Post by carlos alden on Oct 8, 2008 7:49:10 GMT -8
Hey Nachoheads:
I'm often asked who I think "good" kids' music artists are. Here is a list of some of my favorites, in no particular order. I consider them high quality because:
1) The production quality is very high. NONE of these sound like basement recordings with too much echo. The music and voices are mixed properly.
2) The playing quality is high. You'll hear very good singing and instrumental musicianship.
3) The songwriting is intelligent. You won't hear songs about cuteness or niceness. You'll hear songs that will make you laugh at their outrageousness ("My Mommy Has Menopause," "Alien In My Nose," etc.)
4) For the most part, you'll hear music that, apart from being aimed at kids, is very listenable by adults (depending on personal musical taste.) So you can sneak a listen while in the car waiting for little Maximillian or Gruneldeheid at soccer practice.
------------------
Barry Louis Polisar, We're Not Kidding, Snail Sounds
www.amazon.com/Were-Not-Kidding-Tribute-Polisar/dp/0938663542
This VERY NEW (Dec. 2009) double CD is a tribute to Barry, the MASTER of kids' music. A number of artists do Barry's songs in their own styles. One of THE BEST kid music CDs of all time, really, no kidding, I wouldn't fool ya, for sure.
Bill Wellington
www.radiowoof.com/
Bill is a super-excellent folk musician who weaves stories and folk music (great banjo!) and humor into a fantasy world based on the fictitious Radio Woof and spanning several CDs. HIGHLY recommended for car trips! Get the kids away from the DVDs and iPods!
Trout Fishing in America
www.troutmusic.com/
This is two Arkansas guys who write and play AMAZING kid music. Very funny, very witty, and it's done in a country-rock format, with a touch of swing, that would make any Nashville studio musician proud.
Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang
www.gwendolyn.net/gtg/
Very quirky and odd songs. This rock and roll oriented band is fronted by a woman singing in the persona of Gwendolyn. ALWAYS makes me smile and laugh.
Barry Louis Polisar, Old Enough To Know Better, Barry Louis Polisar
www.cdbaby.com/cd/barrylou05
Master of odd and strange kids' music.
Brothers Comstock, Songs and Other Stupid Stuff, Comstock Studios
www.comstockstudios.com/about.html
Outrageously funny kids' stuff. Great 8-year-old humor.
Del McCoury, Little Mo' McCoury, McCoury Music
www.delmccouryband.com/store.cfm
Bluegrass masters doing kids' tunes. Extremely well played and recorded.
John Hadfield, Robot Monkey Head, John Hadfield
www.johnhadfield.net/RobotMonkeyHead/RobotMonkeyHead.htm
Rock-style kids' music.
Keith Munslow, Can't Sit Still, Needlenose
www.cdbaby.com/cd/munslow
Very inventive and well done kids' tunes from a charismatic guy.
Eric Herman, What A Ride, Butter-Dog 2009
www.erichermanmusic.com/ride.html
Great kids' music.
Eric Ode, Grandpa's Truck, Deep Rooted Music
www.ericode.com/music.htm
MORE great kids' music.
Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, Never Grow Up, Rounder 1998
www.amazon.com/Never-Grow-Hills-Cindy-Mangsen/dp/B000006NMQ
Traditional folk-style kids' tunes.
Two of a Kind
www.twoofakind.com/
David and Jenny are a married couple from Philadelphia. They've been doing kid music for a decade now as their main gig, and have a SLEW of great albums out. Their music is social activist in part, so expect to hear songs about civil rights and social change.
Dawnie, Dawnie's Dancing In The Schoolyard, PBJ Music
www.dawniemusic.com/store.shtml
Very good and well produced rock and roll kids music!
Zucchini Brothers, Live At The Clubhouse, ZB Records 1998
www.zucchinibrothers.com/radio.htm
Fun and lively, well sung with great harmonies, rock based music.
NRBQ, You're Nice People You Are, Rounder 1997
www.rounder.com/?id=album.php&catalog_id=3535
Extremely well played and produced music from a rock band that one reviewer called "The best live band on the planet." These songs will stick in your head for days.
