U R SOME 1 (CD music review and giveaway)

U R Some 1

For ages 4 - 12

Label: Big Round Records

SRP: $11.99

Run time: 32 minutes

Highlighting Self-Esteem for Kids - U R SOME 1 - A "Best Foot Forward" CD from Recess Music

POSITIVE, UPBEAT MUSIC FOR DYNAMIC KIDS and FAMILIES

THE NEWEST “BEST FOOT FORWARD” CD FROM RECESS MUSIC

From the PR Firm – Recess Music, a company dedicated to helping kids value a world that is wise, fair, and generous hearted, looks forward to the October 18 release of U R Some 1, the second in its “Best Foot Forward” series of CDs. U R Some 1 joins Recess Music’s recently released Big Bully in launching the “Best Foot Forward” series.


All the songs on U R Some 1 highlight self-esteem as a key ingredient for living in harmony with others by celebrating the concept that “there is no one quite like you, and you are perfect just the way you are!” This happy, upbeat album also affirms for kids that all humans are “the same and different AND different and the same.” U R Some 1’s musical adventure in self-awareness includes 12 tracks that showcase contributions by a sampling of today’s most gifted kids’ musicians, including Peter Himmelman, Anna Moo, and Katherine Dines.


U R Some 1 opens with the welcoming message of “U R U,” featuring the friendly voices of The Happy Crowd. The album offers up some nifty scientific info on “Body Parts” by Amy Lowe and the rollicking “The Five Senses Boogie” by The Bee’s Knees. Katherine Dines extols the power of imagination on “It’s Amazing What You Can Do With Your Brain.” Anna Moo’s joyous, 12-bar blues, “You’re An Animal Too.” is sure to get kids up and dancing. Slugs and Bugs’ Woody Guthrie-influenced “Piggy Little Toes” is a showcase for some exquisite five-string banjo and fiddle playing. The country sounds of The Coles’ “Put Your Happy Face On” are guaranteed to cheer up little ones who are having a rough day. Seth Decker encourages kids not to follow the crowd but, rather, to “Follow Your Nose.” Likewise, a “listen to the voice inside you” message is endorsed by Palo Colorado on his smooth, easy listening “Still Small Voice.” A breathtakingly beautiful a capella preamble enhances the anti-war message of Lisa Atkinson’s “Arms Are For Hugging.” Peter Himmelman incorporates Big Band sounds on “Feet,” an ode to the pedal extremities featuring his highly entertaining backup singers. The Swingset Mamas, exuding style and confidence, bring the album to an inspirational close with a happy beat on their “Great To Be Me”.


Recess Music’s “Best Foot Forward” series could be thought of as the musical complement to a hip, up-to-date, and entirely relevant “course in manners” that reinforces a profound subtext and encourages kids to be the very best they can be. Almost all children really want to have friends and be good playmates, but to achieve these objectives they must learn key social structures and conventions, such as how to say, “I’m sorry” or how to live by the rule of “no put-downs” toward others. 


The folks at Recess Music hope that their music will help to encourage discussion among parents, children, and educators about harmony, understanding, social justice, and global peace, as well as the particular challenges caused by the unfortunate presence of intimidation and bullying behavior on our social landscape.

U R Some 1 will be available online at www.recessmusic.com, amazon.com and its international affiliates, iTunes, and brick and mortar retailers throughout the U.S.

My take:  Confession - my daughter and I are fast becoming Recess Music groupies.  First we fell in love with the Wild Child CD.  Then we received U R SOME 1 to listen to (I confess, every time I see that title, my mind says "you are awesome" instead of "you are someone" so subliminally at least, I know I like myself!).  Oh. My. Goodness.  This CD has quickly become our very favorite to dance to (What? You don't have regular dance time with your daughter?!  You should - it's fun!!).  The music genres on this CD are all over the place but I must confess I like the Big Band/Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy type music the best (I totally just made up that genre) - The Five Senses Boogie is my favorite AND my daughter's.  Even better?  She is studying the Five Senses in school and brought the CD in to share the song with her teacher.  Her teacher loved it so much she's borrowed the CD for the week!  Now, I know "see, smell, taste, touch, hear" is my favorite track, but the rest is fun too.  U R U is a fun dance song about the wonderful uniqueness of us all.  Body Parts TEACHES about your body as if you just took a science test about it.  Sneaky, getting some learning in there!  I could go song by song this way, but I'd rather you hear it for yourself - keep reading for how to win your own copy!

Song Listing:


1 U R U | The Happy Crowd
2 Body Parts | Amy Lowe
3 It’s Amazing What You Can Do With Your Brain | Katherine Dines
4 Still Small Voice | Palo Colorado
5 You’re An Animal Too | Anna Moo
6 Piggy Little Toes | Slugs and Bugs
7 Put Your Happy Face On | The Coles
8 Follow Your Nose | Seth Decker
9 Five Senses Boogie | The Bee’s Knees
10 Arms Are For Hugging | Lisa Atkinson
11 Feet | Peter Himmelman
12 Great To Be Me | Swingset Mamas
13 Can You Imagine | Leslie Bixler

About Nancy Doan: While experiencing a multi-faceted life as a mother, wife, and minister, Nancy Doan became convinced of the need to make the world a better place through a two-fold approach: sustaining our environment and teaching kindness. Because music held a prominent place in both her own childhood and her experiences as a mother, Nancy developed an appreciation of the power of music as an educational tool. When the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus dictated a career change, she cast about for a way to continue to serve the causes to which she had dedicated her life. This search ultimately led to the creation of Recess Music, as a company dedicated to the twin goals of environmental awareness and social empathy through its “Celebrate Earth” and “Best Foot Forward” series of recordings.

The giveaway:  WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!  One lucky winner will win his/her very own copy of U R SOME 1! {US and Canadian addresses only please}

To win: Leave me a comment telling me the name of another Recess Music CD. Be sure to leave your email address with your comment if you are not a blogger or your email is not easily found on your blog. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m., EST, Thursday, September 22, 2011. Good Luck!

Bonus entries: Get up to 8 extra entries for a total of 9 entries (please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

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This review was sponsored by Waldmania! PR who provided the CD for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary CD.