Author Archives: Dan Walsh

About Dan Walsh

Milwaukee via Nebraska. Marquette Alum. Father. Music. Running. Beer. You can follow me on Twitter: @dwalsh76

Fids & Kamily 2016 & Best of the Decade

For those of you new to family music, Fids & Kamily is a yearly poll that compiles the lists of the year’s favorite kids and family music. Music bloggers, radio hosts, etc. They keep letting me vote, so I keep voting. And a couple weeks ago they released the results.

Before we take a look at 2016, let’s take a look back at the last 10 years.

2006-2015-fids-and-kamily

Here is how the committee vetted out.

Here’s a look at my “Best of the Decade” ballot:

1. Dan Zanes and Friends – Catch That Train!
2. Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band – A Potluck
3. Justin Roberts – Jungle Gym
4. The Pop Ups – Radio Jungle
5. The Okee Dokee Brothers – Can You Canoe?
6. Gustafer Yellowgold – Gustafer Yellowgold’s Infinity Sock
7. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Underground Playground
8. Frances England – Mind of My Own
9. Caspar Babypants – Sing Along!
10. They Might Be Giants – Here Come the 123s
11. The Deedle Deedle Dees – Strange Dees, Indeed
12. Josh and the Jamtones – Rocksteady
13. Lori Henriques – The World Is a Curious Place To Live
14. Dan Zanes and Friends – Little Nut Tree
15. Justin Roberts – Lullaby
16. Recess Monkey – The Final Funktier
17. The Not-Its – Raise Your Hand
18. Various Artists – Science Fair
19. Medeski, Martin & Wood – Let’s Go Everywhere
20. Ozomatli – Ozomatli Presents OzoKidz

And now for 2016. Here’s how the panel of judges voted.

Here is my 2016 Fids & Family ballot:

1. Frances England – Explorer of the World
2. The Okee Dokee Brothers – Saddle Up: A Western Adventure Album
3. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo – Infinity Plus One
4. Sonia De Los Santos – Mi Viaje: De Nuevo León to the New York Island
5. Dean Jones – In My Dreams
6. The Not-Its! – Are You Listening?
7. Moona Luna – Panorama
8. Sugar Free Allstars – Sugar Free Allstars
9. The Deedle Deedle Dees – Sing-A-Long History Vol. 2: The Rocket Went Up!
10. Mista Cookie Jar – Music Is Everywhere

If you haven’t already, please take a listen to some of these wonderful records and support independent music for families. 

Song Premiere: ‘Robots’ by The L – Bob Schneider & his son Luc

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Bob Schneider, the ridiculously prolific singer-songwriter, is back with new record. However, this one is certainly not like any of his previous work. I Will Find You No Matter What features his 11 year old son Luc.

Schneider calls the project, “one of the most rewarding things I’ve had the pleasure to do since I began making music.”  The album features songs the two began recording together when Luc was just four years-old. “It was a thing that just came very organically and with no agenda other than just to be creative with my son.”

I Will Find You No Matter What: The Songs of Luc & Bob Schneider will be released by Amazon on September 16.

Dadnabbit is proud to premiere the goofy, adorable and uniquely engaging “Robots.”

I Will Find You No Matter What: The Songs of Luc & Bob Schneider is available now for pre-order on Amazon!

Make sure to check out the premiere of the song ‘Popsicle’ this weekend on Spare The Rock, Spoil The Child.

Song Premiere: Let’s Get Dirty by Dan Bern from The Stinky & Dirty Show on Amazon

StinkandDirtyShow

Amazon continues to provide cord cutting parents with smart, clever shows for their kids. With The Stinky & Dirty Show, they wisely hired the smart and clever troubadour Dan Bern to write the songs.

“The Stinky & Dirty Show soundtrack is a dream project for me,” Bern says. “I’ve always wanted to write songs for a cartoon, and my daughter loves the books. The scripts are terrific, the animation superb, and it’s a thrill to hear my songs in the show.”

This isn’t the first time Bern has written songs for families, releasing 2 Feet Tall in 2009. The show is based on the “I Stink!” book series. The cartoon features the voice work of Whoopi Goldberg, Jane Lynch, Andy Richter, Joan Cusack and Wallace Shawn.

Dadnabbit is proud to premiere the song “Let’s Get Dirty” and its crafty wordplay.

The Stinky & Dirty Show (Music from the Amazon Original Series) is available now for pre-order.

The soundtrack will be available for streaming on Prime Music in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Austria and Japan. Prime members may listen to the entire album at no additional cost to their membership on compatible devices that support Amazon Music, including Amazon Echo, Fire devices, iPads, iPhones, Android devices, Sonos Players, the Web and more—songs can also be downloaded for offline listening on mobile devices.The soundtrack will also be available for all customers to purchase and download in MP3 format in the US, UK, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Japan.

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Singer/songwriter Dan Bern performs at the Premiere Screening And Party For Amazon Original Series "The Stinky & Dirty Show" at The Grove on August 18, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)

(Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)