Search - Babysitters :: Best of the Babysitters

There is No Children's Album Better!

Dennis M. Boutsikaris | Nyack, NY USA | 02/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have treasured this c.d. above all others for my children. There would be no Raffi, no Chapin, no anyone, if not for the genius of Lee Hayes. It is an absolute crime of the music business that this album has been allowed to go out of print. Please VANGUARD--bring it back."

The One and Only

Karen | New London, New Hampshire | 11/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was introduced to this music as an adult while listening to a children's music channel via satellite television. I was immediately hooked. I have been on a two year quest to obtain this music and finally did so through a popular web based bidding site (my husband's effort). This is a one of a kind piece of music and it is a sin for it not to be readily available to our children."

Before videos, this had to satisfy kids...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 05/25/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This collection of 40 songs for kids seems tame compared to the frenetic music videos that have come along in the 30 years since it was made. However, if you have kids below age five, especially if they are stuck on a car trip, The Babysitters will entertain them for 75 minutes. Led by the soulful voice of the late, great Lee Hayes of the Weavers, the album features old standards, some Woody Guthrie tunes, and a few pieces created by the Babysitters themselves. Here you will find fairly simple classic folk-style versions of "Come on and join in the game"; "Fiddle-I-Dee"; "Bobby Shafto"; Leadbelly's "Ha Ha Thisaway"; "By and By"; "Billy Boy" and "This Old Man." My favorites of the first half are "Cape Cod Boys" and "Daylight Train", which is a version of Paul Robeson's "Get on board, little children." On the second half of the CD you'll find Woody's "Take you riding in my car" and "Bling Blang (Hammer with my Hammer)" which is one of his very best kids' numbers. Also found here are "Skip to my Lou" and "Get Along Little Dogies." While I like the work of Red Grammer and Dave Rudolf better for the sensibilities of contemporary kids, I think "Best of the Babysitters" is more satisfying than most of the Raffi discs I've heard (and as the parent of kids aged 23, 19 and 10, I have heard a ton of children's music over the years.) This will bore kids over kindergarten age, but the preschoolers should love it. One member of the Babysitters is Alan Arkin, who started out as a folksinger before becoming a famous actor. He is adequate, but compared to Lee Hayes, there is no question that acting was his strength, not singing. Doris Kaplan and Jeremy Arkin are the other credited singers, but old Lee is the real prize. It is amazing that he could not forge a successful solo career during the years when the Weavers were inactive. This collection would be even better if he had even more of a presence."