Does anyone know of a CD of children's songs with decent backing tracks? Can't bear that plinky plonk rubbish!

[Littlefish]

Well, the title says it all really!

Every CD of children's songs I've got has a revolting synthesised plinky plonk backing track, and is very badly sung by a group of overly shouty children.

My other bug bear is songs which are recorded at the wrong pitch for children to sing along too.

I really want a CD with all the usual songs and nursery rhymes on, but which are well sung, and with an orchestral or piano backing track

Any ideas anyone? Or am I just being a music snob?

isn't there an old fashioned BBC one with poink toothbrush and the laughing policeman etcetc on?

hello children everywhere split over two volumes

I have a cd of nursery rhymes called 'Jack and Jill and all their friends' which has traditional nursery rhymes sung to a (properly arranged) variety of different instruments - harps, hurdy gurdies, dulcimers, viols etc, recorded in a church in Oxford.... DH hates it (because of the operatic voice of the singer) and we refer to it as the middle class nursery rhymes cd but for some reason dd (13 months) absolutely loves it, especially the lovely tinkly backing to 'Ding Dong Bell'.
It's not very singalong-able though!

I can recommend some children's music that isn't the classics: Henri Des is very good. They Might Be Giants did some kid's albums. And You Are My Sunshine is a good albumn, too, with some classics. Very folksy.

i have Humpty Dumpty and The Wheels on the Bus CDs. Both of which i bought because they weren't irritating (to me!)

you can also get First Rhymes and First Action Rhymes which come with a book of the words.
I got them from Mamatoto. 0845 3707970.

Can I just add a not recommended? the cd of nursery rhymes sold in ELC and Tescos...some high pitched woman tweeting the wrong tune, adding her own second verses and a coupel of real dillies of her own songs! MIL bought it for DS...and played it for us all...cue DH failing in all diplomacy and just laughing out oud at the absolute horror!

DS prefers system of a down's new single (honest, he does, we hate it, but it comes of tv and he grins at the telly!)

Thank you very much for all your suggestions (and NOT suggestions!) I will investigate them all.

There's a great CD called "Songs I heard" by Harry Connick Jr which has tracks from musicals and other songs from his childhood, but with a great jazz background - it's worth checking out if you're looking for something a bit different.

I'm a trained singer, so anyone who sings badly on a commercially produced CD is immediately scorned!

KathyMxxxxxxx - that sounds great. My dd is used to my every so slightly operatic sounding voice, so it might be just her kind of CD!

Reggae for Kids is fantastic
Gregory Isaacs singing Puff the Magic Dragon etc

Ooooooh, love the idea of Reggae for kids and I know my dh would too. Something bearable to listen to on long car journeys - what a revalation!

here it is

Fantastic - thanks CD.

I thing that Singing Sherlock is great. Songs include Doctor Knickerbocker and I'm Jake, I'm a Snake.

When I was little we used to have Musical mystery tour tapes. They're aimed at children but are done by people who also do adults music & play their own instruments (Hilary James & Simon Mayor). They're not traditional nursery rhymes but they are quite fun (although very catchy!)

I googled musical mystery tour & this is one of the sites that came up if you are interested. I presume that they still sell them, or if not you may be able to get the on amazon or something.

\link{http://www.acousticsrecords.co.uk/acatalog/acrevmmt.htm}

Thanks Blondilocks - I'll have a look.

Julienetmum - for family reasons, Jake the snake would be a great song !

I love Dan Zanes
hold on will find the old thread

I am a music snob too but I really love this stuff....

Don't know if you can get the hold of Raffi CDs in this country, but if you can, they're well worth it. Think Amazon stock a few, but this one is great if you can get it. I defy anyone not to singalong.

Any CD by Julie Wylie - she uses real musicians, the correct pitch for children and pleasant voices including children.

She will ship overseas julie wylie

Teddy Bears Tango, Swing me a Song (new CD version) and Sing and Play are my favourites.

You're welcome. As I said the only problem is the songs get stuck in your head!!

I know what you mean about some of the children's music. I think the only other thing to do is to get them into "adult" music.

Oh yes Dan Zanes - Night owl is great I love it

I recommend 'Bananaphone' . Seems you can get Raffi here after all.

I got a couple of cd's in woolies - Peter & the Wolf and Romeo & Juliet for my girls, but they're proper music that I don't mind listening to, we've all grown out of children's stuff and listen to eg the beatles, and ballets a lot more

Thank you everyone for your lovely suggestions. I will print off the thread and buy the CDs one at a time when I've got enough money!!!!!

I kind of hesitate to post this one as it is likely to be either something you love or hate. But Saydisc do a charming CD of children's nursery rhymes sung by Vivien Ellis and the Broadside Band. It is CD-SDL 419 - you can't link direct.

It does sound suspiciously similar to Kathy's "twee" one with dulcimers I think but if you want the real words and melodies with all the verses this is the one for you.