5 comments about The World Sings Goodnight.

1. i have played this at naptime and bedtime for the last 16 months; it's on repeat during naps. i have listened to the CD at least 1500 times, and have finally worn out the original CD (i'm buying the download now). my twin sons settle down immediately upon hearing the first song, and are lights out by the third. the rest of the CD is just great background noise to drown out the sounds of the rest of the house. if a baby is cranky, i can start to hum the first song and he settles down. i've never bothered to read the liner notes and translations, but whatever: i need my guys to sleep well and soundly, and this CD does the trick.



2. We first received this as a baby gift 13 years ago, and we find it makes a great baby gift! We all loved the soothing lullabies from all over the world!



3. Excellent collection of lullabies from around the world. Beautifully produced. Adults will enjoy this one just as much as the younger set. Listen to this and skip your valium.



4. I have always had a pet theory that with babies and small animals HOW you say something is always more important than WHAT you say. "The World Sings Goodnight" would certainly seem to put that theory to test as it offers lullabies from 33 different cultures, each sung in its native tongue. This means only a handful are sung in English and that until they are old enough to read the liner notes your little ones are never going to know what these songs are about. This is probably a good thing because there are songs that tell children "to wake you up we'll cut off your ears" and contemplate giving them to a witch or a bad man. My favorite is the lullaby from Egypt where the parent promises to bring the child two pairs of pigeons to eat or two pairs of black beetles to play with, but quickly explains to the animals that this is only being said to the baby so he will sleep.

   These lullabies are sung either a capella or with the simple instrumentation of the culture, which can mean anything from end-blown bamboo flute to hurdy-gurdy to goat bells and hammered dulcimer. There is even on song accompanied by crickets. One nice thing about this album is that gender does not matter when it comes to singing a baby to sleep. Males sing the Indonesian lullaby where the mother pleads "Sleep and grow up well, honey, so that you can protect me later, because your father has gone away and forgotten you" and the Ogalia Sioux song where a woman sees the ghost of her dead husband (thus we learn that lullabies do not need to contain the typical lullaby references found in every typical lullaby to be an effective lullaby). There are also several nice examples of lullabies involving sweet harmonies between a pair of singers, including a piece written by producers Tom and Susan Wasinger that is quite lovely. These songs collected from five continents are song by "folk" voices in an effort to have these songs sung by people who have really had to persuade babies and young children to go to sleep. Final Note: I was listening to this CD in the morning and I almost fell asleep, so there is a very good chance it will work on your little ones as well.




5. How can you have a Lullaby CD from 'Around The World' and omit
   Germany as the country of origin for the All Time Classic Lullaby
   "Guten Abend, gute Nacht" !??

5 comments about Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown!.

1. I just love the arrangers and the composers who divined this CD. Highly recommended to jazz lovers.



2. This CD is a great work of Jazz art, by great jazz artists. That it is also a seminal CD, one of the first really well-produced, scored, arranged, ensembled, edited DIGITAL CD's makes it something of an historic event. I actually had to suffer, being poor, at the time it came out, with a cassette version, and still was totally wowed by the clarity of the sound, even on tape. But the digital audio technology, from the ground up, is literally just the beginning. You also have scores/arrangements by the likes of Vince Guaraldi and David Benoit, you have the master musicianship of B.B. King, Dave Grusin, and Chick Corea here! This easily compares to the one of the Jazz Crusader's last albums, the vocal one which included people like B.B. King (busy old man!) and Joe Cocker. I mention this to widen the possible audience, since this is always mislabelled a "children's music" selection. Sure, Charles Schulz genius persona is in there, along with Linus, Charlie, Lucy and Snoopy and all the kids, but you have the music performed by folks like us--baby boomers musicians--who grew up loving everything about those Christmas specials and the daily comic strip and the music. So, pop culture, the icons of an entire generation, andsome of that generation's premiere jazz musicians, and the first real mastering of a new digital technology, all in one CD--eleven bucks is cheap. Get this, you'll listen to it for years and years and love every minute of it. Was this the hand of the Goddess or What?



3. Although this compilation is now over 15 years old, I still enjoy it as much as the day I bought it. An all-star lineup of jazz performers (plus B.B. King) deliver versions of the "Peanuts" music that are true to the original Guaraldi versions, but up to modern production standards. It's feel-good music throughout, and it'll have you smiling after just one or two tracks -- even Kenny G seems to have found some energy here!
   
   My only complaint? The vocal version of "Christmas Time is Here" is well-done, but misplaced at track 9 (of 12) on the album. This always sending me scrambling for the buttons of the CD player when I'm listening in mid-July. Another "Charlie Brown" compilation uses the same mid-disc placement (track 6 of 10 on David Benoit's "Here's to You, Charlie Brown"), so maybe they know something I don't.
   
