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Description:
The iconic pet project of Marlo Thomas. Features Harry Belafonte, Rosie Grier, Mel Brooks, and Diana Ross. A great hour of brain food for the young—and not-so-young.
Product Details:
Audio CD Release Date:
May 09, 2006
Studio:
Arista
Number Of Discs:
1
Format:
Original recording remastered
Average Customer Rating:
based on 254 reviews
Track Listing:
1.
Free To Be You And Me - The New Seekers
2.
Boy Meets Girl - Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas
3.
When We Grow Up - Diana Ross
4.
Don't Dress Your Cat In An Apron - Billy De Wolfe
5.
Parents Are People - Harry Belafonte and Marlo Thomas
6.
Housework - Carol Channing
7.
Helping - Tom Smothers
8.
Ladies First - Marlo Thomas
9.
Dudley Pippin And The Principal - Billy De Wolfe, Marko Thomas, Bobby Morse
10.
It's All Right To Cry - Rosey Grier
11.
Sisters And Brothers - Sisters and Brothers
12.
My Dog Is A Plumber - Dick Cavett
13.
William's Doll - Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas
14.
Atlanta - Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas
15.
Grandma - Diana Sands
16.
Girl Land - Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones
17.
Dudley Pippin And His No-Friend - Bobby Morse and Marlo Thomas
Average Customer Review:
( 254 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
83 of 84 found the following review helpful:
we're more free for this record...Feb 07, 2000
By Amber58 I love this record. I remember listening to it and watching a movie in elementary school at least 22 years ago and really THINKING about the messages in songs like "William Wants a Doll". Anything that inspires deep philosophical thought in a 7 year old is amazing. Later I came across this record when I was 17, brought it home and cried while listening to it over and over again. If you grew up in America in the 70's it's a little piece of your childhood. It's also amazing to think about how far we've come and where we got stuck trying to make this world a better place for all kids. I took the album with me to college and it was a favorite with everyone, men and women. I remember a guy on my floor said something about how lucky we were to grow up in a generation that began to question gender sterotypes. I just bought this CD for my nephew, as much as I love it I'm kind of sad that the messages are still pertinant nearly 30 years later.
50 of 51 found the following review helpful:
I'm soooo not a Hippie!Jan 21, 2005
By Joe'sMom I think it's funny that so many reviewers who didn't like this album (and yes in the 70's they were albums) refer to those of us who DO give high reviews as hippies. I have news for you. Children of the 70s were not hippies, their parents were. I was born in the early 70s, my teenage years were in the 80s and my young adulthood was in the 90s. I really don't qualify as a hippie in any way, shape or form.
Having said that, I still have my old album, which I saved all these years because this was my absolute favorite album of all time! (I no longer have a record player, but the album lives on!) I loved these songs so much as a child. I remember the movie we used to watch in school. They are such wonderful memories. Twenty something years later, I found the cd and purchased it immediately. I now sing and play these songs for my baby. True, the songs are somewhat dated. The 70s were very big on feminism and equality - but is that such a bad message? Plus, as a child, I didn't pay attention to the message, just to the silliness and the catchy tunes. I had no idea who Alan Alda, Carol Channing, and Marlo Thomas were. When I sing these songs to my son now, it's not becaue I want to raise a budding feminist, but because I loved it so much and I would love to share my fond memories. And if he doesn't enjoy it as much as I did, that's ok too.
PS - for other 30-somethings who want to relive another childhood memory - check out the School House Rock series (DVDs, Cd's etc)... another cheesy 70s tool to educate our children about grammar, science, politics, etc. (I'm sort of embarassed to admit this but most of what I know about how a bill is passed through Congress comes from the "I'm just a bill" song.)
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
a parent and kindergarten teacherJun 08, 2006
By Vincent Geary
"Lucky lefty"
The music from Free to Be was the best music that my kids listened to as they were growing up. If you're interested in a cd that shows children how there are lots of different ways to be special, this is the cd for you. It's such a positive role model and it's so much fun to sing along with, too. I was watching Inside the Actor's Studio and when he asked Gwyneth Paltrow if she had any actors or actresses that she loved when she was little, she smiled and said that she really didn't, that she spent lots of time in her room singing along with her Free to Be, You and Me record. My kids did, too.
