Children’s

Heywood Banks’ “Picky Picky Picky — Wholesome, insane comedy songs that’ll stick in your head and ruin you. Heywood is from nowhere Michigan and vacations here, too. He spends the rest of the time traveling the nation daily, doing nonstop top-notch comedy shows. We’re going nuts around here these days for “Treated and Released” but I suspect all his work is of a certain caliber. All this better kids-stuff is great for adults, too. The other day I took our shy kids to a park. Some bigger kids were playing and one came up and looked at us. I was reading. My kids were standing around. Suddenly they both started singing the “Dust Mites” song. Perfectly. The whole thing. For this big kid. She was stunned. When it was over my kids just stopped, said nothing more. I asked the girl if she liked the song. She said it was super. So there ya go. Ya gotta get “Treated” at ComedyHome.com…

Mary Had a Little Amp — a bunch of pop stars sing a wide range of kid’s classics as well as originals. Perfect for grownups and kids alike. Sing-along needs reviving. This’ll help.

The Bottle Let Me Down

It’s the best kid’s music ever… Great for adults, too! The Bottle Let Me Down is a compilation CD of raucous, classic, freespirited kid’s tunes from Bloodshot Records (Chicago folks launched the new wave of urban retro country all thanks to the Knitters). There’s a country theme, but it’s hip and diverse with huge production values. Catchier than most current adult releases. Enjoy your new singalong self. People w/o kids are even into it, but if your world is presently impacted by height-challenged mayhem you might like it more. And your kids will worship you for it.

Carl Behrend: “More Legends of the Great Lakes — A whole bunch of songs about the Great Lakes. It’s an area of hugely rich heritage that no one has covered musically before—except for a famous big sad boat song by a Canadian covered nicely here. Carl adds another cover of another Canadian boat song: this one not sad at all, very spirited in fact: The Wreck of the Mary Ellen Carter (written by Stan Rogers)—about a boat that was abandoned by its rich owners and insurers but which was salvaged by its loyal blue-collar crew. A wonderful song! This is a superb family album ideal for anyone living near a Great Lake. It’s one of the rare ways they can learn a bit about the cool heritage of their water. Sure, Carl isn’t a high-end pro, but he’s been touring and singing quite awhile and the essential quality of his work grows on one til the whole family is singing along by heart. There’s more at his website: www.greatlakeslegends.com.

Carole King Really Rosie

Wee Sing Bible Songs

Vivien Leigh in The Tale of Peter Rabbit