Free to Be You & Me [Original recording remastered]

Marlo Thomas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000F2CC0E
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (253 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Children's Music > Stories
  • #9 in Music > Children's Music > Sing-A-Longs
  • #9 in Music > Children's Music > Educational

Editorial Reviews

The iconic pet project of Marlo Thomas. Features Harry Belafonte, Rosie Grier, Mel Brooks, and Diana Ross.
A great hour of brain food for the young—and not-so-young.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars we're more free for this record..., February 7, 2000

By 

Amber58 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Free To Be ... You And Me (1972 Television Cast) (Audio CD)

I love this record. I remember listening to it and watching a movie in elementary school at least 22 years ago and really THINKING about the messages in songs like "William Wants a Doll". Anything that inspires deep philosophical thought in a 7 year old is amazing. Later I came across this record when I was 17, brought it home and cried while listening to it over and over again. If you grew up in America in the 70's it's a little piece of your childhood. It's also amazing to think about how far we've come and where we got stuck trying to make this world a better place for all kids. I took the album with me to college and it was a favorite with everyone, men and women. I remember a guy on my floor said something about how lucky we were to grow up in a generation that began to question gender sterotypes. I just bought this CD for my nephew, as much as I love it I'm kind of sad that the messages are still pertinant nearly 30 years later.

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm soooo not a Hippie!, January 21, 2005

By 

Joe'sMom (Ayer, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Free To Be ... You And Me (1972 Television Cast) (Audio CD)

I think it's funny that so many reviewers who didn't like this album (and yes in the 70's they were albums) refer to those of us who DO give high reviews as hippies. I have news for you. Children of the 70s were not hippies, their parents were. I was born in the early 70s, my teenage years were in the 80s and my young adulthood was in the 90s. I really don't qualify as a hippie in any way, shape or form.
Having said that, I still have my old album, which I saved all these years because this was my absolute favorite album of all time! (I no longer have a record player, but the album lives on!) I loved these songs so much as a child. I remember the movie we used to watch in school. They are such wonderful memories. Twenty something years later, I found the cd and purchased it immediately. I now sing and play these songs for my baby. True, the songs are somewhat dated. The 70s were very big on feminism and equality - but is that such a bad message? Plus, as a child, I didn't pay attention to the message, just to the silliness and the catchy tunes. I had no idea who Alan Alda, Carol Channing, and Marlo Thomas were. When I sing these songs to my son now, it's not becaue I want to raise a budding feminist, but because I loved it so much and I would love to share my fond memories. And if he doesn't enjoy it as much as I did, that's ok too.

PS - for other 30-somethings who want to relive another childhood memory - check out the School House Rock series (DVDs, Cd's etc)... another cheesy 70s tool to educate our children about grammar, science, politics, etc. (I'm sort of embarassed to admit this but most of what I know about how a bill is passed through Congress comes from the "I'm just a bill" song.)

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a parent and kindergarten teacher, June 8, 2006

By 

Vincent Geary "Lucky lefty" (Long Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free to Be You & Me (Audio CD)

The music from Free to Be was the best music that my kids listened to as they were growing up. If you're interested in a cd that shows children how there are lots of different ways to be special, this is the cd for you. It's such a positive role model and it's so much fun to sing along with, too. I was watching Inside the Actor's Studio and when he asked Gwyneth Paltrow if she had any actors or actresses that she loved when she was little, she smiled and said that she really didn't, that she spent lots of time in her room singing along with her Free to Be, You and Me record. My kids did, too.