Parry Gripps the Holidays

The novelty song is a staple of the music industry, going back further than I can even fathom. For our purposes, let's use "The Twist." The song was first released by Hank Ballard (as a B-side of a 45) in 1958. 18-year-old Chubby Checker's version two years later rocketed the song into popular consciousness. In 1962, the song returned to Number 1 – the only time that's ever happened in Billboard Hot 100 history. The song also pigeonholed Chubby as a novelty maestro and he returned to the well dozens of times, including "Let's Twist Again" in 1962, "L-82" in 1982, a mashup with the Fat Boys in 1988, and a country version in the 1990s.

Children's recording artist Parry Gripp has dropped "Jingle Burgers" for December consumers. Parry is double-dipping on the success of his earworm of delirium, "It's Raining Tacos," with a holiday-inspired "It's Raining Tacos (For Christmas)." It's not much of a stretch to expect SiriusXM's Kids Place Live to pound all flavor out of the number during this festive season.

This is not an all-inclusive, check-off-the-denominations holiday collection. Virtually every song contains the word "Christmas," not that there's anything wrong with that. Similar to a rapper marking his territory when he breaks rhymes, Parry has cast a pretty determined net. The three songs without the "C" word are "Jingle Burgers" (which hews pretty closely to "Raining Tacos"), as well as "Pancakes We Have Cooked On High" (think 'Angels We Have Heard On High' with 'yummy yummy yummy' chorus) and "Pirate Santa Claus," which brings me full circle as far as rapping goes.

I'm not raining on Parry's parade. He promises 100% ridiculous holiday fun. If you're consumed with his special brand of infectious novelties, then here's another dozen thumbs up (including release-closer "Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas Christmas"). Merry JINGLE BURGERS for all, and to all, a festive twist.

Get JINGLE BURGERS from Parry's website, Apple Music, and Amazon.

Here is the new video for "Raining Tacos (for Christmas)":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 24, 2020 (Matt's 10th Birthday)

Stars – Ants Ants Ants
Lost And Loving It – Kepi Ghoulie
Grandmaderation – The Okee Dokee Brothers
I'm an Optimist – Dog On Fleas
New Pair Of Shoes – The Bazillions
Your Love is a Metaphor  – Danny Weinkauf
You Can Get It If You Really Want – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Caspar Babypants Growing Up? Perish the Thought!

The prolific Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew) is back with more infantile hijinks and hilarity on his 18th children's music release, HAPPY HEART! The 20 quirky and capricious tunes promises to be the penultimate collection of Babypants material. Earlier this year, Chris penned a Facebook post where he confessed it's gotten difficult to conjure another ditty about mirthful creatures or impossibly incompatible contradictions. With HAPPY HEART! and final CD EASY BREEZY! coming in 2021, he will continue to perform as Caspar Babypants, but his incredible output will expire (19 CDs in 12 years).

Chris, frontman for The Presidents of the United States, is a musician who has turned his sideline project (kids recording artist) into almost as big a deal as his "day job," which has taken on even more significance during the time of coronavirus. He has also expanded his cachet with books (with artwork by his talented wife, Kate Endle). 

Chris has a fascination with taking songs from the Great American Children's Songbook and adding new verses or expanding their stories. This go-round, he plays it fairly straight on the oft-covered "This Little Light Of Mine" and "Rockin' Robin." 

The concepts behind some of the best Babypants songs are right there in their titles. If you can't get behind ditties called "I Can't Remember This Song" or "Chimp In A Suit," then brother, this isn't gonna be a good hang for you. Plus there's a mean surf guitar in the instrumental "Mosquito" that demands attention must be paid.

It's kind of hard to pigeonhole Caspar Babypants, which means that he's accomplished what he set out to do. Like a hired gunslinger (or water pistol shooter, for the preschool set), Chris Ballew holsters his weapons of mass distraction and sets off into the sunset, having entertained a few generations of kids. At least we'll always have our Spotify playlists and happy hearts.

HAPPY HEART! is available from Caspar Babypants' website, iTunes, and Amazon.

Here is the video for the new song, "Five White Ducks":

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 23, 2020

Glue – Francis England Honey
People Watching – Dean Jones
That's My Style – The Bazillions
With a Little Help From My Friends – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
Word Association – Dog On Fleas
Anything Can Be A Hat – Ratboy Jr.
Taco Tuesday – The Lucky Band

Frances England Debuts Honey EP and New Video

Sometimes when you want cake, you settle for a cookie. That's my reaction to Frances England's new six-song EP, HONEY. It's a teaser that leaves you wanting more; a one-sentence answer to a question that required a lengthy explanation. But in a way, we should feel relieved that Frances has produced these soothing tracks to address children and families who are stuck in a pandemic. 

Some of the songs are reimagined versions of past recordings, such as "Daddy-O" from FASCINATING CREATURES and "Red Balloon" from MIND OF MY OWN. Coronavirus has required all of us to step up and change the way we view the world. And Frances is challenging herself to reinterpret her music with new arrangements. 

The new song "Glue" addresses just how stuck we are in our homes, our pods, our self-determined communities by worldwide health concerns. Frances is inviting fans and families to record and share their own home videos demonstrating who they’ve been joyfully “stuck” with in 2020 – send submissions to her website. "Daddy-O" (also from FASCINATING CREATURES) takes on additional depth and meaning, as many children look to their adults to lead by example, keeping them entertained as well as safe and sound. 

