Of all the main superheroes, Batman seems to have the least songs written about him. Why do you think that's so? Sure Superman could be a generic term like, "he's a super man" or "super clea." (You do know Clea was Dr. Strange's daugher don't you? I come by this naturally.) But Spiderman? I mean the premise behind Batman is so much more interesting: he chose this way of life, this dark do-gooder stance, where as it was thrust upon Spiderman by one colossal accident. Just a thought.

Basically, in the realm of Batman songs, they are all the same thing: variations on the theme.

But when doing a little web searching for songs I found a most interesting post on WFMU's blog regarding a 1966 LP that I actually own (but haven't quite figured out how to record yet, 'nother story, 'nother day.) Apparently this gem was allegedly an un-credited session with Sun-Ra's Orkestra and Al Kooper's Blues Project. I knew the versions on this LP were pretty fabulous and a touch beyond. Could this be true or blown steam, a May 30th sort of joke? The blog has put up all the MP3s for us and they are groovy. And familar. They sound like other songs because they are in fact really other songs. Read about it in WFMU's words since this is the first I've learned about all this truth and/or fiction. These songs, and the ones I've posted below, are all fairly good background music for the littles. I mean, they can't sing along, save for "Batman! Batman! Batman!" so someone like oh, my daughter, gets a bit bored.

And of course, the Naked City track is loose doozy with the likes of John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz and friends blowing through the track like sloppy jazz drunks on a hot day. You probably only need one theme... pick your flavor.

Batman & Robin (Sun Ra) record

Naked City, "Batman"
David McCallum, "Batman Theme"
The Who, "Batman"
Neil Hefti, "Batman Theme"

The Jam, Iggy and purportedly the Flaming Lips (I never heard it) also covered the tune, but alas I don't have those.

Speaking of my daughter singing along... ahem. I apologize.

Extra Not-Such-A-Bonus Bonus Track:
Tuesday True, "Sheena is a Punk Rocker"

Happy Thursday.

Today's superhero of choice is Spiderman. I'm tired. Just putting them up. The most notorious is the Ramones version but I don't have that here. I do however have a link to the You Tube video for it (funny stuff.) I like that we've got the girls' version (Candy Band) vs. the boys' version (Mr. T Experience). Of course, my daughter prefers the girls because she's just such one. And did you know Doogie is the current voice of Spidey? I just learned that. Fascinating.

Candy Band, "Spiderman"
Mr. T Experience, "Spiderman"
Big Youth, "Spiderman Meets the Hulk"
Ookla the Mok, "Super Powers"

Extra Bonus Song:
Aquabats, "Tarantula"

Extra Bonus Videos:
And the You Tube link: Ramones "Spiderman" video
Also, a video of the intro to the live action Spiderman TV show

More info on the bands? Candy Band; Ookla the Mok; Aquabats; Mr. T Experience.

Someone please leave me a comment, I feel so alone.

No, it's Superman. Yesterday's Johnny Wakelin tune had me thinking that this week should be superhero week and today I am going to cover Clark Kent's alter ego Superman. My little one loves the REM song and cracks up all over the place when Cosby tells his really cheesy joke. Now remember the super 70s disco hit "Superman" by Herbie Mann. (Get it? Super Mann. Ugh.) It is such a ridiculously silly dance tune, perfect for the kids to hustle to. And it's got flute! (It is Herbie after all.) I've included John Williams' theme to the Superman movie (which sounds soooo much like his theme to Star Wars, but whose paying attention really?) This one is super for the kids as background music to their own imagined movies starring them as their super hero of choice (My daughter: Super fairy princess!) Lastly I included XTC's "That's Really Super, Supergirl" because I love XTC and I thought Supergirl should be representing. Don't know how good it is really for the little ones, but it's worth a try.

REM, "I am Superman"
Bill Cosby, "Superman"
Herbie Mann, "Superman"
John Williams, "Theme from Superman"
XTC, "That' Really Super, Supergirl"


Note I did not include such non-super Superman songs like those from Eminem, Wesley Willis or Good Charlotte. I could have included the Scrubs theme (Lazlo Bane) or the fab Flaming Lips' "Waitin for a Superman," or the Kinks "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman" but my kid doesn't care for them and she is my arbiter of kiddie taste.

