoint karaoke die-hards, has thoughtfully included complete lyrics in the liner notes. So no excuses for missteps and no more feeling silly--The Jungle Book's "I Wanna Be Like You" actually does include the phrase "Oh, Oobee doo--I wanna be like you." --Tammy La Gorce ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Very Disappointed
I expected more from Disney I guess they are learning and now are doing better with what they have put out. But do not waste your money on it. Look for a more recent one which has lyrics as well as graphics. The songs on it aren't all that - I bought if for my daughter and even the music sounds a bit off when it goes without words. Really - save your money on this one! :0(

Great for Road Trips
Most of my college friends have moved off to different cities, and it's quite a haul to visit them. Music in the car is nice, but I always get the urge to sing! That's why I enjoy this CD so much. First we are treated to somewhat simplified arrangements of ten great songs, ranging from classics like "Once Upon a Dream" to more current songs like "Reflections" from Mulan. Each is performed by an artist who does an excellent job of enunciating to help the budding singer hear the words and where they go (the lyrics in the booklet help too!). The next ten tracks are the same songs, but without the lead vocals. Simple, elegant, fun.

Which leads to the two caveats: 1.) The "20 Tracks" label shouldn't be confused with 20 songs and 2.) There are no special lyrics/pictures/etc. encoded on the disc. Several other reviewers have groused on point two, but I see it as being like enhanced CD's: Sure the extras are neat, but I buy it for the music.

Nice to listen to; Hard to sing - for "Advanced" Karaokists
This CD contains 10 Disney songs, (each sung, apparently, by different vocalists than the originals)followed by an instrumental of each track for karaoke. The songs are a mix of old and new school (from Song of the South, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty to Lion King, Little Mermaid and Pocahantas).

The production certainly sounds professional and I probably wouldn't have known the vocals weren't the originals on the songs I didn't know. The problem isn't with the production or even the song selection, but rather the degree of difficulty. These are not the easiest songs to sing which I think would make this prohibitive for most kids, as well as adults who have trouble enough screeching their way through "My Girl" and "Born to Be Wild".

It should also be noted that the lyrics do not display on your screen, but are included in the booklet.
Recommended for hardcore Disney buffs and "advanced" karaokiers.

Great fun for long car trips!
I love to sing, especially when I am by myself on a long car trip. Singing along with these songs (that I know by heart!) make the trip fun and go by fast. I have read reviews that said the people were upset because it was not a CD with graphics, but no where does it say that graphics are included. I never once thought they would be on there. I own Vol. 1 and 2 and love them! If you want to have fun singing along, this is a great purchase.

Disappointed
You would think that Disney would provide the highest quality product. Think again. I purchased Disney Karaoke Discs 1-4 at Disneyland, thinking I would get "the real thing." Well, their vocal demonstration tracks were NOT taken from the movies but were sung by others (i.e. they had the well-known songs re-recorded by people we've never heard of, poor imitations of the original tracks), AND the words are only printed on an inside liner, not embedded in the discs. In other words, these are just song and music discs with no graphics at all. You can play them in a karaoke machine and you might as well be playing them in a regular CD player. If you plan on singing these songs, either memorize the words or carry the cumbersome songbook wherever you go. Not worth it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As with other Ellipsis Arts releases, 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 unto 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. "Kounandu Deni" marries the dancing melody of Malian guitar and African harp with lyrics of paternal providence. Broadway's Sarafina! and The Lion King cast member Ntomb'khona Dlamini wails soulfully on "Thula Thula," and "Chitsidzo" is a mystical reverie of parental love and spousal longing accompanied by the intense beauty of a mbira (thumb piano). Standing head and shoulders above others in its class, African Lullaby is testimony to the awesome power of music. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Love it!
I wanted to give my three children (6, 5, and 3) a taste of African music and this cd was quite the find! They love it and request it often.

Great for parents too....
I love this cd!!!. It has such a peaceful and melodic sound with different rythems and chants. It's a definate for any child's collection. It's amazing what an effect it has as well, usually within the first few songs, my baby is snoozin'.. and I'm relaxing as well. If you want a true taste of world music made especially for children this does the trick. You really get a sense of tradition and culture - You won't be dissappointed

African Lullaby
This is the most amazing CD we have bought in the recent past! It's become an instant favorite.

Only night time CD for a year
My daughters (ages 6 & 3) love this CD. I bought it a year ago and the two times I've tried something else at bedtime, they've demanded this be put back in. I even used it to go to sleep on a 13 hour flight to New Zealand. Very relaxing and great for everyone!

