Customer Reviews

The Days Gone By: Songs of the American Poets, Vol. 1

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These songs have a haunting, gentle beauty that makes my heart ache. The title song has a voice that reveres its own words. And all the songs sweep over me like the soothing sound of rain on the roof. All the artists who contributed can know that what they have created is a gift to the world that is truly appreciated.

The Days Gone By: SOngs of The.....by Ted Jacobs is in a class all by itself, ( excepting Ted's first album A Childs Garden of Song). The poetry and music are equally beautiful. Mr. Jacobs and his group of muscians have captured the innocence and magic of childhood. I particularly admired the instrumentation: harmonica, violin, recorder and percussion. There is nothing simplistic here, nothing innane. Just pure beauty. Adults and children will find themselves listening over and over again to Mr. Jacobs haunting and charming melodies.

Have you ever stumbled on an album where you just want to check it out and end up being blown away when you discover you have a real gem on your hands? I noticed "The Days Gone By" set poems by American Poets to music. Ever since "Hair" set Shakespeare's "What a Piece of Work Is Man" to music I have been entrigued by turning poems into songs, especially since I have a serious problem with my poetic soul. Chances are you will recognize a few of the poems that serve as lyrics on this album, with "The Arrow and the Song" by Longfellow the prime choice for the poem some teacher made you read once upon a time; I remember Poe's "Eldorado" from the John Wayne western where the James Caan character would periodically favor us with a relevant verse at various times during the action.

Most of the music on this album is written by Ted Jacobs, who has has co-writers on a few songs, with "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" by Eugene Field featuring music by Lucy Simon. What impresses me the most are all the varied styles Jacobs employs on this album (think Lloyd Webber doing Eliot's poems for "Cats"--only better). "Eldorado" is done in western style while Riley's "When the Frost is on the Punkin" is pure country; both of these songs feature some guitar playing with serious attitude, which is important because it shows these are legitimate songs, not just incidental music to accompany poetic recitations. Some of the best songs on this album feature beautiful harmonies, such as Laura Dallvo on Field's "The Sugar-Plum Tree" as well as Tahkus Ekedal and Amy Deegan on Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers."

Teachers of poetry should absolutely love this album, unless they are absolute purists who turned off their radios at the start of the British invasion. If these songs do not help students make the connection between lyrical poetry and song lyrics, nothing ever will. Of course, you do not have to have students to enjoy this album, because it stands up just fine on its own. Actually, I would dearly love to hear "Eldorado" played on some C&W radio stations so the DJ can tell everybody, "Time for a little Edgar Allen Poe." You have to admit, Ted Jacobs has a most impressive array of lyricists.

I actually had listened to this album a couple of times before I noticed it was a Music for Little People production. Of course, this does not surprise me because I have found the CDs they put out for children to be absolutely wonderful. The only thing is that this clearly says "Volume One," which implies more of the same should be coming down the road one day...

I was so excited when I discovered that Ted Jacobs made another musical-literary paring. My children (girls, 5 and 8) simply adored his previous album, committing every poem to memory and continuing to request it even after hearing it for over a year, so I was certain this new album would either be a dissapointment or be amazing. I'm so pleased to say that amazing does not do it justice. From the opening song, we were captivated. The music stays true to Jacob's earlier tradition -- rich and fully complementary to the wonderful lyrics (poems). As always, we have a few favorites that we must play over and over and over: The Sugar Plum Tree and The Arrow and The Song; however, every song and its music is beautiful and we have listened to the CD over and over and are not close to being tired of it yet! To find children's music that is pleasant enough to listen to as an adult is a rare and wonderful treat. To find children's music that you want to listen to even when your kids are not home or in the car is a treasure. I agree with the album review except that I believe even if one does have a distaste for country music 'twang', give this album a listen (try the samples) and you will find the arrangements fabulous and 'twang' free. I recommend this CD to everyone I know -- including adults. I can't wait for volume II.

I picked up this CD for my preschool classroom. Not only does it bring a peaceful ambiance during the day for the children, but I find myself listening to it at home. A beautiful melding of music and word.

I fell in love with this CD the first time I heard it. It prompted me to seek out more Ted Jacob's music. Each poem is set to music that you can't imagine wasn't written at the same time the poem was. My kids thought some of the music sounded too sad but I listened to it over and over. A great alternative to inane recordings of nursery rhymes and all the bubble gum junk that is out there.

This CD is amazing---I don't know if I can express the range of emotions that I experienced listening to it. Poetry has a rhythm, and these poems are wonderfully intrepreted through the music and melodies on this album.
I hope I can find Vol.2 soon. My children and I listened to each piece, and then tried to guess which poet wrote it. They were inspired to memorize some of the poems, and they will have no trouble doing just that because we'll be listening to this album often.
The cd is for children, but the music is definitely inspiring for moms and dads too.

It was with great anticipation our family awaited this CD. Ted Jacobs first CD was such a delight--uplifting, refreshing, and infectious. We wondered aloud if he could meet the high standard he had set for himself. We were not to be disappointed.

The rich warm music is filled with just the right instruments and vocals. The voices and rhythms so beautifully suited to the original poetry. The warm, rich, gravelly voice that sings of "the days gone by" compels me to reach out and hold my child's hand and feel the pleasure that has passed between us--indeed, "my happy heart brimmed over" as I considered the days gone by.

What a treasure this work is, what a lovely way to bring the images of these poets into our families. I can only imagine that emily, eugene, henry, edgar and james are smiling happily as they tap their toes to the musical interpretation of their timeless prose. May Ted Jacobs live long and continue to share his gift of translating poetry into music for children of all ages.