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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

We dare you to find anything wrong with Putumayo Kids' REGGAE PLAYGROUND, a CD that is so exquisitely produced, performed, sequenced, and mixed. The infectious, multilingual offerings are not in any way condescending to kids -- in fact, songs like "Le Vieil Elephant," performed in French by Alain Schneider, and former Bob Marley backup singer Judy Mowatt's "Let's Dance" manage to be both musically challenging and all-ages-accessible. Rita Marley's "Harambe" is fantastic, as are the reggae takes on two pop classics -- "Here Comes the Sun" by The Burning Souls, and "Take Me Home Country Roads" by Toots and the Maytals.

Is It Any Good?

5

The songs on this CD are sophisticated, beautifully performed and arranged, and yet innocent enough for the youngest child to enjoy. For example, "Turning World," by Eric Bibb, reminds us of how lucky we are compared to many others in the world. The magic of this CD is that it's inclusive without being condescending, kid-friendly without allowing for a moment of parental tedium. Play this wonderful CD over and over again and dance and sing along, with or without your kids.

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