This album is a signature collection of 24 live performances by the legendary children's artist, Tom Glazer. Children are heard singing along, yelling responses to Glazer, and giggling throughout every track. The songs include classic folk tunes, lullabies and ballads, as well as Glazer originals, including his most famous song, On Top of Spaghetti. Most tracks sound quite organic, with just Glazer and his guitar, but a few songs also include drums and a keyboard.

A 32-page cover booklet includes a biography and note written by Glazer's children, song notes written by Glazer's daughter, Diana, and the lyrics to each song. Diana's song notes offer background information and the history of the songs. For example, did you know that the original author of Skip to My Lou is unknown, so people have been guessing what 'lou' truly means for decades. Does it imply the English word for bathroom, the shortened version of 'Louise', or the Scottish word loo for 'love'? Glazer explains at the beginning of Three Crows that it originated in Scotland, which then becomes part of the fun as Glazer teaches everyone how to sing it in a Scottish accent. Another stand-out attribute of Glazer's is his ability to implement humor children understand and appreciate. Many songs on the album are filled with silly noises guaranteed to cause smiles and giggles; these include the title track, Come On and Join into the Game, and "A, ha, hi hi, moo moo, piggily piggily" in The Frog Went ACourtin'. Before singing Jimmy Cracked Corn, Glazer delights his audience by saying he's going to sing them three types of songs: songs that he knows, then songs that they know, and finally songs that he...doesn't know! Children can be heard giggling in the background. On the final verse, Glazer messes up the lyrics multiple times on purpose, ending the song in an eruption of children's laughter. Throughout the Hush Little Baby lullaby, Glazer 'shushes' and sings progressively slower as though to lull the children to sleep; they erupt with excited laugher when he suddenly yells, "Wake up!"

Glazer is known for his focus on singing for and with children - not singing at them. He often speaks directly to the audience before and after songs, and calls out the lyrics ahead of time to help children sing along with him. Just before singing Haul Away Joe, Glazer tells his audience that he likes to pretend, and encourages them to do the same. He proceeds to instruct them how to participate in the song with him - yelling "Joe!" when queued. Your child can join right in with the excited children on the album. Jennie Jenkins is another interactive song/game that your child can play, as Glazer instructs them to stand up when they hear him sing the name of a color they are wearing. Other interactive songs include Put Your Finger in the Air and The Bus Song, which just about every child will already know - hand signals and all. In A Robin Sat on a Cherry Tree, Glazer challenges listeners to try and figure out what the lesson of the song is. If your child does not know after listening, this is a great opportunity for you to explain what the song is about.

My three-year-old friend, Sam, was absolutely delighted with Glazer's album. Sam told me, "Tom lets me sing with him!" Sam's favorite song was On Top of Spaghetti, because he liked the kids' voices on the album. I read the song notes and explained that the kids heard on this track were kids from Glazer's son's sixth grade class. Sam also thought it was hilarious when Glazer references 'Mr. and Mrs. Flipperlopper' in the prelude to The Fox. More Glazer CDs are certainly in Sam's future.

--Audra

Tom Glazer is credited with helping to popularize folk music during the 1940s and paving the way for the folk revival of the early 1960s. Throughout his life, he produced two well-received collections of fingerplays for children, several popular collections of traditional songs for children and adults, and a book of original poetry. Glazer died at his home in Rochester on February 21, 2003 at the age of 88.

Glazer was given a Silver Medal from the U.S. Treasury Department for war bond work during World War II; he won an Annual Record Music Award for children's recordings in 1947, a Parents' Institute Certificate from Parent's Magazine Seal of Approval in 1950, and has also received a National Critics Award and other awards and prizes for his work in radio, television, and film as well as from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

Smithsonian Folkway Recording is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States. Their mission is the legacy of Moses Asch, who founded Folkway Records in 1948 to document music, spoken word, instruction, and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987, and Smithsonian Folkways Recording has continued the Folkways tradition by supporting the work of traditional artists and expressing a commitment to cultural diversity, education, an increased understanding.