Customer Reviews

Animal Crackers in My Soup: The Songs of Shirley Temple

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Because Maria Muldaur is so fabulous, I unabashedly bought "Animal Crackers in My Soup" for my (grown-up) self. It is a flat-out terrific album, brightly fun and touching. The renditions highlight how perceptive, witty, and, as Maria says in the liner notes, "hip" the songs are. Like the best reinterpretations of jazz classics, they both re-enliven the songs and pay tribute to the original performers. Maria surely would have been a film star in the 1930s (from screwballs to weepers), with her keen intelligence, independent spirit, energy, comedic talents, beauty, and sultriness. So, I guess we can't say that they don't make 'em like that anymore. She should have at least a special on TMC or AMC!

As in Shirley Temple's work, love shines through Maria's voice on these songs, providing the embrace, faith, and hopefulness that children--and all of us--need. One can truly feel that love. Maria has paid close attention to the child listener through, for example, her clear enunciation and the duets with and solos by little Carrie Lyn, which would encourage sing-along. (And dance-along and snap-along: You have to start swingin' when you hear this album!) The intelligence and care in the album are also apparent in the selection of all the artists. The band is "cherce," as Jimmy Durante would say. Carrie Lyn is a marvel--believe it or not, a child performer without a touch of the lamentable oversophistication and Broadway "projection" that predominate nowadays. And Norton Buffalo is a hoot. There is no "talking down" to children on this album.

You don't have to analyze the components, though, just enjoy them! I highly recommend the album for children (it will become for me a favorite gift for children), jazz lovers, wits, fans of old movies, anyone who needs a lift--well, anyone! Now, that's one way to discover your sparkling inner child. I can't wait to get Maria Muldaur's other albums for "young people." OK, swing it!

Maria Muldaur is an American musical treasure, so don't be fooled into thinking her recordings for children are not also FABULOUS for us big grown up people. As is always the happy case, Muldaur brings aboard superior musicians and here assembles a tight swinging band featuring an especially talented player of all the reed instruments-Jim Rothermel. The sound is very much like John Kirby's Biggest Little Band of the 30's and 40's that often featured Claud Thornhill's piano and the light hot swing of Maxine Sullivan. And-as always, Maria shows exquisite taste in assemling songs from the great songsmiths of the 30's like Ted Koeler, Eddy Heyman, Mitchell Parrish, Richard Whiting and Harold Arlen. All the material is charmingly memorable in the delicious styles of Red Norvo's little swing band with Mildred Bailey or Teddy Wilson's sextet with clarinetist Edmond Hall. Goodnight my Love swings just like Benny Goodman's hit with Helen Ward, and when Muldaur sings with the young talented 8 year old girl you'd swear the Boswell Sisters were swinging singing again. Superior music for young and old!

Though I was familiar with - and have reviewed - Muldaur's other CDs for the wonderful Music For Little People (MFLP) label, this is one I didn't know about. Hence, this review is being posted much later than the others.

I'm a big "Maria" fan and also love old film musicals - so this was an ideal combination for me. I've recommended the other MFLP CDs because there are delightful to both adults and kids. This one is a borderline case - though I'm still giving it five stars. The reason is that Maria doesn't take lead on all the tracks. She's accompanied by Carrie Lyn (who appears to be about 12 years old at the time the CD was recorded in 2002 - and does not appear on any other CDs that I could find) approximating the original sound of Shirley Temple (at probably age seven or eight. This makes it much less interesting to adults without kids - unless you are already a HUGE Maria fan.

But for families - especially ones with little girls - you can't beat this for entertainment value. The sound - like all MFLP releases - is top notch and so is the band!

It's a four star as a package for adults and a five star as a kids' or family album.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

Maria Muldaur never disappoints regardless of whatever she is singing. She sings the bulk of the songs on this album, but the delightful 8-year old Carrie Lyn also sings several songs solo, as well as along with Maria and Norton Buffalo on "You've Gotta Eat Your Spinach, Baby" and with Maria on "We Should Be Together". Shirley Temple is fine, but a bit too cutesy at times. Carrie Lyn does a good job at not being that way. She doesn't just copy Temple. She has a nice voice and good delivery. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this bouncy, fun album. Technically a very crisp and sharp sound. The band is superb. Kids and adults will both enjoy this album.

I thought I was getting a cd of Shirley Temple. Deceptive packaging . I'm sorry I opened it or I would return it.

I bought this for my five-year-old niece, who loves silly songs. She and my sister regularly sing along to this in the car.

Response is very quick and the received article is a good condition as well.
So, Quality,(Cost),Delivery, and Service of this store are almost all
Excellent!!

I heard this cd playing in a childrens store in downtown Monrovia and had to ask if they were selling the cd. They were not but gave me the name and said they had gotten it from Amazon.

When we got home I had to get on the computer type in Amazon and order the cd. It is so cute and fun. I love listening to it. It brightens my day.

I must first say that I and more importantly, my boys (3 and 2) love this CD. The whole family sings along while the music is on and long after.
After I got over my initial annoyance with the grown lady singing the lion's share of the Shirley Temple songs, I've decided that I can live with it. But, they had a talented child (obvious from the songs she is allowed to sing) why not let her sing?
Look at the cover, don't we all expect to hear a child's voice?
The music, though, is just right for the upbeat, innocent and full sound we look for. (With maybe the exception of "When I grow up" ...too long...and "Good night, my love" ...too schmoozy and seemingly another excuse for Ms. Muldaur to steal the kid's spotlight.