One Funky Lil' Song

Many of you might already know all about this, certainly the album to which I am going to sample from came out in August of last year. But perhaps you don't. I didn't get the CD till this week so hey. Back in 60s and 70s a guy by the name of Bruce Haack and his partner, Esther Nelson, they had this label called Dimension 5 Records. They would put out "children's albums" that are so wacky and weird you wonder how they survived. I think maybe schools must have bought this stuff. It was all electronic (some call him the father of electronic music) and of course, at times, vaguely educational. But weird, people. And the album titles: Captain Entropy, Hush Little Robot, The Way Out Record For Children, Ebenzer Electric, and my favorite, Electric Lucifer. He died in '88 in obscurity for the most part, although he did appear once on Mister Rogers. Emporer Norton released Listen Compute Rock Home but it's not easy to find now. And a Japanese label has released many of his earlier records on CD at about $30 a pop. There is even a DVD. Now, fast forward to August 05 and Eenie Meenie Records puts out The Dimension Mix: The Music of Bruce Haack and Esther Nelson. These are songs written for kids in the 60s and 70s and re-interpreted by artists today. The result? Mostly pretty bitchin. I absolutely LOVE the Beck track (the star of the CD, the next most known band being Stereolab or Eels)... it's called "Funky Lil' Song" and it is. The whole premise being, when you're sad, or if people are being lame, just sing yourself this funky lil song. Pretty genius, no? I wish I could find the original to that. I did find the original to "Upside Down" which is covered by the band Blue-Eyed Son. And I've posted it for your listening pleasure or displeasure as the case may be. Still, some of the songs are truly inspired. And the songs I like, I love. I mean I think there are some real keepers in here, the kind of songs that we will all enjoy for years to come. As an extra added bonus, the proceeds go to an Autism Foundation. Nice. So without further adieu, here are a few songs and a whole lotta links.

Beck, "Funky Little Song"
Fantastic Plastic Machine, "I'm Bruce"
Bruce Haack, "Upside Down"

Video: Stones Throw Singers, "Rain of Earth"

I highly recc'd this short video on Bruce:



More about: Dimension Mix, Bruce Haack, Cure Autism Now, Amazon's list of available Bruce Haack titles, Bruce Haack Fan Site.

Buy it here.

Grups

Two posts in one day! But this one contains no music, sadly. I just wanted to write and link to an article that was sent to me recently from New York Magazine. It's all about the closing generation gap, old people like myself dressing young (as my husband says, "it's frankly impossible to be forever 21") and spoon-feeding our children cool music. But in the end the author hits on something that I think has been driving both my husband and I, something we try to instill in our daily lives and therefore in our daughter, and that is passion. And for the record, my daughter does listen to plenty of "children's music," it's just not of the Barney or Wiggles variety because, well, why? There is plenty of good music that she does enjoy. And let me tell you, she's quite vocal about what she likes and dislikes and it certainly doesn't always correspond with my tastes. And also for the record, she has really good inherant style so the author is wrong on the whole toddlers don't have their own sense of style rant. And lastly I have to rail against the alterna-dad author for his lame quote about "Wilco being over." Whatever. Who says crap like that? But overall, a fascinating look at how our generation (or since I have no clue how old any of you are, my generation) has changed from our parents. Course, my parents listened to cool music (remember my Willie post?) so I think I'm a bit of an exception. My hubby's parents, now there was some god-awful (and god-fearing) music. Poor boy. Anyway, check it out. I'd be interested in hearing your opinions.

Up With Grups, by Adam Sternbergh

And thanks to Keith for the article.

I So Heart Hassle Hound

I almost couldn't wait to post today, that's how much I'm digging this particular song of this particular band. I heard Hassle Hound on the Staubgold CD Childish Music (more on that at another date, it's quite fun!) Their contribution to that CD, "Lucky Bugs Win Prizes" is a new favorite at our house. It's a little freaky-deaky and yet so very calming and pleasing too. These guys (and girl) from Glasgow sound like they're playing toy instruments, which they may in fact be, with loads of loops and samples and yet it's not really like any electronic music I am heretofore familar with. And the Staubgold obviously dig it a whole lot, they use the bug song as the theme music to their website. The second song is a bit more familar and not as enchanting but it's still cool playtime music. And it does have this nice little break where they start talking (or sampling?) Let's just leave it at, "I dig it." Their full length is on Pickled Egg Records. It's also available on eMusic and I say go get it. They've also done one of those Twisted Nerve split 45s.

