Music For Little People is a music label dedicated to bringing great music to children, and not necessarily just what you’d think of as “kiddie” music. They’re proving this with their latest release of compilation CDs, including “Love and Peace: Greatest Hits For Kids“, which commemorates their 25 years in the industry. This remarkable CD features an amazing cast of musical luminaries, covering old standards and keeping things fresh.
Where else will you be able to hear Los Lobos doing a mellow version of “La Bamba”? Or “The Monster Mash” by Linda Ronstadt? Or perhaps best of all, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson doing “If I Had A Hammer”? Truly, we live in an age of miracles. This is not to say that the other tracks aren’t worthy of mention — you get Donovan, Buckwheat Zydeco, Taj Mahal, Sheila E, Willie Nelson, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the bargain, and it’s all great stuff.
Let’s face it: music is music, no matter who it might ostensibly be “for”. My son loves They Might Be Giants just as much as I do, and not just their kids’ offerings (though those are fantastic as well). One of the best things about “Love and Peace: Greatest Hits For Kids” is the way it opens up the wide landscape of musical genres for new listeners, from the Cajun bayou to the African plains. If these songs introduce new generations to the rich catalogs of these amazing artists, then we can expect their legacies to continue to inspire the artists of tomorrow, and we will all benefit from that.
