1 comments about Happy Birthday From Sesame Street (Jewel Case).

1. Leaving aside the music on this album for one moment, let me first thank the good folks at Sony Wonder and Children's Television Workshop for finally getting it (almost) right with the Sesame Street Records reissue program. For years, Sesame Street collectors have waited in vain for straight CD reissues of the original records; this is about as close as we've come, and surprisingly so. The reason for my surprise is that HAPPY BIRTHDAY features Northern "David" Calloway on a pair of tracks (the album's two best, incidentally), and Sony Wonder has had a policy of removing cast members who have departed (literally, in the case of Calloway, who died in 1990), replacing them with inferior re-recordings of the vocals (by minor characters such as Hoots the Owl or major pains like Elmo and Zoe) over the original backing tracks. (For a well-considered editorial describing the problems with the Sesame Street reissue program, Amazon/Borders.com customers should check out the review by Michael J. Chrush of the horribly botched MERRY CHRISTMAS "reissue," though to call it that is stretching the term considerably.)
   
   Perhaps in response to just criticism from Mr. Chrush and others, perhaps after seeing the success of the SONGS FROM THE STREET box set with nostalgic adults, Sony Wonder/CTW has righted the ship with HAPPY BIRTHDAY. The entire original album (almost) is included, complete with lyrics. Also, since Wonder/CTW still insists on using covers other than the original album covers (an inexplicable policy), at least it is good to see a cover that is well-thought-out and nicely presented, rather than the cheap, cheesy covers that adorned earlier packages like "Numbers" or "Oscar's Trashy Songs." I was sorry that some lunkhead decided to omit the second chorus of "Happy Birthday To You" that appears later in the album (in fact, its lyrics are printed in the corresponding slot in the booklet, which makes the decision more puzzling). But progress has been a long time in coming here, and we'll take what we can get.
   
   The music? Well, they don't make 'em like this any more, and with good reason, since the two prime songwriters, Joe Raposo and Jeff Moss, have passed away far too soon. This is a Moss album, and though it contains some of his more formulaic fare like "Musical Chairs" (which at least gives the distinctive session players room to stretch out a bit), it also features fine numbers like Oscar's "A Very Unhappy Birthday To You," Bob McGrath's showpiece "Blow Out The Candles," Calloway's funky "A Cat Had A Birthday," and the title track, one of the best tunes Moss ever wrote, which picks up where his still-astounding (and criminally unavailable) "My Name Is David" left off. All in all, a fine album, and a welcome return to the catalog.
   
   Is this the start of the comprehensive reissue campaign that Sesame Street collectors have desired for years. Will SIGNS, LET YOUR FEELINGS SHOW!, AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU'RE YOU?, or even the Holy Grail of Sesame Street records, ON THE STREET WHERE WE LIVE, follow? Or is this just a happy accident, a one-time-only lucky strike? Time alone will tell. But one thing's for sure: collectors who want more straight reissues as opposed to endless (and careless) repackagings should pull out the credit card now. Even with something as pure and delightful as Sesame Street music, money talks. So consider this an investment, and one you can make without fear. What we have here, my friends, is the real deal, and it's about time!

No comments about Bird Is the Word.

4 comments about Elmo's Favorite Sing-Alongs.

1. My son loves to sing along with this in the car. We alternate between this and Bear in the Big Blue House. I will definitely buy more Sesame Street CDs.



2. My three year old is crazy about Elmo. So many children's songs are annoying, Elmo is a godsend. I can listen to it over and over as we drive to & from school without pulling my hair out. Go Elmo!



3. My 21 month old daughter LOVES, LOVES, LOVES this CD! We play it in the car. When we are inside, she keeps saying "DD" and pointing to the car. I even love this music. When I dropped her off at her playgroup this morning, we had the CD playing, then after I was alone in the car, I kept it on for me to listen to!



4. I enjoy listening to ELMO!!!!

No comments about Songs from the Street.

3 comments about Sesame Street Fever.

1. I had this record when I was young and it still remains one of my favorites and holds some very strong and fond memories for me. I still have "C is for Cookie" pop into my head at random times. Actually, that just happened, which is what prompted me to look for it on Amazon. I no longer have a copy. The music was fun then and I think would still be fun for children today. It is easy to move to and makes you want to "shake your tail feathers". I recommend this for anyone who has Sesame Street aged kids or any nostalgic adults, like me. The only downside is that you have to have a record player, which most people do not have. If someone out there knows where I can find this in a tape or CD version or download, please let me know.



2. SOMEONE PLEASE PUT THIS ON AUDIO CD!!! My parents bought that record when I was very small and I LOVED it!!! Now that I have kids, I'd love to share these memorable, fun, and danceable songs with my children. It is really says something the tunes and arrangements of this record that I can remember each song 25 years later and still love them!
   
