The Sunny Side of the Street [ENHANCED]

John Lithgow

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 2006)
• Original Release Date: August 29, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B000GH3PWW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,646 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The world hardly needed more evidence, but The Sunny Side of the Street proves unequivocally that there's nothing John Lithgow puts his name on that doesn't secrete charm by the bucketful. This particular CD, his third for kids, is fairly well drenched in it. The spirit of the disc is captured handily by the cover art, which pictures Lithgow as a bumbershoot-toting dandy skipping along Broadway amid an animated coterie; a few songs in, you can practically hear him soft-shoeing it in front of a sweet-sounding kids' chorus on the gently encouraging "Pick Yourself Up." Guest stars abound--the vocal marvel Madeleine Peyroux on the title track, cabaret star Maude Maggart on the lively "Baby!," and Seinfeld's Wayne Knight on "Inka Dinka Doo"--but as on previous discs, Lithgow shines brightest when the spotlight is aimed squarely and exclusively on him. "I Always Say Hello to a Flower" allows him to cut up to such bent-minded lyrics as "I always say bonjour to a lilac/Bonjour bonjour bonjour/But I'm absolutely mute with a bully in a suit/And I never talk to fruit, heaven knows," while "The Laughing Policeman" features him guffawing unstoppably--not to mention contagiously--for a good two minutes. "Be Human," on which the sage advice to "have a tender word for every animal and bird" is doled out repeatedly before a kicky Dixieland band, benefits from a particularly astute ending: "A toucan can't be human," Lithgow speak-sings with characteristic clear-eyed bonhomie before letting out a squawk, "but you can!" Few screwballs make such sweet-sounding sense. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

First, know this: A mystery lurks within the innocence, goofiness, and star-filled songs on John Lithgow’s latest album for children, and his first for Razor & Tie, The Sunny Side of the Street.

It doesn’t sound mysterious. Consider, for example, the easy-going opener, "Getting to Know You"; the breakneck, cartoon-energy acceleration of Betty Boop’s "You’ve Gotta Have Pep"; the squawks and shrieks of "I’m a Manatee"; the sly banter with Wayne Knight (who starred with Lithgow on 3rd Rock from the Sun and played Newman on Seinfeld) throughout "Inka Dinka Doo"’; the stylish jazz of Madeleine Peyroux, the Broadway styling of Sheri Rene Scott, the teasing interplay between Lithgow and cabaret legend-to-be Maude Maggart, and of course those kids from the United Nations School, singing along and stealing the spotlight more than once …

Undeniably, The Sunny Side of the Street is a perfect album for children.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Kids Music, September 13, 2006

By	Nicole Miller - See all my reviews

I bought the new John Lithgow album for my little cousins and they love it! They dance around the house to the music and can't stop singing the catchy songs. Lithgow uses classic songs that I have even heard before, which makes it nice to babysit and listen to good kids music. Your kids will love this CD!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great oldy, but goodies for the kids to sing along to., January 11, 2007

By	Loey B. "Louis" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

Great songs for kids to relax and have fun with.
Thanks for bringing some of these old songs to life
John Lithgow for the next generation to appreciate.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars CD for my Grandchild, January 10, 2007

By	Carolyn Reinkemeyer "Suzi, Grand" (Germany) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My grandsons have several CD's from John Lithgow and love to listen to them while in the car. I like the music on "Sunny Side of the Street" myself!