   Buy it, and you'll enjoy it now and for years to come.



4. I bought this CD for my husband not because he's a Charlie Brown fan but because the jazz selections are really spectacular. Top artists came together for this recording. Any jazz fan would find this CD very entertaining.



5. I'm very happy to have found this cd. I was looking for the tracks of my favorite cartoon and luckly I've found it here.
   It's so good to hear B.B. King on Joe Cool Blues and Chick Corea on Great Pumpkin Waltz...
   
   Go ahead people and buy it. It's worth the price, the ship, everything.

3 comments about Mother Goose Rocks, Vol. 1.

1. After hearing bits and pieces of this CD playing at Gymboree when we would go and play I always thought that that the tunes were catchy. I ordered it and when you listen to it at home, it really makes you sing along. My 11 month old also dances to the beat! I highly recommend it.



2. I have been trying to find a fun kids' CD for me and my boys. This one was recommended- a couple of the songs are really catchy and fun (we listen to two of the songs over and over again). But, I definitely don't like the majority of the songs. Some just don't sound like kids' music. I would like to hear the other CDs in this collection, hoping that the others might have a greater number of upbeat, fun songs for kids.



3. Working in radio for 10 years, I never experience the joy of music until this cd came along!!! As a Christian mother, I always check my child's music before I allow him or her to listen it. This is a great way to get the old classic's redone in a NEW and FRESH "hip" kind of way! Way to go to the makers of this album! YOU TRULY ROCK!

5 comments about Mother Goose Rocks, Vol. 3.

1. Every parent with children should have this....the kids and grownups like the music! My kids dance everytime we are in the car.



2. This is my first review. This got 5 stars and so I thought it would be good. The first track was a play on a Santana track. You can't even hear the words that they are singing. How can a toddler learn the words to this? I have no problems playing rock music for her, but I think I'll stick to real rock music and get a regular nusrey rhyme cd. Even she wasn't too crazy about it and she LOVES all music. I guess each to their own is the story here!



3. The Mother Goose Rocks series (especially 3 and 4) is great music for the whole family. Having 3 kids, ages 7yrs, 5yrs and 15 months we can all enjoy the familiar nursery rhymes while clapping our hands and dancing to the latest top 40 back ground music. The music all sounds like it is performed by the original popular artists. The big kids never complain that it sounds like baby music and they sing right along while teaching our youngest how to shake his little bootie. I highly recommend this cd if you occasionally get tired of the standard nursery rhymes performed the same way over and over.



4. This is such a fun CD to listen to -- for kids & parents, hysterical, in fact. The Wheels on the Bus is my favorite track, with Where is Thumbkin coming in a close second. I also recommend buying it through Amazon.com ... other specialty stores have quite a mark-up!



5. My son and I love this CD. This is one childs CD you'll want to listen to! It is wonderful. Thank you to the artists on this CD

No comments about The Mozart Effect: Music For Children, Vol. 3 - Mozart In Motion.

4 comments about Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of the Ramones.

1. Waste of money! Doesn't sound like the original songs at all, and doesn't sound pleasant at all either.



2. This is exactly what it says it is: lullaby renditions of the Ramones. Instrumental lullabies, not sung lullabies, because many of the Ramones lyrics would be inappropriate for small children. (We're all making a fortune selling Daddy's dope, for instance.) These lullabies are played about half as fast as the Ramones original versions, so they are about twice as long. So, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" clocks in at six minutes long. This is somewhat amusing for a song or two, but over the course of 57 minutes it get kind of boring. But, lullabies are supposed to put you to sleep, so I guess it gets the job done. Just don't play it while you are driving your car.



3. I had to laugh at the above review by someone who felt ripped off because these are lullaby versions! ...Ummm, that's the whole point!! It's a CD of LULLABYEEEE versions, just like the title says. [wink] As many people know, there's a whole series of these, including lullabye versions of Led Zeppelin The Cure, The Eagles, Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, U2, etc. And I think these CDs are esepcially cool for those of us who have children because, obviously, we want to expose our kids to all kinds of music. These lullaby variations are like MAGNETS for young ears, PLUS they're enjoyable for us adults who have loved these songs for many years. I mean, instrumental lullabye versions of Led Zeppelin classics...?! How can you NOT love that?! ;)



4. This wasn't at all what I expected. I thought I was buying a CD of Ramones cover songs. I expected to have it slowed down a bit, maybe sang by kids or some lady with a soothing voice... but no. There is no singing. It is all instrumental and it sounds like it was done in some kids bedroom with a casio! My 2 month old didn't seem to mind - but I think I wasted my money. I'll just put on the real Ramones for him instead.

5 comments about Softly We Sing.

