I know, I already featured the stream of "Spring Day" from Karen K and the Jitterbugs, but since the Boston area is in the low 50s today, it's clear that they need all the spring-affirming good vibes in the song and video.
But clearly, any time you take out your frustrations on a homemade reproduction of Olaf from Frozen, as one kid does in the video, it's time for winter to end.
Karen K and the Jitterbugs - "Spring Day" [YouTube]
Karen K and the Jitterbugs' "Spring Day"
As a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, I am careful not to talk about how wonderful the weather is on social media because I don't want to seem like I'm taunting my friends in more northern climes in the winter months. (Really! I actually prefer the weather in northern climes!)
I say all that as a way of introducing "Spring Day," a brand new song from Karen K and the Jitterbugs. From its opening guitar riff aping Bryan Adams' "Summer of '69" to the abundance of "la la las," it's a pure pop confection celebrating the arrival (please!) of spring days. But as I look at weather forecasts of highs in the mid-90s this weekend, forgive me if I'm already dreaming of songs celebrating fall. Stream the song below and pay what you'd like for the track.
Karen K and the Jitterbugs - "Spring Day" [Bandcamp]
I don't particularly care for Halloween. I don't hate it, it's just not one of those holidays I like. I'm all for the community aspect of the holiday, particularly in warmer climes like Phoenix, where Halloween in some neighborhoods becomes a movable block party. But cheap, useless candy? Ugh. Please just let me watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and move on to November.
But I realize I am in the minority here. So here's a collection of kindie Halloween songs I'm aware of, some of them released this week, some of them dating back to 2006). This is an update of my 2009 list with some subsequent songs.
This is a long (and, frankly, somewhat disorganized) list, but I'm pretty sure I'm missing your favorite kindie Halloween song. Let me know which one it is, and I'll update it here!
Albums
-- Eban Schletter's Witching Hour
-- Wee Hairy Beasties' Creepy Lullabies
-- Sue Schnitzer's Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat
-- Katherine Dines' Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Spooky!
-- Magic Maestro Music's The Sorcerer's Apprentice
-- Thirteen For Halloween by M. Ryan Taylor.
-- Big Pumpkin - Mr. Billy
Songs
"Skin and Bones" -- countless recordings (Raffi, Sam Hinton, the Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Spooky disk above)
"Dia de los Muertos," Uncle Rock -- off his Plays Well With Others disk
"A Skeleton Bang," Rasputina -- off the Colours Are Brighter
"Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus," from At the Bottom of the Sea by Ralph's World
"The Edison Museum" - They Might Be Giants (No!)
"The Winchester Festival" - Mr. David
"Bonobo Joe and the Voodoo Queen" - The Hipwaders (see here)
"Scare Me Scare You!" - Baze and His Silly Friends
"The Monster Under My Bed" - Mighty Weaklings
"My Brother's a Monster" - Laura Freeman
"Boogieman" - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"Boogieman" - Keith Munslow
"The Day After Halloween" - The Sippy Cups
"Halloween Every Night" - Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips
"There's a Monster in My House" - Eric Herman
"Boo!" - Trout Fishing in America
"Trick or Treat" - Justin Roberts
"Halloween" - Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke
"Spooky Stuff" - David Tobocman
"Boogie Man" - Heidi Swedberg and the Sukey Jump Band
"Ghosts and Goblins - Mister G
"Rattlin' Rattlin' Bones - Boxtop Jenkins
"Miss Elephant's Gerald" - The Pop Ups
"November First (Jump, Run, Shake)" - Eric Herman
"Dance Like a Monster" - Play Date
"For Halloween This Year" - You and Me and the Rain
"Perfect Pumpkins" - Todd McHatton
"Where Do Monsters Go?" - Ratboy Jr.
"Do You Believe in Monsters?" - Mr. Ray
"Wesley Werewolf" - Skelly and the Punkins
"That's How a Pumpkin Grows" - Brian Vogan
"Spooky Dance" - Rebecca Frezza
"Robot Monkey Head" - John Hadfield (OK, not totally Halloween-themed, but SHOULD BE)
"I'm a Vampire" - Roy Handy and the Moonshot
"Halloween" - Charity and the JAMband
"Spooky Way Home" - The Crayonettes
"Halloween" - Princess Katie & Racer Steve
"I'm Not Afraid" - The Angry Beards
"Missing in the Corn Maze" - vogelJoy
"Halloween Freak Out" - Chuck Cheesman
"Goblins" - DidiPop
"Monsters" - Jazzy Ash
"Robot for Halloween" - The Flannery Brothers
"Halloween Is Finally Here!" - Bears and Lions
"Monster League Baseball" - Eric Herman
"Scream" - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
"Pumpkinhead" - The Hipwaders
"The Boy Who Cried El Chupacabra" - The Hipwaders
"Halloween Every Night" - Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips
"Bah Humbug Halloween" - Poochamungas
"Pumpkin Pied" - Gustafer Yellowgold
"Confusing Costume" - Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights
Bill from Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child also published his playlists from his '05, '06, and '08 shows...
