Rocket Ship Beach

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Dan Zanes, lead singer of the 1980s roots-rock band the Del Fuegos, didn't need to enlist the high-profile help of pals Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega to produce a crowd-pleasing kids' record, but he got it anyway. On Rocket Ship Beach, where traditional tunes such as "Polly Wolly Doodle" (with Crow) and "Erie Canal" (with Vega) mingle in loosey-goosey, just-for-the-fun-of-it fashion with originals such as the plucky "All My Friends Live in the Woods" (written by Bad Company buddy Simon Kirke), Zanes exhibits the same plugged-in exuberance that gave his former band its unpredictable zing. Besides the no-amateurs instrumentation, which includes Zanes on guitar, lap steel, banjo-mandolin, and studiophone, and G.E. Smith on banjo-mandolin and guitar as part of a kickin' string band that performs the classic "King Kong Kitchie," plus a cluster of others, what stands out most about this 17-track funfest is its draw-you-in friendliness. Pitching in with the pros (who also include dancehall rapper Rankin' Don--he delivers the gruff stuff on "Father Goose" and "Sunny Side of the Street") are family friends such as the gang of West Indian babysitters turned vocal group the Sandy Girls, who give it up to impressive, get-you-boogying effect on "Emmanuel Road," and a kindergarten class that contributes, adorably, to "Sidewalks of New York." All told, this is way hipper than most kids' records and it also razzle-dazzles with its packaging--Rocket Ship Beach arrives in a chunky, colorful board-book illustrated with sweet, fantasy-fueled beachside scenes by banjo player and Zanes's brother-in-law, Donald Saaf. --Tammy La Gorce

family.com, december 2000
one of the top ten children's cds of 2000

Album Description
music is in the air. it’s alive and it’s here for everyone. if you can play an old song, you can write a new song. make it a family parade, all around the kitchen cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo. or how about a family band? on the front steps, in the back yard, in the park, on the sidewalk, in the basement. if you can brush your teeth, you can play tamborine. if you can tell a joke, you can sing.

festival five records is the sound of a neighborhood band on the front stoop playing tunes after dinner for a family dance. festival five records is the sound of a group of 9 and 10 year olds singing a sixty year old broadway song in the basement of a 150 year old row house. it’s the sound of a 40-year-old dad on a blue porch singing a 400 year old story song about a frog that marries a mouse. when you feel that music in the air, try to catch as much as possible.

Rocket Ship Beach

Tracks:

Polly Wolly Doodle (with Sheryl Crow)
King Kong Kitchie (with the Wonderland String Band)
Bushel and a Peck (with Donald Saaf and the Rocket Ship Singers)
Go Down Emmanuel Road (with the Sandy Girls)
Goodbye Old Paint
Father Goose (with Rankin' Don and the Rocket Ship
Keep on the Sunny Side (with the Wonderland String Band)
Erie Canal (with Suzanne Vega)
Buckeye Jim
Brown Girl in the Ring (with the Wonderland String Band and G.E. Smith)
Hello (with Barbara Brousal)
All My Friends Live in the Woods (with Simon Kirke)
Weather Report (Sophie and Emma)
Mole in the Ground
On the Sunny Side of the Street (with Rankin' Don and Donald Saaf)
Sidewalks of New York (with a cast of thousands)
Over the Rainbow (with Donald Saaf)

Amazon.com

Dan Zanes, lead singer of the 1980s roots-rock band the Del Fuegos, didn't need to enlist the high-profile help of pals Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega to produce a crowd-pleasing kids' record, but he got it anyway. On Rocket Ship Beach, where traditional tunes such as "Polly Wolly Doodle" (with Crow) and "Erie Canal" (with Vega) mingle in loosey-goosey, just-for-the-fun-of-it fashion with originals such as the plucky "All My Friends Live in the Woods" (written by Bad Company buddy Simon Kirke), Zanes exhibits the same plugged-in exuberance that gave his former band its unpredictable zing. Besides the no-amateurs instrumentation, which includes Zanes on guitar, lap steel, banjo-mandolin, and studiophone, and G.E. Smith on banjo-mandolin and guitar as part of a kickin' string band that performs the classic "King Kong Kitchie," plus a cluster of others, what stands out most about this 17-track funfest is its draw-you-in friendliness. Pitching in with the pros (who also include dancehall rapper Rankin' Don--he delivers the gruff stuff on "Father Goose" and "Sunny Side of the Street") are family friends such as the gang of West Indian babysitters turned vocal group the Sandy Girls, who give it up to impressive, get-you-boogying effect on "Emmanuel Road," and a kindergarten class that contributes, adorably, to "Sidewalks of New York." All told, this is way hipper than most kids' records and it also razzle-dazzles with its packaging--Rocket Ship Beach arrives in a chunky, colorful board-book illustrated with sweet, fantasy-fueled beachside scenes by banjo player and Zanes's brother-in-law, Donald Saaf. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

music is in the air. it's alive and it's here for everyone. if you can play an old song, you can write a new song. make it a family parade, all around the kitchen cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo. or how about a family band? on the front steps, in the back yard, in the park, on the sidewalk, in the basement. if you can brush your teeth, you can play tamborine. if you can tell a joke, you can sing.

festival five records is the sound of a neighborhood band on the front stoop playing tunes after dinner for a family dance. festival five records is the sound of a group of 9 and 10 year olds singing a sixty year old broadway song in the basement of a 150 year old row house. it's the sound of a 40-year-old dad on a blue porch singing a 400 year old story song about a frog that marries a mouse. when you feel that music in the air, try to catch as much as possible.

Customer Reviews:

It's great!.......2007-01-27

I'm a first-time Mom who was looking for a CD both my daughter and I could enjoy. We rec'd this CD at Christmas along with "Buzz Buzz" by Laurie Berkner. This one is my personal favorite. I think I enjoy it as much, if not more than my daughter (who is 1). The songs are addicting and I, like a previous reviewer, find myself singing/humming them even when my daughter is not around. Polly Wolly Doodle and King Kong Kitchie are fabulous! I highly recommend giving this CD a spin. I'm sure my daughter will love it even more when she gets a little older.

Honestly, this CD sucks.......2007-01-18

I was excited to receive this CD because of its great reviews. Once I received it however, I found it barely listenable. My toddler daughter looked and me and said "Off!Off!" and we took it off the CD player after only 10 minutes.

People can make of Raffi all they want, but at least his music is tolerable!

Don't waste your money on this lemon of a CD.

What an awesome CD!!!.......2006-12-20

My 2 year old and 1 year old think this CD ROCKS! My son will point to the CD player and cry and whine until I turn it on. From song one they both wiggle, giggle and dance all over. The songs are very folksy, upbeat, and easy to groove too. Get this CD and watch your kids get jiggy wit' it!

rocket ship beach review.......2006-11-10

Rocket Ship Beach was my introduction to Dan Zanes. I have a new son and I was searching for some music we could both enjoy. I found this and thought I would give it a shot. The cd is wonderful. The music is addicting and I find myself driving down the road singing to myself....without my son in the car! Polly Wolly Doodle, the first track, is one of my favorites (and not because I am a Sheryl Crow fan). Another beautiful song is "Hello". This cd is upbeat, fun and yet different from some more typical childrens music. My son really enjoys the different sounds and rhythms on the cd. The cd has a few little introductions where you can hear children, a phone ringing, ect. This cd is sure to put you in a good mood. I highly recommend it! I am actually waiting for another Dan Zanes cd to arrive I liked it so much.

we all love it.......2006-08-05

The whole family can enjoy this music, unlike many of the other kid's music that is so lame.

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