A Child's Celebration of Soul
Music for Little People yet again proves its prowess at laying down grooves that both kids and their parents want to plug into with the 13th release in its exceptionalCelebrationseries.A Child's Celebration of Soulis among the rare handful of kids' records that prompt a right-minded adult to reread the CD jewel case carefully, just to be sure its contents are no accident. Is it possible the same child who asks persistently for repeat plays ofBarney's Greatest Hitsmight one day clamor instead for classic soul nuggets such asSam & Dave's "Soul Man" andAretha Franklin's "Respect"?Celebrationeffectively blankets the soul bases, offering a taste of everything from the blue-eyed variety to early Motown to the Memphis blues, light style. Better yet, a couple of these numbers--James Brown's fabulously funked-up "Get on the Good Foot" andGladys Knight & the Pips' full-throttled "Friendship Train" in particular--deliver this music's roots, stitched tightly to the social themes of its time, to the table. A more festive, positive-vibe-producing opportunity to tackle the subject of racial unrest with the kids is not likely to arise; neither, for that matter, is the chance to cut the rug with one's very own rug rats toRobert Parker's "Barefootin'." Above all, this record is an onramp for lucky young listeners to the timeless sound of classic soul music, whose top talents even today remain musically unsurpassable.--Tammy La Gorce