Christmas 2010 Family Music Singles

Here are a few nuggets to put in your virtual Advent calendar as you await Christmas. (There's even a Hanukkah ditty for those of you celebrating this week.) And I'm gonna update this post as more stuff floats in like a happy little snowflake.

Renee and Jeremy have offered up their sweet take on "Little Drummer Boy" on iTunes (you can download it here). No drums, but it's pretty much a perfect fit for R&J's hypnotic approach. And check out the awesome album art there. There needs to be a Christmas card, pronto.

Lucky Diaz increases his recorded family music output by releasing "Under the Tree," a slightly wistful but very tuneful track. Download it here; proceeds benefit the Pablove Foundation, which provides support to kids with cancer.

Thanksgiving Feast, Family Music-Style

First you'll need to get to where you're going. Jim Cosgrove is offering up a free download of his song "Gobble Across the USA" here (enter "gobble" as the checkout code). As Cosgrove notes, it's not really a Thanksgiving song, but it features a lot of gobbling and a lot of food, which seems appropriate enough for me. Then, once you get there, the prayer, courtesy of Bill Harley. His poem is called "Thanksgiving Prayer" and regardless of your religious affiliation (or lack thereof), I think you'll appreciate it. [And here's a second blessing of sorts, this one coming from the Harmonica Pocket -- it's called "Give Thanks" and you can download it here.]

Video: "Kids' Table!" - Kindiependent

Kindiependent continue to kick out the kids' themed supergroup jams. First it was "Vagabond Worms", and now it's "Kids' Table!," featuring Recess Monkey, Johnny Bregar, and Keeth Apgar from The Harmonica Pocket. Banjos, keyboards, trading verses, and a funny punch line. Apropos if you (like me) are starting to plan a big Thanksgiving get-together. Download the song at the Kindiependent home page. (Link to the video after the jump.)

Share: "Original Friend" - Lunch Money

Well, I'm not sure how share-worthy this is, since Lunch Money's third album Original Friend is being released tomorrow, and you're probably gonna buy it anyway and the album art is great, but, hey, free mp3. It's the title track from the band I feel more original around. Go here and download that sucker... (And while you're at it, make a nifty EP out of it by grabbing some tracks from Dizzy and Silly Reflection. Though you probably have those albums, too.)

Share: "Family Time Rocks! The Universe" - Family Time Rocks! (Sara Hickman)

Would you like a really cool album? How about for free? Of course you would, 'cause, you know, really cool albumfor free. Well, Sara Hickman and her partners in crime Family Time Rocks! have just given you that opportunity with Family Time Rocks! The Universe. It's one of Hickman's products as part of her year as the 2010 Texas State Musician, and it's worth your time even if you've never said "y'all" once. Given that it's designed to get families to be creative together, the stories told in a wide variety of languages probably won't hold a lot of repeat-listening value unless you're somewhat proficient in those languages, but there are some really great songs on the album, particularly as you get into it. It features the previously-noted-as-fabulous "Bananas," the rockin' "Turn it Off!" and much more. Download or stream it here or using the fancy widget below. And then go make up a song with your own family. [Edit: Lots of activities related to the album are here -- even the foreign-language stories have activities.]

Share: "Aunt Rhody" - The Hollow Trees

It's been awhile since we've heard from Los Angeles' finest cartoon-based purveyors of kid-friendly folk and Americana The Hollow Trees, but word comes from Gregory Hollow Tree (AKA Gregory McIlvaine) that they've got a new album -- Wacky's Tackle -- coming out soon. And a free outtake from the album, "Aunt Rhody" for the free downloading. In the spirit of the season, it's slightly spooky, but tame enough for the most fraidy of cats. Download (or stream) it here, but only until the stroke of midnight on Hollow-er-, Halloween. (OK, I can't claim credit for that pun.)