Let All the Children Boogie cover
Artists: Various Artists
Album: Let All the Children Boogie: A Tribute to David Bowie
Age Range: 4 to 9
Description: There’s nothing about this album that is particularly kids music, but it’s a stellar example of how recontextualizing music can help hear it with new ears. The album, a benefit for the It Gets Better Foundation, and released by friend-of-the-site Spare The Rock Records, collects twenty of David Bowie’s songs. The big hits are here of course -- I particularly liked Gustafer Yellowgold and the Pop Ups’ spacy take on Major Tom’s predicament in “Space Oddity” and Elizabeth Mitchell and friends’ take on “Changes” -- but at twenty tracks, some will likely be unfamiliar. All are kid-friendly, of course, though you and your kids may have different favorite tracks. (Ted Leo’s “Heroes” and Rhett Miller’s “Ziggy Stardust” will be big hits with the adults, while I think Red Yarn’s “Magic Dance” and Justin Roberts’ “Kooks” will probably have more kid appeal.) All in all, it’s an album that succeeds musically, lets us all hear anew the childlike play in Bowie’s lyrics, and directs proceeds to a worthy cause. Recommended.
Note: I was given a copy of this album for possible review.
