Sing Along with Putumayo

All Ages

Birth - 12 months

by Various Artists

This album has twelve classic folk and blues songs performed by well known children's artists such as Dan Zanes, Arlo Guthrie, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Guy Davis among others. The blend of musical genres introduces a variety of instruments to listeners including guitar, steel guitar, banjo, harmonica, accordion, fiddle, tuba, and various percussion instruments. The album creates an overall playful atmosphere, perfect for singing along to in the car, at home or in the shower!

Age: 3 Year-olds | Title: Sing Along with Putumayo | Artist: Various Artists | Label: Putumayo

Why we chose this music

Listeners of all ages will enjoy singing along with Putumayo. Children as young as three will pick up on the catch choruses and quickly learn to identify new instruments. Parents and grandparents can revel in the nostalga of great classics while kids bee bop to prominent beats. Folksy-bluegrass can be heard in the fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin solos of Bananaphon; a blend of soul and funk heavy on the brass section emerges in Old MacDonald Had a Farm; and Love Train includes influences of blues, rock, and soul. Don't You Push Me Down switches the tempo up a bit with some rhythmic reggae. Arlo Guthrie sings Bling-Blang, written by his father, Woody Guthrie, which features an impressive fiddle solo. I will Be Your Friend, sung by Guy Davis, wraps the album up with smile-inducing harmonica and accordion solos and a sweet message of friendship: "If you have troubles and you need a helping hand, come to me and I will be your friend."

Many of the songs on this album were created with children in mind, so they are easy to make interactive. Bananaphone, a song made famous by the great Canadian children's performer Raffi, encourages imagination. The song uses a banana as a phone; what other silly uses for a banana can you and your little one come up with? How about with other types of food? The Bob Dylan song, Man Gave Names to All the Animals can also be turned into a song by trying to guess what animal is being sung about before it's named. The verses rhyme, which provides hints as to what animal is being described. Dan Zane's song, Bushel and a Peck is part sing-along and part call-and-response, so it's easy for children to join in right away; they will love signing "Doodle-loodle-loodle doo!" For the little one who just want to move, they can find their grove and swing among the steel guitar riffs in the rockabilly tune Red, Red Robin, or be silly and show off their bellybuttons in Bellybutton Song.

My niece Emily and I first listened to this album when she was three years old. Her first favorite was You Are My Sunshine, because she has the Elizabeth Mitchell album with this track on it. Whenever the song comes on, Emily tells me that it's the "Me and mom song" because her mom started singing it to her in the morning when she was just a baby, and now they often sing it together. Emily says I can only sing it with her if her mom was not home, and I oblige her. I had the same tradition with my mom when I was little with a different song, and to this day it makes me think of her and smile.

--Audra

About the music

Putumayo Kids is the children's and educational division of Putumayo World Music. As one of the leading children's record labels, Putumayo Kids is committed to introducing children to other cultures through music from around the world.

With its growing collection of CDs featuring multilingual liner notes, Putumayo Kids produces music that entertains, educates and inspires cultural curiosity. More than three million Putumayo Kids CDs have been sold around the world. At least one percent of the CD sales benefit non-profit groups that support children, families, schools and other charities.

The Putumayo Kids music team chooses songs with child-friendly lyrics and rhythms by both renowned and undiscovered international artists. The collection of songs are tested in schools and with families. An international music selection contributes to the education of future global citizens while holding true to Putumayo's mission of sharing music that is "guaranteed to make you feel good".

Putumayo Kids has won numerous awards and is parent and teacher approved. Some organizations that have awarded honors to Putumayo Kids include Parents' Choice, National Parenting Publication Awards, Teachers' Choice and the American Library Association.

Song list

1. Arlo Guthrie, Bling-Blang - 3:37

2. Rhonda Vincent, Bananaphone - 3:01

3. Tim O'Brien, Man Gave Names to All the Animals - 4:26

4. Rufus Thomas, Old MacDonald Had a Farm - 2:30

5. Keb' Mo', Love Train - 4:24

6. Taj Mahal, Don't You Push Me Down - 4:12

7. Rosie Flores, Red, Red Robin - 2:10

8. Dan Zanes and Friends, Bushel and a Peck - 2:47

9. Music for Aardvarks & Other Mammals, Bellybutton Song - 1:58

10. Eric Bibb, Michael Row the Boat Ashore - 2:35

11. Elizabeth Mitchell & Daniel Littleton, You Are My Sunshine - 2:47

12. Guy Davis, I will Be Your Friend - 4:34