The San Francisco-based England originally recorded FASCINATING CREATURES in 2006 to as a school fundraiser for her (now teenaged) son. Within a couple of years, her music had garnered a dedicated following and her second life as a touring children's musician began in earnest. On HONEY, she goes back to almost the beginning, using the lockdown to explore her past and find new significance in her lyrics. The title track is especially prescient coming on the heels of Election Day:

You look like you could use some rest
A little tired, a little stress
Take a load off, and sit back with me
Honey, honey honey

As the bee population dangerously dwindles, it's important to find sweetness and harmony anywhere, whether it's for your morning tea or an afternoon drive with rambunctious offspring. Frances England has pollinated a little HONEY for all your little busy bees.

Find HONEY at Frances England's website, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora.

Here is the new video for Frances England's song, "Daddy-O":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, November 17, 2020

It's a Miracle – Dog On Fleas
Finally – Franz Ferdinand
All Star – Andrew & Polly
I Spy – Ants Ants Ants
Go – The Black Keys
Flexible Brain – Ratboy Jr.
Inkpot – Kepi Ghoulie

Elliott Park's Family Sound

Remarkable children's music draws families together; parents introducing their offspring to previously unheard genres, tempos, and performers. It's also a way for musicians to work with their own progeny. Nashville's Elliott Park is the latest in this long tradition. His latest self-explanatory release, SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, aptly describes its contents. Off the top of my head, I can think of two recent musicians who incorporated their kids into their recordings and performances – Lucy Kalantari's son Darius plays cello on her CD and Jim Dague's son played drums for his band, ScribbleMonster.

Elliott used his coronavirus quarantine to creative SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS, twelve acoustic tracks with his teenage daughters Anna (18), Autumn (16), and April (14). The trio have popped up on previous songs as background vocals. As they grew into separate, more fully-formed personalities, Elliott decided to bring them into the forefront and showcase their abilities. 

Back in late March, the Park family went for a drive and his daughters began singing in the backseat. Their harmonies turned into the mashup, “Blue Skies Over the Rainbow,” which is included on this collection (and see the video below). The spunky “To The Moon and Back,” features a duet between Anna and her dad. “Rock Paper Scissors” sounds like it was discovered from the archives of some 1940s radio show, but it's a family original. Same with the sprightly "Cricket's Ball":

You're too big if you're too tall
Well, that's okay you can watch it all
Through the old knothole in the tool shed wall

Inspired by this article in TIME magazine, Elliott was moved to use his talents draw attention to current trends to engage social change. All streaming and sales proceeds for the song "Follow" are being donated to a foundation tasked with helping promote teen suicide awareness and prevention. 

Elliott's songs have a gentle, genial quality and his daughters' blended harmonies fit in perfectly with those sensibilities, with a side order of quirkiness, such as the bob-your-head "Orange Jello." Words of wisdom and encouragement are the theme of "Bloom." With three girls on the verge of college and emancipation, Elliott may be preparing for an imminent empty nest with the uplifting "Set Me Free." In the meantime, this 31-minute assemblage of SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS could be the start of something big for the Park family.

SONGS WITH MY DAUGHTERS is available from Elliott Park's website, Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.

Here is the video for "Blue Skies Over the Rainbow":

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 9, 2020

Afternoon Walk –  The Okee Dokee Brothers
Loving & Kind –  Aaron Nigel Smith
Lo/Hi –  The Black Keys
Two Towns –  David Gibb & Brady Rymer
Buenos Dias –  The Lucky Band
Village d'Ãtoile –  Dog On Fleas

The Story Pirates Inspire Imagination

Coronavirus may have stopped kids from going outside or attending school in person, but it hasn't stopped them from being imaginative. The proof exists on CATS SIT ON YOU, the latest release from the Story Pirates. The dozen songs were inspired by kids' original ideas, including the timely "The First Kids to Work at the Census," written by William, a 7-year-old whose father is an actual U.S. Census worker in California.

A nationally renowned group of top comedians, musicians, best-selling authors, and teachers, the Story Pirates have 15 years of experience creating content that literally did not exist before children thought it up, many times on the spot (for their live shows). Their Creators Club helps keep nascent minds firing on all cylinders with live stream workshops, radio shows, and podcast bonus activities. The fourth season of their podcast launches this week with the Halloween-themed "The Weird Sisters," by 9-year-old Evalea from Missouri, a poppy Billie Eilish homage song composed by Monique Moses and featuring Stephanie Hsu of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

The title track on CATS SIT ON YOU is a deceptive earworm (complete with a dance, see below video) adapted from an original story by six-year-old Alex. It made an impression on SiriusXM's Kids Place Live and now is immortalized on this collection. The troupe always draws an eclectic group of celebrity and musical guests. Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo breaks some rhythms on "Banana Clown," about a fruit-obsessed fast food worker who finally finds his big break. 

Unpredictability and plot twists abound on the songs on CATS SIT ON YOU. That's par for the course, with titles such as "The Raccoon's Very Hard Choice," "The Boy Who Hated Kisses," and "The Mad Piano Player." A rabbit discovers the wisdom of foraging for vegetables on "Cheese Quest," and "Turtle Beach" is a paean to inclusion that sounds like an homage from a Disney film (think "Little Mermaid"). Speaking of big-time musical productions, "The Amazing Adventure" acts as a gateway to live theater, whenever that happens near you. "One Little Pink Rose" could be sung by Adele, if Adele performed kids songs. 

If your youngsters have a forté for creative thought, the Story Pirates may cater to their inner impulses. For your inner child longing for variety, CATS SIT ON YOU is cabaret on demand. 

CATS SIT ON YOU is available from the Story Pirates website, Amazon, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Here's the "Cats Sit On You" dance class video:

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 2, 2020

 Wastin' Time – The Okee Dokee Brothers

Boy with a Hole in his Heart – Danny Weinkauf

El Corazon – The Lucky Band

Shine A Little Light – The Black Keys

Under the Big Umbrella – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could

Lazy Boy – Franz Ferdinand

Humans Are Still Evolving – Dean Jones