1996 music reviews (July-December)

album by Jonathan Sprout, reviewed July 1996

In 1994, young children throughout the United States were surveyed and asked to name their heroes. Their "Top Ten" list was filled with professional athletes and fictional cartoon characters. These results were disturbing to singer/songwriter Jonathan Sprout—should be to all of us, actually — so he set about writing a collection of songs that would exemplify the character traits of compassion, perseverance and charity of real-life American heroes. Two years later, and with the help of a lot of talented people, American Heroes comes forth to reacquaint and re-educate children about the values of heroism.

George Washington, Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Ben Franklin, Sacajawea, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Edison and Harriet Tubman are musically brought to life in a fun and informative way. All the songs serve their purpose, but some fare better musically than others. In order to incorporate — or perhaps in an effort not to exclude — information, a couple of the tunes come across as a litany of everything you've ever wanted to know about a character rather than whetting the appetite for further reading. Picky, picky, picky!

A brief history of each character is included before the lyrics on the liner notes as a helpful introduction for the uninitiated. The songs are well-performed, heroic anthems to individuals who make up the fabric of American history. They would be wonderful for children to act out in school or woven (hey, another sewing metaphor) together into a full-scale revue.

Jonathan's 3,000 performances and six albums worth of experience are showcased well on American Heroes — he's learned his craft well. By the way, you'll enjoy the great cover illustration by Randy Hamblin. It shows Washington in his famous pose crossing the Delaware, but with a few additions—George is playing electric guitar while the other heroes paddle, steer and otherwise participate. Nice job. Hey, maybe someday some youngster will get the idea to add Jonathan Sprout to the list of American heroes! He's certainly a role model for the Nineties. Thanks, Jonathan, for keeping the flame burning. Good listening. Catch you on the flip side!

American Heroes, Sprout Recordings; $14.98 CD, $9.98 cassette. Phone (888) 386-7664.

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album by Catfish Hodge, reviewed September 1996

Music For Little People's 10-year award-winning tradition continues with the release of Adventures At Catfish Pond from bluesman Catfish Hodge. Bob "Catfish" Hodge has been playing the blues for over 25 years, and it shows. The 10 finely crafted songs run the musical gamut from blues and jazz to bluegrass, with a few surprises tossed in along the way. The storyline features Catfish and the Endangered Species Orchestra preserving the swamp and sharing pancakes with all of the creative critters. Many of the songs are co-written by Martin Kibbee, who contributed greatly to the success of the band Little Feat. The arrangements are especially hip. Apparently, Catfish wanted to make an album of original music that would introduce children to the roots of American music in a way that would include their parents, and apparently, he succeeded.

Adventures At Catfish Pond, Music For Little People; $15.98 CD, $10.98 cassette. Phone (800) 346-4445.

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album by various artists, reviewed September 1996

What a long title! What a great idea! This recording is a must have. A mixture of narrative recollections by elder locals of rural Alabama, fashioned into songs by school children, with original supportive melodies written by Larry Long. The performances are loose and real, and respect and dignity shine through the tracks of time and change. I love the integrity of this collection, and the liner notes reflect every jot and tittle of the recordings. As a part of Celebration of Community & Place, the elders told their stories, and the children listened. With the help of their teachers, and the creative guidance of Larry Long, they transformed the stories into artwork, recitations, and songs. With this process, children become historians, writers, artists and musicians for their communities—a beautiful correlation of the arts and living links between the past and the present! The common theme of the collection is good old-fashioned work: Appalachian people who dug coal for little reward, the absence of rights, loss of jobs is recorded for posterity. Yet it's never maudlin and always encouraging. A wondrous endeavor. Catch y'all on the flip side!

Here I Stand: Elders Wisdom, Children's Song, Larry Long and the Youth and Elders of Rural Alabama, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings; $14 CD. Phone (800) 410-9815.

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album by Andrew Gold, reviewed October 1996

Andrew Gold's Halloween Howls has broken the Halloween music "dearth curse" once and for all. On October 31, we can finally listen to the definitive and scary collection of spooky songs.

Gold's musical credentials are impeccable — he's performed, produced and written for the greats. On this album, he wrote most of the clever songs and plays every instrument except for a sax solo. In making the effort, he's created a perennial favorite that will be enjoyed by families for years to come. Guest artists include Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Bishop, Nicolette Larson and Gold's own children. I love "Gimme A Smile (The Pumpkin Song)," written from the pumpkin's perspective. (He doesn't want to be a jack o'lantern, just wants to smile, then make someone a tasty pumpkin pie.) The scariest song on the album is the closer, called "In Our Haunted House," with sound effects reminiscent of John Lennon's "Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

I'm thinking I need a rating system like Siskel & Ebert. This wonderful new addition to the seasonal market gets four stars, two thumbs up and a suitable for all ages seal of approval! Arf! Arf! Catch you on the flip side.

Halloween Howls, Music For Little People; $11.98 CD, $7.98 cassette. Phone (800) 346-4445.

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album by The Chenille Sisters, reviewed November 1996

The Chenille Sisters (not to be confused in any way, shape or form with the Schlemiel Sisters) are not really sisters. So who cares? They know how to put together a fun, clever and very listenable album for ages 2 to 10. Cheryl Dawdy, Connie Huber and Grace Morland (the Sisters) hail from Michigan, and hail they do. These girls can really sing, with great harmonies reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters in places.

The songs, to which they all contribute in the writing department, are uplifting and encourage uniqueness and self-esteem. Along with the original compositions are two classics, "A—You're Adorable" and the toe-tappin' Sixties hit "Locomotion." This 12-song collection, as I seem to writing a lot these days, covers a wide variety of musical styles from blues to swing. Each song contributes aptly to the genuine love and care the Sisters have for children. There's an honesty and sincerity to their work that supercedes any flaws.

As it says in the liner notes, "WARNING: When teaching hippopotami to fly do not stand underneath them." So. What are you sitting around reading this review for? Go out and buy the album! Gee, if all sisters got along this good, wouldn't the world be a peachy place? (That's rhetorical — you don't have to answer.) Catch you on the flip side.

Teaching Hippopotami To Fly, CanToo; $15 CD, $10 cassette. Phone (800) 830-1919. Website at www.cantoorecords.com.

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album by Ella Jenkins, reviewed December 1996

In September, Smithsonian Folkways released four Ella Jenkins CDs to celebrate her 40th anniversary of recording for the company. What an amazing feat! What an amazing lady! I had the good fortune to work with her in the 1970s and found her to be one of the gentlest and sweetest souls on the planet, Her dedication to children's well-being shines through her lifework and is a legacy to the future. Holiday Times, one of the four releases, incorporates songs from many traditions, such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other winter holidays. She's accompanied by children from the Harold Washington Elementary School of Chicago and by musicians who have appeared on some of her other works. Most of the 26 tunes are either originals or adaptations of traditionals like "Rudolph," "Jingle Bells" and "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel." If you are not familiar with Ella Jenkins' music, please be. Piercing through the smoke and mirrors of much current music is the strong quiet voice of one who speaks from the heart.

NOTE: Other holiday picks or stocking stuffers, if you like to slam a square object into a tubular shape, are John McCutcheon's Winter Songs (see NAPPA 1996 awards for review) and after catching a great concert in November, Jim Rule's Share This World. Catch you on the flip side!

Holiday Times, Smithsonian Folkways; $14 CD, $8.50 cassette. Phone (800) 410-9815.

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