Ben's Playlist - Friday, July 1, 2011

One Two Three Four - Feist
Cricket Little Cricket - Steve Weeks
The Wake Up Song - Lisa Loeb
Telstar - The Ventures
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Connected - Uncle Rock
Antmusic - Adam & the Ants
Stacy's Mom - Fountains of Wayne
The Rhyming Circus - Ralph's World

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 30, 2011

Wake Up - The Verve Pipe
Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
Flapjacks - Recess Monkey
Country Love - The Gourds
Gravy Waltz - Buddie Emmons
I Don't Wanna Wait - Bill Harley
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture
Turning Tables - Adele
Grandmom's House - Recess Monkey

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Dream of You - Alan Wolpert
Up the Junction - They Might Be Giants
The Time (The Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Your Favorite Book - Recess Monkey
When I Get Little - Dog On Fleas
Free Your Mind - En Vogue
Darwin - Artichoke
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Twistification - Dog on Fleas

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I Love New York- New York, New York - Glee
Things Behind the Sun - Nick Drake
Check It Out - Casper Babypants
Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse
Antmusic - Adam & the Ants
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
E=MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite
Octopus - Artichoke
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star - The Byrds
The Birth (Journey to the Light Part 2) - Cloud Cult

Ben's Playlist - Monday, June 27, 2011

Burn It To The Ground - Nickelback
Laser Show - Fountains Of Wayne
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Cocoanut Candy - Didi Pop
What's Your Name? - Meredith Brooks
Party In the CIA - Weird Al Yankovic
Cissy Strut - The Meters
You Might Think - Weezer
Flashlight - Fuzzy

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 24, 2011

Dream of You - Alan Wolpert
People Take Pictures of Each Other - The Kinks
Polka Face - Weird Al Yankovic
So So Good - The Good Miss Padgett
ÜBerlin - R.E.M.
Horse and Buggy - Kindercastle
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture
Onyonghasayo - Skankin' Pickle
Vacation - The Not-Its!
Octopus - Artichoke

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 23, 2011

Good People - Jack Johnson
Wake Up Clarinet - Oran Etkin
Poker Face (Glee Cast) (Feat. Idina Menzel) - Glee
Ridin' On a Pony - Dog On Fleas
Last Song - The Hipwaders
Halo / Walking On Sunshine - Glee
Perform This Way - Weird Al Yankovic
Jump So High - Jeremy Plays Guitar
Look Through Any Window - The Hollies
Sleigh Ride - The Jimmies
Enough Is Enough - Lori Henriques

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Bicycle - Frances England
The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
Ferris Wheel - Kindercastle
Sun Is Shining - Paul McCartney
E=MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite
Antmusic - Adam & the Ants
Wrong Thing - The Hipwaders
Green Submarine - Flannery Brothers

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Come To California - The Hipwaders
Bravest Kid In The World - Recess Monkey
Jen - Stacey Peasley
Ruling Me - Weezer
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
Happy - Dog on Fleas
One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic
We Could Be Pen Pals (w/Molly Ledford) - Billy Kelly

Ben's Playlist - Monday, June 20, 2011

Hey, Josie! - The Hipwaders
It's Hard To Be A Kid - Daddy A Go-Go
Bubble Test - Daniel Hales & the Frost Heaves
In the Land of Dreams - Kesang Marstrand
Hometown Glory - Adele
TV - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Sunshine - DeVotchKa
Mommy Saved The Day - Stacey Peasley
All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople

Peasley Pleases Pre-School Set

Toddling Tykes Stand By Stacey

It takes a great deal of dedication to focus your musical career on the whims of the six years-and-under set. For one thing, they will "age out" of your oeuvre pretty quickly. Secondly, they have no idea what "oeuvre" means. Finally, you need to keep the subject matter pretty basic. There will be no lessons about global economics hidden in a song like "Fun, Fun, Fun."

Boston area educator and performer Stacey Peasley has taken the job with a smile. A professional singer for over 15 years, she began to adapt her craft to children’s music in 2005 after attending shows with her older child and listening to children’s artists together.



Stacey started her performance career in the girl group “The Chiclettes,” where she developed a deep love and appreciation for the innocent, yet catchy songs of the girl-group era. "The beautiful melodies and sweet harmonies have been an inspiration in my songwriting," she said. The group continues today, with another set of performers.


