Down at the Sea Hotel

All Ages

Birth - 12 months

by Greg Brown

A gaggle of stellar singers and musicians from Minnesota's roots rock label Red House Records convened to record quiet songs written by the likes of Nanci Griffith, Tom Waits, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Carole King, Bruce Cockburn, Jesse Winchester, Don Henley, and Steve Earle. The whimsical title track is penned by Greg Brown and performed by all of the singers. The whole project has a warm, rich, soulful sound.

Age: 2 Year-olds | Title: Down at the Sea Hotel | Artist: Greg Brown | Label: The Secret Mountain

Why we chose this music

This music moseys along with andante-paced songs, providing great images and feelings for your little one as they lay falling asleep; "Every sleepy boy and girl, in every bed around the world, Can hear the star up in the sky, Whispering a lullaby" (Dreamland). A few of the songs are sung from the parent's point of view, passing on information to their little one, or just appreciating them. For instance, the opening lyrics of Annabel are, "I watch you sleeping, my weary heart rises up on wings." Parents can certainly relate to lyrics like this, and they make children feel safe. The guitar leads in each song, helping create a consistently mellow mood, but other instruments are occasionally featured; In the Neil Diamond cover, "Barefoot Floors", the whole first verse is just gentle picking on the fiddle accompanied by a female voice. "Deamland" features the violin and flute, "Child of Mine" features sliding on the steel guitar, and "Down at the Sea Hotel" even has the accordion, which somehow worked in this lullaby.

This CD could also be listened to when it's just time to calm down - not necessarily bedtime. It would be great to snuggle up with your little one and just hold them rocking while listening until you both feel relaxed. The slower beat will slow down a child's heartbeat, further calming them down. It's easy to find yourself humming along. "Things We've Handed Down" is another song sung to a small child, and it may inspire a great conversation with your little one about things you've handed down to them such as hair and eye color, personality quirks, and heritage.

I played this CD for my two-year-old friend, Kyle, before bedtime. He loved listening to the songs and swaying with the music. He would hum along, saying some of the words he had memorized. Kyle's eyes were very heavy about half way through the CD, so I put him in his crib and watched him drift off into dreamland.

--Audra

About the music

Greg Brown's songwriting has been lauded by many and his songs have been performed by Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Michael Johnson, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. He has also recorded more than a dozen albums. After more than 20 years of singing and songwriting, the Midwestern troubadour and two-time Grammy nominee continues to write songs that sweetly draw attention to life's pleasant subtleties.

The Secret Mountain's music has touched the hearts of parents and children for years. With multiple awards from Parents' Choice, NAPPA and Juno Awards, the Montreal-based publishing house has made great children's entertainment that both kids and adults will love.

Song list

1 - Down by the Sea Hotel

2 - Midnight Lullaby

3 - Dreamland

4 - Barefoot Floors

5 - Midnight in Missoula

6 - Do La Lay

7 - Little Seahorse

8 - Goodnight, My Angel

9 - Annabel

10 - Trick Rider

11 - Everybody Cries

12 - Child of Mine

13 - Things We've Handed Down

14 - Nothing but a Child