No, not me, uh him. Ali. You may have thought I'd taken the easy road with that last Beatles post and you may be right but holler if I didn't redeem myself with this nice little nugget. My daughter loves this first song and yes, it's hilarious and hilariously wrong for her to be singing along (she knows all the lyrics) and she has been known to whip this one out at perhaps inappropriate times but who cares, that's what kids are for (or one of the many reasons at least.) There are a lot of songs about Muhammad Ali (as proof check out this bitchin CD) but Johnny Wakelin's is my favorite. Wakelin had another Ali hit in the UK called "In Zaire." But I don't have that one here. This one is just so over the top. In addition to this fabulous track I give you Muhammad Ali's "theme song" which showed up on many albums, including Ali vs. Tooth Decay, a small slice of seventies-era insanity that pits the fighter against yes, gingivitus, and includes the guesting vocals of Richie Havens, Frank Sinatra and Howard Cosell. Don't believe me? See for yourself, below.

Johnny Wakelin, "Black Superman"
Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest"
Muhammad Ali & Frank Sinatra, "Ice Cream is Evil"

Now this is kids' music people.

Yesterday: The Rutles. The natural regression is Bonzo Dog Band (which I couldn't find sadly) or yeah, maybe um, the Beatles. And my daughter loves pretty much any song or record she's heard from them. I could post anything really and it'd be an almost guaranteed hit. But then, should I? You just know I could get in it for this one. Still, I don't think I have enough readers to warrant a worry (or a warrant for that matter.) So, here goes. Randomly selecting a couple of tunes.

Oh, and the Beatles cartoon... remember it? We were all on holiday in Austin, in a hotel, flipping channels and there it was. My daughter thought it was the greatest thing. Ever. And so, I present to you the song. The quality? Crappy, but who cares.

The Beatles, "When I'm 64"
The Beatles, "With a Little Help From My Friends"
The Beatles, "I am the Walrus"
The Beatles Cartoon Theme Song

You so know where to buy the Beatles (and it ain't on iTunes.)

Oh and remember, you can post comments now! We're new & improved.

Your kids like The Beatles. Your kids have a rocking sense of humor, especially acute when things turn silly. So it stands to reason your kids will dig The Rutles. Freaking Neil Innes and Eric Idle are Ron Nasty and Dirk McQuickly. This all started in '75 on Idle's British TV show but culminated in '78 when they were on SNL and then released the mocumentary, "All You Need is Cash." I should probably dig out some Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band too... maybe tomorrow.

The Rutles, "Piggy in the Middle"
The Rutles, "Cheese and Onions"
The Rutles, "Goose-Step Mama"
The Rutles, "Ouch!"

A few good fan sites detail the whole shebang.
Try this one, or this one. Buy the CD. And the DVD.

OH and now anyone can post comments (I didn't realize I had it turned on members-only. That's so 80s of me.) Thanks Guy!

Janis Martin may have been called "the female Elvis," but unlike Wanda Jackson, she didn't really know him. It was just a name the label gave her to sell more records, one she wasn't too comfortable with supposedly. Anyway, she has said she was a Carl Perkins fan. Heh-heh. She was a teenager when she recorded these songs and I think it shows, in a good way and not in that Avril-Lavigne-I'm-still-a-teenager-but-I'm-not way. Included is the her cover of Roy Orbison's "Oob Dooby." And "Bang Bang" is as close as I get to letting my youngin' play with guns. Anyway, more two-minute hoedown ditties for the kiddies. And you.

Janis Martin, "Bang, Bang"
Janis Martin, "Ooby Dooby"
Janis Martin, "Cracker Jack"

There are plenty more gems. Pick up a greatest hits Janis Martin CD, like this Bear Family one, at Amazon.

Today's entry is all swinging rockabilly girl love with the fabulous Wanda Jackson. From 1956 to the early 60s Wanda produced some kick ass tracks that have all the growl and snarl of a wild woman letting loose on a barroom of bears. The story goes that Elvis suggested she try out the rockabilly sound (they were an item there for awhile, she was singing your basic country jamboree) and so she did with "I Gotta Know." She had a huge hit with "Let's Have a Party" but it's "Fujiyama Mama" (an Earl Burrows song) that she became most known for. Listen to her raw femme power on that one folks... it's just plain exciting. I have the Pearl Harbor version of the song on vinyl, but haven't quite figured out how to to record my albums (I have tried the mic jac to mic jac and it just sounds like crud - any suggestions? If so, email me please.) So dig out the cowgirl hats and have a kid-sized hoedown. And tomorrow? Why it's the gal known as the Female Elvis!

Wanda Jackson, "Fujiyama Mama"
Wanda Jackson, "Let's Have a Party"

Buy some Wanda CDs at Amazon.

Well unofficial Krofft week is officially over but check this out: My hubby dug the last two boxes of CDs out from the garage and lo and behold, there was my "Television's Greatest Hits" CD complete with MUCH HIGHER QUALITY versions of "Sigmund & the Sea Monsters" and "Land of the Lost" plus, the Banana Splits theme. So, I HAD to post them, making this the unofficial week two of the the unofficial Krofft thingamabob. Oh whatever, here they are:

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters theme song
Land of the Lost theme song
Banana Splits theme song (Tra La La La)

Along for the ride, a song from the album pictured. That's right the doggies sing.

The Banana Splits, "Soul"

And because it wouldn't be right to just post theme songs, here is an 80s favorite, not PC at all for the kids, but certainly a hilarious sing-a-long.

Wall of VooDoo, "Mexican Radio"

Dance Party Friday? Oh no. Here is the DJ who goes by Ursula 1000. What's his name? Oh, here it is, Alex Gimeno. You know the drill: fake 60s hipster sounds spiraling all over the place. It's shagadelic. Ugh! Someone stick a sock in me. It can be fun though. Right? Anyone? Let's just enjoy the Incredibles re-mix and the ska song with dance beats, laughing and coughing! The latter is a new song from a new CD that's not yet released. It's fun if not entirely memorable. And to finish off the unofficial Krofft week? Two for the price of one! Big hats! Big feet!

Ursula 1000, "Incredibles Remix"
Ursula 1000, "Two Tone Rocka"
Lidsville Theme Song
Big Foot and Wildboy Theme

The Ursula 1000 site. There are more tunes on eMusic and of course you can buy their CD at Amazon.

A place I go often. And the name of Petra Haden's 1999 CD, her first full-length solo venture into the world of a capella vocal-lapping. I wrote about Petra today on my other blog, Yer Little Sister, so I thought why not cover her here as well. Some of these songs are just childlike in their joy and silliness. In case you don't know, Petra released Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out, which featured her covering the entire Who album mostly a capella. I've included one of the "commercials" from that release and two from Imaginaryland. Of Imaginaryland, she's actually said in an article that is was kind of a children's record— the idea came from a bear her sister found that she dubbed "Imaginary Bear." Apparently Imaginary Bear was "a boozer and a loser" and has now made it his mission to make everyone happy. Was she prophetic with her '99 release of "Look Both Ways Before You Cross" song? (She was hit by a car in 2000 and was in a coma!) Weird. But not as weird as my latest Krofft theme masterpiece! Check it.

Petra Haden, "Heinz Baked Beans"
Petra Haden, "Look Both Ways Before You Cross"
Petra Haden, "Bach Prelude No. 2"
Sigmund & The Sea Monsters theme song

Oh and just in case you don't know, Petra is a member of the Rentals with one of her triplet sisters, Rachel and she's in the Decemberists. And of course you can hear more of her music at my other blog, Yer Little Sister. Anyway, buy Imaginaryland. Visit Petra Haden's site.

