Customer Reviews

Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes (

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My parents borrowed this record from the library and recorded it to casette to listen to on our first long car trip.I was probably four years old. It quickly became a family favorite. Somewhere a long the way the tape was lost. Two decades had passed when just the other day I happend to catch a snippet of Froggie Went A Courtin on a public radio station. All of those memories came flooding back. Now I am buying it for my own children. I don't know what speaks more powerfully for this album than that.

My parents borrowed this record from the library and recorded it to casette to listen to on our first long car trip.I was probably four years old. It quickly became a family favorite. Somewhere a long the way the tape was lost. Two decades had passed when just the other day I happend to catch a snippet of Froggie Went A Courtin on a public radio station. All of those memories came flooding back. Now I am buying it for my own children. I don't know what speaks more powerfully for this album than that.

For me, this is pure nostalgia - it brings back memories of the fifties. It seems from reading other reviews that today's young children get as much pleasure from this music as those of my generation did, although I can't imagine anybody recording music this way now.

I don't remember all the songs, but I recognise several of them. I know an old lady is immediately recognisable from the title, but I recognised others immediately upon hearing them again, including The keeper and the doe - it has the (for me) immortal chorus lines

hey down hoe down derry derry down
among the leaves so green-o.

Of course, in the age we now live, some of these songs are not politically correct and some may not appeal to vegetarians, but I don't ever remember hearing much about vegetarians until the eighties. Before then, there were very few of them around. I don't mind such people, but Pete could hardly have been expected to consider them when these songs were recorded.

I read another review where somebody complained about Pete's imitations of animal noises. I'm sure that a modern recording of such songs would use authentic animal noises, but again, this music must be seen as a product of its time.

So, this is a fun album, not to be taken too seriously, which can be enjoyed by young children, or by adults trying to remember when they were young children themselves.

The songs are good on the most part but a few things take away from the general enjoyment of the music. 1] the first song has a section that is in 7/8. Pete messes this up and it sounds very ackward. His singing is arhythmic and out of synic on this track. 2] the voice is LOUD and CLEAR. The music accompaniment [banjo] is too soft and way in the background 3] Petes animal sounds on some songs are frightening and bizzare. 4] If you are a vegetarian or an animal rights person you will probadly not like about 1/5 of the tracks on the cd. Unfortunately a cd about animals includes many songs about catching them, killing them and eating them.

I like this album I prefer: Woody guthries - 'songs to grow on for mother and child" and "nursery years". Best albums ever!

I bought this CD because I liked the title and we listen to it everyday because we love the style and songs. This CD covers all ages, has a nice bluegrass feel and you can replay it a million times and not want to scream after the third time. The songs are more like stories set to music and our child loves #2. Enjoy.

I borrowed this from the library 5+ times for my children. I decided I just had to have it.

My daughter, who is now a mother, grew up with Pete Seeger and loved his way with children. Many of the songs are very "singable" for even young children. The music had a calming effect and was played over and over. I am now ordering for my granddaughter because our old record has been loved so much it has gotten shabby.

This CD provides a wonderful collection of folk songs that even very young children will love. Pete Seeger is a masterful story teller. Words are included so you can sing along. Even new songs will soon become old favorites.