John Lithgow Albums (3)
'The Sunny Side of the Street'
Release Date 8/29/2006
Tracks 13
Label Razor & Tie
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The musical companion to his book, The Remarkable Farkle McBride, which tells the story of a young musical genius, John Lithgow's Farkle and Friends features the vocal talents of Lithgow and Bebe Neuwirth backed by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra. Music and animals dominate the album, whether it's on classics like "Animal Crackers in My Soup" and "I'd Rather Lead a Band" or on originals such as "The Bandshell Right Next to the Zoo" or "The Remarkable Farkle McBride." "Marsupial Sue," a character from another of Lithgow's books, shows up in a song here, and Neuwirth duets with Lithgow on a charming version of "The Wrong Note Rag." A playful album with just the right amount of silliness, Farkle and Friends will appeal not only to fans of the book and Lithgow's other work, but to anyone partial to witty children's music. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Finding good children's music has become such a dispiriting experience: the stuff on the racks is either a crass product tie-ins, a cheaply produced compilation, a gratingly saccharin moralizing, or all of the above. John Lithgow has single-handedly redeemed the children's music section with this release, Singin' in the Bathtub, which revisits the classic songs that he and his siblings grew up with. It's bright and cheerful enough that kids love it, and even more miraculously, it's clever enough that parents won't mind the wee one's demands of "Again!" Musically, it's somewhere between Tom Lehrer, Danny Kaye, and Cab Calloway, which is to say that it's all over the map, and wonderfully so. There's no scrimping on production values, either -- perfectly sunny big band backings on "Everybody Eats When They Come to My House," wry cocktail party piano on "I'm a Gnu," and a hauntingly beautiful children's choir on "Inchworm." ~ Paul Collins, All Music Guide