Themed songs from 2006 show:
Ralph's World - Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus (At the Bottom of the Sea)
Roger Day - Monster Face (Ready to Fly)
ScribbleMonster & Friends - A Monster Goes Rrraargh! (Chocolate Milk)
Deedle Deedle Dees - Scared By My Own Costume (Live at Flywheel)
Monty Harper - Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet (Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD)
Elizabeth Street - Really Gross (Different)
Telephone Company - Baby Halloween (The King's Surprse?)
Milkshake - Scared (Happy Songs)
Steve Weeks - 4 Little Girls (Aaron and his Aeroplane)
TMBG - Something Grabbed Ahold of My Hand (Apollo 18)
Mary Kaye - Skeleton Song (Spin Your Web)
Rebecca Frezza - Monster in My Room (Music in My Heart)
TMBG - Fingertips (Apollo 18)
Laurie Berkner - Monster Boogie (Buzz Buzz)
Andy Glockenspiel - Monster in Pink Underwear
Muppets - Wild Thing
They Might Be Giants - Hovering Sombrero '05 (Here Come the ABCs)
2005's list, "where we were much more Halloween-themed throughout":
They Might Be Giants - Hovering Sombrero '05 (Here Come the ABCs) (telling you, that floating hat is scary)
Splash 'n' Boots - Spooky-Doo (Getting Our Feet Wet)
Josh Greenberg & the Mother Goose Jazz Band - Boogie Woogie Ghost (Rhythm and Rhymes)
Trout Fishing in America - The Goops (It's a Puzzle)
Jennie Avila - Gargoyles (For Kids)
Troubador - There's a Werewolf Under My Bed (All About Animals)
Laurie Berkner - Monster Boogie (Buzz Buzz)
Two of a Kind - This Holiday Is Halloween (Friends)
Kevin Kameraad - Pumpkin Belly (Tomato Collection)
Monty Harper - Trick or Treat Smell My Feet (The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD)
Babaloo - Gorilla in the Middle of My Bedroom (Bean Bag Bop)
Ben Kweller with Ben Folds and Ben Lee - Wicked Little Town (Wig in a Box)
They Might Be Giants - Something Grabbed A Hold of My Hand (Apollo 18)
Ralph's World - Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus (At the Bottom of the Sea)
Nerf Herder - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Theme
Daddy A Go-Go - Scaredy Cat Cowboy Part 2 (Mojo A Go Go)
Roger Day - Monster Face (Ready To Fly)
ScribbleMonster & His Pals - A Monster Goes Rrraargh! (Best of Friends)
They Might Be Giants - Someone Keeps Moving My Chair (Flood)
Too Much Joy - Pride of Frankenstein (Cereal Killers)
Kevin Kammeraad - Moogie Monster Man (The Tomato Collection)
CandyBand - Monsters (More Candy)
Jack Sheldon - Them Not-So-Dry Bones (Schoolhouse Rock! Science Rock)
They Might Be Giants - Fingertips (Reprise) (Apollo 18)
Monster Mash (Music for Little People)
Telephone Company - Baby Halloween (The King's Surprise?)
Gunnar Madsen - Mayonnaise & Pumpernickel Bread (Ants in My Pants)
They Might Be Giants - Exquisite Dead Guy (Factory Showroom)
Peter Alsop - What If? (Pluggin' Away)
Bill Harley - Monsters in the Bathroom (Play It Again)
Babaloo - Monsters in the Bathroom (Room for Everyone)
Wolf Party (Sun, Sun Shine: Songs for Curious Children)
Belly - Witch (Star)
Daddy A Go-Go - Scaredy Cat Cowboy Part 1 (Mojo A Go Go)
Rockapella - Zombie Jamboree
David Roth - Halloween
Deedle Deedle Dees - Scared of My Own Costume (Let It Dee)
Justin Roberts - Thought It Was A Monster (Yellow Bus)
Milkshake - Scared (Happy Songs)
Steve Weeks - 4 Little Girls (Alphabet Songs Vol. 1)
They Might Be Giants - Skullivan (The Spine Surfs Alone EP)
Spare the Rock 2008
TMBG - It's Spare the Rock
TMBG - Whistling in the Dark
Steve Weeks - 4 Little Girls (Alphabet Songs Vol 1)
Kimya Dawson - Little Monster Babies (Alphabutt)
Deedle Deedle Dees - Scared By My Own Costume (Let It Dee)
Wee Scary Beasties - Pumpkinhead (Creepy Lullabies)
Telephone Company - Baby Halloween (The King's Surprise?)
