2011 Holiday Guide: Part 1- Gifts of Music for year round listening

"Doll Carolers" photo by Paula Slade

Today we turn our attention to one of the most popular gift categories - “Music.”

Over the last 12 months, some very talented and creative musical artists released a wide variety of albums, which cover a multitude of musical genres and tastes, perfect for gift giving for children and teens.

The products, which appear below have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide the children in your life with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

Best pricing options, available at the time of this posting are provided below, but it is suggested that you cross-compare CD and MP3 pricing with your favorite online as well as stick and brick retailers when available.

From now, and until December 21, 2011, more offerings will be featured in this, and many other entertainment categories.

You may want to bookmark this page to enjoy the musical journey at your leisure, as there will be many choices provided, all with links for preview listening and ordering.

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment.

Strange Dees, Indeed  The Deedle Deedle Dees

History comes alive in song from “America’s Ultimate Teaching Band,” The Deedle Deedle Dees and their newest release, Strange Dees, Indeed.

A totally creative and inventive mix of musical storytelling crammed with historical facts, folklore and even science as Dees tackle tunes about Marie Curie, Mayor LaGuardia, Sacagawea and more.

The Deedle Deedle Dees’ two previous albums, Freedom in a Box and American History + Rock and Roll = The Deedle Dee Dees have won national acclaim as does their live performances at schools, libraries, theaters, parks and family venues.

Sound samples for all 19 tracks of Strange Dees, Indeed are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes 19 tracks, is available from CD Baby with best price at $10.00.

Little Nut Tree  Dan Zanes and Friends

Grammy-winners Dan Zanes and Friends have released something for everyone in an all-ages family favorite album, Little Nut Tree.

Five years and a follow-up to their award winning CD, Catch That Train, this newest release brings together an impressive collaboration of musical artists including Andrew Bird, Sharon Jones, The Sierra Leon Refugee All Stars and Joan Osborne.

Sound samples for all 16 tracks of Little Nut Tree are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $6.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which includes 16 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $6.94.

Making Silly Faces  Nick Deysher

Recently voted one of the Top Ten Kids Albums of the Year by Parent’s Magazine, Nick Deysher’s Making Silly Faces, captures childhood in 13 tuneful tracks reflecting the sounds of popular music from the 70’s, to the present day.

Deysher, an indie children’s music artist and pre-school teacher, who records under the moniker “In the Nick of Time” is no stranger to awards, having garnered a 2010 Parents’ Choice Gold for his CD, People, Places & Things.

In this newest release, Making Silly Faces, Dreysher embraces multiple music genres, from rock to sea shanty, disco and even a touch of reggae, Latin, folk and funky hip-hop, delivered in songs with positive messages about trying new things, having patience, and saying, "please".

Sound samples for all 13 tracks of Making Silly Faces are available through CD Baby and iTunes where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $9.99 for the entire download album.

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 13 tracks, is available from CD Baby for $12.99.

Sing Along!  Caspar Babypants

Caspar Babypants, also known by his grown-up fans as Chris Ballew, songwriter and singer for Seattle’s The Presidents of the United States of America rock band, released his fourth children’s album, Sing Along! and it is a pure delight for the under six crowd as well as parents and caregivers.

Inspiration for Sing Along! came from the call-and-response format found in African folk melodies and work songs from early American history, and Ballew offers his enticing lyrics that beg to be repeated in Sing Along’s mix of original music and updated traditional tunes.

Chris Ballew photo by Josie Ballew

Some well-known guest artists lace the album including Frances England, Weird Al Yankovic, Pete Droge and Stone Gossard to name a few.

Sound samples for all 20 tracks of Sing Along! are available through Amazon.com, where MP3 downloads are offered at $0.99 per song or $8.99 for the entire download album. (Compatible with MP3 Players – including iPod®), iTunes and Windows Media Player.)

The Audio CD format, which also includes all 20 tracks, is available from Amazon Marketplace with best price “new” starting at $7.59.

For your enjoyment, below are two music videos created from the tracks on this album, and they provide excellent examples as to the diversity in Sing Along!

If you found this article helpful, or are still searching for more gift ideas, you may want to read previous installments of The Gift Guide by connecting to the links below:

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday Music for gift-giving

2011 Holiday Guide: Audio Books and celebrations of Christmas