Debbie and Friends – More Story Songs & Sing Alongs

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Family Man

Reviewed by Gregory Keer

It’s easy to imagine Debbie Cavalier as a storybook character. She’s got this enchantingly upbeat personality that permeates everything she does, especially her work in entertaining young children. That positivism has led her to everything from awards for her recordings to heavy airplay on satellite radio. It’s even brightened up the usually dark and dour mood of the action TV series 24, which put one of her music videos on the TV of Jack Bauer’s grandchild.

While Cavalier’s new recording with her group of stellar musicians won’t save the world in quite the same way as Kiefer Sutherland’s character often does, it will preserve the average parent’s sanity by engaging his or her kids for the duration of the album. Following the sunshiny kick-off tune of “So, So Happy” is “Willy Won’t,” a song about Cavalier’s nephew who manages to change his facial expression for every family snapshot (listen for the “Sweet Home Alabama”-style piano solo). Check out the animated video to match at the Boston singer-songwriter’s online Fun page (debbieandfriends.net/fun.php).

In keeping with Cavalier’s story theme, “Home Run Ronnie” pitches a tale about a baseball hero by mixing in ballpark sounds and the play-by-play of a game-winning round-tripper. “I Think I Can” borrows the words and theme of The Little Engine That Could as it chugs along with a yarn about self-belief and helping others. All the tracks on the album display expert musicianship and marvelous arrangements (Cavalier also happens to be Dean of Continuing Education at the prestigious Berklee College of Music), including the danceable remix of “Little Red” (a new version of the song from her first CD).

Ever the educator, Cavalier challenges kids’ listening skills and creativity with such songs as “Simon Says” and “Rosie Wrong Rhyme” (perhaps the cleverest composition on the disc). However, Cavalier is as much a student as she is a teacher, as she shows in paying homage to Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath, who warmly harmonizes with her on “Until Next Time.”

With stories to ponder and music to freshen up even the dullest day, Debbie and Friends present captivating family entertainment.

www.DebbieandFriends.net – $9.95 plus shipping – Ages 2-7

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Family Man Recommends: Best Albums of 2010

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Family Man

As I sift through old posts that I think still have value, one recent one is my annual list of best family music recordings (of those released between November 1, 2009 and October 31, 2010). I am trying to recreate it from old drafts, so I hope this is at least close to how I ranked them in January. To see reviews of many of these albums, click over to the Family Man Recommends section,

1. Randy Kaplan – The Kids Are All Id

2. The Pop Ups – Outside Voices

3. Dean Jones and Various Artists – Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti

4. Charity and the JAMBand – Party Like a Twinkle Star

5. Elizabeth Mitchell – Sunny Day

6. Sugar Free All Stars – Funky Fresh and Sugar Free

7. Justin Roberts – Jungle Gym

8. Renee and Jeremy – C’Mon

9. Debbie and Friends – More Story Songs and SIngalongs

10. Okee Dokee Brothers – Take It Outside

Honorable mentions go out to the new albums by Ani Zola, Recess Monkey, The Flannery Brothers, Ralph’s World, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Rani Arbo & daisey mayhem, Bill Harley, Keller Williams, Alastair Moock, and The Not-Its.

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