Green Chili Jam Band, Coconut Moon, Squeaky Wheel 1997
www.greenchilijam.com/kidzmusic/coconut.html
Great singing and writing.
Alain Le Lait, It's So Good, Yadeeda 2003 Alain Le Lait
www.yadeeda.com/
Very quirky and memorable tunes from a French-Canadian now living in Colorado.
Jim Mayer, Funky As A Diaper, Jim Mayer 2002
www.littleflockmusic.com/product.asp?ID=JM-FAAD-CD
Odd and dark. Check out the song about the one-legged dog.
Dan Zanes, House Party, Festival Five 2003
www.danzanes.com/houseparty/houseparty.shtml
Dan used to be a rock star who changed his ways once becoming a parent, and plays folk music with a HOST of great New York City musicians. ALL his CDs are terrific and highly recommended.
Jamie Broza, Bad Mood Mom, 2002 Good Mood Records
goodmoodrecords.com/BadMood.html
A great little concept album about kids and families and feelings.
Terri Hendrix, Celebrate The Difference, Willory 2005
www.terrihendrix.com/
Extremely good CD from a woman Texas singer-songwriter who also has a foot in the country-rock world. Very, very good singing and playing.
Karen Casey, The Seal Maiden, a Celtic Musical, Music For Little People, 2000
www.amazon.com/Seal-Maiden-Musical-Karan-Casey/dp/B00004TZYF
The BEST kids' story ever, with the highest caliber musical backgrounds. Essentially the story of Roan Inish.
Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Pillow Full of Wishes, Rounder Kids 2008
www.amazon.ca/Pillow-Wishes-Cathy-Marcy-Marxer/dp/B00003W89Z
Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans
www.jeaniebmusic.com/
Clever and funny lyrics and rockin' music
Bill Harley
www.billharley.com/
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC storyteller and singer. Creator of the wildly popular "Lunchroom Lady" and "The Great Sled Race" stories heard on The Nacho Celtic Hour. Bill has a huge catalogue of CDs and they are all highly recommended
I'm often asked who I think "good" kids' music artists are. Here is a list of some of my favorites, in no particular order. I consider them high quality because:
1) The production quality is very high. NONE of these sound like basement recordings with too much echo. The music and voices are mixed properly.
2) The playing quality is high. You'll hear very good singing and instrumental musicianship.
3) The songwriting is intelligent. You won't hear songs about cuteness or niceness. You'll hear songs that will make you laugh at their outrageousness ("My Mommy Has Menopause," "Alien In My Nose," etc.)
4) For the most part, you'll hear music that, apart from being aimed at kids, is very listenable by adults (depending on personal musical taste.) So you can sneak a listen while in the car waiting for little Maximillian or Gruneldeheid at soccer practice.
------------------
Barry Louis Polisar, We're Not Kidding, Snail Sounds
www.amazon.com/Were-Not-Kidding-Tribute-Polisar/dp/0938663542
This VERY NEW (Dec. 2009) double CD is a tribute to Barry, the MASTER of kids' music. A number of artists do Barry's songs in their own styles. One of THE BEST kid music CDs of all time, really, no kidding, I wouldn't fool ya, for sure.
Bill Wellington
www.radiowoof.com/
Bill is a super-excellent folk musician who weaves stories and folk music (great banjo!) and humor into a fantasy world based on the fictitious Radio Woof and spanning several CDs. HIGHLY recommended for car trips! Get the kids away from the DVDs and iPods!
Trout Fishing in America
www.troutmusic.com/
This is two Arkansas guys who write and play AMAZING kid music. Very funny, very witty, and it's done in a country-rock format, with a touch of swing, that would make any Nashville studio musician proud.
Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang
www.gwendolyn.net/gtg/
Very quirky and odd songs. This rock and roll oriented band is fronted by a woman singing in the persona of Gwendolyn. ALWAYS makes me smile and laugh.
Barry Louis Polisar, Old Enough To Know Better, Barry Louis Polisar
www.cdbaby.com/cd/barrylou05
Master of odd and strange kids' music.
