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"Having, of necessity, been a connoisseur of recordings for children over the last few years, I have come to realise that they fall into two distinct categories; those that are stuck in the 50s 'Listen With Mother' time-warp and those that treat children as sentient beings. This CD most certainly belongs in the second grouping - new songs, performed with enthusiasm, originality and wit.
Comprising a selection of the most requested songs and sketches from the four Musical Mystery Tour cassettes, Children's Favourites.. cannot fail to delight either the youngest listener or the most jaded palate.
Needless to say, the musicianship is masterly throughout and the arrangements are as slick and inventive as anything else the duo have produced to date. That's another hallmark of the second category of children's recording - the total absence of condescension. Simon's rendition of Schubert's (slippery slimy) Trout would not have been out of place on his recent Mandolin Album and A Big Surprise is as fine a bit of rock 'n' roll as any recorded of late, albeit about a cow-pat.
This is the first time I've heard the fruits of the James/Mayor songwriting partnership and at first I was a little worried that some of the humour may have gone over many children's heads - but not so. My two love it - though how they know about Baden Baden defeats me.
So, all this and Hilary's voice to boot - songs were never sung as exquisitely as The Road To Banbury on 'Listen With Mother - what more could parents want to give their offspring for Christmas?"
Hilary James & Simon Mayor
c/o Acoustics Records
PO Box 350, Reading RG6 7DQ, England
+44 (0)118 926 8615
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