Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Banana Pudding – Sugar Free Allstars
Domino Town – Dean Jones
Fill It Up – Josh And The Jamtones
I Dreamed I Could Fly – Eric Herman And The Invisible Band
Me Time – Chibi Kodama
The Owl And The Pussycat – Papa Crow
Pendulum – Pearl Jam
That's Just Us (Playing Rock-n-Roll) – Hullabaloo

Ben's Playlist - Friday, May 1, 2015

All Around the Kitchen – Andy Z
Backyard – Riff Rockit
Beach House – The Good Ms Padgett
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Don't Touch My Stuff! – Trout Fishing In America
Groove – Lori Henriques
Hello Goodbye – The Cure Feat. James McCartney
Lighter Feathers – Dean Jones
The Owl And The Pussycat – Papa Crow

Kindie Quick Hits: Andy Z Goes Classic, Papa Crow Lears Brightly

There's a fine line being patriotic and jingoistic. I had no problem when Major League Baseball started adding "God Bless America" to games in the seventh inning stretch following 9/11. And I support the troops and always applaud the "Serviceman of the Game" whenever I attend a game. However, there are some performers who wrap themselves in the flag as a marketing ploy – how could you NOT like me, it's downright unpatriotic!

Now that I've veered very far in one direction, let me steer back and say that is NOT the case with Andy "Z" Zamenes. The most controversial track on his new CD, CLASSIC SONGS AND TRADITIONAL TUNES, is "This Land Is Your Land." And calling back to my lead, he even covers "Take Me Out of the Ballgame."

American folk music is an integral part of our culture. Yet there's a whole generation who revere Kendall Jenner and have no inkling who Woody Guthrie is. One CD won't change the world (or society), but Andy Z wants to gently nudge the needle ever so slightly in the right direction.

Andy has even created a micro-site for the CD, where you can preview every track, from "Shake My Sillies Out" to "Ghost Riders in The Sky." There is also background on the guest performers, such as vocalists Karla Kane and Kristen Geller.

I recall an old Pete Seeger songbook album that we had as a child. I wore out the grooves, as it was one of the few LPs in my family's collection where I could understand everything being sung. Andy Z has developed a CD in the same vein and we'll place it appropriately in our cabinet.

CLASSIC SONGS AND TRADITIONAL TUNES is available through Amazon, iTunes, and CDBABY.

Papa Crow (Jeff Krebs) has gone even further back in time, to the 19th century writings of poet Edward Lear. You may know him as "The Owl and the Pussycat" guy. But his nonsense nursery rhymes have lasted into a third century. That's a remarkable accomplishment for a guy who was the 21st (and final) child produced by the same set of parents.

Krebs certainly had his work cut out for him. Fart songs (an earlier project) are one thing. Songs about the wilderness are another (who doesn't think about a campfire tune now and then). But Lear is a very specific taste. And this five-song EP, "THEIR HEADS ARE GREEN AND THEIR HANDS ARE BLUE," may leave younger listeners in the dust.

Krebs also decided to sing them exactly as they appear on the page – with no text editing, recorded live in his home studio with no overdubs, just voice and a vintage Gibson acoustic guitar. This is no vanity project, no sir. It's a true labor of love; one with a slim margin of payback for its creator.

Lear is a fascinating character, deserving of a film. He was raised by an older sister (by 21 years) until he was 50. He suffered from grand mal seizures from epilepsy, something completely mysterious in his times. As a result, he went through depressions from the time he was seven years old. Yet he turned his infirmities on their head and produced enchanting artworks and nimble wordsmithing that engage readers to this day.

Perhaps five songs is a good starting place. Perhaps five songs is enough. Perhaps Papa Crow (the persona, not the musician) is the perfect way to bring Edward Lear into the 21st century. Perhaps you might want to listen for yourself.

THEIR HEADS ARE GREEN AND THEIR HANDS ARE BLUE is available through Amazon, iTunes, and CDBABY.

