Folkways Revived: Kids Music Mixes Old & New

The Smithsonian Folkways label's rich history of children's music is celebrated with a new album by California singer-songwriter Cass McCombs and Bay Area preschool teacher Mr. Greg.

Released as part of Folkways' 75th anniversary, the album "Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children" covers diverse themes like civil rights, nature, and self-image. Suggested lesson plans often reference other Folkways records, integrating the label's extensive catalog.

The collection features spoken cameos from folk artists Peggy Seeger and Michael Hurley, alongside samples of recordings by Woody Guthrie and Ella Jenkins. This blend of canonical references could have made the album a mere syllabus, but McCombs and Mr. Greg skillfully balance tradition with innovation.

While some tracks, like "A Builder's Got a Hammer and Nails," echo familiar melodies, others like "Roll Around Downtown" incorporate drum machines and a unique guitar sound. "The Sounds That the Letters Make" explores beatnik jazz with cello, and "We Build a Lot of Muscle When We Exercise" offers a surprisingly somber tone before a lively arrangement saves it.

Children's music, defined by its audience rather than formal characteristics, can adopt various forms. This album embraces this flexibility, offering both avant-garde arrangements that hint at future possibilities and accessible, strummy pop tunes. Highlights include "Little Wilma Wiggly Worm" and "Things That Go in the Recycling Bin," which humorously sorts recyclables. The song "I'm a Nocturnal Animal" also provides a matter-of-fact depiction of an owl's feeding cycle.