   "Sesame Street Fever" is real event, featuring familiar landmarks of Sesame Street and all the major characters participating in their typical ways: Count counts the beats, Ernie happily sings and tries to get Bert involved, Bert reluctantly joins in and then laughs, Big Bird saying "shake your tail feathers!", and other enjoyable moments.
   
   "Doin' The Pigeon" obviously features Bert and his favorite pigeon Bernice. Bert of course starts off awkward and resistant, but really gets into it. The tune is delightful, and the arrangement is wonderful!
   
   "Rubber Duckie" is a favorite in any arrangement, but the disco one here is great! The ending is charming, going back to the bathtub feel, with bubbles popping, and Ernie cheering for his disco rubber duckie.
   
   "Trash" is funny, because it deadpans Oscar's love for trash in disco style, including whispering "trash" in that cool 70's way. I love it!!!
   
   The ever-popular "C is for Cookie" is pumped up with a disco beat, strings, and back-up singers. Fun moments include Cookie Monster yelling, "Sing it girls!" before they chime in with the chorus, and later listing his favorite cookies to the beat. It is fabulously fun and easy to sing along!
   
   I was singing "Has Anybody Seen My Dog?" for my 4 year old daughter in the car the other day and she laughed so hard and thought it was great! When I was little, I hadn't heard that song before, but it definitely grew on me. It is a clever and enjoyable song. As an adult I think it is silly to sing that your dog isn't evil or insincere--LOL!
   
   I remember some enjoyable skits around the songs, but since this was years ago, I don't know all the details.



3. This record is as rare as they come and most people wouldn't know or remember this album. I remember begging my uncle in the isles of the store Venture to buy me the 8-track when I was a kid.
   
   It is professionally done and features Robin Gibb on several of the tracks. It is the first children's album to ever make the Billboard 100 charts and was very popular with adults.
   
   A1 Sesame Street Fever - Featuring Robin Gibb
   A2 Doin' The Pigeon
   A3 Rubber Duckie
   B1 Trash - Featuring Robin Gibb
   B2 C Is For Cookie
   B3 Has Anybody Seen My Dog? Producer - Joe Raposo

No comments about A Sesame Street Christmas.

No comments about Elmo Saves Christmas.

5 comments about Born to Add.

1. If you are having a bad day, pop this in and it will make you happy. And what's better than that?



2. The Only reason I gave this 3 stars and not higher is I remember having the orginal cassette of this years ago when i was a child and it had the songs "Letter B" and "Hey Food" on there and this however, is missing those two songs which is why I will not be buying this on cd. otherwise great collection.



3. "Me Going to Much You, Munch You, Munch You" by Cookie Monster may be one of the finest pieces of music ever recorded. The opening bass line alone makes this song worth the price of admission ... but the following melange of wah-wah guitar, piano tinkling and, of course, that crumbly croon will have you on the floor. Certainly a song for the ages. Isaac Hayes? Barry White? Suckers. My man Cookie is where it's at. Your macaroons will be swooning before the tune hits the halfway mark. BUY THIS.



4. I don't know what some of these reviewers are talking about -- this album is fabulous! Perhaps they don't like it as parents...I'm not sure. But I was listening to this album when it was only an LP, and today, almost twenty years later, I can still groove to it. It's a very special part of my childhood memories, and it's ridiculously fun. In fact, I'm delighted to find it on CD because now I can replace our record, which is really scratched up after so much use.



5. On a sudden nostalgia spree I was perusing the "Sesame Street" CDs and happened upon "Born to Add" so of course I HAD to listen to the soundclip. When I was a kid, Born to Add was always my favorite "Sesame St." song (and I think it had a major psychological impact on the fact that I became a Springsteen nut in my later years!), and for some reason, years upon years after ever watching Sesame St, the song (and the image of the leather-clad muppet who was, I believe, green with a purple nose and dancing in an alley with a curly-haired female muppet which was perhaps supposed to be Bruce's then-wife Julieanne Phillips????) has always stuck in my heart.
   But all I can say is, hearing it again was absolutely incredible! I LOVE what an endearing parody of Bruce it is, and all I can say is: If you are a Bruce fan, buy this for your little kid!!!

   Also, the other songs on this (Cereal Girl, Barn in the USA, I Can't Get No Co-Operation, Honk around the Clock (my other childhood fave!) etc.) are great and memory-filled, too! I can't wait til I have kids someday, so I can enjoy the guilty pleasure of this Sesame St. CD! :)

No comments about Bob Mcgrath From Sesame Street - (12" 33 rpm Vinyl Record).

No comments about Sesame Street Best.