Here is a video that Papa Crow created for "The Owl and the Pussycat":

Ben's Playlist - Fridayy, February 13, 2015

In All Of The World – Papa Crow
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Nobody's Business – Rihanna Feat. Chris Brown
Guitar Pickin' Chicken – Ratboy Jr.
Da Vinci – Weezer
Helen Wheels – Def Leppard
The Hustle – Van McCoy

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, January 27, 2015

In All Of The World – Papa Crow
In The Group  – Tom Chapin
Bigga Bagga – Key Wilde and Mr. Clarke
Mystery – Dean Jones
We All Want Love – Rihanna
Time Machine – Eric Herman
Sugar – Maroon 5
No Control – One Direction

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, December 8, 2015

In All Of The World – Papa Crow
Jamaica Ska (feat. Coolie Ranx & Little Goose) – Father Goose
Slow – Trout Fishing In America
Another Good Year  – Lori Henriques
The Bicycle Song – Eric Herman
My Dad – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
I Got This! – Princess Katie & Racer Steve
Go Away  – Weezer
No More Lonely Nights – The Airborne Toxic Event

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, December 4, 2014

In All Of The World – Papa Crow
Brick By Brick – Recess Monkey
Great Day – The Not-Its!
Let The Records Play – Pearl Jam
The Hustle – Van McCoy
Working On A Bridge – Lloyd H. Miller
How Great Can This Day Be – Lori Henriques
Banana Pudding – Sugar Free Allstars

Ben's Playlist - Monday, November 24, 2014

Playlist for Matthew's Fourth Birthday!

In All Of The World – Papa Crow

H-U-L-L-A-B-A-L-O-O – Hullabaloo

Lightning Bol – Pearl Jam

My Favorite Sneakers – In The Nick Of Time

Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow

Right Now – One Direction

No School Today – Danny Weinkauf

No, No, No – The Little Rockers Band

Blink Of An Eye – Frances England

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, November 13, 2014

Shot Reverse Shot – Jack Johnson
Apple Tree – Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Fart Like a Pirate – Papa Crow
Earn It – Hullabaloo
My Secret Robot – Justin Roberts
The World Is a Wonderful Place – Nora and One Left
Pumpin Blood – NONONO
Gratitude  – Mista Cookie Jar & the Chocolate Chips
Sunshine – The Twigs

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, October 28, 2014

When You're Smiling – Elizabeth Mitchell & Dan Zanes
Be a Little Angel – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
Me Time – Chibi Kodama
Here Comes the Summer – Ponds & Fleshman
Uh Huh – Dean Jones
Unwind – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Lucky Penny – The Whirlygigs
I've Got A Feeling – Papa Crow
The Girl With the Squirrel in Her Hat – Caspar Babypants

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, October 23, 2014

Early Days – Paul McCartney
Gettin' My Ya Ya's Out – Brady Rymer & The Little Band
In All Of The World – Papa Crow
Little Cloud (Featuring Rachel Loshak)  – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
Cumbe – Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble
Alove Alliteration – Mr. Palindrome
When I'm Ten – Recess Monkey & The Not-Its
Lightning Bolt  – Pearl Jam

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Wake Up – The Neville Brothers
Give Some, Get Some – Papa Crow
Delicious  – Orange Sherbert
First Day of School  – Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Archaeology – Danny Weinkauf
Handy – Weird Al Yankovic
The Best Parts – Eric Herman
Alligator Get-Together – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
Grandpa-Land  – Bill and Karlee Goffrier

Ben's Playlist - Monday, October 20, 2014

A Billion Stars – Papa Crow
Danceology – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Are We There Yet?  – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
I Am the Wind – Underbirds
We Can't Stop – Miley Cyrus
I Love the Rain – The Real Tuesday Weld
Animal Kingdom – Key Wilde And Mr. Clarke
The Flying Fox – Davy Andrews

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Smile in My Heart – Suzi Shelton
Not Too Young for a Song – Randy Kaplan
Beach House – The Good Ms Padgett
Raise Your Hand – The Not-Its!
Me And Julio – The Little Rockers Band
Pretty Crabby – Caspar Babypants
Up In Cat's Room – David Heatley
I've Got a Tiger By the Tail – Buck Owens & His Buckaroos
Fart Like a Pirate – Papa Crow