I almost feel silly posting about Jonathan Richman. I mean, if ever there was an obvious choice for this blog, well this is it. But what the hey. I promise it doesn't mean I've run out of ideas. It just means, well, it means today will be easier than tomorrow or yesterday, that's all. Jonathan, master of the ridiculously silly song and un-ironic delivery, we praise you (or rather, I praise you.) And hey, like the Beatles or Zep, you cannot download this stuff on iTunes. So, enjoy. And you know there are a zillion more your kids will dig. Oh and lastly, since I'm on that Krofft kick, I've included yet another Krofft classic theme, below. It's unofficially Krofft week!

Jonathan Richman, "Abominable Snowman in the Market"
Jonathan Richman, "Hey There Little Insect"
Jonathan Richman, "Buzz Buzz Buzz"
Land of the Lost theme song

Here is an extensive fan page. Buy Jonathan records at Amazon.

Since I already forgot about last week's promise to make Mondays, "Angsty Mondays" I thought I'd jump ship right-quick and go for Angsty Tuesday. Which is funny to me since my daughter's name is Tuesday. And she sure can be angsty. But anyway. If you got kids who like to turn the volume to 11 and dance and scream and pogo, you may wanna try out Rancid. Because of the ska beats, these songs make for EZ, crazed dance-party-a-go-gos. Of course the cursing is out of control on many of these songs, which may or may not be a problem for you. I didn't include "Bloodclot" for that very reason. These appear to be mostly clean. Mostly. Nothing too glaringly, "Oops." And since yesterday I mentioned the Krofft's I thought, why not include the best (okay maybe not the best, but certainly the longest) story-song-TV-theme of all time, "HR Pufnstuf." It seems like the perfect foil to the cute-sy Rancid rage.

Rancid, "Time Bomb"
Rancid, "Wolf"
Rancid, "Hooligans"
Paul Simon, "HR Pufnstuf" theme

More Rancid is available on eMusic and iTunes for download.

Yesterday we went to Noggin's kid-music-fest Jamarama, only because Dan Zanes was headlining. I say only because I'm not a fan of that Milkshake band. I know other folks who like a lot of the same stuff I do like them, but it's still too hokey for me, without any payoff. And the opener was bloody awful, a "band" called the Ohmies. I can't begrudge my daughter for smiling through the craptastic set or admiring the lead girls' butterfly outfits. I myself was a big Bugaloo fan in the 1970s and really, are the Ohmies any worse than anything the Kroftt's churned out? Maybe, maybe not. Still, you won't be getting any Ohmies mp3s from me.

But back to Dan: he's a full fledged rock star to us. I know I'm all about the adult music for kid thing and I think that's what Dan does but with a twist. He's the Pete Seeger of our generation and then some, only modern with a slight punk rock undertone to the whole proceedings. He does the kid thing so darn well, I think it's just a respect for everyone and their intelligence and taste. Even though his set was short (too short, way too short) it was still quite the party and I enjoyed it as much as my daughter, which is to say a lot.

The other thing I did this weekend was finally see "I Walk the Line." I didn't want to see it all that much, I just assumed for many reasons, I'd be let down. Well I was wrong. I thought the performances were so darn good they certainly overshadowed any script issues for me. And it got me thinking... are there any Johnny Cash songs good for the youngins? Why, of course!

Dan Zanes, "All Around the Kitchen" (with Loudin Wainwright III)
Johnny Cash & June Carter, "Daddy Sang Bass..."
The Bugaloos, "Theme Song"

See the Dan Zanes videos for "Smile" and "Hello, Hello" on Noggin. (Scroll down half way.) *And that's my daughter holding the balloon at the end of the Smile one!

Most everyone with kids already knows about Dan Zanes, but if you're an uncle or aunt or friend of a new parent, the best gift you can give would be one of his many CDs. They always feature a few other artists like Lou Reed or John Doe or Aimee Mann or Roseanne Cash on a song or two. You can find Dan Zanes at Dan Zanes.com and his CDs are available on CDBaby and Amazon. You know where to find Johnny Cash.