1. This is a beautiful CD for a baby! Lots of soft, wonderful, peaceful music!



2. My newborn and I sit and relax to this wonderful CD. Perfect soft music for little ears.



3. We checked this cd out from our public library for our newborn son. He is now 9 months old and we play this at bedtime every night! No other cd calms my son better than this one. The soothing sounds and sweet voices of the children are wonderful. We had tried numerous other lullaby cds, but none are more soothing than this one. It is a MUST for all sweet babies!



4. I first heard this album working as a nurse in a hospital NICU nursery. I saw so many babies soothed and rocked to sleep with this music. It consistently drew compliments from parents. I just gave a copy to my sister-in-law for her and her new baby girl. She loves it too. Every track is soft, soothing, rocking chair-cuddle music. Highly recommended.



5. I first bought this CD based on the songs that it has in the CD. The first time I played it for my son--while I was trying to put him down for a nap--it worked like a charm!! We have also learned to pack the CD when we are traveling because my son (who is 19 months old now) has gotten so used to listening to it as he drifts off to sleep that sometimes, especially if we are somewhere new, he is not able to go to sleep without the CD.

5 comments about Disney's Greatest Hits 1 & 2.

1. All the songs you know by heart from childhood and recent hits. Original recordings you really know. No need to buy the individual albums since this has the songs you really want. My 6 year old son and I sing them together. You should also get volume 3.



2. The titla says it all- Anybody will enjoy these CDs- you and your children can sing along the same songs from the movies- I love that the songe are sang by the charactors from the movies and not by Pop stars-



3. My wife and I purchased Disney Hits 1 & 2 for our 16 month old daughter. She goes to sleep to these CDs every night because they soothe her. She loves the music from the Disney movies themselves instead of the remakes from other artists.



4. I don't see why they have to bring out another disney CD. They already have bought one out about a year ago with all of the same songs!
   
   It is pointless really.
   
   Oh well, the album still looks very good!



5. In this two-disc CD pack, you'll get all the classic Disney songs like, "Some Day My Prince Will Come", and "The Circle of Life." I'm not the type of person who listens to this kind of music, but since it's from the classic Disney flicks I used to watch as a kid, there's an exception. If you're the kind of person that enjoys Disney music like I do, then these are the CD's for you!

5 comments about Bright Spaces.

1. Priceless: Arlo and Woody Guthrie singing "This is my land" together. Reminded me of how I tried to learn the song as a kid, and now I'm enjoying this remix with my own kids. What a wonderful surprise.



2. This is a good CD of travel music that does NOT drive my husband nuts. We call it the 'Arthur' CD, as the first song is the Ziggy Marley song that is the credits song for the PBS series ("And I say HEY! What a wonderful kind of day...") I appreciate the mix of artists and 'listen-able' music. PLUS it's for a good cause. A CD that my first grader and 3 yr old both like to listen to. And it doesn't make daddy crazy.



3. Nice selection of songs. A pleasure to listen to.
   Too bad the CD 2 is not as good as this one (too "folk / country" for my taste...)



4. This is my favorite CD right now; it has been since I bought it more than a month ago. And I'm a grown-up! I love the songs by Ziggy Marley, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Raffi, and (most of all) Cathy and Marcy. All those warm fuzzies *and* your money goes to build safe and enriching play spaces in shelters for homeless families.



5. What a great cd to have in your collection. As a preschool teacher this cd is a staple in my classroom. It is also good to have in the van at all times. It is a wonderful collection of songs by some wonderful artist. My favorite song is the version of Old MacDonalds farm. The songs are fun and exciting. Not to mention the proceeds help out children living in homeless shelters. This is a must have for anyone!

5 comments about Big Blues: Blues Music for Kids.

1. My toddler likes the music on this CD. When I first heard it, I wasn't sure it would go over well---my husband is not crazy about the music---but my 2 year old likes it! The songs are catchy and the music is nice and easy listening.



2. This is great blues music!! My husband and I love it just as much as the kids and we play it even when they're not around.



3. This is a GREAT cd. My 2 year old has never liked being in the car so I've been listening to elmo, bear & pooh for 2 years. That's fine, it's fun, but this is a wonderful change of pace - she loves it & so do I! Especially pancake man :-) Done in a blues style VERY much like blues music for adults, but with lyrics little ones can understand and enjoy. To the gentleman who didn't think it was authentic enough blues...I bet B.B. and the rest of the crew on this cd would beg to differ...as does my family.



4. This is a great CD! The music is more adult like but the lyrics are directed to kids. Fishin' Blues and Flying Lessons are excellent!



5. I wanted a good cd to accompany Buckwheat Zydeco in my sons collection. With the starpower that this cd's artists have, I was expecting much more. The songs would be good if the arrangements were less candy coated and more gritty and more like the guitar driven blues that my son loves.Buckwheat Zydeco is the lone bright spot on the disc. I only wish I could return it to get a different disc but instead, it is a drink coaster for a sipper cup. over and out