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When Mikel and I first started Milkshake in 2002, it was out of artistic necessity and evolution. We had a new focus in our lives: our children, and there was a new palette of things to write about and reflect on. But Milkshake was also a bit of an experiment, since we thought it would be cool to keep the music progressing with our children, growing with them in subject matter and attitude.
In keeping with the Milkshake belief that one never stops evolving/growing, we present Great Day.
This is the first Milkshake album that is actually Milkshake the Band. It’s not just Lisa and Mikel and a bunch of studio musicians. Play! featured the guys singing, but we still used outside musicians, and we all played our parts at different times. On Great Day, it’s the band playing in one big room at the same time, except for vocal and guitar overdubs. And we have a few special guests -- our friends Grammy-Award winners Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer and Rodney Henry of the Glenmont Popes.
We tracked Great Day in six twelve-hour days, and it was a lot of fun. Lots of different musical styles here, as on past albums, but the subjects are a little deeper, the guys are singing a little sweeter and everyone was trying new things, thanks in part to Tor Hyams’ intense, encouraging production style, and in part to everyone really being…well…a band, which is a lot like a family. Enjoy…and have a great day!
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“As a paean to pure fun, PLAY!, the third CD from the wildly popular band Milkshake, is reason to celebrate.”
- Child Magazine
Milkshake is a band with a mission: to create great rock music for kids. On PLAY!, the band’s third CD, you’ll hear the kind of songcraft, arrangements, harmonies and musicianship that have made Milkshake’s previous CDs Happy Songs and Bottle of Sunshine such a hit with music-loving parents and kids alike, and brought the band’s unique sound and look to television, with videos on Noggin, PBS KIDS and, beginning next year, Discovery Kids’ ToddWorld.
This time around, the theme is kids at play, from making believe – “We Got a Band,” “Imagination Nation,” “Pirates,” “Home on the Range,” “Superhero” – to sports – “Baseball” (featuring a voiceover from baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr.) “Bowling with You” – to more impressionistic tunes like “Parade,” “Plant a Garden” and “Magic Ride.” There’s even a rave-up about just plain going wild, something all kids need to do from time to time. In addition, the CD includes a trio of bonus tracks from ToddWorld.
Produced by sound wizard Victor Giordano and mastered at Sony Music Studios by legendary engineer Vlado Meller (Raconteurs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barbra Streisand and Prince, among many others), PLAY! comes out swinging for the wall from the first pitch. If you thought the first two CDs were home runs, be warned: this one’s out of the park.
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2005 NAPPA Gold Award Winner
2005 Parents' Choice Recommended
"A sunny hug of an album" - LA Times
"Bottle of Sunshine" video featured on Noggin's Jack's Big Music Show
As with our first CD Happy Songs, we hope you find more than one song you really, really like on Bottle Of Sunshine, more than one catchy tune you just can't get out of your head. Like the days of old, when your mommy and daddy were growing up and people played ALBUMS, they listened from start to finish, and the disc was a whole experience. That's what we had in mind when we created Bottle of Sunshine.
You'll find lots of variety here. Although most of the songs still live in the rock genre, we recorded "ABC Of Me" live in the studio with a jazz combo. It's a new take on the Alphabet Song, and each letter stands for some quality or thing that reminds us of how great we are, and how wonderful childhood is. "Boom Boom" turned into a country rock song when we added fiddle, banjo and a big "yee-hah." There's a doo-wop-tinged song about having fun in the water called "Woo-Woo," that features wonderful harmonies from the CD's producer John Suchy. Some songs are totally acoustic ("Bluebird," "Milkshake!") and some are very electrified, all-out rock songs ("School," "Space Song"). But we tried to make each song memorable, and each one was great fun to record.
British children's author/illustrator Alexis Deacon created the cover art for Bottle of Sunshine, along with illustrations for the 16-page booklet that accompanies the CD. Please look for his wonderful children's books Slow Loris and Beegu, both published by Kane Publishers, NY.
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CHILD MAGAZINE'S "Stand-Out CDs for 2002"
2003 Children's Music Web Awards: "Best Recording for Preschoolers" and "Best New Artist for Preschoolers."
iParenting Media's 2003 Great Holiday Product Awards: "Best Children's Music Recording."
"Kids-and their parents-won't have any trouble getting giddy over the 14 irrepressible originals in this rock-for-tots album. Sunny and bighearted, this one is a keeper." Parenting Magazine, April 2003
Features “Scared” as seen on Noggin’s Jack’s Big Music Show, and “Happy Songs” from ToddWorld.
Milkshake's 2002 debut recording Happy Songs is a potpourri of activity songs, upbeat rock songs and lullabies released on Milkshake Music. This CD reflects Mikel and Lisa’s first experiences as new parents. The songs are simple, tender and beautiful, perfect for babes in arms.
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Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer are 2-time GRAMMY winners. They write, produce and perform music for families, as well as for all ages. Known for their spirit of fun and virtuosity, Cathy & Marcy play more than a dozen instruments, including banjo, mandolin ukulele, guitar and percussion. www.cathymarcy.com
While touring with The Glenmont Popes, Rodney Henry took pie on the road. Realizing that rock ‘n’ roll wasn't paying the bills, Henry thought of using his considerable talent as a pie-man to bankroll his rock ‘n’ roll adventures. Now you can find some of the best pie in the country at Henry’s Dangerously Delicious Pies. www.dangerouspies.com
Tor Hyams has 20 years of experience in the music and film industries, from writing and performing his own material to producing world-class recording artists (Joan Osborne, Edwin McCain), live music festivals for children, and composing dozens of scores for both film and television. www.tor.net |
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On "Imagination Nation," the sound of the piccolo trumpet fanfares might make you think you were walking down Penny Lane.
PLAY! was produced by sound wizard Victor Giordano and mastered at Sony Music Studios by legendary engineer Vlado Meller (Raconteurs, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barbara Streisand and Prince, among many others) |
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We recorded "ABC Of Me" live in the studio with a jazz combo. It's a new take on the Alphabet Song, and each letter stands for some quality or thing that reminds us of how great we are, and how wonderful childhood is.
British children's author/illustrator Alexis Deacon created the cover art for 'Bottle of Sunshine,' along with illustrations for the 16-page booklet accompanying the CD. |
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2003 Children's Music Web Awards: "Best Recording for Preschoolers" and "Best New Artist for Preschoolers."
iParenting Media's 2003 Great Holiday Product Awards: "Best Children's Music Recording."
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