Welcome to the Music Thursdays segment! Each week here on Geek Alabama, Music Thursdays will feature music related content. Music Thursdays will feature an artist or band and their latest song and / or music video. People love music, and we here at Geek Alabama love featuring artists and bands!
Craft Recordings celebrates 50 years of legendary children’s music from beloved global troubadour Raffi, with an anniversary pressing of the album that launched his inimitable career—Singable Songs for the Very Young. Originally released in 1976, the album features a trove of memorable songs, including “Down By The Bay,” “Mr. Sun,” and “Brush Your Teeth”—all of which have been sung and shared between generations over the decades.
For the album’s first pressing in 40 years, Raffi—a devoted environmentalist—chose to partner with Good Neighbor, an eco-friendly record manufacturer whose non-toxic, 100% recyclable alternative to vinyl is produced without PVC. This special orange pressing of Singable Songs for the Very Young arrives November 13 and is available for pre-order today.
Before he was the world’s best-selling children’s entertainer, Raffi was a young singer-songwriter, playing in coffeehouses across Canada to build a name for himself. Little did he know that a 1974 invitation to perform at a nursery school would change the course of his life. Before long, an inspired Raffi was working on an album of children’s music in the basement studio of Daniel Lanois, who would go on to produce the likes of U2, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young.
Alongside Lanois, Raffi also drew on insight from educators and contributions from musical friends, notably his longtime collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Ken Whiteley. Together, they blended clever adaptations of traditional material and folk songs with thoughtful originals, resulting in some of the most beloved and memorable children’s songs of the modern era, including playful favorites like “Down By The Bay,” “Brush Your Teeth,” and “Peanut Butter Sandwich.” Other highlights include “I Wonder If I’m Growing” and the inspired “Old McDonald Had A Band,” as well as seasonal delights like “My Dreydel” and “Must Be Santa.”
Released in 1976, Singable Songs for the Very Young resonated with children and parents alike, becoming an instant classic. Enjoyed by generations, his bestselling album has achieved Platinum status in the US and 3X Platinum in Canada. In the ensuing years, Raffi released a companion album, More Singable Songs (1977), followed by such popular titles as Baby Beluga (1980), One Light One Sun (1985), and Bananaphone (1994).
Discussing the album Raffi says “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of my Singable Songs, I’m grateful to Ken Whiteley and Daniel Lanois for the musical magic that keeps on giving! So fun to know that ‘beluga grads’ are enjoying these songs with their own kids.”
With nearly 20 million album sales and close to one billion streams, Raffi has long been the world’s best-selling and most influential children’s entertainer. To date, he has released over 30 albums—with his latest, Love Is Everywhere, arriving in October—and has published more than a dozen books, all the while remaining a respected advocate on behalf of children and the Earth, lending his voice, insight and experience to a number of crucial issues through the Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring. Throughout his career, Raffi has been recognized with a myriad of awards, including numerous Parents’ Choice Awards, the Fred Rogers Integrity Award, multiple GRAMMY® nominations, and Juno Awards—including, most recently, for 2024’s Penny Penguin. A self-proclaimed “lifelong learner,” Raffi holds five honorary degrees and is a recipient of the Order of Canada—the country’s highest civilian honor.
Click here to pre-order Singable Songs for the Very Young (Eco-Friendly LP).
Categories: Music Talk Stuff
