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Kids grow up, tastes change. Here are some past recommendations about tunes that had my kids hitting the "repeat" button on the CD player. The 'rents love 'em, too.

SAM RECOMMENDS

Kum by Lenny Solomon.

Did you get the impression that my kids never listen to Hebrew music? Well, wrong! Lenny Solomon is a leading figure in Jewish educational music who tours all over the world and has put out a number of all-Hebrew albums. This is in addition to a large catalog of English-language songs that urge kids to "Be Cool! Be Jewish!"

Since moving to Israel five years ago, Lenny has completely won over younger fans with his energetic stage performances, and put a couple of his songs on the charts. Now that's what I call immigrant absorption!

"Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool" by Nanci Griffith.

Nanci is one of the big stars of cross-over country/folk. With that Texas-twang in her voice, beautiful melodies and rock-solid production values, Nanci's CDs are always a joy to listen to... and she's got lots of 'em!

"Cold Pizza for Breakfast" by Christine Lavin.

I've mentioned Christine elsewhere in this site because she's been so supportive of me and my music (Aw, g'won, take a look!). Anyway, this is one of her old gems. And the fact that Sam doesn't exactly get the reference to the Scarsdale Diet murder doesn't make this tale of junk food any less appealing.

"I Won't Be Your Yoko Ono" by Dar Williams.

Someone laughingly called to Dar Williams as "the Britney Spears of the singer-songwriters". Although she is hugely popular, in my opinion, Dar deserves every bit of the adulation she's received. A writer of songs that are both fiercely intelligent and deeply emotional, Dar wraps her words in captivating tunes which she's not afraid to deliver with a rock and roll edge. Although you'll probably find Dar's album "The Green World" in the folk music bin of your record store, "I Won't Be Your Yoko Ono" is straight-ahead pop at its best.

Forty Years Old and I'm Living in my Mom's Garage by Hank Card of the Austin Lounge Lizards.

(Mom sez: Great bluegrass-based group, fine musicianship, hysterical songwriting...The Lizards have two CD's well worth checking out. )

Happy Town (All Right With Me) by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer.

Dave and Tracy's debut CD, "Tanglewood Tree" is definately not a kids' album. But this opening cut is so musically exciting that Sam keeps playing it over and over. This duo has already hit the folk "big time" (they've played the Kennedy Center, for pete's sake!), but they're more than equal to the buzz they've generated. Deep, fascinating lyrics set in tunes as fresh as a prairie wind.

Slightly Haunted by Lynn Miles.

. Lynn Miles is an angel-voiced Canadian songwriter. Our whole family is in love with her beautifully-produced debut album, "Slightly Haunted", released by Philo Records.

JACOB RECOMMENDS:

Never Say No, from The Fantasticks

This is an old one from The Fantasticks, a legendary jewel in Broadway's crown. And whaddaya know... they have their own website.

I'll leave it to you to figure our why Jacob likes this song so much.

Why did the kids pour jam on the cat
Rasberry jam all over the cat
Why did the kids do something like that?
They did it 'cause we said NO!

Potato, lyrics by Cheryl Wheeler

One of contemporary folk music's great performers, Cheryl Wheeler has been known to do concerts that resemble long stand-up comedy sessions with a few songs mixed in. While she has a warm, lovely voice, and writes some of the most touching ballads in the business, it's Cheryl's comedy Jacob loves best, like this paen to the Potato, written to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance:

They're red, they're white they're brown
They get that way underground
They can't have much to do
So now they make blue ones too.
...They have eyes but they do not have faces
I don't know if their feelings get hurt
By just lying around in dark places
Where they only can stare at the dirt.

Looking for Money, by The Chicken Chokers

A wildly fun bluegrass number that features some hard-driving fiddle playing (Jacob's keeping up with violin, and is eyeing the electric fiddles in the Elderly Instruments catalog).

Staggering Willy, down on his knees
Lookin' for something down in the weeds
Here comes Ruby with the big black car
Staggering Willy, what'cha lookin' for?
I'm looking for money, I'm looking for money
But I can't find none no where!

The Boob Fairy, by Deirdre Flint

Deirdre Flint is our latest discovery in the funny folk phantheon, er, pantheon. Her songs go to wild and wacky lengths to explore the deepest levels of teenage cheerleader envy, the truth behind the diabolical designers of bridesmaid's dresses, and of course, the question we've all been wondering about: Where do boobs come from?

