Sparky Rucker

Various artists Rainbow Tales [Rounder Kids CD 8033 (1997)], Various artists Rainbow Tales Too [Rounder Kids CD 8034 (1997)] Produced by John McCutcheon, these two albums (sold separately) showcase the vast resurgence of the ancient art of storytelling in America. Gathering together some of the finest talent in the field, each CD is over an hour long and features stories that range from the silly to the sublime. Volume One (simply titled Rainbow Tales) gathers stories from many traditions, including J. J. Reneaux's Cajun flavored "Wish Sandwiches," Diane Ferlatte's African fable of "Why the Sky is So High," Gayle Ross' tasty American Indian-influenced tale of "Strawberries," Len Cabral's Cape Verde-seasoned "Nho Lobo," and Brenda Wong Aoki's tale of her amazing "Aunti Anna."

Volume Two (thoughtfully titled Rainbow Tales Too) collects such wonderful talents as Sparky Rucker, Olga Loya, the amazing story rap of Brother Blue, the lovely Native American story of "Coyote and the Frost Giants" (as told by Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto on the old "Lone Ranger" TV show) and even a tale from Lake Wobegon, from NPR's own Garrison Keillor. All in all, these two recordings feature nearly 30 stories, unique for both their cultural diversity and spirit. Though these may seem to be just entertaining children's stories on the surface, each contains a wealth of wit and wisdom for both the kids and any adult with a taste for a story well told.
— Lahri Bond (Amherst, MA)

Various artists A Child's Celebration of Song 2 [Music for Little People R2 72574 (1996)] You might not think of country singer Charlie Daniels first when it comes to children's music, but he's got one of the best cuts on this 12-track CD with Lisa Silver and Dennis Scott's "Playin' in the Same Band." Michelle Shocked gives a "Flying Lesson" that you can just see kids dancing along with, and Tom Paxton adds his own sense of humor with his classic "Marvelous Toy." Another track that's sure to please kids and bring back memories for some of their parents is Ladysmith Black Mambazo's version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." Other musicians range from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Danny Kaye, in a collection that meets the producers' purpose, to bring families together for music and dance.
- Kerry Dexter (Tallahassee, FL)

Phil Rosenthal Animal Songs [American Melody AM CD 5117 (1996)] This is one album you probably wouldn't get tired of on a long roadtrip. If you do tire of his animal stories, you can tune out the lyrics and concentrate on the excellent playing, especially world music percussionist Jeff McQuillan on a variety of instruments. Rosenthal (once lead singer and guitarist for the Seldom Scene) has written several songs about animals that don't insult a kid's intelligence and leave plenty of room for some fine picking on banjo. His whole family joins in on a rather standard version of "The Animal Fair," while Stacy Phillips delivers excellent Dobro and fiddle playing on most cuts. Highlights are the tale of "The Mouse," an industrious mother with an unwavering commitment to her children, and "The Bird Song," which bops along at a pleasant pace. But nothing here is going to get the kids too hyperactive, nor will they be bored. Included here are the traditional tunes "The Fox" and "The Song of the Whales," the old classic "The Little White Duck," and four other, new Rosenthal originals. Animal Songs is a delightful collection that's fun for several age groups, though the 6-10 range will be most attracted to his folk/bluegrass styling of zoological topics.
— James Morman (Ashland, KY)

This is from the current issue of Dirty Linen

The Dirty Linen Pages are all copyright ©1997 by Dirty Linen, Ltd, Baltimore, MD