Kid Friendly CDs parents also enjoy

[Beth145]

I would love to start a thread of CDs/music downloads that are kid-friendly but also enjoyable to parents.  I tend to stay away from any of the Kids Bop variety where there's a chorus of high-pitched children singing "popular" songs by teen heartthrobs.  No thanks.   What music do you enjoy with your children?  I love the Rockabye Baby series where hits by the Beatles, Aerosmith, Bjork, Radio Head are set to lullaby music.  Great CDs to put on while your little one naps.  I'm also a big fan of the Curious George soundtrack by Jack Johnson.  Any other suggestions?

[philomom]

http://kidsmusic.about.com/od/musicreviews/fr/seegeramfolk.htm

These are folks songs our littles loved.

http://www.growler.com/

Borrowed a couple of these from a friend, they were good.

[merpk]

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Kids-Only-Jerry-Garcia/dp/B000003913

You don't have to be a kid ... or a Deadhead ... to absolutely adore this album and listen to it until you are mumbling the lyrics in your sleep.

But since I am, I'm happy to suggest it.  :-)

[kittywitty]

Anything by Elizabeth Mitchell, Not For Kids Only (linked above).

Of course my kids love Coldplay, so that works, too, though it's not "kids" music I haven't found anything inappropriate in their songs. Especially Strawberry Swing.

[Buzzer Beater]

 http://www.putumayo.com/en/index.php 

world music... we have several including lullabies. they;re always playing around here.

[Owen'nZoe]

I enjoy some of my kids' Kidz Bop CDs, so maybe you'll want to take this with a grain of salt

For really little ones, I loved "Mellow My Baby" by Sherry Goffin Condor http://www.amazon.com/Mellow-My-Baby-Soothing-Lullabies/dp/B0000640O2. It was one of the only lullabye CDs that didn't drive me insane.

For older kids, They Might Be Giants have a couple kids albums that are really fun to listen to: http://www.amazon.com/They-Might-Be-Giants/e/B000AQ3614/ref=ac_dpt_sa_music

[freestylemama]

Originally Posted by merpk 

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Kids-Only-Jerry-Garcia/dp/B000003913

You don't have to be a kid ... or a Deadhead ... to absolutely adore this album and listen to it until you are mumbling the lyrics in your sleep.

But since I am, I'm happy to suggest it.  :-)

Yes!  We love this one.

Other favorites are:

Earthworks' Kids http://www.foxonahill.com/store/51-earthwork-music-4-kids/

Putamayo Kids

Jack Johnson's Curious George

Baby Loves Hip Hop/ Jazz

[umsami]

Agree with a lot of the ones previously mentioned.  The Putumayo Dreamland CD has been one of our favorites for 7 years now!  http://www.amazon.com/Dreamland-World-Lullabies-Soothing-Songs/dp/B00008XESC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294939573&sr=8-1

We also like "Beethoven's Wig" http://www.amazon.com/Beethovens-Wig-Sing-Along-Symphonies/dp/B000060OLA/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1294939614&sr=1-1and "Jazz for Kids" http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Kids-Sing-Wiggle-Shake/dp/B0001KAA86/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1294939684&sr=1-1

.

Oh...and Barenaked Ladies 7-8-9 is a new favorite. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1cnJ_pOAdQ

[lorijds]

The only kids music we ever listened to was the stuff that was musically solid, with great musicians and writing.  We listen to mainly alt country/bluegrass and alt rock at our house, and my suggestions will definitely reflect those tastes.

Anything by Dan Zanes is good, but my favorite is Night Time:

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Time/dp/B000QZXZX8/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1294981450&sr=8-17

I like the Terrible Twos, as well.  The band is actually the New Amsterdams, but they have an alter-ego that writes kids songs.  They have two albums, "If You Ever See An Owl" and "Jerzy the Giant"

http://www.amazon.com/If-You-Ever-See-Owl/dp/B000NJISCK/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294981715&sr=1-1-fkmr0

 http://www.amazon.com/Jerzy-Giant-Terrible-Twos/dp/B001AZ8BN2/ref=pd_sim_m_1

For Rockabilly stuff, you cannot beat "The Bottle Let Me Down"  We still listen to the tunes, even though the kids are teenagers!

http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Let-Me-Down-Songs/dp/B000066JE8/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1294982033&sr=1-1

Hope this helps!

