Album Description: Once in a great while we encounter an artist who stands consciously and directly in the tradition of children's music that Folkways has carried for nearly 60 years, and Elizabeth Mitchell is one such artist. Her lovely voice brings a fresh sound to cherished American folk songs and other melodies from around the world. In a peaceful yet powerful way, she reintroduces us to the songs we thought we knew so well. Featuring homespun renditions of songs by Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, The Velvet Underground, Vashti Bunyan, Gillian Welch and more! 28-page booklet, 17 tracks, 35 minutes.
Amazon.com: Elizabeth Mitchell is to children’s music what a band like True Love is to indie rock: an insider's darling. Which can only mean one thing: any day now, she's going to blow up huge. You Are My Little Bird, Mitchell's third kids’ CD and her first on the well-respected Smithsonian Folkways label, hews closely to the folkie-but-never-hokey sensibility she laid out so beautifully on the first two records. Here are 17 short, soft, sweet, homespun-sounding songs, some of them easily recognizable ("Peace Like a River," "Three Little Birds," "Down in the Valley"), some of them inexplicably obscure (Neil Young's "Little Wing," Gillian Welch and David Rawling's "Winter's Come and Gone," Francois Hardy's magical "If You Listen"). Throughout, even on tracks where her young daughter joins in, Mitchell's warm whisper of a voice compels a close listen, not just because the production is so spare you can practically feel her breath on your cheek but because there's something in her phrasing that suggests an old, wise soul. Miraculously, the bird concept never gets clunky; two exotic foreign-language songs--one Korean and one Japanese--help, but the real credit belongs to this all-around superb disc's sole stab at the subversive: Mitchell's stamp on "What Goes On," the Velvet Underground favorite, practically sails off the disc with its sunniness. --Tammy La Gorce
Dad and Mom both listen when Baby's asleep This is a great CD. As owners of more than 1000 CDs, we have a little area called "Heavy Rotation". This CD has never left that stack since we got it about a year ago, right after our baby was born. We sing "Liza Jane" for her every night as she's falling asleep, making up new verses from our own lives before her, and our new life together. We do listen to this CD when she's awake from time to time, and she sometimes seems puzzled when she hears our song sung by someone else. But more often, we listen to it when she's asleep. I don't even think of it as a kids' music CD!
The best children's CD out there I bought this CD a year ago and have enjoyed it more than any other children's CD I own. Elizabeth Mitchell has a beautifully simple voice and tonal quality that is extremely easy on the ears. My adult children, and their babies love to listen to her as she is upbeat but also relaxing. Her lyrics depict a love of and understanding of nature and it's creatures in a time when, so often, kids are inside on computers and needing, so badly, the connection to mother earth and her bounty. I bought all three other CD's and would, in a minute, purchase any other music she would record. My little grandchildren love "Little Bird" and in fact, sang it about their new "visitors" when I purchased bird feeders and a bird book for them.
Mommy can't get enough of this CD! I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I came upon this CD! This is a disc that both parents and children can enjoy at the same time. Unlike other children's music where the songs are jingly and annoying, Elizabeth Mitchell is a breath of fresh air. My 18 month old daughter lights up when I put this disc on. She especially loves the song Little Bird, Little Bird...and she loves hearing Elizabeth's niece, Athena, singing. I would recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates classic, beautifully written and beautifully performed folk songs!
Wonderful music! I cannot really express how much my girls and I love this CD. We have listened to this music at least once a day for the past year or more. We dance to it, relax with it, rock together with it and just have it playing in the background sometimes. Truth be known...I like it as adult music too! I think it is charming and inspiring that Mitchell's young daughter and husband also sing and play instruments on the album as well. I cannot say enough great things about this album. It is calm, fun, sweet and beautiful all at once.
This Album Rocks the House! My Kids Love it Too! Truly Amazing album, it really is perfect! Mitchell's voice is sooooo good, music is creative and upbeat, with a couple splashes of humor. Everything parents could hope for in a cool children's album and so much more!
Anything Goes Trivia
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Trevor
