I have always loved songs for and about children. Some of my fondest memories growing up are of listening to albums like Hey Kids Let’s Sing by Rosemary Rice and the Reader’s Digest collection The Wonderful World of Music for Children. When my son was a child, it was a delight sharing not only those but also newer CDs such as Windham Hill’s On a Starry Night and Kenny Loggins’ Return to Pooh Corner with him. Even now, I am a great fan of albums like Kidults, where Mandy Patinkin explores this genre in such a unique and outstanding way.
After the release of Let’s Go to the Movies, I found myself drawn to the idea of developing an album in this style. These are songs that present an interesting challenge to perform, as they can be both simple to sing but profound in their message. Little by little a song list started to take shape – not only classics like High Hopes and The Ugly Duckling, but also more contemporary pieces such as New Words and Not While I’m Around. Add in a trip to Never Never Land and a stop at Hushabye Mountain and before long a full set had emerged. My hope was to develop a collection that would not only be enjoyed by children but also speak to the child in all of us.
With a list of songs in place, I was able to start arranging – which as I have mentioned before can be one of the hardest but also one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. For Young At Heart all the arrangements were developed specifically for this project, affording me the opportunity to develop a cohesive sound across the album. In total they range from full orchestra to jazz combo all the way down to solo guitar, providing a variety of musical styles across the 12 songs on the album.
After adding in recording, mixing, mastering, and developing artwork for the album, in total this project took about a year to develop. I’m thrilled to finally share these songs, and I hope you will enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed preparing the album. Join me as we celebrate these timeless family favorites and stay Young at Heart.
Young At Heart will be available September 12, 2024 on all major streaming services.