Both my kids love this CD
Both of our children, a 4yr old girl and 2yr old boy, grew up listening to this CD from the days they were born. Of all the CD's we own, if you ask either one what they want to here at bedtime, they'll both still say "Tu-lah" ( they get the name from the first track)

All of the songs are beautiful, and very peaceful. This is the perfect lullaby CD ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hundreds of compilation recordings have been thrust on the market in recent years on the theory that classical music makes a nice, non-threatening accompaniment to everything from working out to making love. And here we have one compilation promising to make your baby smarter. It's offensive enough that the music featured on these compilations is spliced up so that the most you hear of any work is a single movement; what's really annoying is the poor quality of so many of the featured performances. So it is some consolation that the artists here include such 20th-century legends as the Cleveland Orchestra under Szell and the Budapest String Quartet with Mieczyslaw Horszowski. Of course if these folks were alive, one can imagine their violent objection to this presentation of their work. --Gwendolyn Freed ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Happy Baby means Happy Parents!
We were presented with this CD at the hospital when my son was born - under former Georgia governor Zell Miller's program for newborns. My son is 14 months old now and listens to it several times a day. I made a copy to put in the car and one day we were driving along and he was getting very upset and began screaming, since we were trapped in traffic and I was unable to pull over immediately I turned on the music in hopes of "drowning him out" and to my amazement in less than a minute he had calmed down and even waving his arms in time to the music. I don't know yet if it will improve his SAT scores (we have a few years yet to worry about that!) but I do know that he enjoys it and has an early exposure to classical music and hopefully a later appreciation, but for now it helps us relax and enjoy each others company! I would recommend it HIGHLY for any parent and/or child and the sooner you play it the better! It's well worth the $!

You could do worse, but....
This CD was a sweet, daffy idea from the office of our former governor of Georgia, Zell Miller. And copies are still being handed out to every new parent in Georgia (including me), courtesy of Zell's successor. As a freebie, it's great, but if you're going to spend money, may I suggest that there are better choices? Anything by Elgar, Vaughan-Williams, or Mozart seems to entertain and soothe my two-month-old. Incidentally, he also enjoys Scottish folk music (although I have yet to expose him to bagpipes...). Basically, the jury's still out on whether classical music will make him more intelligent. But any exposure to music will certainly enrich his life, and any classical music will serve to introduce you and your baby to its beauty.
Alas, however, this is one of the worst compilations I think I have ever heard, so if you would prefer a compilation, why not spend a few minutes checking around on Amazon for another?

You're Never Too Old to Build Your Brain!
This is the finest and most enjoyable collection of classical music I have ever found on a single CD. Whoever was in charge of compiling the songs for this CD must have really had an amazing taste in music as well as a thorough understanding of the kinds of musical quality which really put the human mind at ease.

I personally don't have any children. If I did, they would be hearing this CD from the time I bring them home from the hospital. It's not because it "builds their brains". I'm for one am not certain that any particular kind of music, no matter how good it is, will actually make a baby smarter than if they had not heard it. If child psychologists out there say I'm wrong, then I probably am. But whether it builds or not, it certainly relaxes. It certainly eases the stress. If you're buying this for your child, don't think that it will necessarily cause your child to get potty trained faster than your neighbor's kid; or that your kid won't grow up to become manager of McDonald's. (Can you imagine him coming back twenty years later? "If only you would have played me some Bach when I was a baby, I'd be making six figures! Well, I hope you're happy!")

Speaking of Bach, he's all over the place on this CD. There's also some good Mozart along with other classical greats, including "Fur Elise" and Pachelbel's "Canon in D." Buy this CD. If you don't like it, then classical music probably isn't for you.

A CD is just a CD...
...But intelligence is hereditary.

Doesn't bode well for the people who flocked to buy this disc to "raise baby's IQ."

P.S.: You don't get muscles like Popeye's from eating spinach either, and there is no Tooth Fairy.

Forget Baby - it's Mine!
I love my child, but the first time I heard this CD, It immediately went from her recorder to mine. I take it practically everywhere I go. I know it's technically "Her" CD, but the selections are so soothing; and you need that type of comfort when stuck in traffic. Honestly, we both enjoy it - and I'm glad someone thought enough to give it as a gift. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

kid favorite
My kids loved this so much that they wore the tape out! Now I'm looking to buy the CD.

Disney brings SMILES!!!
I love all the Disney songs on all of the "Greatest Hits" CD's! Any Disney song makes me smile and I enjoy listing to the new and old songs from my favorite movies!

Great music but save big bucks with the 5-disc set!
This CD is great. It has both old and new Disney classics. But...for a little more money you can get all these songs and about 80 more. The 5 disc set sold here at Amazon has 99 Disney classics and sells for about the price of 2 CDs. The 5 disc set includes songs such as Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah from the no-longer released Song of the South, songs from the theme parks like the Electric Light Parade theme, It's a Small World from the NY World's Fair...it has them all! Buying the CDs seperately you probably spend twice as much + shipping; save some money--the 5-CD set is the way to go.

I liked it more then my kids!
It is a cute collection of songs but my kids didnt really get into it to much.

Classic Disney Music
I was looking for a CD with the Mickey Mouse theme music and it was impossible to find a copy. I saw this on the Disney website and bought it. The music was great and it had the theme music. These songs bring back memories as you recall the Disney characters from Mickey to Bambi to Snow White. Also the price was right! Better than any store. If your looking for this kind of music than you can't beat this CD! ... Read more