BEST Children's album EVER!
Darcy Meadows | baltimore, md | 04/12/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These songs are equally enjoyable for adults and children. It is sophisticated, beautiful, and fun all at once. I am so thankful my parents played this for me as a child. I am a professional choral singer now and I truly believe that the complex yet tuneful harmonies in these songs helped me develop an "ear" for music.
You will not be disappointed by this album. I am so happy I've been able to find it and listen to it again as an adult. And when I have children, they will grow up with these tunes and harmonies too.
"
Beautiful and Slightly creepy
Kevin P. Mccarthy | Florida | 10/26/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From its clown cover to the layered harmonies of childhood themes it is very easy in our time to consider this creepy and ironic. What makes this cd so beautiful is the fact that the band members were SINCERE in what they were doing. It is hard to wrap our post-millenial heads around the fact that the band was making beautiful music and it is totaly innocent. It is very refreshing. While there are many current art-school bands (of good merit) like Stereolab that have been influenced by Free Design, they were not poseurs, but rather excellent musicians who recorded music that on a certain level was way ahead of their time. Unfortunately there was a very limited market in the early 70's for what we would now call college radio/indie. They were trying to break into a commercial market that did not understand where they were coming from. If you are a fan of electronica or ambient, you will appreciate the soundscapes they create. Their vocals and harmonies are brilliant and will appeal to singer-songwriter types as well. This cd is a must-have for indy and twee fans as well. And for those of us that grew up in the 70's, you will lover the version of Sesame Street (and the chapstick commercials)"
Classic
William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 12/26/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't let the cover of this fool you. This free design album has music that will work wonders on little kids, but this is not little kids music.
Free Deisgn always had the edge on most vocal groups of the late 1960s-they had phonomonal backup bands. These singers made every great choice.
These is obviously songs geared to children, but the funk-jazz unit behind the Free Design here are so dexturous and adpet, they keep lean, bouncy grooves. If any jazz man came to me and wanted to make a heavy funk album, I'd hire this band.
This music will be a joy for you. It will also be a great gift to your kids, if you want extremely grooving ones."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1