22 of 24 found the following review helpful:
Get it while you can, in a plain brown wrapper.Jan 23, 2005
By Frederic M. Biddle
"soulsurvivor"
"Free to be...." should be a yard-sale trifle, too corny for consideration as anything other than baby-boomer nostalgia.
If only...
We live in a time when the word "free" is subject to daily, fanciful redefinition, and even a cartoon sponge arouses suspicion.
The gentle lessons of "Free to Be..." are more relevant than ever. And they're political dynamite, as proved by the nasty reviews seen occasionally below.
Get this disc to remember. Get it for your kids, none of whom may ever have the luxury of taking tolerance for granted, as some of us did in an abbreviated era when cultural moments like "Free to Be..." helped heal the past, and made the future seem infinitely bright.
Belated cheers to Marlo and all participating artists. At this point in our decline and fall, I've begun to take down names...
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
My first record ever; revived again and sounding awesome!!Dec 17, 2003
This is the first record I remember ever owning, sometime around 1983 or 4. I played it almost daily on my tan and orange Fisher Price record player...and enjoyed all of it, except maybe the Housework and Girl Land tracks. Most of the messages went right over my head; yes I understood what most of the songs were about but I was too young to grasp the real meanings. But even as a five or something year old, I loved the music. I dont remember how old I was when I put the record away for good though. About two weeks ago, I was going through my vinyl (being a huge fan of Classic Rock, I own stacks and stacks of vinyl LPs from flea markets and used record stores) and I found my old Free To Be...You and Me record, complete with taped-up jacket and sticker on the record label indicating which was the A side. I immediately popped it on my 4 year old Kenwood turntable, plugged in the headphones, and started smiling as soon as I heard the banjo-like intro to the title track. I sat on my bed and listened to the album all the way through...and it sounded ten times better than I ever remembered. At age 24, I can now correctly interpret all those messages in every track, and I now appreciate Housework, and actually LIKE Girl Land. Standout Tracks: Free To Be You And Me....this song is just inspiring..the best. Awesome awesome singing by The New Seekers, and the music just grooves all the way through Its Alright To Cry....beautiful piano track Williams Doll...great singing by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas Girl Land...come on, its Shirley Jones! Yes the track does sound a bit scary and cynical, but listen to it again and note Jack Cassidy as the carnival barker sounds incredibly silly. Also note the last verse...and soon in a park that was girl land before, youll do what you like and youll be who you are....people who are giving the song a bad rap should listen again. Great carnival music track too! Glad To Have A Friend Like You....The lovely Marlo Thomas at her best. She conveys the warmth and excitement the song needs. Upbeat and catchy, the music also grooves. I especially like the little vibraphone and Wurlitzer piano parts that are tastefully tossed in the mix. Also to the reviewers who say Housework conveys negativity..listen again. The writer is simply being honest, thats all. Saying, OK, this is how it is, but heres how to make it better. Somebody further back said that all the songs sound whiny. Which ones? Even the tracks that sound negative Always end with a positive message or even happy ending. This is done for a reason, folks. Life is not all fun and games all the time; we deal with many negative issues on a regular basis. Marlos record is addressing some of these issues that mostly kids face (or will be facing in the future) and giving us an idea on how to improve them. And ya know what? They are so true. At 24 years old, I am actually getting more meaning out of the record now than I was when I was five. I cant wait to share this with my nieces and nephews. Theyll get the CDs; I am keeping my old record hee hee. I actually taught myself to play some of those songs on the piano over the course of the last couple weeks. You can also buy the CD and the Book at Borders bookstores. This record is something every kid needs to hear. It stresses independence, individuality, and teaches you to just be you. It seems these elements are sadly lacking in most kids today..being cool and following the crowd are more important than these things listed above. Id like to see this CD remastered with a few extra bonus tracks. This is not outdated music...good tunes are still good tunes 31 years later. A much nicer alternative to those silly Barney videos...and Id love to write to Ms. Thomas and tell her how much I appreciate her record!!!
based on 254 reviews
( 254 customer reviews )
