Two Miles High Music

Tom Lehrer continues to teach musical theater and math at UC Santa Cruz. This compact disc makes available his ultra-rare 1953 debut album which was the biggest-selling comedy record of the 1950s. Includes such devastating satiric classics as "The Masochism Tango," "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park," "A Christmas Carol," and "We'll All Go Together When We Go."No Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: LEHRER,TOMTitle: SONGS & MORE SONGS BY TOM LEHRStreet Release Date: 05/06/1997

In the wake of the '80s comedy boom that made casual obscenity and bodily functions safe for TV, a listen to these '50s classics from a piano-playing Harvard grad student with a thin singing voice sounds tame if not quaint. Yet Lehrer's first two self-produced albums, among the first generation of comedy LPs, remain beloved gems of musical parody, and noteworthy for their original success in an era when their topics were strictly taboo for broadcast media. He kids cold war paranoia ("We Will All Go Together When We Go"), sends up then-hip folk revivalists with a cheerful murder ballad ("The Irish Ballad"), and gets laughs out of incest ("Oedipus Rex"), drugs ("The Old Dope Peddler"), and racism ("I Wanna Go Back to Dixie"). Closer to Gilbert & Sullivan (whom he in fact raids for one melody) than Def Comedy Jams, Lehrer can still raise a modern frisson when he plays necrophilia as romance ("I hold your hand in mine dear, I press it to my lips/ I take a healthy bite from your dainty fingertips..."). --Sam Sutherland

No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: TALKING HEADSTitle: MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS & FStreet Release Date: 07/07/1987

Choosing former Roxy Music member and David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno to produce them, Talking Heads expanded their sound greatly for their 1978-released second album. While most associated Eno with hi-tech, electronic fare, he surprisingly brought out the more organically rhythmic side of the Heads' material. With Jerry Harrison's keyboards playing a more pronounced role--most notably on their spirited hit cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River"--and drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth powering the band through tracks like "Stay Hungry" and "Warning Sign," leader David Byrne sounded more relaxed and "normal," even as he wandered through such high-concept works as "Artists Only" and the sprawling "Big Country." --Billy Altman

Follow along with Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop as they present favorite musical moments from the past.

When Barney cleans out his closet, he finds everything from a pig puppet once used in "The Three Little Pigs" to an old camping hat. As Barney discovers each item, he remembers a past event and, of course, breaks into a fun-filled song. Whether you're looking for classics such as "London Bridge," songs that teach good hygiene ("Squishy, Squashy, Washy"), or songs that promote wholesome messages ("Laugh with Me"), you're sure to find just what you're looking for in this collection. As always, each catchy song has lots of fun choreography for Barney, BJ, Baby Bop, and Barney's kid friends, and is accompanied by a variety of percussion, synthesizer, and piano. The 23 songs span a variety of styles including rock, rap, folk, and jazz. The best thing about this video is that kids absolutely love it--they'll be dancing and singing along for the entire 55 minutes. (Ages 1-6) --Tami Horiuchi

Additional InformationSongs IncludedSix Little Ducks, You Gotta Sing, Les Petites Marionettes, Sodeo, Oh Me Oh My, Junior Ragtime, Comin' Down the Chimney, Douglas Mountain, Listen to the Horses, Who Built the Ark, Sambalele, Skin and Bones, Shake My Sillies Out, If I Had a Dinosaur, Workin' On the Railroad, New River Train.

Legendary Canadian children's entertainer Raffi encourages children to sing, dance, and expand their imaginations in this sequel to Singable Songs for the Very Young. Few kids can resist quacking with the traveling fowl in "Six Little Ducks" or following along with the frolic of "You Gotta Sing." Even adults may find themselves toe-tappin' with Raffi's rousing version of "New River Train." For quieter moments, diminutive listeners can let their creativity soar as they look inside clouds and go to the zoo with a prehistoric buddy in "If I Had a Dinosaur" or pretend they're riding their own palomino as they listen to the clip-clopping hoof beats in "Listen to the Horses." --Deborah Moore

Choosing former Roxy Music member and David Bowie collaborator Brian Eno to produce them, Talking Heads expanded their sound greatly for their 1978-released second album. While most associated Eno with hi-tech, electronic fare, he surprisingly brought out the more organically rhythmic side of the Heads' material. With Jerry Harrison's keyboards playing a more pronounced role--most notably on their spirited hit cover of Al Green's "Take Me to the River"--and drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth powering the band through tracks like "Stay Hungry" and "Warning Sign," leader David Byrne sounded more relaxed and "normal," even as he wandered through such high-concept works as "Artists Only" and the sprawling "Big Country." --Billy Altman

After winning 9 National Awards for their debut CD, Debbie and Friends are back with new story songs, jokes, games and surprises to delight and entertain the whole family. It's like having your own variety show with sing-along, dance-along, laugh-along fun.

When Barney cleans out his closet, he finds everything from a pig puppet once used in "The Three Little Pigs" to an old camping hat. As Barney discovers each item, he remembers a past event and, of course, breaks into a fun-filled song. Whether you're looking for classics such as "London Bridge," songs that teach good hygiene ("Squishy, Squashy, Washy"), or songs that promote wholesome messages ("Laugh with Me"), you're sure to find just what you're looking for in this collection. As always, each catchy song has lots of fun choreography for Barney, BJ, Baby Bop, and Barney's kid friends, and is accompanied by a variety of percussion, synthesizer, and piano. The 23 songs span a variety of styles including rock, rap, folk, and jazz. The best thing about this video is that kids absolutely love it--they'll be dancing and singing along for the entire 55 minutes. (Ages 1-6) --Tami Horiuchi