Having hard day. Must post quick. Jazz-pop, white women.

Blossom Dearie, voice of many Schoolhouse Rock tunes ("Unpack my Adjectives" anyone?) Namesake for hat-wearing 80s TV character. All around swinging chick. And Rosemary Clooney, denture-wearing aunt to George, candy-lover, jazz pop artiste. I've reposted Betty Hutton's "Oh So Quiet" too because she fits in with this crowd.

Blossom Dearie, "Doop-Doo-De-Doop"
Rosemary Clooney, "Come On-A My House"
Betty Hutton, "Oh So Quiet"

I so wanted to name my daughter Six like Blossom's best friend. Hubby wasn't having it. See you Monday right here. Till then...

There has been lots of talk about this Saint Etienne kids' CD. I think it was supposed to be a full length release at some point. But ultimately they released "Up the Wooden Hills" (a six-song EP) alongside their Tales From the Turnpike CD in the UK. And I love it—like candy. It's danceable, electro-pop with a kid kicker. Sarah Cracknell's voice is just as loverly as ever. "You Can Count on Me" sounds like one of their brit pop hits, but with counting (in English! In Spanish!) to really bring it on home for the little ones. But I haven't included that song here. I'm just gonna put two up, because I really encourage you to pick it up, even though it is import only now. You get the cracking' good Tales of the Turnpike House, too, after all. So on with the two songs I like best today (may change tomorrow!)

Saint Etienne, "Let's Build a Zoo"
Saint Etienne, "Excitation"

Links are working now!

Buy the import CD. Visit their site.

That's the name of a podcast and blog featuring ... kids' music. And not the Wiggles. The radio show is hosted by Bill and his daughter Ella (who is in first grade) and it's a hoot. Bill posts his playlists too, so you (and ok, me) can get some cool ideas for more, more, more music. Bill features a lot of the artists who have traditional 'adult' bands (for lack of a betta word) by night and kid rock bands by day. So to his site, where you can sign up for the ol' podcast and even hear MP3s of previous shows:

Spare The Rock: The Radio Show

There were two songs from his New Years' Eve show that I liked especially. One is so hokey with a capital H, a true "kids" song, but it's the kind of song my daughter will squeal over. Do I wanna hear it over and over and over... no. But every now and again you give in just to see that certain smile. The song, a Q&A ditty, is by Billy Jonas and it is called "What Kind of Cat Are You?" Within two listens I guarantee she will be hollering "Cataclysm" back at the stereo.

The other song that I heard on the show was Spoon's "Fitted Shirt." I like Spoon a lot and I'd heard this song before, but not in this context, so here it is. It reminded me of a song (in content, not in style) from my hammock-swinging, hippy-dippy childhood by Donovan called "I Love My Shirt." And so, here you go:

Billy Jonas, "What Kind of Cat Are You?"
Spoon, "Fitted Shirt"
Donovan, "I Love My Shirt"

Tomorrow... Saint Etienne....

I'm not usually a big fan of the "indie rockers make comp CDs for kids" genre. Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of it all. But the execution is usually so-so at best. There is always really cheesy filler, mis-steps that go awry (and not in a good way) and all-around hokey, without the pokey. One of the better ones, I think, is the well-titled, "The Bottle Let Me Down: Songs for Bumpy Wagon Rides" from Bloodshot Records. Don't get me wrong, it's not all good. And even when you think it will be good, because of a particular artist, it can still fail. But we enjoy a handful of these songs often. So I've picked a few of our faves to share. There are more good ones on the CD, so don't hesitate to pick it up if you see it at your local store. (I also have a link to it, as well, at the bottom of this here post.) And I don't care if "I'm My Own Grandpa" is hokey, it makes us all smile big as we sing along.

Asylum Street Spankers, "I'm My Own Grandpa"
Kelly Hogan, "Senor El Gato"
Rex Hobart, "It's Not Easy Being Green"
Devil in a Woodpile, "Funky Butt"

And really, is there a kid on earth who can resist a song called "Funky Butt"? Buy The Bottle Let Me Down if you like your tunes with twang. 26 songs total. You'll find Robbie Fulks, Alejandro Escovdeo, Rosie Flores and more along for the ride.