Roger Day - Monster Face (Ready to Fly)
Ralph's World - Harry's Halloween Circus)
Dr. Strangeblood & the New Zombies - Monster Mash (EP)
Salteens - All My Friends (Yo Gabba Gabba)
Los Straitjackets - Munsters theme
Soccer Team - I'll Never Fear Ghosts Again
Baze & His Silly Friends - Scare Me, Scare You!
Egg - Night Time Party
Jimmies - Soaper the Scaredy-Bot (Make Your Own Someday)
Mike Doughty - Firetruck (Smofe + Smang)
ScribbleMonster - Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child
Justin Roberts - Maybe the Monster (Meltdown!)
Hank Hooper - Human Fly (Playground Fortune Teller)
B-52s - Planet Claire (Anthology)
Lamar Holley - Digestion (Classroom Pop Vol. 1)
Aric Bieganek & Recess Rock - Bright Lights, Big Kitty! (Bright Lights, Big Kitty)
Monty Harper - Trick or Treat Smell My Feet (Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD)
Louis Armstrong - Jeepers Creepers (Back Through the Years)
Telephone Company - Lumberjack (Panda Brain)
Mates of State - Starman
Mighty Weaklings - Monster Under My Bed
Rechov Sumsum with Ronnie Rock - En Den Dino (Sesame Street Playground)
TMBG - The Guitar
TMBG - Spare the Rock
Gwyneth's Halloween set from 2007:
Lager Rhythms - Zombie Jamboree - Aftermath
Steve Weeks - 4 Little Girls - Alphabet Songs Vol. I
Ralph's World - Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus - At The Bottom Of The Sea
ScribbleMonster & His Pals - A Monster Goes Rrraargh! - Best Of Friends
Karl Williams - Merry Halloween - Big Fish Little Fish
Sue Schnitzer - Black Cats, Spiders, and Bats Blues - Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat
Wendy Rochman and Sue Schnitzer - Your Bones - Boo, Cackle, Trick or Treat
Laurie Berkner - Monster Boogie - Buzz Buzz
C. Shells - Halloween Ghosts - C. Shells
Dan Zanes & Friends - Moonlit Town - Catch That Train!
GeereMusic - Halloween is Magic Time - Celebrate! Vol 1
Family Circus Kids - The Spider - The Complete Lyric Language
Janet Sirett - Another Halloween Night - Creepy Crawly Slimy Things
Brady Rymer - Full Moon Walk - Every Day Is A Birthday
John McCutcheon - Halloween - Four Seasons-Autumn Songs
Carole Peterson - Black Bat Farm (Oct) - H.U.M
DJ Spook A Lot - Skeleton Dance - Halloween For All
The Hipwaders - Howling At The Moon - The Hipwaders
John Bindel, Nashville Chamber Orchestra And Kid Pan Alley - Scary Things - Kid Pan Alley- Nashville
String Bean Jones (With The Lefty Jones Band) - Good Ghosts Here - Live From The Bathtub
Justin Roberts - Maybe The Monster - Meltdown!
Pam Blanchard & the Sunny-Side Up Band - Halloween Waltz - Music Makes Me Happy
Bruce, Troy, and Margaret - Thirty-Six Witches - Now For My Next Number
Steve Songs - One Halloween Night... - On A Flying Guitar
Monty Harper - Trick or Treat Smell My Feet - The Great Green Squishy Mean Concert CD
Steve Blunt and Friends - Pumpkins, Beware! - Outta School!
Sesame Street - The Monster in the Mirror (Grover) - Sesame Street Platinum All-Time Favorites
Brent & Woofy - On Halloween - Shine Shine Shine
Eric Herman And The Invisible Band - Hide And Go Seek With The Moon - Snow Day
Erin Lee & Marci - The Moonlight Wolfbite Batjuice Jamboree - Snowdance
Mary Kaye - The Skeleton Song - Spin Your Web
Thaddeus Rex - The Moon Is Rising - We Wanna Rock
Wee Sing - The Ghosts Go Flying - Wee Sing For Halloween
Danny Adlerman - Pump the Pumpkin
Imagination Movers - Knocking on Your Door 2
Devon has a lot more suggestions, including this list of songs.
I don't think we've yet had this year a Snowmageddon or Snowpocalypse or whatever cutesy name you East Coasters and Midwesterners like to give to large snow storms. Still, it never hurts to have your snow-themed videos cued up early. Zak Morgan, with the latest video from his The Barber of the Beasts album, has got your "Snow Day" back. It's as if Tom Waits filmed a video involving a man dressed in a chicken suit at the airport. Likeable even if you got gypped and school was just open 2 hours late.
Zak Morgan - "Snow Day" [Vimeo]
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Zooglobble helps you find kindie music -- news, videos, mp3s, reviews -- for your whole family.
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