Seeking good CD's of American music

[kalanamak]

What do you folks use for introducing kiddos to things like Oh Suzanna, She'll be coming 'Round the Mountain, etc. I have a better than average alto voice, but don't know enough words, and would love something NOT infantile to encourage kiddo to "sing-along". It doesn't have to be all American (I loved learning the sing-alongs when I lived in Australia).

Also, it there a definitive Sousa CD out there? Whose got the best recording?
Any other great CD's kid-friendly but not for wee ones, like Foster music like it was played 150 years ago, etc.

[smilesonly]

I can't remember the exact CDs,but we just went to the library,and checked out many that had a patriotic theme. I love our library-and the youth librarian is wonderful! Do you have that option? I just always prefer to get my hands on something first,let my kid also,then it makes it easier when deciding whether to make a purchase.:)

[Stacia]

Colonial Fair (http://www.amazon.com/Colonial-Fair-Dean-Shostak-Friends/dp/B00000JSGB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222576760&sr=1-1) is fun for some older songs & riddles.

I think a lot of folks recommend Wee Sing America (http://singnlearn.org/cgi-bin/ccp5/cp-app.cgi?usr=50X3178674&rnd=2020231&rrc=N&cip=74.224.87.239&pg=prod&ref=14&cat=weesing) (though I haven't heard it).

Checking your library, as someone else posted, is also a great place to discover things you like.

[buddhabelly]

You simply must find, borrow or....borrow "A Child's Celebration of Folk Music." We love this CD so much! Pete Seeger does "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain," Doc Watson sings "Grandfather's Clock," John McCutcheon sings "Skip to My Lou." What I love is that it is not "cutesy" in any way. Just fun. Buckwheat Zydeco sings the "Crawfish Song," and Jerry Garcia & David Grasman sign "There Ain't No Bugs On Me." It seems to me there might be some interesting language in that last one, but I can't remember what it is.

Enjoy!

[Bambam]

The Homestead Pickers has an excellent 2 CD set of folk music along with a book with all the lyrics (not all the verses for each song are on the CD). The sound on the CD is much better than the samples that are downloadable.
http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/pickers/

[TrixieB]

"Not for Kids Only" (Jerry Garcia & David Grisman) is quite good.

[kalanamak]

The Homestead Pickers has an excellent 2 CD set of folk music along with a book with all the lyrics (not all the verses for each song are on the CD). The sound on the CD is much better than the samples that are downloadable.
http://www.angelfire.com/mo3/pickers/

Ohhh! Waltzing Matilda and The Wild Colonial Boy (songs of my youth in Australia). I'm glad you mentioned the quality, as the downloads are B-A-D.

[jplain]

We really like the kids' CDs from Old Town School of Folk Music:

Songs for Wiggleworms (http://www.amazon.com/Songs-For-Wiggleworms/dp/B000QR1614/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1222619354&sr=8-1)
Wiggleworms Love You (http://www.amazon.com/Wiggleworms-Love-You-Various-Artists/dp/B000BLI3E8/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222619354&sr=8-2)

The first one is currently not available on CD, but you can download MP3s from Amazon or iTunes and then burn CDs if you have a CD burner. (In case you've never done this, it is really easy!)

We also LOVE Dan Zanes, and his albums contain a lot of folk music, among other styles. Here's a list of his albums aimed at kids: family music (http://danzanes.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=1227_6354_9104). We also really enjoy two of his "family folk" albums, Sea Music (http://danzanes.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=1227_6354_9105&pc=F4CD07) and Parades and Panoramas (http://danzanes.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=1227_6354_9105&pc=F4CD06). Note that the family folk albums are aimed at kids and adults, and some of the lyrics are perhaps not G-rated. For example, there are a couple of mentions of whiskey in one of the sea chanties, etc. I have no problem with my children listening to them, but some parents might wish to seek out and preview the lyrics.

:) Carolyn

[emeraldjoy]

Bruce Springstein: The Segar Sessions!
I think this might be the third time I have mentioned this on these boards.
It has John Henry, Erie Canal, Jessie James, We Shall Overcome, Buffalo Girls, Dan Tucker; just to name a few.
Enjoy.
e

[Alte Veste Academy]

A disclaimer... I know you asked originally about classic American songs. The music listed below does include lots of classics but, of course, artists also typically add some of their own original ideas as well. The ones below are some we really adore.

We listen to a lot of Burl Ives. I've found out that he can be a love him or just not voice but I absolutely adore him and his music is so charming and old-fashioned. Aside from his wonderful children's classics, his Songs I Sang in Sunday School are spectacularly wonderful (although hard to find).

We love Sara Hickman's Newborn and Toddler cds. We LOVE everything by Elizabeth Mitchell. Although not all songs from these cds are classics, some are and they are all wonderful, regardless. These two play lists are my go to for stressful situations to immediately calm tensions.

Susie Tallman has several good collections. Children's Songs: A Collection of Childhood Favorites, Let's Go: Travel, Camp, and Car, and Classic Nursery Rhymes. I don't know if they would be too young for your needs.

If you're looking outside the box, one of my kids' absolute favorite playlists is the three cd set Jazz for Kids. Someone left a review about the quality but I thought it was great, personally. I can't recommend this set highly enough and it's worth every penny even if you have to buy it . I can't tell you how many older people have commented on it when they've heard it playing at our house! http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Kids-Ages-Various-Artists/dp/B000F1HFK2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222654308&sr=1-3

Also, Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake is phenomenal. My two year old's favorite song since birth has been When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along.

For some great, All-American cowboy music suitable for kids, you can't beat Nickel Creek's Little Cowpoke cd. Wonderful stuff!

For tons of fun (especially for little girls), try Rosemary Clooney's Novelty & Children's Songs on iTunes (more songs) or on Amazon, where it's called Clooney Tunes. In the same category of delightful classics, try Gene Kelly and his album When We Were Very Young. They both actually include some stories and poems too. I can't read Milne's Halfway Down the Stairs anymore...must sing it!

Also love:

The Persuasions On the Good Ship Lollipop
Small Fry: Capitol Sings Kids' Songs for Grown Ups (another FAVORITE!)

Again, I don't necessarily have a cd of straight classics. We are personally very lucky to own an old Time Life set of classic American cassettes handed down from my husband's grandparents. Through some technological voodoo beyond me, my dad put them on cd and all that wonderful music is now on my iPod with all the new-fangled music. I find that with the music listed above, my kids are picking up the classics as well as some new favorites.

Good luck!

Kristina

[Nancy in SoCal]

Jill Trinka and John Feierabend put out some great folk song CD's.