For more Rex Hobart, click Rex Hobart. Kelly Hogan can be found here. The Asylum Street Spankers hang out here. I like them a lot, I think I will be writing about them more soon. Those Devil in a Woodpile boys are cool too.

I'm thinking of making Mondays "Angsty Mondays" and only showcasing bands and songs that are perfect for you and your littles ones when you're amped up on sugar coco puffs and it's raining outside and you've just got to work it on out but there is no place to go but up and down, up and down, up and down. To kick off my potential "Angsty Mondays" (I'm not sold on the idea just yet, I have a hard time committing) I bring you Supernova. They recorded a few records and a bunch of singles in the late-90s. They were on Amphetamine Reptile for awhile and Sympathy for the Record Industry and they are no longer. 95% of their songs had one-word titles.

Supernova, "Books"
Supernova, "Chewbaca"
Supernova, "Oreo"

You can download more tunes on emusic.

There's been quite a bit written about this comp in the blogosphere already, back since Devember even, but since this here blog is about kids' music or rather, music we can all enjoy, I gots to cover it. See You On The Moon is another one of these compilations created for kids, by adults who assemble cool indie bands together and have them make, or cover, a song for the kiddles. This one comes to us from Paper Bag Records.

There has been a lot of talk about how bad the Broken Social Scene cover of "Puff the Magic Dragon" is. People... Puff is a really, really sucky song. No, really. Even Gregory Isaacs' version blew. It's simply not BSS's fault. Anyway, judge for yourself.

Here is the tracklisting, the couple of "blue" songs being links so you can get a preview / headstart.

01. Alan Sparhawk (he of Low) - Be Nice to People With Lice
02. Great Lake Swimmers - See You On The Moon!
03. Sufjan Stevens - The Friendly Beasts
04. Montag - Kiddo 1
05. Apostle of Hustle feat. The Husky's - 24 Robbers
06. Junior Boys - Max
07. Broken Social Scene - Puff The Magic Dragon(rejected version)
08. FemBots - Under The Bed
09. Montag - Kiddo 3
10. Glissandro 70 - Voices are Your Best Friend
11. Mark Kozelek - Leo and Luna
12. Detective Kalita - Baby Brother
13. Montag - Kiddo 2
14. Hot Chip - I Can't Wake Up
15. Kid Koala feat. Lederhosen Lucil - Fruit Belt
16. Montag - Bonne Nuit Etienne
17. Rosie Thomas - Faith's Silver Elephant

Folks, it's due out in a few weeks, March 21st, 2006 to be exact. Pre-order it here.

The Incredible Moses Leroy was a band, not a person, although Moses Leroy was a person, but he wasn't in the band, he was the band leader's great grandfather. The band leader, Ron Fountenberry decided somewhere along the line the name wasn't working for them (people always thought he was Incredible and he was named Moses, and as you can imagine, it led to seriously high expectations) and so he has changed the name of the band (for other reasons too, I'm sure) to Soft Lightes. With an "e" at the end of light. That part is completely inexplicable to me and makes me want to refer to them as the Soft Light-ies. Which is wrong. Back to Moses. Their CD "Electric Pocket Radio" had this childlike whimsical thing going on that just makes you want to eat cotton candy and skip. Any song with whistling and "la la's" makes me happy. The stuff that came later has a different feel, still fabulous, but not so obviously perfect for the kiddles. They are just finising their first CD offically as the Soft Lightes now. Meanwhile, you can enjoy these two tracks from the first, and a video for "Fuzzy" which is actually cute in its simplicty. Again, these tracks are not from the above pictured CD. That one is filled with lovely songs too, though.

The Incredible Moses Leroy, "It's a Sunday"
The Incredible Moses Leroy, "Fuzzy"

You can also view the video for "Fuzzy" here. Their site is located here, although not much is there currently. Buy their terrific CDs here.