As for "Fun, Fun, Fun," this is not exactly the Beach Boys version:

We like to go to museums

we like to go to the zoo

we like hearing rhymes at story time

thereʼs so much we can do


With a six-month-old in the house, we appreciate any song about having fun with a babysitter, which is definitely in our (new) son's future. So a big thumbs-up for "Jen," which joins Uncle Rock's "Rock and Roll Babysitter" in the must-play-in-the-future playlist. Mothers will be happy with "Mommy Saved the Day," while dads get a half-hearted dig in "Sleep Again":

Being in my room again is really boring

I'd rather be with Daddy even if he's snoring.


As stated, you're not going to find the solutions to climate change on a children's CD. But TOGETHER gives listeners 13 hummable numbers that will charm your youngest charges, and possibly give you a chance to catch up on adult pursuits (bill-paying, clean up, reading the paper, phone calls).

And a good thing about appealing to the younger set? You always have a new audience, every few years. You could safely say that Stacey Peasley aspires to be some children's first "favorite musician." And that outweighs the negatives.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 17, 2011

What Colour Is Your T Shirt? - Nick Cope
You're Not The Bossa Nova Me - Daddy A Go-Go
Rolling In the Deep - Adele
One Less Lonely Girl - Justin Bieber
Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Check It Out - Casper Babypants
Darwin - Artichoke
Gee Angel - Sugar
Loser Like Me - Glee
Nothin' On You - BoB ft. Bruno Mars

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 16, 2011

Dream of You - Alan Wolpert
Gravy Waltz - Buddie Emmons
The Wall - Yuck
Synonym Toast - Jeff Warren
Flying - Recess Monkey
I Don't Wanna Wait - Bill Harley
Twistification - Dog on Fleas
Let The Good Times Roll - Harry Nilsson
Grenade (Passion Pit remix) - Bruno Mars

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall - Coldplay
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Snack Time - RTTs
Hi 5 Dance - Flannery Brothers
The Daylight Strong - The Figgs
Dancing Queen - Glee
Little Brown Dog - The Missing Piece
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Buddy Holly's Got the Hiccups - Uncle Rock
When I Get Little - Dog On Fleas
High Hopes - Primate Fiasco
Willy Won't - Debbie and Friends
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah - Daddy A Go-Go
Horse and Buggy - Kindercastle
Flapjacks - Recess Monkey
My Funny Valentine - Ella Fitzgerald
Country Love - The Gourds
California Gurls - Katy Perry (Feat. Snoop Dogg)

Ben's Playlist - Monday, June 13, 2011

The City Grew Up Around Her - Caroline Herring
Hail The Creatures - Dan Zanes
Things Behind the Sun - Nick Drake
Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
Robot Pirate - Ratboy Jr.
Mighty Milo - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
I Meant To Do That - Jeremy Plays Guitar
I Shall Sing - Grenadilla
The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star - The Byrds

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 10, 2011

People Take Pictures of Each Other - The Kinks
Sunday Morning - GMG Jam
Burn It To The Ground - Nickelback
The Time (The Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
Scootdootdoodlydoo - Billy Kelly
Muriel's Hoof - Soft Boys
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse
In Wonder With the World - The Boogers
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
Sesame Street Theme - ScribbleMonster

7th CD Continues Simian Success of Recess Monkey

Fly Away With More Northwest Kindie Rock

The ever-prolific Recess Monkey trio (Daron, Jack, and Drew) is back with their unprecedented seventh CD in as many years. "Flying" renews their celebrated exploration of childhood themes, this time wrapped in a superhero motif.



Aside from the title track, the Monkey men sing about "The Bravest Kid in the World," "Invisible Friend," and "Sidekick," which gently considers how children determine just who is the hero and who is their sidekick:

We could build a motorbike, with a reinforced side car

Or design a super-copter, if we have to fly real far

The important thing is this, it just has to fit we two

And if you want to be the leader, I'll be the sidekick for you


You want guest appearances? How about a Dean Jones trombone solo? You also get Molly Ledford (from Lunch Money) for a duet on "Invisible Friend." Plus Caspar Babypants and even more.