[zinemama]

Dan Zanes' House Party Time is fantastic. Dh listens to it all the time in the car. We're also quite fond of Billy Jonas What Kind of Cat Are You?

[moonmamajess]

I absolutely love "Campfire Sing-along" by Orange Sherbet and Hot Buttered Rum and so do my son and neices. I enjoy it for the fact that they have a lot of traditional folk songs played in a bluegrass style with lovely harmonies. I enjoy "Not for Kids Only" as well for the traditional songs aspect. I think its important to pass these songs down. Keller Williams' "Kids" is also a great one that we all love. All of the songs except one are original and so creative. Putumayo as well as Rockabye series mentioned above are fun as well. Would love to see more ideas from people!

[Nicole730]

Alphabutt by Kimya Dawson

I put in "Alphabutt" radio on Pandora and found a lot of other songs to love.  Some of the artists are: Renee and Jeremy, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jack Johnson (Curious George soundtrack), Lisa Loeb.  I made a CD of all those artists and I listen to it when the kids aren't around.

[my kidlets and me]

We really like:

- "Snacktime" by the Bare Naked Ladies (love their version of the alphabet song!)  http://barenakedladies.com/music/snacktime

- "For the Kids" and "For the Kids Too"  http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Too-Various-Artists/dp/B0003JANQE

http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Various-Artists/dp/B00006L7QX/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1297196816&sr=1-1

We also love the CDs put out by Baby Loves Jazz - I think we have them all!  http://babylovesjazz.info/

[MamasBoys]

Anything Jack Johnson but my older kids and I like Weezer and Will Smith due to the lack of profanity.

[courtneyk]

I was addicted the this album The Persuasions did for kids. I could listen to it over and over and still enjoy it--important in a kid's CD: http://www.amazon.com/Good-Ship-Lollipop-Persuasions/dp/B00000IQ1C

[milosmomma]

This is a great compilation of indie musicians singing kids' songs AND proceeds support research of Smith Magenis Syndrome :

http://www.dofunstuff.net/

[jchizever]

I am so surprised that Laurie Berkner has not been mentioned yet.  We started listening to the greatest hits and have worked backwards.  My 4 year old daughter LOVES her!!

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Laurie-Berkner-Band/dp/B003KNDMFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1297223511&sr=1-1

[wolfelena]

All You Need is Love: Beatles Songs for kids - it has kids and adults singing, but in a most pleasant way. Really musically delightful. Here's a link to it on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/4al5t2y 

I also must agree with the Putumayo recommendations, especially check out the "Playground" series. We have Reggae Playground, Folk Playground, Sesame Street Playground and several others and they are all either good or great. Same goes for the Not For Kids Only/Garcia Grisman disc. 

There's also an Old School Sesame Street CD collection, which is basically three SS albums from back in the 70s in one box. If you were a Sesame Street kid back then, you might find the nostalgia of it worth a listen.

Thanks for the above suggestions! We are always on the lookout for something new to check out.

ETA - Putumayo's Animal Playground is another and we LOVE it. Great fun music that kids and adults can enjoy, and this is coming from a real music snob! No top 40, commercial crap here!

[liveandlearn]

We've been leaning toward classical music since my son was born.  He's six now and loves Tchaikovsky Greatest Hits and frequently and quite dramatically sails his favorite pirate ship to Marche Slave which he renamed 'Treacherous Waters'.  We found this cd at a local thrift store and it turned out to be a wonderful entry into classical for him.  I find I'm turning toward the arts for relief from the many and varied choices that I don't find appropriate for him in the media.  He loved the Nutcracker because he knew all the songs.  I remember not particuarly enjoying it in years past but thoroughly enjoyed it this year since I, too, am now familiar with all these beautiful songs :).  Classical music is one of the best gifts I've given him and one I believe will last a lifetime.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by jchizever 

I am so surprised that Laurie Berkner has not been mentioned yet.  We started listening to the greatest hits and have worked backwards.  My 4 year old daughter LOVES her!!

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Laurie-Berkner-Band/dp/B003KNDMFY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1297223511&sr=1-1

I like a lot of hers and so does my toddler, but there are some I really don't care for too.  That's why I'm upping my itunes usage and just getting the songs I like.  (Who doesn't want to stomp around the house "In my green boots"?)