Tallman takes a simple approach in this album - and it works! Lullabies from all over the world are presented without the fanfair of a full band; the musical accompaniment with the songs consists of just one or two instruments and a slow tempo, which really brings out Tallman's angelic voice. You will find yourself humming along without even realizing it. For example, Golden Slumbers, Sweetly Sleep, and Rock a Bye Baby are all simple songs presented gently through just the plucks of an acoustic guitar and Tallman's enchanting voice.  Winkum, Winkum features a piano with Tallman's voice, While Armenian Lullaby features the unique sounds of a mandolin along with the guitar, and the Welsh song All Through the Night stands out with a xylophone.  Sleep, Baby Sleep is a traditional German lullaby that is shorter, with only two verses. The Latin lullaby Dona Nobis Pacem is more involved, it is a three-part round song with a beautiful melody and guitar. The first verse of Kumbayah is only instrumental, featuring just a guitar and harmonica, but in the second verse Tallman replaces the harmonica for a stunning result you won't soon forget after hearing.

While some of the songs will be recognizable to you right away, others will quickly become family favorites, as they are all comforting in their gentle music and beautiful lyrics. You can hold your little one close to you while you rock them to sleep singing along with Slumber Song, "Now close your eyes in sleep. Sleep, sleep."  All the Pretty Little Horses is a widely known lullaby with the soothing lyrics, "Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleepy little baby."  You will also undoubtedly recognize Brahms' Lullaby, as it is part of most musical children's toys and was likely a part of your own musical repertoire while growing up.  This version of Brahm's Lullaby includes two additional verses added, written by Karen Kuntz. Even if your little one is fussy to begin with, a few songs from his album will help soothe their temper and slow their heart rate with the beat to help them relax and allow the calming music to send them off to dreamland.

I love listening to this with my one-year-old friend, Mosley. We have been playing this before bedtime a few days a week since he was just a few months old. I find myself singing along with the beautiful piano music in Mother Goose Lullaby, and often beginning each verse with the same lyrics of "Once-a-bye baby", but then telling my own story to the same tune. Good thing Mosley always falls asleep, or he may start to realize that I don't know the words so the story in the song is never the same when I sing it!

 

--Audra

Susie Tallman & Friends present traditional songs with a twist; music that connects generations - bridging the years between grandparent, parent and child with song. "If parents can enjoy lullabies with their children they will share a very special time together," said Tallman. "Children are educated by the music they are brought up with, and these lullabies will teach them about the bond they share with their parents, and about the warmth of the world their parents will share with them."

 Rock Me Baby Records carves out a new path in the market of music for small children," says Tallman. "The albums provide parents with a contemporary way to introduce the beauty and tradition of nursery rhymes and lullabies." All the CDs contain original and interesting arrangements of traditional songs. The lullabies are soothing and calming and the nursery rhymes are fun, exciting and unique, with multiple voices and instruments.

Rock Me Baby Records was founded in 1999 by Susie Tallman and has won the Parents' Choice Gold Award for Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum & Gold Awards and the Parents' Choice recommended for Classic Nursery Rhymes, the iParenting & Oppenheim Gold Award for Children's Songs, A Collection of Childhood Favorites and the iParenting Award for Classical Baby. Tallman's CDs have also been recommended in Parenting, Baby Talk, Fit Pregnancy, Child and other National Publications.

Singer Susie Tallman graduated UCLA with a BA in voice performance. She further evolved her voice in France, singing with the Choeur International and the American Chorus in Paris. Upon her return to the states, Tallman honed her classical training at the New England Conservatory Workshop in Boston. She has sung backup for such acts as Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love and Cheap Trick, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Rose Bowl, The Los Angeles Forum and Pauley Pavilion as well as in commercials for Taco Bell, The Coca-Cola Reunion Commercial and the movie Beaches. She is a former member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.