Non-lame toddler music

[Surfer Rosa]

I've been taking out CD's of kids' music from the library, and am kind of grossed out by the lame quality, simpy songs, and "spontaneous prococious cute banter" that seems to pepper most of the CD's (not even mentioning the commercial Dora/Disney/etc crapola!)

So I am compiling a mix of all the non-kid music that is kid friendly (IMO!) but am looking for some suggestions. I've heard good things about Laurie Berkner, Elizabeth Mitchell, and They Might be Giants (who I remember from my univ. days, and imagine would do some pretty funny kids' music!), so they're on my list to check out. Stuff I do like: Raffi (some, anyway), Putomayo CD's, ?

The mix I have so far has everything from bluegrass (Garcia/Grisman), The Beatles (of course), folky stuff (Joni Mitchell, Dylan...), ska/reggae, and more of "our" music, like the Breeders, Elastica, Feist, Jim Guthrie, Metric, Outkast, Pharcyde...plus some Dead Milkmen and Ramones for good measure.

Any suggestions??? TIA!

[jrpbrown1]

I love Laurie Berkner, esp. "Under a Shady Tree". I recently checked it out of the library again for myself.

Milkshake is awesome too. Try milkshakemusic.com

Bill Harley is also one of our (my?) faves. His lyrics and topics are geared more for preschoolers and school age kids, but what toddler doesn't love a good beat?

ETA: these really are kiddie artists, but not saccharine, IMO

[erth mama]

We listen to the soundtrack to 'curious george' alot. Its by Jack Johnson and friends.

[Aeress]

Tom Chapin. I also like Pooh Corner and Return to Pooh Corner.

There is alot of good artists but *shees* their names are escaping me.

[stlmomof2]

I like Woody Guthrie's children's stuff. I think he has an album called Songs to Grow On. And then there's Free to Be: A Family and Schoolhouse Rock. I listened to TMBG's kid stuff and found it really jarring and not nearly as good as their regular music. Oh and Sweet Honey in the Rock is good.

[MissSJ]

Music Together!!

The CD's from the Music Together class are AWESOME!! You can find them on Ebay if you are not interested in taking a class. They are songs that are enjoyable and are made to help children develop musically.

SJ

[WhaleinGaloshes]

I was given Dan Zanes' album House Party as a gift and really like it.

[PiePie]

toddler music (selected)

FOLK:
My all-time favorite is Bright Spaces, by various artists (put together by Raffi)
Family Fare, by various artists
Folksongs and Bluegrass for Children, by various artists
Kids, Cars, and Campfires, by various artists
Sweet Dreams of Home, by various artists (put together by Mae Robinson)
This Land Is Your Land, by Woody and Arlo Guthrie

CLASSICAL:
Beethoven's Wig series
The Mozart Effect


LULLABIES:
An American Lullaby
At Quiet O'Clock
Childhood Memories and Lullabies on the Guitar
Dreamland, by Putumayo
Ragtime Romp, by Music for Little People
The Sun Upon the Lake Is Low, by various artists
When Night Falls, by Angelika Kirshlanger

MULTICULTI:
Cajun, by Putumayo
Still the Same Me, by Sweet Honey in the Rock -- my second favorite

DANCE MUSIC:
Color Me Singing, by Susan Salidor (hm, maybe this should go under multiculti)
Goodmorning Guitar, by Ray Penney
Hey Picasso, by Jessica Harper
Kid'n Together
Let's Play, by Raffi
Music for Little People 15th Anniversary Collection
Musical Soup
Nancy Cassidy's Kids Songs
Sing Along with Putumayo (maybe under multiculti)
Songs from a Parent to Child, by Art Garfunkel
Songs from the Street (Sesame Street)
Sounds Familiar

[nolonger]

Nobody has mentioned Sarah Pirtle yet; she was one of my kids' favourites when they were toddlers. We discovered her through A Gentle Wind, which was a catalogue you could order from an ad in the back of Mothering back then instead of a website, and you could order a very inexpensive cassette tape with samples of different artist's work instead of downloading MP3 clips.

Other than that, they don't seem to have changed very much.



Raffi's latest, Resisto Dancing, seems to be geared more towards my kids' ages but Baby Beluga and Evergreen, Everblue are classics that we will probably be playing for our grandbabies.

[punchy]

Yup, Woody Gutherie, Dan Zanes, and how about 'Not For Kids Only' by Gerry Garcia and David Grisman? There's also a great Leadbelly kids cd. I'll be sure to let you know when MY kids cd comes out, but in the meantime checkout my adult cd @ www.cdbaby.com/nicoledueck

[jaye]

check out http://www.musicforaardvarks.com/

Also http://www.musicforlittlepeople.com/

[Joya]

Hi,
My daughter (20 months) loves Bob Marley--can't get enough of it. This morning when she woke up she sang, "little darling, stir it up".....and whenever we mention the word party, she sings, "it's a punky reggae party...tonight". By the way, thanks mammas for the above links and suggestions.

[kazmir]

We like Trout Fishing in America - Duo who does folksy goofy songs for kids and adults. Their website is http://http://www.troutmusic.com/

[AmieV]

I found some cool CD's that I'm ordering from Amazon, Nicky's Jazz for Kids and Nicky's Jazz Lullabies. They have people like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong who I love. At least if DD doesn't like them I will. I also found a couple of compilations that look good, Mary Had a Little Amp, For the Kids. OH, "All you Need is Love, Toddlers Sing the Beatles" is good. DD asks for music with "kids" all the time, so she likes this one a lot.

The TMBG stuff is ok, but I think it's better for older kids. My toddler has been unimpressed thus far. I LOVE Dan Zanes and have somewhat of an unnatural crush on him.

I'm going to check out these recommendations, something has GOT to replace her favorite which is Sharon Lois and Bram "Wheels on the Bus." The SECOND we get in the car she starts asking for "Bus? Bus? BUS?" and I can't stand it. It's on my iPod and I keep telling DH thanks for the nice present but all I get to listen to is Wheels on the Bus.

[AmieV]

oh, I forgot. We love all the putamayo kids stuff we have.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

posting quick, haven't read others so forgive if repeats. I LOVE lisa Loeb's kids's CD "Catch the Moon" all laurie berkner, dan zanes, the john lithgow kids CDs are fun, too. Oh, curious george soundtrack - jack johnston, I think? it rocks.

[fuzzypeach]

Definitely check out Elizabeth Mitchell, her You Are My Little Bird album is just wonderful!

[Surfer Rosa]

Thanks!

Lots for me to check out-thanks! Very much appreciated!

[riverscout]

Another vote for Elizabeth Mitchell's You Are My Little Bird. It is the absolute best kids album ever. Honeslty it is just beautiful, and I would listen to it even without kids. She is also on Catch the Moon, the Lisa Loeb cd someone else mentioned. We got that for dd for Christmas, and we love it too. It comes with a beautiful board book. My BIL got dd They Might Be Giants No! for Christmas. I thought maybe she would be a little young to enjoy it, but she loved it. She dances and claps to all the songs, especially No! I had to sell the Laurie Berkner cd we had. It was driving me nuts , kind of like a loud obnoxious battery operated toy that just won't stop. And that Victor Vito song kept going around in my head for days. Just my opinion though...no offense to Laurie Berkner fans :.

[AEZMama]

I've gotten some great downloads from smallages.blogspot.com. I also don't keep ds listening to "kids" music. One of his favorite songs is "Handle with Care" by The Traveling Wilburys. And of course Trout Fishing-I used to see their adults shows for years. Keith & Ezra are awesome!