SING-ALONG CD ADDS LYRICS TO LUDWIG VAN.Byline: Chris J. Parker Correspondent The big kids are back at school, so that means the Aaron Carter  Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. and
A-Teens CDs can be taken out of the family's minivan. That's
the good news.
The bad news is the youngest children - the ones too young for school but definitely old enough to have an opinion - want to hear their music now. Here are five recently released CDs that try to please both preschoolers and their parents. Some succeed, some don't. ``Beethoven's Wig'' (Rounder Records Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts but now based in Burlington, is an independent record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students. ) - Three stars Richard Perlmutter has created a fun, sing-along collection of songs, set to the work of master composers. The silly, clever lyrics appeal to younger listeners (and will amuse a·muse tr.v. a·mused, a·mus·ing, a·mus·es 1. To occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion. 2. their parents). For example, ``Can you can can?'' set to ``Can Can'' by Jacques Offenbach is a frenetic ode to dancing, Paris-style. In the title track (set to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony), Perlmutter explains, ``Beethoven's Wig/ is very big.'' Following the 11 sing-along symphonies are orchestral versions of each shortened song. The only fault listeners will find with the CD is that once they've heard how very big Beethoven's wig This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. is (as well as lyrics in the 10 other classics), it'll be hard to hear the original works again without the words running through your head. ``A Child's Gift of Lullabyes'' (Guess Who Gang Records) Two and one half stars This is the CD for parents - and their youngest children - who are tired of singing dinosaurs and synthesized clapping machines. The nine lullabies on this CD - plus the nine subsequent instrumental versions - are good for wind-down time or as a precursor to bed time. None of the lullabyes stand out but that might be this CD's strength. There's nothing jarring, just tranquil music for young children. ``Animal Crackers Animal crackers are a popular children's snack, in which the crackers are shaped like zoo animals. Animal Crackers may also refer to:
The premise of this CD is promising, but the delivery isn't. Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur (1974's ``Midnight at the Oasis'' and 2001's ``Richland Woman Blues'') has compiled 13 songs first made famous by Shirley Temple. Songs include ``On the Good Ship Lollipop,'' ``This Is a Happy Little Ditty dit·ty n. pl. dit·ties A simple song. [Middle English dite, a literary composition, from Old French dite, from Latin dict ,'' ``An Old Straw Hat'' and the cover title. Muldaur does fine, though part of the original charm of the songs is Temple's cherublike voice. Muldaur is joined on the CD by 8-year-old Carrie Lyn, who does an adequate job but suffers from the comparison to the original America's sweetheart. ``Tunes From Tarrytown'' (Capitol Records Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI, located in Hollywood, California. Its headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine. ) One star Any parent willing to put this in the minivan CD either loves their children dearly or has the front speakers turned off. There's nothing necessarily wrong with the content of these songs from the hit PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, show ``Jay Jay the Jet Plane Jay Jay the Jet Plane is a CGI children's television cartoon fiction series. It has about 60 episodes. The characters are mostly talking airplanes, and a helicopter, and some humans, and two talking ground vehicles, based at a fictional Tarrytown Airport in the USA. .'' But having to hear 22 songs performed by the high-pitched Jay Jay and his whiny, nasal friends is enough to make parents long for the melodic vocals of Barney, Baby Bop or Elmo. CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 4) no caption (CD covers) |
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