Hassle Hound, "Lucky Bugs Win Prizes"
Hassle Hound, "Hallo to the Owl"

Since the song title speaks of bugs how about a bonus song that is possibly enjoyable for your kids, should be immensely enjoyable to you, recently posted by and courtesy of the lovely Heather at I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS.

Brendan Benson, "Insects Rule"

More about: Hassle Hound, the Childish Music CD

** PS- Check out Contrast Podcast, curated by Tim Young (of the face of today), it is my very most favorite podcast of late and not just cause I'm gonna be on the next one. The current one is themed "quadrupeds" and golly-gee if there aren't some awesome song picks. My favorite tune on the list is probably the Weakerthans track, posted by the blog Underqualified. But heck, it's all good. **

It's a nut I think

So in Hawaii, we went to the Kokua Festival, a benefit that Jack Johnson and his wife throw together. They did it on Maui and again on Oahu, the latter being the one we went to. It was at the Waikiki Shell, the sea of mostly youngins clutched their Jack towels like blankies and the air was thick with the smell of smoke. Hey, Willie was on the bill. As I stated before, Willie Nelson was great, really lively, his band was equally kicking and the set far too short. I missed Ben Harper (although saw him on the beach on the North Shore the day before with his kids and the lovely Ms. Laura Dern, what a handsome couple they are, geez.) And as I mentioned earlier, Jack was Jack, quite unassuming and charming enough, the kids dug it, and we had a big bushel of kids around us. The crowds, mostly there for him I'm quite sure, went nuts, especially when the sky opened up and dumped buckets of rain on the concertgoers. Not much of a review, I know. But I felt I should share a few songs, a few words, since it is a lovely cause and I did travel something like 2000 freaking miles with a four year old. The Ben track is from his latest. I think it's truly a wonderful song for a lullaby CD in both sound and sentiment. The Jack track is live from 03 from KCRW. And the Willie? Well it's all good. It's all good.

Ben Harper, "Happily Everafter In Your Eyes"
Jack Johnson, "Mud Football" (Live)
Willie Nelson, "On the Road Again"
Willie Nelson, "Georgia"

More about: Kokua Festival & Foundation

Okay that's it on Hawaii for now.

Come Back To Me

I'm back and ready and raring to post. Hopefully I haven't lost you all with my week long sojourn to Hawaii. It was a trip filled with much rain and turmoil (hubby landed in the hospital) and more but overall here are my impressions of Oahu (all apologies to those who live it and love it): it's so touristy that it's hard to find truly good food or good shopping or much good. The North Shore was only slightly less touristy because at least there we were able to find lovely gorgeous stretches of sand with not so many people on them, but that was only because the waves were uncharacteristically huge this time of year and we couldn't get within a few feet of the water. And with all that tourism, we still had crappy internet access at best. I was able to get online one day. One lousy day. If I'm not gonna get online, at least give me the quiet solitude of an island vacation. Eventually we did swim (tourist beach!) and we did eat well (conveyer belt sushi!) My daughter even ate sushi finally (cucumber, natch, but hey she ate it!) I think the conveyer belt pulled her in, it was just too fun to see food skootch on by her, she just had to eat it. Can you tell? That was the highlight for me. That, and seeing Willie Nelson, who seriously rocked the Waikiki Shell, but who played way too short (they had him on a tight schedule). Still, he was so fun and he really got the crowd grooving. My daughter, and the gaggle of girls she made friends with, all loved Jack Johnson. And when "Upside Down" came on they went crazy like little retro Beatles' fans. Me? I get the whole "we're hanging in a park and grooving to the mellow but upbeat tunes of this dude and his guitar," I get it, I do. And if I'm in a park or on the beach, it seems like a reasonable choice for the ol' iTunes, but otherwise, give me Wilco. Or the Flaming Lips. Or Sufjan. Or Willie. Or any of the thousand or so bands I love...

I have a bunch to post, all sorts of good stuff from bands who have sent me lovely CDs, to a handful of kids' CDs with a few good songs to just plain good music, so come on back to me folks.

A taste...

