New Year, New Classic from Marlo Thomas
by Kathy O’Connell
How about starting the new year with Thanks and Giving: All Year Long. It’s not just a sweet sentiment; it’s the title of the latest CD from Marlo Thomas and Friends. Thanks and Giving: All Year Long can stand proudly beside Ms. Thomas’ kids’ classics Free to Be You and Me and Free to Be a Family as another example of what wonderful magic can happen when good people get together for a good cause.
In the case of Thanks and Giving: All Year Long, royalties from the CD go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, founded by the late comedian Danny Thomas (Marlo’s father) in 1962. Sheryl Crow kicks off the proceedings with “All Kinds of People,” and all kinds of celebrities follow in this delightful mix of songs, stories, and poems around the themes of thanks and giving.
Jimmy Buffett shares “An Attitude of Gratitude,” while Kermit the Frog ponders how “A Smile Connects Us.” Superstars such as Robin Williams, Sarah Jessica Parker, Billy Crystal, Jennifer Aniston and Antonio Banderas join the cast on this outstanding CD.
Hilary Duff’s “(I’ll Give) Anything But Up!” is a wonderfully optimistic anthem that is reason enough for her fans to pick up Thanks and Giving: All Year Long. Marlo Thomas and co-producer Christopher Cerf have brought out the best in their celebrity contributors, with the hope that listening to this CD brings out the best in us. Find Thanks and Giving: All Year Long at www.kidrhino.com or www.stjude.org.
For the 6-and-Under Set
Mr. Ray (known to his parents as Ray Andersen) is a sweet spirit creating tunes that speak to little ones in their own sometimes off-balance rhyme scheme. His way of setting words to music speaks to his audience beautifully. His latest CD, Songs from the Kids’ Lounge, hits the right tone for the 6-and-under set with skills-based songs such as “The Days of the Week” and “The Number Song.”
Parents walk away with something to smile about with “Make the World Safe” and “Gotta Have Respect.” What makes Mr. Ray’s music stand out among the many guys with guitars creating music for kids is his use of electronic audio pyrotechnics. Mr. Ray understands the high comfort level today’s kids have with technology, so his Thomas Dolby-like approach to mixing acoustic and electronic sounds works well for his target audience. Find him at www.mrray.com.
Lullabies for Baby Bikers
I’m always amused when rock musicians discover fatherhood, because they generally behave as though they invented the concept. That amusement turns to awe when I see the wonderful results when parenthood meets music. The latest example of this phenomenon is Sing a Song with Six Strings, a collection of tunes either inspired by or directly written for the children of some of the guitar world’s brightest lights.
Think of this as a lullaby album for biker babies, a wonderful mix of previously released and unreleased tracks. The late Carl Perkins and Chet Atkins are heard here with “All Mama’s Children” and “Smokey Mountain Lullaby.”
My personal favorite brings Stevie Ray Vaughn back from rock and roll heaven with “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” Current superstars on the CD include Santana, Vernon Reid, and Keb Mo’. Peter Frampton’s “Mia Rose” is nothing but beautiful. What a wonderful album for Dad’s late night feedings, while young ones are treated to an early glimpse at what sets these artists apart from the pack. From Sony Wonder at www.sonywonder.com or www.singasongwithsixstrings.com
Kathy O’Connell is a contributing writer to MetroKids and host of the Peabody-award-winning Kid’s Corner weekdays 7-8pm on WXPN 88.5 FM.