1. Polly Wolly Doodle (with Sheryl Crow)
2. King Kong Kitchie (with the Wonderland String Band)
3. Bushel and a Peck (with Donald Saaf and the Rocket Ship Singers)
4. Go Down Emmanuel Road (with the Sandy Girls)
5. Goodbye Old Paint
6. Father Goose (with Rankin' Don and the Rocket Ship
7. Keep on the Sunny Side (with the Wonderland String Band)
8. Erie Canal (with Suzanne Vega)
9. Buckeye Jim
10. Brown Girl in the Ring (with the Wonderland String Band and G.E. Smith)
11. Hello (with Barbara Brousal)
12. All My Friends Live in the Woods (with Simon Kirke)
13. Weather Report (Sophie and Emma)
14. Mole in the Ground
15. On the Sunny Side of the Street (with Rankin' Don and Donald Saaf)
16. Sidewalks of New York (with a cast of thousands)
17. Over the Rainbow (with Donald Saaf)
Amazon.com
Dan Zanes, lead singer of the 1980s roots-rock band the Del Fuegos, didn't need to enlist the high-profile help of pals Sheryl Crow and Suzanne Vega to produce a crowd-pleasing kids' record, but he got it anyway. On Rocket Ship Beach, where traditional tunes such as "Polly Wolly Doodle" (with Crow) and "Erie Canal" (with Vega) mingle in loosey-goosey, just-for-the-fun-of-it fashion with originals such as the plucky "All My Friends Live in the Woods" (written by Bad Company buddy Simon Kirke), Zanes exhibits the same plugged-in exuberance that gave his former band its unpredictable zing. Besides the no-amateurs instrumentation, which includes Zanes on guitar, lap steel, banjo-mandolin, and studiophone, and G.E. Smith on banjo-mandolin and guitar as part of a kickin' string band that performs the classic "King Kong Kitchie," plus a cluster of others, what stands out most about this 17-track funfest is its draw-you-in friendliness. Pitching in with the pros (who also include dancehall rapper Rankin' Don--he delivers the gruff stuff on "Father Goose" and "Sunny Side of the Street") are family friends such as the gang of West Indian babysitters turned vocal group the Sandy Girls, who give it up to impressive, get-you-boogying effect on "Emmanuel Road," and a kindergarten class that contributes, adorably, to "Sidewalks of New York." All told, this is way hipper than most kids' records and it also razzle-dazzles with its packaging--Rocket Ship Beach arrives in a chunky, colorful board-book illustrated with sweet, fantasy-fueled beachside scenes by banjo player and Zanes's brother-in-law, Donald Saaf. --Tammy La Gorce
Album Description
music is in the air. it's alive and it's here for everyone. if you can play an old song, you can write a new song. make it a family parade, all around the kitchen cock-a-doodle-doodle-doo. or how about a family band? on the front steps, in the back yard, in the park, on the sidewalk, in the basement. if you can brush your teeth, you can play tamborine. if you can tell a joke, you can sing. festival five records is the sound of a neighborhood band on the front stoop playing tunes after dinner for a family dance. festival five records is the sound of a group of 9 and 10 year olds singing a sixty year old broadway song in the basement of a 150 year old row house. it's the sound of a 40-year-old dad on a blue porch singing a 400 year old story song about a frog that marries a mouse. when you feel that music in the air, try to catch as much as possible.
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Rocket Ship Beach
- Audio CD: 0 pages (2002-07-30)
- Publisher: Festival Five Rec.
- Label: Festival Five Rec.
- Format: Original recording reissued
- Studio: Festival Five Rec.
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 48 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #2031
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Dan Zanes ... Great Childrens Music! 2008-01-21
Comment: Started watching him on Sesame Street and then The Disney Channel, and my daughter was really into him. So we listened to his music, and went to one of his concerts (awesome!). The music is true, clean, and no "Barney-Wiggle" annoyances. Introduces the kids to various instruments Guitars, Drums, Accordions, etc.
The songs contain a very catchy beat for adults as well, and Father Goose takes nursery rhymes to a whole new level.
Dan Zanes offers a musical taste for all genres.
And thank you Dan Zanes and Friends and Amazon for going DRM Free!!!
Better Quality, Play Anywhere... DRM Free!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Buy me! 2008-01-01
Comment: Parents, prepare to have your lives changed! This is GREAT music that you and your kids will enjoy together. DZAF has created something that goes far beyond music that the kids will beg to hear and grown-ups can stand to play AGAIN in the mini-van. This is music that inspires music-making.
Since we "discovered" DZAF, my four year old spends her days singing, dancing, pretending she "is" Dan Zanes, pretending she's playing with Dan Zanes, and learning to play the piano and ukulele (yes, the DZ Flea edition!). She asked Santa for a harmonica. Just that. Is she learning catchy (ANNOYING) jingles about how to tie her shoes? No. Is she learning anything? Yes. Music is math, art, reading, writing, peace, love and happiness! She is learning that making music is bigger than the song; collaboration to create something good gives children a sense of inclusion, unity, curiosity, and goodwill that they carry with them when the song/dance party is over.
On a barely related note, if you have the chance, see DZAF in concert. The only thing better than hearing the music is experiencing the wild, all-ages folk show in person. Our recent concert experience was so incredible, we're driving 376 miles in March to see the band again!
Our faves from this CD are "Polly Wolly Doodle," "Go Down Emmanuel Road," "Sidewalks of New York," "Brown Girl in the Ring," and "Hello." If you ever get "Polly Wolly Doodle" out of your head, please tell me how you did it. Never mind, I think I'll hang on to it just a while longer. I hope your family will be as inspired by the work of this amazing band as mine has been.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: A beautiful thing! 2007-11-24
Comment: I used to play "alt" country/"roots" rock music with various bands, and I first heard of this in the Utne Reader. If you don't know Jimmie Rodgers from Freakwater, that's OK, but if your kid loves Barney and you prefer Neil Young (or maybe Steve Earle?), you'll probably want to begin introducing your little one to your discriminating aesthetic sensibilities. This is a good place to start.
I was a bit wary of the obviousness of "Polly Wolly Doodle," "Erie Canal" etc. but they are truly great renditions - soulful, charming and real - and capture what put these songs into the Americana canon in the first place. If you don't feel like springing for the "Anthology of American Folk Music," buy this. (You can also find & listen to the Anthology on Amazon if you are feeling adventurous).
This collection has become a benchmark of sorts in our family - my wife, my daughter (2 1/2) and I all love it, and it doesn't really matter WHY. I can give it no higher praise than that I would listen to it even if I didn't have a kid.
Also, keep your eye out for Dan and Friends live concerts in your area - a big return on investment for a family outing.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: It's great! 2007-01-27
Comment: I'm a first-time Mom who was looking for a CD both my daughter and I could enjoy. We rec'd this CD at Christmas along with "Buzz Buzz" by Laurie Berkner. This one is my personal favorite. I think I enjoy it as much, if not more than my daughter (who is 1). The songs are addicting and I, like a previous reviewer, find myself singing/humming them even when my daughter is not around. Polly Wolly Doodle and King Kong Kitchie are fabulous! I highly recommend giving this CD a spin. I'm sure my daughter will love it even more when she gets a little older.
0 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Honestly, this CD sucks 2007-01-18
Comment: I was excited to receive this CD because of its great reviews. Once I received it however, I found it barely listenable. My toddler daughter looked and me and said "Off!Off!" and we took it off the CD player after only 10 minutes.
People can make of Raffi all they want, but at least his music is tolerable!
Don't waste your money on this lemon of a CD.
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Rocket Ship Beach
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