The Crazy Zoo: an Animal Songfest

Artist: Joe Ross & Friends
Label: Zephyr
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 659057132327
EAN: 0659057132327
ASIN: B00004WZQK

Release Date: 2000-08-01

Related Categories:

General

| Folk | Styles | Music

General

| Children's Music | Styles | Music

General

| Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Tracks:

The Cat Came Back 6:06
The Crazy Zoo 4:56
Six Little Ducks 1:23
The Unicorn 3:19
Twin Peaks 0.53
The Sow Took the Measles 1:40
Puff the Magic Dragon 5:13
Opera Reel 1:47
Tennessee Stud 3:40
Old Rattler 2:42
Baby Beluga 2:19
Crawdad 3:49
Turkey in the Straw 3:47
Last Call 0.50
Goober Peas/Year of the Jubilo 2:25
The Fox 3:22
The Tale of a Bear 2:37
Touch the Earth 4:40
Joy to the World 3:04

Customer Reviews:

A very fun album that also supports the very worthy cause of humane treatment of animals.......2005-12-28

Joe Ross must be a real hit with the kids ... of all ages. Families will really enjoy this great album of animal songs. Lyrics are included so you can sing right along. The hour of music includes commmon, less oft-heard and even some original material. They're all fun songs. Some excellent musicians help out with the picking and singing. There are also some messages that may encourage family discussions about the importance of being loving, caring and humane to animals. Apparently, some of the proceeds from sales of "crazy zoo" go to support the Humane Socety of the US. I commend these excellent musicians for taking the time to make such a fun album and for supporting such a worthy cause.

Fun, heart-felt and fabulous!.......2005-01-26

What do you get when you put together a cast of utterly stellar musicians with a lot of zany songs about various critters and a lot of love? The answer is this cd, The Crazy Zoo!
When I said the musicians are utterly stellar, I wasn't over-exaggerating! All the tracks are played with an incredible amount of grace and sheer talent. Not only that, but the instrumentation of this album is highly diverse, including fiddle, harp, mandolin, banjo, and that's only a brief list. Just as diverse as the rich instrumentation, is the wonderful song selection. From classics like "Joy To The World", "The Unicorn" and "Puff, the Magic Dragon", to perhaps lesser-known songs like "Crawdad", "Tale of a Bear" and "Rattler", this cd has something for everyone. Plus, the addition of tracks like "Turkey In the Straw" and "Tennessee Stud" is a real treat! Not to mention the terrific instrumental tracks sprinkled throughout the cd! Wonderful!
As I already stated, the other ingredient that sets this cd apart from so many others is the love that so obviously was put into it's creation. Joe sings with warmth, sincerity and richness, which draws the listener straight into each and every song. The music is absolutely infectious, and one can't help sing along and dance around the room. Well, at least, this listener couldn't.
I must pay special tribute to Joe's beautiful original song, "Touch The Earth." Written from the Native American's point-of-view, it discusses the exploits of the white men, and their extravagant and brutal wasting of the land and her natural resources. It is a somber reminder of the cruelty inflicted on both the Native American's, and the land for which they were the caretakers. Nevertheless, this song brings hope that those fortunate enough to hear it will remember the mistakes of the past and do their best to facilitate healing for the earth and all her people. I'm so thankful that Joe wrote and included this wonderful piece, and hope that others will appreciate it as well.
I would highly recommend this cd to kids of all ages. It will bring a smile to your face, a spring to your step, and certainly, a song to your heart.

Great fun!.......2002-12-08

A review by Bill Fisher, Victory Music Review, June, 2001 -
When the "& Friends" include the likes of Bryan Bowers, Peter Ostroushko, Dean Magraw and mandolin whiz Radim Zenkl, what you get is the feel of a bunch of superb pickers gathered around a microphone or two in someone's living room with the fire crackling in the woodstove....A remarkably listenable set with wonderful mandolin, banjo and (of course) autoharp licks abounding and even a few odd fragments of instrumentals from Zenkl and Bowers. This is not the sort of CD you'd be unhappy about hearing frequently on your children's boom boxes. In fact, what a glorious replacement for the Barney and Elmo music that makes you feel guiltily genocidal. In the end, this music is great fun, reflecting the pleasures that clearly went into its creation. And, for that, we give thanks!

A wonderful presentation of good music.......2002-12-08

Every song and tune is well played and will delight the young, middle aged and older fans who love music. The way Joe phrases and pronounces the words indicate he has been strongly influenced by the folk music in the 1960s. His voice is in the lower vocal range and very enjoyable. Bryan Bowers is well known as a great autoharp player and he gives us some good moments on several songs. Banjo Dan Mazer's five strings speak on "Tennessee Stud" and other songs. This is a wonderful presentation of good music and should find a home in everyone's record collection. This project has been nominated for a Parent's Choice Foundation Fall Award. Sincerely, Frank Overstreet, SPBGMA Bluegrass Music News

Grab this disc for your next family road trip.......2002-12-08

The Unicorn, Puff the Magic Dragon, Crawdad, The Fox, Baby Beluga, Tennessee Stud, Six Little Ducks, The Cat Came Back, you get the idea. Joe Ross has subtitled this hour-long disc, "For families from 3 to 93," and there should be familiarities here for everyone in that range. Ross' friendly baritone voice gives all of the tunes an informal approachability that invites singing along. Grab this disc next time the family heads out for a road trip, that is, if you can wrestle control of the car audio away from a seven-year-old addicted to the Backstreet Boys (our family's current state).

One way Ross trumps many artists offering kids' songs is via his musical friends: Bryan Bowers, Linda Danielson, Bob Evoniuk, Dean Magraw, Dan Mazer, Janet Naylor, Peter Ostroushko, and Radim Zenkl. If those are the types of gatherings your kids get to hear in your living room, all I can say is you have better ammunition than I against those Backstreet Boys.

--David Royko, contributing writer, Bluegrass Unlimited magazine

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