Brothers Comstock, Songs and Other Stupid Stuff, Comstock Studios
www.comstockstudios.com/about.html
Outrageously funny kids' stuff. Great 8-year-old humor.
Del McCoury, Little Mo' McCoury, McCoury Music
www.delmccouryband.com/store.cfm
Bluegrass masters doing kids' tunes. Extremely well played and recorded.
John Hadfield, Robot Monkey Head, John Hadfield
www.johnhadfield.net/RobotMonkeyHead/RobotMonkeyHead.htm
Rock-style kids' music.
Keith Munslow, Can't Sit Still, Needlenose
www.cdbaby.com/cd/munslow
Very inventive and well done kids' tunes from a charismatic guy.
Eric Herman, What A Ride, Butter-Dog 2009
www.erichermanmusic.com/ride.html
Great kids' music.
Eric Ode, Grandpa's Truck, Deep Rooted Music
www.ericode.com/music.htm
MORE great kids' music.
Anne Hills, Cindy Mangsen, Never Grow Up, Rounder 1998
www.amazon.com/Never-Grow-Hills-Cindy-Mangsen/dp/B000006NMQ
Traditional folk-style kids' tunes.
Two of a Kind
www.twoofakind.com/
David and Jenny are a married couple from Philadelphia. They've been doing kid music for a decade now as their main gig, and have a SLEW of great albums out. Their music is social activist in part, so expect to hear songs about civil rights and social change.
Dawnie, Dawnie's Dancing In The Schoolyard, PBJ Music
www.dawniemusic.com/store.shtml
Very good and well produced rock and roll kids music!
Zucchini Brothers, Live At The Clubhouse, ZB Records 1998
www.zucchinibrothers.com/radio.htm
Fun and lively, well sung with great harmonies, rock based music.
NRBQ, You're Nice People You Are, Rounder 1997
www.rounder.com/?id=album.php&catalog_id=3535
Extremely well played and produced music from a rock band that one reviewer called "The best live band on the planet." These songs will stick in your head for days.
Green Chili Jam Band, Coconut Moon, Squeaky Wheel 1997
www.greenchilijam.com/kidzmusic/coconut.html
Great singing and writing.
Alain Le Lait, It's So Good, Yadeeda 2003 Alain Le Lait
www.yadeeda.com/
Very quirky and memorable tunes from a French-Canadian now living in Colorado.
Jim Mayer, Funky As A Diaper, Jim Mayer 2002
www.littleflockmusic.com/product.asp?ID=JM-FAAD-CD
Odd and dark. Check out the song about the one-legged dog.
Dan Zanes, House Party, Festival Five 2003
www.danzanes.com/houseparty/houseparty.shtml
Dan used to be a rock star who changed his ways once becoming a parent, and plays folk music with a HOST of great New York City musicians. ALL his CDs are terrific and highly recommended.
Jamie Broza, Bad Mood Mom, 2002 Good Mood Records
goodmoodrecords.com/BadMood.html
A great little concept album about kids and families and feelings.
Terri Hendrix, Celebrate The Difference, Willory 2005
www.terrihendrix.com/
Extremely good CD from a woman Texas singer-songwriter who also has a foot in the country-rock world. Very, very good singing and playing.
Karen Casey, The Seal Maiden, a Celtic Musical, Music For Little People, 2000
www.amazon.com/Seal-Maiden-Musical-Karan-Casey/dp/B00004TZYF
The BEST kids' story ever, with the highest caliber musical backgrounds. Essentially the story of Roan Inish.
Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Pillow Full of Wishes, Rounder Kids 2008
www.amazon.ca/Pillow-Wishes-Cathy-Marcy-Marxer/dp/B00003W89Z
Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans
www.jeaniebmusic.com/
Clever and funny lyrics and rockin' music
Bill Harley
www.billharley.com/
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC storyteller and singer. Creator of the wildly popular "Lunchroom Lady" and "The Great Sled Race" stories heard on The Nacho Celtic Hour. Bill has a huge catalogue of CDs and they are all highly recommended