<p>At a recent rally ( in Little Rock- lots of youtubes available) Eddie Vedder & Natalie Maines performed a cover of James Taylors " You can close your eyes", which reminded me of the years where I only listened to children’s music
albeit a lot of it was pretty good.
Along with the* Free to be You & Me * tapes and Sesame Streets * In Harmony*, we enjoyed local artists Tickle Tune Typhoon ( and D1 is even in a video) & Tim Noah, as well as compilation tapes by artists like Ann & Nancy Wilson ( who have a new LP) & Bruce Springsteen to raise money for the Pediatric Aids foundation.</p>
<p>But I * know* I had a tape of James Taylor doing Close your Eyes, I just know it! * didn’t I*?
Since some of my friends are now just starting to have kids, I thought it would be fun to track down some old favorites.
Help?</p>
<p>My kids loved Trout Fishing in America. As a matter of fact we were just singing part of last week. It’s called Pico de Gallo and lists all of the ingrediants that go in it. Ok, I admit it doesn’t sound like much…but it is a fun song for a kids tune. As is When i was a Dinosaur.</p>
<p>This is a musical trip down memory lane! We loved the songs from Mr. Rogers, Sesame St., Raffi, and especially Tim Noah. He had a special place in our family. </p>
<p>We saw Charlotte Diamond, Tickle Toon Typhoon, Tim Noah, and Sharon, Lois, and Bram. I loved going to live performances and I think it influenced my D’s interest in theater and singing.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t have been childhood without The Happy Crowd and Joanie Bartels. As for my childhood I grew up listening the Ed Copp and Joe Brown do magical voices in “East of Flumdiddle”, and “The Glups Go to San Francisco”, absolutely wonderful storytellers. You can find them on Amazon.</p>
<p>Since my kids commuted with me, they had plenty of time to listen to music along the way. Favorites included Raffi, Tom Chapin and Norman Foote (who couldn’t love songs like: The Eggplant that ate Chicago and Little Armadillos and I’m a Book??) Of course that was back in the day of cassettes…no iPods or CD’s at the time!</p>
<p>Buckwheat Zydeco has a collection of kids songs on a cd named " Choo Choo Boogaloo." It’s so good that my teenagers pop it into the cd player every now and then. BZ and Raffi basically inspired my boys to be musicians.</p>
<p>My kids grew up on a lot of oldies that my H and I loved but the actual children’s music that they loved the best was that of Sharon, Lois and Bram. They’re a Toronto group that was incredibly popular, with cds, a tv show and concert tours. We saw them perform live several times and the adults enjoyed the show as much as the kids did. Their music was eclectic, with a strong folk influence, lots of fun! I’ve also had the occasion to meet them at a few fundraising events and they’re delightful individuals who truly loved performing for kids. I miss those days and look forward to listening again with my granddaughter when she’s a little older. :)</p>
<p>Raffi was big at our house (dating myself here) and also the huge assortment of “Wee Sing” tapes. I think we had more than 12 at some point. </p>
<p>My vote for those of you blessed enough to encounter pre-schoolers today is to iTunes these classics and play them often. Personal favorite would be Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Around the Campfire” double CD. Her range is gone, but the vibe is still there.</p>
<p>Oh, a trip down memory lane–some of our favorites: (I had to look them all up)</p>
<p>Tom Chapin (with Judy Collins) Family Tree</p>
<p>Patti Dallas and Laura Baron–Nighty Nite, Good Morning Sunshine, The Golden Glow
(my kid used to say “The GLOLDEN Glow”–Does anyone else know these? From mid-late 80s, sort of local–they are from Yellow Springs, Ohio)</p>
<p>Marcia Berman Sings Malvina Reynolds Rabbits Dance and Other Songs for Children</p>
<p>Robin Williamson(Scottish folk singer)–Songs for Children of All Ages</p>
<p>Eric Nagler, from Canada around the same time as Sharon/Lois/Bram, has my favorite alternative “happy birthday” song. </p>
<p>Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) recently began publishing beautiful illustrated children’s books of individual songs, with a new CD included. He sang in Buffalo last year on his way to the Middle East. Here, he brought children up onto the stage and connected wonderfully. He’s still got it!</p>
<p>paying3, thanks for mentioning Eric Nagler. I’d forgotten about him, but he was also on Sharon, Lois and Bram’s tv show in the 80s. If the birthday song you remember is the one I’m thinking of Eric singing, it’s a Tom Chapin song. :)</p>