Family

15 MP3 Songs
KIDS/FAMILY: General Children's Music, KIDS/FAMILY: Kid Friendly

Show all album songs: Family Album Songs


Details:
"Family Album" is Two of a Kindâs 7th studio recording for families. This CD marks a new direction for Two of a Kind. David & Jenny Heitler-Klevans of Two of a Kind have created a collection of 15 songs focused on family life experiences, with content that is simultaneously personal and universal.

Thereâs something for everyone on this CD! For instance, thereâs a Texas Swing song called âI Have 2 Stomachsâ (âone for the meal, one just for dessertâ), on which Two of a Kind is joined by Jim Cohen of Beats Walkinâ. That song was co-written with David & Jennyâs twin sons, as was âThink of it as an Adventureâ, a rollicking march accompanied by a complete brass quintet including members of the Chestnut Brass Company. The real âTwo of a Kindâ get the spotlight on the hard-rock song âWeâre Twinsâ. âWhen I Get Madâ is a hybrid of Klezmer and Tango styles (âKlangoâ?), complete with clarinet, trumpet and accordian.

Two of a Kind is a nationally touring, award-winning husband-wife duo specializing in music for children and families. David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans have been singing together since 1987. Their energetic, participatory performances are enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Two of a Kind helps audiences of all ages feel that they can create music and that they can make a difference in the world.

Two of a Kindâs previous recordings have won a total of ten Parentsâ Choice, Childrenâs Music Web and Kids Radio Mania awards.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TWO OF A KIND'S MOST RECENT CD - "FAMILY ALBUM":

"This seventh album from Pennsylvania-based kids' performers Two of a Kind is a treat. The fifteen songs on the album are united by a family life-theme, sometimes from the perspective of kids, sometimes of parents. The performers are David and Jenny Heitler-Klevans, joined on various tracks by their twin boys, Ari and Jason, twenty friends, and a kid's chorus.
While the entire album is enjoyable, several songs are standouts. "I Have Two Stomachs" celebrates children's ability to have room for dessert even after a full meal; a swinging arrangement includes piano, pedal steel guitar, percussion and backup vocals. "Think of It as an Adventure" addresses vacation problems with the title/chorus that is likely to become a family favorite. Our favorite is "It's Better Than That," the Lou and Peter Berryman classic confessing how much fun it is to be an adult. For families that enjoy singing rounds - and there must be some among "Sing Out!" readers - the Heitler-Klevans offer "Gotta Go." Inspired by part-song expert Joanne Hammil (www.joannehammil.com), this delightful four-parter has parent and children roles. "When I get Mad [you get madder]" chronicles the dynamics of anger, presented with Klezmer accompaniment. "Up and Down Day" is an excellent sit-down/stand-up song for use with young audiences, with solid playing of percussion and slide whistle. Two songs, "Old Rocking Chair" and "Love Makes a Family" also appear on their albums.
The Heitler-Klevans music is family-style wonderful fun. Arrangements are nicely executed with the help of their small army of musician friends. Lyrics for all songs are available on their website (www.twoofakind.com)."
- Review in Sing Out! Magazine, Autumn 2007

âLove it - this album feels like Iâm hanging out on a moonlit summer night with one of my favorite families. Two of a Kind makes a natural transition to Four of a Kind with the musical addition of their twin sons. I highly, highly recommend it!â - Kathy OâConnell (Host of the Peabody Award-winning radio show, Kids Corner)

âWow, what a great CD! Wow! The whole album is wonderful. Keep up the GREAT work!!!â - Peter Berryman (of Lou & Peter Berryman)

"Everything worked beautifully together - the richness of the recording quality, the arrangement, the singing by both adults and kids, and the fantastic playing by the musicians. Bravo!â - Sandy Greenberg (childrenâs musician with Razzamatazz, Canada)

"Wow! It sounds just great and it's such a joy to listen to something that was obviously fun to make. It's so inspiring to see/hear a family intertwined with music. There's some really lovely production, arrangements and sounds overall which make yet another CD of you and your family's such a pleasure and fun." - Brad Pedinoff (musician/artist, Denmark)

"I love it. The Two Stomachs song is such fun!â - Gwendolyn Gross (author, Summit, NJ)

"Family Album is a triumph!!! I especially appreciated the arrangements which I found very complex, sophisticated and accessible all at once. This was true of all the songs, but I particularly noted I Have Two Stomachs and Think of it as an Adventure (the brass quintet was a wonderful addition). Anyway,... everything was thoughtfully great, right down to the baby's cry at the end of Scream and the door closing at the end of Gotta Go." [Ann Arbor, MI]

"Our children love the new CD! I have been listening to it even when the kids aren't in the car!" [Melrose Park, PA]

"What a delightful CD!! I love it! The writing is excellent, the arrangements awesome, the diversity terrific, and the production is very classy throughout! A tour de force!â [Elkins Park, PA]

"We just wanted to add our enthusiastic embrace of "Family Album" - we love it !!!!!! We look forward to many hours of listening. What a terrific family production!!!â [Pittsburgh, PA]

"LOVE IT !! So many of the songs touch on real, but sometimes obscure âissuesâ in a family..i/e people not listening to each other, getting ready to go somewhere and having the kids NOT hustling to get ready, 2 stomachs (no explanation needed!), looking through the album and reminiscing about times past, and (Of course) the feelings of twins both positive and negative. (How our not recognizing them as individuals affects them.)" [Elkton, MD]

"It's amazing. It's really, really amazing." [Blue Bell, PA]

This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by the Vira I. Heinz Endowment; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.