Track Listing

1. Fishin' Blues
2. Brown Girl in the Ring
3. Light Rain
4. Quavi, Quavi
5. Shake Sugaree
6. Funky Bluesy ABC's
7. Talkin' John Henry
8. Railroad Bill
9. Soulful Tune
10. Little Brown Dog

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #127251 in Music
• Released on: 1992-10-27
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Folk blues may not seem to be the stuff of a children's album, but this award-winning 1988 disc consists of a delightful series of songs for kids despite (or because of?) its blue roots. Mahal sets an intimate, storytelling mood with his casual introductions, and the spontaneous sing-along choruses (provided by his children, Ahmen and Deva) add to the gathered-round-the-campfire feel. Still, this is a blues record--undeniably gentle and sweet, but blues all the same--and that's what makes it such a wonderful family collection. Whimsical enough to please children, it contains enough bite to captivate adults. For every song about a boy riding his big-eared puppy halfway around the world ("Little Brown Dog") there's another about playing the ponies in Houston ("Light Rain"). It's all topped off with a joyous version of Elizabeth Cotton's "Shake Sugaree," with Mahal's children singing, "Oh, Lordy me, then we'll shake sugaree / Everything I've got is done and pawned." Strange material for a children's record, but it works. --Percy Keegan

Customer Reviews

Best Kid's Music I've ever heard--buy it
Brown Dog brought tears to my eyes... Guavi Guavi made me want to speak Senegalize... I can't stop singing Light Rain. Seriously, this is some of the best stuff Taj has done, and it's hidden away on a kid's tape--its one of the many great things I've discovered about fatherhood (disposable diapers are another).

childhood
This is a wonderful cd, I listened to it constantly when I was little and was on top of the world when at the age of nine I got to see Taj Mahal in concert. This cd made me appreaciate blues and now I love all of his new stuff as well. This cd is enjoyable for kids but as a college student I still listen to it.

I love it and baby loves it.
Good music for dancing around the living room with baby. She loves the album and it doesn't get boring for parents, either.