Kid Friendly CDs parents also enjoy - Page 2

[maeby]

renee and jeremy - big world baby!

[katybear mama]

I do not like alot of music made specifically for kids - at least half of what I purchase for my cd collection in my Children's Room (Hampton Bays Public Library http://hbaychildroom.blogspot.com/  ) is grown up music...Jackson Browne, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens, etc.  Here are some kid-specific albums that are great though:

The Johnny Cash Children's Album

 http://www.amazon.com/Johnny-Cash-Childrens-Album/dp/B000F2CC36/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297447312&sr=8-1 

Ziggy Marley Family Time

 http://www.amazon.com/Family-Time-Ziggy-Marley/dp/B001UREJUY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1297449934&sr=1-1 

Bob Marley B Is For Bob

http://www.amazon.com/B-Bob-Eco-Marley-Wailers/dp/B001QAZARG/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1297449934&sr=1-2 

Jewel Lullaby

http://www.amazon.com/Lullaby-Jewel/dp/B001VE420S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1297450044&sr=1-1 

Milkshake is a great kids band too & Brady Rymer:

http://www.amazon.com/Bottle-Sunshine-Milkshake/dp/B00065AX6A/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1297450095&sr=1-4 

http://www.amazon.com/Comes-Brady-Rymer-Little-Could/dp/B00133KDT6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297450144&sr=1-1 

[Viola]

I really love Trout Fishing in America.  I don't know if my kids like them as much as I do, but I took my oldest to a concert when she was around 4, and she enjoyed it.  You can listen to them on their website or YouTube and decide if they are for you.

[Breathless Wonder]

I don't really care for much "kids'" music, but I really love Raffi. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMeDh0NVenc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caaV6i7jbcI

I also enjoy Billy Jonas.  We've seen him in person, and I think he's wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di5fiCuPWII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5wJiiitH8g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k5WRY1qSPE

[MamieCole]

I gotta throw in a rec for The Imagination Movers.  Super talented guys and music that is enjoyable to both kids and adults. Love them!

[neetling]

They Might Be Giants.  They do a lot of stuff for kids that we all like.  Here come the 123's is my favorite.

[mamaofthree]

is there anything wrong with having kids listen to "real" music? i mean if you like it why not let them listen to it. since my kids were babies we have listened to all sorts of music, not just "kids music". just wondering.

h

[Starflower]

Our whole family likes Green Chili Jam Band's "Coconut Moon." It's got a folky feel to much of it; one song is spoken word type poetry; another is story. The family favorite is "Lard" though - it's just really fun and funny. They have a couple other CDs but we have not heard them yet. I found Coconut Moon at the library but it was filed under Barney Fuller. We borrowed it so many times, I finally just ordered a copy of our own for the holidays. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0022QV392/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00000DAQ5&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0M66K93AQMJTPK516Q1D

Our DD also really likes Paul Simon's "Surprise" which includes the song "Fathers and Daughters." http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7057667

[wolfelena]

@mamaofthree - of course there's nothing "wrong" with kids listening to "real" music, and we do lots of that! But the other "real" music that we listen to that is produced with kids in mind tends to have elements that particularly appeal to kids, either in lyrics with themes that kids are familiar with and can relate to, with words they know and can understand, or with rhythms and/or melodies that catch their attention and draw them in. We listen to music probably 90% of the day (no TV), and my LO seems to tune out a lot of my music choices as just background noise. When we put on the "kids" music (by "real musicians"), she is a lot more actively engaged in listening. It's still pretty awesome and complex music, not some dumbed down version, but the people producing the good kids stuff seem to know what it is that appeals to the kiddos. The question my daughter asks me several times.a day is "what's this song about?" I like it when I can help her answer her own question by listening with her closely to the song, and there's something we can both relate to.

Am I right, OP and others who have responded with helpful suggestions? There's definite value in seeking out "real" "good" "kids" music that we all love to listen to.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by wolfelena 



Am I right, OP and others who have responded with helpful suggestions? There's definite value in seeking out "real" "good" "kids" music that we all love to listen to.

I'd say you are.  My son requests often asks to not listen to "daddy" music when DH puts it on.  DH listens to a lot of mellow stuff too.  DS prefers the kid songs or else "mama" music.  I mostly put on country if I don't have a children's station playing on Pandora.

[beanma]

All of these artists do Kids/Family Music:

Dan Zanes, Justin Roberts, Ralph's World, They Might Be Giants, Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell, Laurie Berkner (best for 6 and unders), Frances England, Billy Jonas, Jimmy Magoo, Barenaked Ladies, Baron Von Rumblebus, Billy Bragg and Wilco, Daniel Kirk (kids author who has songs to go with his books), Farmer Jason (Ringenberger) (best for 6 and unders), Jamie Broza (really funny), The Jellydots, Los Lobos, Milkshake, Papillion, The Terrible Twos, Wee Hairy Beasties.

This is just off the top of my iTunes playlist. We have a lot more kids' music than this, too. Check out http://www.zooglobble.com/ for more recommendations than you'll know what to do with. It's a great kids' music blog.

My kids like some grown up music, but we're not pop-music fans in this house and steer more toward alt country and alternative music. Sometimes grown-up music has questionable lyrics and I'm not always up to explaining it all. The kids' music is real music by real musicians (music fans will recognize many of the above names as folks who make music for grown ups, too), but with themes kids are more interested in like getting a new bike or losing a tooth or mom being in a bad mood—much more interesting than love and kissing and all that mushy stuff.

[DirtyHippyMama]

Jack Hartmann.  (http://www.jackhartmann.com/)  fun songs for the kids and parents alike.  he does a lot of educational stuff (we use it for HS'ing) as well as songs w/ dances, but his "getting better at getting along" CD has all kinds of cool songs on it (i love the children's peace song -- makes me tear up when i'm preggo LOL).  some examples of song titles (to give you an idea of his style): hip hop tooty ta, dancin' 2's, disco ABC's, the lion and the mouse (set to a techno beat), the silly pirate song, sticky glue (one of our faves)... i think he has like 12 albums out.

[Katc8910]

Elizabeth Mitchell  and Frances England - love all their albums!

[PhillyMama]

We just discovered Elizabeth Mitchell and love her.

Also frequently played are the cds that come with Sandra Boynton books Philadelphia Chickens and Dog Train.

We'll probably have to replace them soon because they're getting played so much.

We also listen to a lot of Abba :)

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a cd of Sesame Street guest singers?   You know how on Sesame Street they have someone come on and sing with a muppet or two, like Nora Jones or John Legend?  And they sing their hit song with the words slightly altered to fit the show?  I'd love a cd of a bunch of those, but can't seem to find one.

[taurustheta]

Medeski, Martin, & Wood's Let's Go Everywhere

[katerinro]

zggy marley  - family time

[katybear mama]

beanma, thanks for the zooglobble link - it looks great!  can't wait to look at it more closely...

[Lirazel]

We also love Elizabeth Mitchell!  I'd also recommend Caspar Babypants.  We've only listened to one of his 3 cds but I loved it.  (Here I Am!)

I'm looking forward to checking out some of the other recommended music here!