Family Tree

Tom Chapin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Gadfly Records
• ASIN: B00005OKSR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,621 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #14 in Music > Indie Music > Children's Music > Children's Educational
  • #83 in Music > Indie Music > Children's Music > General

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Family Tree ranks as singer/songwriter Tom Chapin's best overall children's release. Chapin applies a grand musical scheme, integrating horns, well-recorded large ensembles, and more, which results in a mix that will wow parents and kids alike. He prefers narrative-oriented songs, and here does a wonderful job on a father-son relationship in "Shovelling" and includes a touching lullaby-like farewell to friends on "Together Tomorrow." Unlike lots of children's music, in which a simple vibe is struck and then stuck with throughout, this collection varies with each song, often using humor to ease kids into a realm where they can grasp some kernel of truth about themselves and their parents. His take on the "Big Rock Candy Mountain" is inventive (and shrewdly avoids the liquor-guzzling references in the original), and there's a politically progressive angle to the entire recording. --Andrew Bartlett

Product Description

Family Tree is Tom Chapin's groundbreaking first family recording. Includes the now-classic title track Family Tree, as well as This Pretty Planet played on the Space Shuttle Discovery to wake the astronauts. The album also features guest vocalist Judy Collins. The album is a winner of a Parents' Choice Award and also named a Notable Children's Recording by the American Library Association.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another superb CD from Tom Chapin. Amazing!!, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Family Tree (Audio CD)

Ok, I'm pregnant and a little bit tired. So after dinner tonight I told my 2.5-year-old son he could watch a video (I really needed the half hour of rest). Nothing doing -- he wanted to listen to "the new Tom Chapin" CD. Ok, fine with me. I turned on "Family Tree" (which we bought last week, more about that later...) and he immediately started marching to the first song, Parade Came Marching. I followed him and he marched all around the house, singing along at the top of his little lungs. When the song ended, he paused, and when the next song, Nick of Time started, he jumped with glee and started marching and singing again. The two of us marched and sang our way through the entire CD...it was a really special and enjoyable time, and it chased my fatigue away. This is music that's more fun than a video, whether you're at home or in the car. Speaking of the car, that was our introduction to this CD. I bought it for the car ride from our Virginia home to our North Carolina beach rental place last week. Little did I know we'd spend 9 hours stuck in traffic as all of coastal NC was evacuated for Hurricane Floyd! Good thing this is such a wonderful CD...our son insisted on playing it over and over, and my husband and I didn't mind at all. It gave us a chance to learn all the words to these creative, crafty, songs. If you already know Tom Chapin's music, you'll love this CD as much as the others. If you don't know Tom Chapin yet, you gotta try him!! Your kids will love him, and equally importantly, you'll sing along too and will marvel at the quality of the music and lyrics.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for kids from toddler to pre-teen!, September 19, 2004

By 

Carolyn K. "Mrs. Hoagie" (Hoagies' Gifted Education Page) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Family Tree (Audio CD)

Early on, we found Tom Chapin when we (adults) got tired of other kids' artists. Back then, our child was 2, and our friends kids were 6 and 10, and we all loved singing the songs, and even seeing Tom in concert. Great family fun!

Later, our girls continued to love Chapin's songs and concerts, and we make his concerts a family trip every summer, even with our (now) teen. These are songs kids can grow up with!

Our family favorites include Family Tree (this album), anything about Bruno (two other albums), and many more. Our elder daughter now loves some of his adult songs, especially A Study's About To Begin.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent children (and grownup) CD, October 28, 1998

By 

Gert P. Bosman (Wapadrand, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Tree (Audio CD)

I'm from South Africa and went to America on a business trip. I'm a Harry Chapin fan and bought a couple of CD's - between them this Tom Chapin CD. I sat in my hotel room, listening to this CD on a portable player - with tears in my eyes - longing for my children. Ariving back in S.A., I played this CD to my children -- from then on our family CD!! We sing the songs, we play the piano, the guitar, we dance - all because of this beautiful music. Tom, thanks for a very fine, true-to-life piece of music.