Haunani Kahalewai, "White Ginger Blossom"
The Pokipalas, "The Hawaiian Wedding Song"
Balafon Marimba Ensemble, "Caderas"
Pavement, "Blue Hawaii"


PS- the photo was taken at about 7:30 in the morning (hey, it was 10:30 to us, we'd been up for hours!) and that is Diamond Head in the background. Okay, I admit it, it's a purty place and we did have many good times. Sorry to be such a whiner. Um, mahalo.

Aloha!

All that hoopla about my 50th post and then I go and disapear. I meant to let you all know... I'm in Hawaii! And if you know where I live and are thinking about breaking in, I should warn you I have a vicious rottweiller and house-sitters that would make J.Lo's bodyguards cringe.

So I thought I would have access before this but not really and so here I am in a coffee shop barely getting bars trying to post. I'm in Waikiki, but later today we head to the North Shore for some serious relaxing. Why am I here? Oh this isn't just a norm vacation, I'm here to see Willie Nelson play at the Kokua Festival, courtesy of my hubby. So the next moment I get to post, I'll share some Hawaiian music, but today it's all about the Willie. I grew up with the man, not physically of course, but when you walked into my childhood home the very first thing you saw was a portrait of Willie Nelson (a good one I might add) that my mother painted. It hung eye level directly across from the front door. Since this is costing me, and I've got to get back to the rainy shores of Waikiki, I'll just get to the music. But needless to say, Willie is way wonderful for the little ones but his album of classics, Stardust, is my ultimate fave for my daughter.

Willie Nelson, "Someone To Watch Over Me"
Willie Nelson, "Georgia"
Willie Nelson, "Stay All Night"
Willie Nelson, "Rainbow Connection"

More about: Willie Nelson

*** P.S. If you emailed me recently and haven't heard from me, soon, soon. I got some great CDs in the mail, some awesome mail from y'all including a few guest lists I plan on posting, but they'll all have to wait as I can't email out currently. Maybe we get to the North Shore I can figure it out. ***

My 50th Post!

Where's my party? Heh heh.

From the same label that brought you Neko Case's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood—Mint Records. The band, Duplex, are mish mash of family and friends and it feels just like that: hokey, funny, adorable, familar, poppy and rather enjoyable. I dig this CD a whole lot and that is why it is here, on my 50th post... the post that should have been yesterday (I haven't missed a weekday posting in a whole long time) but perhaps I'll post tomorrow too. Yesterday just got away from me. Maybe some of you have felt that of late, oh yes, it's the wild siren call of spring break and my little one is home and it's been a most enjoyable yet most tiring week. Playdates a go-go. But back to Duplex and their album Ablum. It's just a sunny afternoon with the kids in audio format. It has the trumpet player who plays with AC Newman, someone from P:ano and another person or two from the Beekeepers and also a few kids and teens. Lots of hand claps (and I love that) and shout out choruses (love that too.) Oh yeah, and it's Canadian. They sure know how to party and make music up there in that northern province.

Duplex, "Ya Mama"
Duplex, "Hanu"
Duplex, "Mr. Slim"

More about Duplex

Chic-a-go-go!

I don't remember how I first heard about Chic-A-Go-Go, the cable access dance party show for all ages since I live in San Diego. But somewhere I did and I ordered the CD (i actually ordered three because if I remember correctly, they were selling for 3 for $10!) And it came and made me laugh a lot. It's some wacky stuff. I hadn't thought of it in some time but then yesterday I read a post on My Old Kentucky Blog about a band called The Telephone Company and how they have been on Chic-A-Go-Go. I'll write about them tomorrow, but today I thought I'd give you a taste of the craziness that is Chic-A-Go-Go in case you are uninitiated. It really is a punk rock soul train. And like Pancake Mountain, this show is led by a wise-cracking puppet (here named Ratso) and like that other show, it features plenty of punk rock bands heretofore unthought of as "for the kids." Although Chic-A-Go-Go's clan is a whole lot scruffier. This is some serious cable access kids. And I like it. Oh, and the CD has thirty-two songs and/or clips from the show. What a deal!