Recess Monkey debuted after the trio met while working at the same Seattle school (they teach from Pre-K to third grade). "Welcome to Recess Monkey Town" was released in 2005 and has been followed by a succession of ever-deepening CDs: "Animal House" (2006), "Wonderstuff" (2007), "Tabby Road" (2008), "Field Trip" (2009), and "The Final Funktier" (2010).

We were introduced to Recess Monkey through Bill & Ella Child's Spare the Rock podcast. In the past year, we've managed to see them live three times. No small feat when we live across the country. First, they performed at Kindiefest 2010 in Brooklyn, where I recorded Marshmallow Farm:



We then caught them at Symphony Space over the winter. The big surprise was when they turned up at Kindiefest 2011 and joined the Verve Pipe on stage.

You Can Write A Song (featuring Recess Monkey)



Here's how I know that Ben is impressed by someone - he becomes shy. Whether it was a preschool instructor that he had a crush on, or a musician that he really likes. Not that he doesn't like some of the people he's met in person, such as Ashley and the Jimmies or Molly and Lunch Money. When Ben saw that Recess Monkey was in attendance, he grew a big smile - but he did NOT want to approach them after the show.

The Recess Monkey CDs are always in playing rotation in the car (our main source of traveling entertainment). With a baby now joining us for most trips, there is nothing more pleasing than a dose of Recess Monkey to help us pass the time on the road.

Recess Monkey know their audience and its parents. We don't want the kids over-stimulated or talked down to. The kids don't want constant commands ("Let's see you be a plane!") built into their songs. After all, do "adult" pop songs repetitively demand you "get on the dance floor..." uh, never mind... Bad comparison.

Who would ever think that a chimp would make a good role model for children? Simian puns aside, Recess Monkey appeals to all ages. A banana peel! Okay, I had to squeeze in one last reference. The male school teacher, for young children, is a rarity in our experience. And these guys have taken their day jobs and a love of music and produced a hearty selection of delightful tunes. In conclusion, get monked!

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 9, 2011

Don't Worry About the Government - Talking Heads
Keep It Green - Bill Harley
Rock Lobster - Billy Kelly
Bravest Kid In The World - Recess Monkey
Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
Caboose - Lunch Money
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah - Daddy A Go-Go
Cissy Strut - The Meters
All The Best - R.E.M.
Halo / Walking On Sunshine - Glee

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Mary Is Prepared to Rock - Bill and Ella
Up the Junction - They Might Be Giants
Collide - Howie Day
E=MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite
I Don't Wanna Wait - Bill Harley
Sugar Hiccup - Cocteau Twins
Bluebird - Christina Perri
Let The Good Times Roll - Harry Nilsson
Enough Is Enough - Lori Henriques

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Wake Up Clarinet - Oran Etkin
Wake Up - The Verve Pipe
Ruling Me - Weezer
Sunshine - DeVotchKa
Rolling In the Deep - Adele
Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
I Don't Want To Know - Glee
Flying - Recess Monkey

Ben's Playlist - Monday, June 6, 2011

I Love New York- New York, New York - Glee
You're Not The Bossa Nova Me - Daddy A Go-Go
Be Thankful For What You Got - Yo La Tengo
All The Animals - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Check It Out - Casper Babypants
ÜBerlin - R.E.M.
TV - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Octopus - Artichoke
Ridin' On a Pony - Dog On Fleas
Synonym Toast - Jeff Warren

Ben's Playlist - Friday, June 3, 2011

What Colour Is Your T Shirt? - Nick Cope
Dream of You - Alan Wolpert
Stronger Than Me - Amy Winehouse
Super Sonic Rocket Bike - The Bazillions
Type A Prayer - Alchemystics
Popcorn Tree - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Finiculi Finicula - Hollow Trees
Antmusic - Adam & the Ants
Nothin' On You - BoB ft. Bruno Mars
I Shall Sing - Grenadilla

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, June 2, 2011

Onyonghasayo - Skankin' Pickle
Country Love - The Gourds
One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic
Loser Like Me - Glee
Set Fire To The Rain - Adele
Atomic Dog - George Clinton
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture
All The Young Dudes - Mott The Hoople
Gravy Waltz - Buddie Emmons

A George Clinton double bill this am!