Gentle readers, it was a moment of parental brilliance when I managed to explain -- truthfully -- what "The Boob Fairy" is about. You would've been proud of me.

Psycho Mom and Dad by Don White

(Mom sez: Via my kids, I've given two recommendation for Don White. What can I say? I'm biased. Anyway, we discovered Don White on Christine Lavin's "Laugh Tracks" --a two-volume collection of funny folk music which is a great introduction to the contemporary folk Mafia.) Jacob loved Don's song, "Psycho Mom" because it's rock 'n roll. He doesn't know how true these lyrics are:

Mama came home from work today
Here is what she saw
Every toy that me and my sister owned
Was laying out on the floor
And the table was covered with peanut butter
And half-eaten sandwiches
Cereal bowls, a jar or mayo
And an empty can of tuna fish

On Don's site, you'll find about his music, as well as some breathtakingly beautiful short stories.

Also, check out Rascal -- another great song of Don's that appears on "Laugh Tracks".

Country Western Rap, by Vance Gilbert.

In this song, singer/stand-up comedian Vance Gilbert does a jaw-dropping feat of musical fusion, interspersing country guitar licks with rapid-fire rap phrasing that makes good on his stated ambition to "set himself apart from the other African-American folksinger".

If I Were Made of Metal, by Patty Larkin

A brilliant guitarist with a rough-edged voice, Patty Larkin is one of the best acoustic performers out there. Although Patty is not a children's performer, I recommend singing this song to your kids. In our family, it literally defined the terms in which we talk about our commitment for one another:

Love you as high as a mountain
Love you as far as the sky
Love you as wide as the ocean
I'll never say goodbye.

LEORA RECOMMENDS:

"Walk of Life" by Dire Straits.

This song has a terrific back-beat, and deserved to be a monster hit... But Leora will always associate "Walk of Life" with the fun our family had turning over the living room rug and stomping all the dust out...

"Dance, Dance, Dance" by Banjer Dan.

A banjo-toting busker who defied State Department warnings by touring Israel last summer, Banjer Dan had supper at our house, and won my five-year-old over with this original song:

Dance, dance, dance
Everybody dance
Dance, dance, dance
But don't take off your pants.

Like I said, she's five.

"Bald Headed Men" by Christine Lavin

Funny how she got into this song. We don't have any bald-headed men around our house... yet! Check out this, and other wonderful songs at christinelavin.com.

News flash! Christine's got a new studio album out, called "I Was In Love (With a Difficult Man)". You read it here first!

"Only Four" by Laurie McClain

This incredibly touching song is available on "Hope - Mothers Helping Mothers", a compilation album benefiting Project Hope, a grassroots organization in Dorchester, Massachusetts that shelters and advocates for mothers and children. The CD's available through CDFreedom.com.

The song begins, "Only four for a few more hours, only four for a single year..." Leora just turned five, and while I can't honestly say that this is her favorite song, she does tolerate it when her mom gives in to the overwhelming urge to sing it to her.

"Daughters of Feminists" by Nancy White, recorded by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer on their wonderful album:A Parents' Home Companion .

Grammy-nominees Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer once played in Israel, but I knew about their wonderful music for kids and families long before they arrived. This album is a great collection of songs designed to boost the self-esteem of parents who, as we all know, are doing the hardest and most important job on earth.

King Kong Kitchie, performed by Dan Zanes and the Wonderland String Band on "Rocket Ship Beach"...a fantastic kid's album. Listen to tracks at festival five.com.

The Big Picture, by The Chenille Sisters.

The Chenilles have been a big favorite in our house for a long time. These three singers specialize in Andrews Sisters-type harmonies, but have smart, modern lyrics and a bunch of great CDs for both kids and adult listeners.

The Idiot by Stan Rogers .

Stan Rogers was one of modern folk music's most influential voices. Before he was tragically killed in a plane crash, he created a set of unforgettable songs that evoke Canada, the Great Lakes, and life on the high seas, all delivered in a warm, booming voice that is sorely missed.

Leora particularly likes "The Idiot" because, as Stan pointed out on his live concert album, "Home in Halifax", it has the sort of "knuckle-dragging neanderthal beat" that makes people dance whether they want to or not.

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