Details
Track Listing
1. Playground, The
2. AC-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
3. Dat Dere
4. Little Things - (with Elmo)
5. Put on a Happy Face - (with Rosie O'Donnell)
6. Because We're Kids
7. My Mom
8. Swinging on a Star
9. Bein' Green - (with Kermit The Frog)
10. Firefly - (with Kermit The Frog)
11. When You Wish Upon a Star
12. Paper Moon, (It's Only) A
13. Inch Worm, The
14. Bare Necessities, The
15. Make the World Your Own
16. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
17. (Untitled) - (hidden track)
Album Notes
Personnel: Tonny Bennett, Rosie O'Donnell, Elmo, Kermit The Frog (vocals); Gray Sargent (guitar); Ralph Sharon (piano); Paul Langosch (bass); Clayton Cameron (drums).
Kids America Children's Choir: Jonathan Bleicher, Leanna Chaballa, John Dailey, Luisina Quarleri, Andrea Viola, Kate Walsh, Jackie Zampella.
Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York, New York.
THE PLAYGROUND was nominated for a 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Album For Children.
This jazzy children's album--a first for Bennett--follows the singer's other smartly conceived concept albums, which have included tributes to Sinatra, Astaire and Holiday. This time Tony welcomes aboard guest artists Elmo and Kermit from Sesame Street, featured on a cute "Little Things" and a wry "Bein' Green" respectively. In addition, professional good sport Rosie O'Donnell weighs in on "Put On A Happy Face," a kiddy `playground' chorus on hand for this and some other numbers too.
Otherwise, Bennett is accompanied by the ever dependable Ralph Sharon Trio in a spry and relaxed stroll through some jazz (and other) standards that kids should enjoy--Oscar Brown's lispy "Dat Dere," Bing Crosby's old menagerie "Swinging On A Star," the Dixelandish "Firefly." As usual with Bennett these days, the slow ones are the best--tenderly delivered tunes like "My Mom" and "Inch Worm" as well as "It's Christmas In Herald Square," a `hidden' bonus track which closes the set.
Industry Reviews
...There's enough first-class material...to offset the more sentimental dross on this not-just-for-kids project. - Rating:
Entertainment Weekly (10/02/1998)
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
All rights reserved.