The Goblins, "Chic-A-Go-Go Theme"
Kelly Hogan, "The Great Titanic"
M.O.T.O., "Dance, Dance, Dance"

More about: The Chic-A-Go-Go TV Show

Lullababies (and Guest List Pt. 2, sort of)

So I've added a few more tracks to the Lullaby Mix from Heather of I AM FUEL YOU ARE FRIENDS, below in yesterday's post. That EZ Archive was acting up as it is prone to do. Wouldn't let me upload nothin'. Now that Heather has opened my eyes to the world of calm music for children (who woulda thunk?) ideas keep rushing through my brain at a speed that is anything but calm. It's not that I didn't try them out on my daughter, I think I did. And I know she does love that Eels song, the one from Shrek 2, "I Can't Sleep." I put that one on my own lullaby mix, the one I made for my pregnant friend that was about 50% ripped off of Heather's. Also to my list I added Alexi Murdoch's "Orange Sky" and Nick Drake's classic "Pink Moon," mostly because they look cool next to one another visually on a playlist, but of course, they sound loverly next to one another aurally as well. I'm not posting either of those because the Alexi song was recently on someone else's blog and the Nick Drake song may be the only reason people pick up his CD and the whole thing is pretty gorgeous so I don't want to tempt anyone away from it by supplying "the hit" here. I'm for anything off Willie Nelson's Stardust CD and so I picked "Someone to Watch Over Me" because it's thematically befitting. I am not posting that now because as I said yesterday, I'll be gone next week, sort of kind of, and where I'll be has to do with Willie so I'll be posting him at the end of the week. So in the interest of keeping this entry of reasonable length, I'm gonna post two covers I placed on my own lullaby mix. Two covers that are so fantastically re-worked from the original arrangements that they stand on their own, giving the songs different undertones of meaning. And as an extra added bonus, they may put your kiddies to sleep!

M Ward, "Let's Dance" (from KCRW)
Inara George, "Fools in Love"

More about: M Ward, Inara George

** Don't forget to check out the tracks added to the post below.**

Guest List

I went to a baby shower for an old friend (well she's not old and for that matter neither am I, really, but you know what I mean) this weekend in Los Angeles. It was crazy good to see old friends, especially ones with tummies protruding in peculiar ways. It was crazy good to stay with the loveliest of friends who want to talk about what motivates us and inspires us, engaging and inspirational through and through. Anyway, I brought my pal a quiet CD of music, lullabies sort of, kind of, and the idea for that came from a new friend (young friend?) Heather from I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS (I love that she does the whole CAPS THING.) Isn't it odd, but I had always given rousing music, stirring music, not calming music as gifts. What does that say about me? So I made up a CD of sweet beauties, many from Heather's own list of Lullabies, which I share with you from her to me to you. I love being the middle man. She also sent over the peanut butter to this jelly in the form of a "Playtime" mix but I am gonna hold on to that till next week when I'm gone. (More on that later.) So without further adieu, Heather's Cool Kid Lullaby Mix with a few MP3s. Have fun seeking out the rest...

1. Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
2. Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Mama Cass
3. Be Still My Child - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
4. Blackbird - Beatles
5. Twilight - David Gray
6. La Noyee - Carla Bruni
7. Baby Mine - Alison Krauss
8. The Nearness of You - Norah Jones
9. Out Of The Woods - Nickel Creek
10. The Rainbow Connection - Sarah McLachlan
11. Love Me Tender - Norah Jones
12. Sweet Baby James - James Taylor
13. The Sea and The Rhythm - Iron & Wine
14. Like A Star - Corinne Bailey Rae
15. All My Life - Evan Dando
16. Heartbeats - Jose Gonzales
17. The Long Day Is Over - Norah Jones
18. Common Thread - Bobby McFerrin
19. Can't Help Falling In Love - Eels
20. Can I Stay? - Ray LaMontagne
21. Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) - Dixie Chicks


Thank you Heather. Love the mix, love your blog. If you folks don't read it yet, I highly suggest you do, she's my desert island blog.

More about: I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS; Iron & Wine; Corinne Bailey Rae; Evan Dando; Jose Gonzales; Eels; Ray LaMontagne

Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah

A while back Go! Team were on Letterman or Conan or one of those and we faux-Tivo'd it and played it for my daughter. She went ga-ga, I mean kooky girls dressed in matching outfits that vaguely resembled something like cheerleader uniforms (not that she really knows what a cheerleader outfit is, she hasn't seen any to my knowledge... we're soccer fans, no gals in short skirts there thankfully.) She asked me to play it over and over so she could "learn the dance." The music doesn't always do it for her w/o the video attached, but sometimes when she just feels like shaking her bottom, and that's fairly often folks, this does the trick.

The Go! Team's videos are pretty fun, especially the one for Ladyflash, so I've included the link to their video page, it has a couple. Good times.

