TRAIN TO THE ZOO

This, the first record issued by the Children's Record Guild, is performed by the quartet of Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, and Ronnie Gilbert before they were known as The Weavers.

FOLK SONGS FOR SINGING AND DANCING

A double disc reissue compilation of nonsense and humorous songs that Tom Glazer had previously recorded for YPR.

SEA SONGS

Just Pete and his banjo, singing some sea songs.

RISSELDY ROSSELDY

A group of nonsense songs by Betty Sanders. Her version of "Risseldy Rosseldy" is my favorite.

LET'S ALL JOIN IN

Some sing-along songs sung by Pete Seeger (back when he still went by Peter), tied together by Oscar Brand's script.

JAZZ BAND

From 1948, this might have been the first time that jazz was ever presented in the context of music appreciation -- certainly the first time on a children's record. And with the heavyweight lineup of Canada Lee, Kenneth Spencer, and Teddy Wilson's quintet, it has never been surpassed.

A-HUNTING WE WILL GO

Wonderful collection of English hunting songs sung by Tom Glazer, with small chorus. Great version of "The Keeper," with small orchestral backing. This is the record that turned me on to YPR.

THE FUNNIEST SONG IN THE WORLD

Groucho's first children's record, from 1949.

GOING WEST

No story, just Tom Glazer singing some less-than-obvious American folk songs. The first record ever issued by YPR in its elementary age bracket.

THE LITTLE COWBOY

As with the Chisholm Trail record (see next entry), this one benefits from the downhome narration of Will Geer. The two stars of this story, Hank and Tex, are portrayed by Ernie Lieberman and Fred Hellerman, two years prior to the formation of the Weavers. They both do some really fine singing here.

CHISHOLM TRAIL

A script by the novelist Jay Williams, narration by Will Geer, and singing by Tom Glazer make this one of the best of the many cowboy-themed children's records.

Charity Bailey MORE PLAYTIME SONGS

Unlike her records for Folkways, or her first two records for YPR, More Playtime Songs -- and its companion Singing in the Kitchen -- present Charity not as a classroom teacher, but rather as more of a pop singer, accompanied by the small orchestral arrangements of Henry Brant.

Oscar Brand's AMERICAN ALMANAC

One of a 12-part series of "American Almanac" records written by Oscar Brand. He narrated all of them, and performed on most of them.

JEFFERSON CHORUS on the Union label

This 2-disc set of YPR's Horace Grenell conducting the Jefferson Chorus was one of only a few titles issued on Moe Asch's Union Records label. Extremely rare, this specimen was originally in Ron Cohen's collection (thanks for the cockeyed scan, Ron!), and is now in the archive at Chapel Hill, I believe.

LITTLE FUGITIVE on FOLKWAYS

The Folkways "soundtrack"* to the groundbreaking Little Fugitive movie. Top: Credit detail from liner notes. Bottom: LP cover art.

Ray Ashley is one of the many pseudonyms of Raymond Abrashkin, who wrote lyrics and scripts for many Young People's Records.

Lester Troob, then the recently-departed president of YPR, not only supervised the sound and music of the film, but also supervised the editing of the film itself, with Ruth Orkin doing the actual "fingerwork."

*The music on this LP is not actually the soundtrack from the movie, but rather a new recording of Eddie Manson performing some of the music. (Manson also recorded for YPR.)

Judith Sidorsky prizewinner (1926)

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Judith Sidorsky concert item (1944)

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YPR 1950 Central Park Concert

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