a note from dan zanes when "rocket ship beach" came out and we started playing more shows, not only were people singing along, but when we played "rock island line" or "all around the kitchen" they were flying out onto the dance floor. nothing felt better than seeing grown-ups, kids and babies dancing with each other. the message was sent. there was no turning back. a show didn't seem complete without a dance party finale.
it was clear that the next offering for the all ages underground had to be something people could use for their own dance parties at home. with friends like father goose, the sandy girls, rosanne cash, barbara brousal, loudon wainwright lll, donald saaf, the rubi theater company and sandra bernhard, making this kind of rollicking record seemed like a natural good time.
the reports coming back seem to indicate that if the spirit is right a dance party can happen anywhere, any time.
what is family dance? hello lovers of trains, guitars, ferris wheels, thrift shops, fiddle tunes, rhyming songs, days at the beach, human beatboxers, animal sounds, drum sounds, drum sets, sing-alongs, ackee, and everything else that might go into a rollicking dance party.all around the kitchen cock-a-doodle-doodle-do. it's a crazy sound that echoes through the neighborhood as we waltz across a dusty parlor floor, walk the dog through the bedroom, do the bump out in the yard, the swim up on the stoop, and the mashed potato out in the autumn leaves. it's a throw down at the hoe down. we're insisting on some twisting. there's a sidewalk jamboree, walk and wobble your knees. skip, flip, slip and slide, reach and wave the clouds goodbye.
we dance because it's a chance. a chance to be a tiptoeing wombat, a howling thunderstorm, a link in the chain, a splinter of winter sunlight, a swooping airplane, or a laughing palm tree. and we can do it together. anywhere, anyhow. there's a dance party whenever we say so.
well, how about now?
the musicians:
rosanne cash - vocals
loudon wainwright iii - vocals
cary tamarkin - vocals & guitar
sandra bernhard - vocals
barbara brousal - guitar & vocals
lyris hung - fiddle
donald saaf - bango & vocals
father goose - aka rankin' don - vocals & freestyle
simon kirke - drums
the sandy girls - vocals
* georgia bryan
* aggie decaul
* rosita isles
* patsy primus
* sally reece
track listing:
1. jump up
2. rock island line
3. malti
4. the hokey pokey
5. water for the elephants
6. linstead market
7. fooba wooba john
8. wonder wheel
9. yo yo sweet yo yo
10. all around the kitchen
11. in the evening
12. flowers of edinburgh
13. thrift shop
14. skip to my lou
15. the good night waltz