Go! Team, "Ladyflash"
Go! Team, "Huddle Formation (RJD2 mix)"

Go! Team "super-8" page of videos

More about: Go! Team

Me and My Arrow

Most people over the age of 30 or so remember The Point, singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson's pop fable from 1971. The story of a round headed boy (Oblio) in a pointy world. I was probably about seven or so when my mom got us this record and I have to say, I thought it pretty hipyy drippy even then, at 7. It still smacks a little too much of the 70s for my taste, but it is sweet, with a lovely message so I try to push past it on occasion. I love the needlepoint cover. And it's not that I don't love Nilsson—he did write "One" afterall, a genius song (Three Dog night, later covered by Aimee Mann for the Magnolia soundtrack.) And the theme to The Courtship of Eddie's Father, though mega-sappy, is sooo delightfully sweet. And then there is Nilsson's big promotion of Randy Newman, a very very big fave of mine (he recorded a whole album of Newman songs.)

Harry Nilsson, "Everything's Got 'Em"
Harry Nilsson, "Me and My Arrow"
Harry Nilsson, "Are you Sleeping"

Bonus Song: Harry Nilsson, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" Theme

The Point tracks are from vinyl so for the whole story, remastered and clean sounding, buy it here.

Freeze Frame!

Three old tracks that are bright and fresh for the kiddles. There isn't anything tying this group together, just a random sampling from the smAll Ages file, but they do each elicit their own dance style: The Beat gets a fast and furious skank with "freeze dance" breaks, the Jones' gets a sweeping cross between Vegas showgirl and ballerina (executed by a four year old) and the Cramps calls for a scary almost interpretitive movement, not too dis-similar from something you would have seen Lux do back in the day, with a little "I'm Gidget and I can surf" flair thrown in for toddler measure. All in all, a rollicking good time.

The Beat, "Ranking Full Stop"
Tom Jones, "What's New Pussycat"
The Cramps, "GooGoo Muck"

And you thought I was gonna post some J. Geils didn't you? Maybe next time.

Princesses & Ponies

Since today is Tuesday and my daughter's name is Tuesday and this blog was inspired by her I thought today I'd let her pick 'em. These are perhaps her all time favorite songs. But then, just like the fickle chick she is, she said, "I don't like those anymore."

Well okay then.

Butterfly Boucher (with David Bowie), "Changes" (from the Shrek 2 soundtrack)
Jem, "They"

Oh and she is quite certain David Bowie is the voice of Donkey in the movie and not Eddie Murphy. She'll arm wrestle you over it.

More about: Jem, Butterfly Boucher

Drums are good too.

Three random songs today that my kid enjoys, all generally enjoyable as well.

What is it that makes a child, or even more specifically my child enjoy one song over another? I haven't entirely figured that out, whenever I think I have, she surprises me. She definitely loves female singers singing prettily because it reminds her of princesses and ponies somehow. (She is four, still very much in the Disney Princess stage alas.) She likes songs that she can sing along to. She likes songs with hard beats and shout outs. She likes songs with silly phrases and goofy lyrics and it's even better when its repetitive. But those ingredients don't always make for great fun as far as she's concerned. And sometimes I can't figure out what she sees in a song at all. How about your children? Do you see a clear connection between song structure and response?

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, "Bim Bom"
Talking Heads, "And She Was"
Le Tigre, "Hot Topic"

More on the artists: Le Tigre, Sergio Mendes, Talking Heads
The latest Sergio Mendes CD, Timeless, is out and the tracks I've heard are fabulous. Lots of wonderful guests. You can download it at eMusic.

I appreciate all your suggestions and emails. In fact, I love it. Thanks for making me feel swell.

Mr. Sprinkler, Mr. Sprinkler

I was gonna finish off the week on Friday with one of my favorite superheroes, Space Ghost, but couldn't get the darn disc to play and then had internet problems and so, here it is now Saturday. And April Fools' at that. But I don't have any brilliant jokes or tomfoolery so I think I'll just go with the whole, it's Saturday and I never post on Saturday and we here in this household love a particular Saturday song. And there is another we think is funny. So bring on the Saturday!

De La Soul, "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'"
Bay City Rollers, "Saturday Night"

And if your children's palate is a sophisticated one you may try this, or you may wanna keep it for yourself.

Bonus Track:
Kaiser Chiefs, "Saturday Night"

Till Monday...

More about: Kaiser Chiefs, De La Soul