For those of you who think family music's become edgier over time, the following kids' song, written a half-century ago by Canadian songwriter Lionel Daunais features:
1) a locked-up kid-dog,
2) humans in cages,
3) dustmites who eat the title character, and, perhaps worst of all,
4) pipe smoking.
In spite of all this, The Secret Mountain has put together The Little Blue Doggy, a book lovingly illustrated by Marie Lafrance including a CD with songs by Daunais performed by Canadian musician Michelle Campagne and her family. You can get an idea of what you're in for by watching the video below. (Warning: includes pipe smoking.) The Little Blue Doggy is out in October.
Michelle Campagne and Family - "The Little Blue Doggy" [Vimeo]
(Yay for HTML5!)
Live Video: "Sojourner Truth" - Deedle Deedle Dees / Dean Jones
I know, I already mentioned the Elizabeth Mitchell / Frances England release concert for the release of Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti. But the Boston-area show last weekend, featuring The Deedle Deedle Dees (and a bunch of other folks), featured another collaboration -- the aforementioned Dees along with Many Hands creator/producer Dean Jones on trombone for their unrecorded (though couple years-old) tune "Sojourner Truth." Good stuff.
The Deedle Deedle Dees with Dean Jones - "Sojourner Truth" [YouTube]
Following the jump, another tune from the show, a raved-up (relatively) version of a track from the Dees' latest album, plus their contribution to Many Hands
Please Release Me: August 2010 Edition
Updating last month's list of upcoming releases once more...
Matt Clark: Funnier Little Fella (Aug. 28)
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo: Underground Playground (Aug. 31)
Meredith LeVande: What Are the Odds? (Aug. 31)
Bill Harley: The Best Candy in the Whole World (Sept. 14)
"Doc" Dauer and others: The Body Rocks! (Sept. 14)
Oran Etkin: Wake Up Clarinet (Sept. 14)
The Squeegees: Meet the Squeegees (Sept. 21, Target exclusive)
The Boogers: Title TBA (fall)
Jeremy Zmuda: Title TBA (fall)
Laurie Berkner: Let’s Hear it for The Laurie Berkner Band! DVD (Sept. 28)
Elizabeth Mitchell: Sunny Day (Oct. 5)
Jim Cosgrove: Swimming in Noodles (Oct. 5)
Maria Muldaur: Barnyard Dance: Jug Band Music for Kids (Oct. 12)
Flannery Brothers: The New Explorers Club (Oct. 19)
Keller Williams: Kids (Oct. 26)
Caspar Babypants: This Is Fun! (Nov. 2)
Buckwheat Zydeco: Buckwheat Zydeco's Bayou Boogie (Nov. 2)
Frances England: Mind of My Own (Nov. 9)
Jamie Broza: I Want a Dog (Nov. 23)
David Weinstone: Title TBA (November)
Didi Pop: Didi Pop Goes to Hawaii (Dec. 1)
Meredith LeVande: Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith LeVande (DVD, Dec. 1)
Gustafer Yellowgold: Gustafer Yellowgold's Infinity Sock (Feb. 22, 2011)
Others working on albums with potential 2010 releases? Lunch Money (Original Friend), Ella Jenkins, Big Don
Video: "Preposition" - The Bazillions
Their last video, for "Tommy Got in Trouble," had the advantage of being for a great song. It was a good video for Twin Cities band The Bazillions, but their new one (at least to YouTube) is even better. "Preposition" is a decent song, but this video is Schoolhouse Rock-worthy.
The Bazillions - "Preposition" [YouTube]
Live Video: Elizabeth Mitchell / Frances England
I mentioned before the slew of release concerts being put on to celebrate the release of Many Hands: Family Music for Haiti. Three concerts down, three more to go. If they're at all like the one in Mill Valley, California, featuring Elizabeth Mitchell and Frances England, they're special affairs. At the show, they both played their tracks from the compilation, which are among my favorites on the record. For Frances' contribution, her original "That's What Friends Are For," Mitchell and husband Dan Littleton helped out. The song's called, "That's What Friends Are For" -- how could they not?
Frances England w/ Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton - "That's What Friends Are For" [YouTube]
After the jump, Mitchell's contribution, featuring a nice violin solo from Mitchell/Littleton (and Jon Langford) compatriot Jean Cook...
Video: "Bookmobile Submarine" - John Hadfield
John Hadfield is turning to music videos to help him fund his new album -- he says on his Facebook page that proceeds from downloading this new video on iTunes or CDBaby will go toward funding his new album.
Probably worth 99 cents just for the idea of writing a song called "Bookmobile Submarine" and then talking about microfiche, which is a joke that I think you have to be, like, at least 23 years old to get. Decent animation, it's a fun little 2:30 video.
John Hadfield - "Bookmobile Submarine" [YouTube]