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, September 17, 2014

First Day of School – Ethan Rossiter And The Jamberries
Anytime At All – Caspar Babypants
Start Of The End – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Fortune Cookie – The Little Rockers
Can We Buy a New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon) – Eric Herman
Stay Up Late – Dean Jones
A Billion Stars – Papa Crow
What's My Name? – Rihanna Feat. Drake
Otis  – Justin Roberts

Ben's Playlist - Monday, September 15, 2014

I Must Be a Genius – Dog On Fleas
I see You For You – Suzi Shelton
Like a Bird Must – Hullabaloo
New Shoes – Riff Rockit
Slow – Trout Fishing In America
Look, Think, Guess, Know – Tom Chapin
In All Of The World – Papa Crow
So Funny I Forgot to Laugh – Randy Kaplan

Ben's Playlist - Friday, September 12, 2014

She Looks So Perfect – 5 Seconds of Summer
Potted Plant Guy – David Heatley
In The Group – Tom Chapin
Coral Reef – The Whizpops!
Closer To You – Michael Franti & Spearhead
Fancy (feat. Charli XCX) – Iggy Azalea
Give Some, Get Some – Papa Crow
Batteries Not Include – Recess Monkey

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, September 11, 2014

Earn It – Hullabaloo
The Ballad of Ben – Danny Weinkauf
Are We There Yet?  – Joanie Leeds And The Nightlights
Show Me What You're Feeling – Tom Chapin
My Sister Kissed Her Boyfriend – Trout Fishing In America
Prairie Boy – Mista Cookie Jar & The Chocolate Chips
I've Got A Feeling – Papa Crow
Copycat – Bill Harley And Keith Munslow
Tambourine Submarine – Recess Monkey

Papa Crow Keeps a Light On in the Woods

Exposing kids to culture is tough. At a certain age, kids look behind the curtain and see the monkeys pulling the cables and realize, "This is a teachable moment! Yuck!" Music remains an expedient way to expand children's horizons – as well as entertain them. Papa Crow released WHAT WAS THAT SOUND, a five-song fartacular in 2012. Now he's moving up, literally and figuratively, to educate kids about the sounds of the woods.

FULL MOON, FULL MOON is a song cycle about life on the riverbanks of the Escanaba River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A lifetime on the waterways and playing music give Jeff Krebs (aka Papa Crow) an extra oar in delivering 16 songs that examine the sometimes dreamy, sometimes rustic, always friendly feel from that part of the country.

I've droned on about the incessant familiarity of material on many "family" music CDs. For instance, the "driving in a car" song. Here, Papa Crow takes the opportunity with "Bumpy Bump Road" to point out that unpaved roads are not necessarily comfortable but they can be fun. Guest vocalist Frances England gives "Give Some, Get Some" some added kindie charm. As for the obligatory "great big community" tune, "In All of the World," he sings:

We need to live close to our own.
With your sweet love, safe in our homes.
It's not so hard to see what I see.
Look in your heart, you'll feel the same thing as me.

Krebs plays the majority of the instruments (a hallmark of many crowdfunding albums) but don't think drum beats and electric guitars. Prepare for mandolins, banjos, and violins. Krebs opens the dirt floor for the Green Garden 4H Club (comprised of 8-14 year olds) on the final track, "Daylight in the Swamp (reprise)," demonstrating that the love of music among the pines is continuing for another generation.

Dan Zanes opened the door for acoustic folk music for children. Frances England accepted that invitation across the country. The Okee-Dokee Brothers took their invitation all the way to the Grammys. FULL MOON, FULL MOON is delightfully unplugged and extends the invitation down to the campsite, on the banks of the Escanaba.

FULL MOON, FULL MOON is available October 8 from Papa Crow's website, Amazon, CDBABY, and iTunes.

Here is a video of the title track, "Full Moon, Full Moon":

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes – Kristin Andreassen
Cheese World – The Dirty Sock Funtime Band
Grandpa Is A Time Machine – Recess Monkey
Everybody Out There  – Paul McCartney
Earn It – Hullabaloo
Shakin' Up The Pollen – ScribbleMonster
Fart Like a Pirate – Papa Crow
BroOKlyn – Mil's Trills
Don't Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer