Strollerderby : babble mix tape

Exclusive Track from Dear Edwina: A Musical Comedy!

editors — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:45:00 GMT

You may not know who Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich are, but if your kid loves music, you oughtta learn. These two ladies are one of the best songwriting teams in children's theatre (or any kind of theatre); they did the award-winning Junie B. Jones musical, and they're currently working on the Broadway adaptation of Ever After. Their next show slated to premiere in New York is Dear Edwina, a musical comedy about a Midwestern girl who hosts an advice-giving show in her garage. It opens on November 16th at the Daryl Roth Theater in Union Square. Check out one of the play's many delightful songs after the jump! -- Gwynne Watkins

Hola Lola.mp3

Free MP3! Renee and Jeremy: It's a Big World

editors — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:38:00 GMT

Renee and Jeremy are pretty lo-fi for kids' musicians -- and that's a wonderful thing. On their gentle, lovely album It's a Big World, they don't try for broad appeal by throwing in hokey country songs and unconvincing hip-hop ballads. Instead, they stick to their own sound: harmonized acoustic ballads reminiscent of Low, or perhaps a mythical Aimee Mann/Nick Drake duet. If you didn't know it was a children's album, you'd probably like it anyway. After the jump, a free download of the title track, and an animated YouTube video to share with the kids. - Gwynne Watkins

It's A Big World.mp3

Buy "It's a Big World" on Amazon.

Babble Mix Tape appears every other Friday or so. Have a favorite children's musician you'd like to see featured? Email gwynne@babble.com.

Free MP3! "Rock Penguin Hop" by Maria Sangiolo

editors — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Maria Sangiolo has one of the prettiest voices in contemporary children’s music: rich, articulate and warm. She sounds like she was born to sit on a hill during a sunset and sing folk songs. Instead, she records albums like Under the Mystic Sea, a collection of songs largely inspired by girlhood (“Giggly Girl”, “Hairbrush Blues”) and ocean life (“Mermaid Molly,” “Down by the Ocean”). After the jump, download “Rock Penguin Hop” -- and tell your kid to get her best penguin moves ready.

Rock Penguin Hop by Maria Sangiolo.mp3

Buy Under the Mystic Sea here.

Babble Mix Tape appears every other Friday.

Free MP3! from Baby Loves Jazz

editors — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:15:00 GMT

The Baby Loves Jazz Band consists of six animal musicians, including Ella Elephant and Charlie Bird. But behind those animal facades are six supremely accomplished jazz musicians, who give some swing to classic children’s songs on Baby Loves Jazz: Greatest Hits.

Don’t get us wrong – this is pure old-school kids’ music: “Wheels on the Bus”, “Old MacDonald” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider” all make appearances. But with the jazz band at the helm, mixing these standards with originals and instrumental jams, the old stand-bys start to feel new. Jazz-loving parents can consider this a painless indoctrination (assuming your kids aren’t yet ready for Bitches Brew). Download the sketch/song “Hello Green” after the jump!

Baby Loves Jazz - Hello Green.mp3

Pick up Baby Loves Jazz: Greatest Hits here.

Babble Mix Tape appears every other Friday.

Free MP3! "Springtime Fantastic" by The Sippy Cups

editors — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:05:00 GMT

The Sippy Cups aren’t coy about their influences: their album cover, with the title Electric Storyland and the blacklight-ready graphics, says it all. The San Francisco-based kids' band is all about re-capturing 60s psychedelic rock, minus those un-parent-friendly drug references (“Daddy, why does the man want to be sedated?”). If your family has a thing for Sergeant Pepper, Jimi Hendrix or Syd Barrett, Sippy Cups songs like “Magic Toast” will be right up your alley. After the jump, download the catchy, trippy track “Springtime Fantastic,” which vaguely reminds us of Ben Folds Fives’ “Kate.” (In a good way.)

The Sippy Cups - Springtime Fantastic.mp3

Buy Electric Storyland here, or pick up the Sippy Cups’ brand new concert DVD here.

Babble Mix Tape appears every other Friday.

Free MP3! From Dan Zanes Pal Father Goose

Gwynne Watkins — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:16:00 GMT

Longtime Dan Zanes collaborator Father Goose is being touted as the first Caribbean artist to leave the dancehall for the all-family music scene -- but in truth, he hasn’t gone far. His new album, It’s a Bam Bam Diddly!, is a party in a CD; it’s full of reggae beats, contagious horns and energetic vocals, and while it’s geared toward kids, it stays true to Father Goose’s Jamaican roots. The blend of traditional and original songs (including one sung in Creole) ranges from reggae to calypso to mento; guest appearances include Dan Zanes and Sheryl Crow, although the more exciting guest spots come from less Rolling Stone-ish artists, like Haitian roots musician Gaston “Bonga” Jean-Baptiste on steel drums. Detailed liner notes and lyric sheets help guide kids and parents through this potentially new terrain (though I suspect the kids in my predominantly West Indian neighborhood will do just fine on their own). The album hits stores this week – check it out here.

Download the very danceable song Chi Chi Buddo:

Chi Chi Buddo by Father Goose.mp3

Free MP3! "Pinecone Lovely" by Gustafer Yellowgold

Gwynne Watkins — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:05:00 GMT

Like Ziggy Stardust for preschoolers, Gustafer Yellowgold is a quirky extraterrestrial who has landed on Earth to tell his story through rock n' roll. The creation of illustrator/singer/songwriter Morgan Taylor, Gustafer has earned quite a following for himself, thanks to live shows and DVDs that combine fanciful illustrations, psychedelic melodies and oddball tales of Gustafer's life on earth. "Have You Never Been Yellow?", Gustafer's new CD/DVD set, goes on sale tomorrow, but here's a sneak preview: a lovely, melancholy song about pinecones. Enjoy!

Pinecone Lovely by Gustafer Yellowgold.mp3