| A Mix CD is a simple, fun, and long lasting kid's birthday | | | | version) |
| party favor idea. A CD mix of your child's favorite | | | | Josh Ritter "Snow is Gone" from "Hello Starling" (a |
| songs from the past 12 months easily trumps the | | | | terrific song about the magical period between end of |
| dollar-store quality toys, balloons, stickers and regular | | | | Winter and the dawn of Springtime) |
| party favor material which is forgotten about or | | | | Wilco/Billy Bragg " Hoodoo Voodoo" from "Mermaid |
| broken shortly after it is received. A mix CD is long | | | | Avenue" (a Woody Guthrie song written for his kids. A |
| lasting, enjoyable, interactive, and a perfect document | | | | ton of fun to listen to as Woody uses several hilarious |
| of your child's previous year, through music. When | | | | made-up words and phrases in his lyrics. Wilco and |
| compiled yearly it becomes a chronicle of your child's | | | | Bragg's performance is a blast) |
| interest in music (both the kid and adult variety) and as | | | | Dr. Dog "The World May Never Know" from "Easy |
| far as memories go a collection of mix CDs, one for | | | | Beat" (our daughter's favorite song at one point. it has |
| each year of his or her life, will become as treasured | | | | a beat so infectious that it is almost impossible not to |
| as any crayola masterpiece or notches on a growth | | | | start dancing, or a the very least swaying back and |
| chart. | | | | forth, with the first note) |
| Mix CDs can be put together with relative ease | | | | The Band "Ain't Got No Home" from "Moondog |
| assuming you have access to a PC w/ CD-RW drive, | | | | Matinee" (The Band covered Clarence "Frogman" |
| the internet/iTunes, and a printer. | | | | Henry's classic 1956 song and made it their own. Your |
| Here is what you will need and how much it will cost | | | | kids will love Levon Helm singing like a Frog on one of |
| (for a party of 25 kids): | | | | the early verses. Check out Clarence Henry's original |
| 1) Music, of course! See below for some suggestions. | | | | version as well) |
| Assuming you do not own any of the music for this | | | | The Beach Boys "Surfin' USA" (a summertime classic. |
| CD (which would be odd, since presumably your child | | | | what kid or parent can resist singing along with this |
| has already been enjoying his or her favorite songs) | | | | super-catchy tune. if your child is like mine he or she |
| expect to pay .99 cents each on iTunes (but you only | | | | will soon be turning the knees-bent and arms-out |
| have to buy each song once!) | | | | surfing motion into their own new dance, creating an |
| 2) CD-Rs. | | | | instant classic moment. have your video-camera |
| 3) Jewel Cases. We would recommend the slim | | | | charged and ready!) |
| cases for this project. You could be even more | | | | Softer: |
| creative by making paper sleeves and stamp and/or | | | | M. Ward "Here Comes the Sun Again" from |
| stencil the album details on the cover. | | | | "Transistor Radio" (a lovely homage to that big ball of |
| 4) Labels. Most packs include easy to use software | | | | heat in the sky from this terrific "old-soul" singer |
| for designing and printing your own labels for the CD, | | | | songwriter) |
| Jewel Case front, back, and spine. | | | | Red House Painters "Wop-A-Din-Din" from "Old |
| Costs | | | | Ramon" (a touching song about a cat. if you and your |
| 1) The Music - 12 songs (a decent length for a mix | | | | family have a cat in the house, this song will became a |
| CD): $12 | | | | favorite and if you don't you may want to rush out and |
| 2) CD-Rs: $15 (for a 50 pack - so you will have | | | | get one!) |
| enough for next year's party!) | | | | Archer Prewitt "I'll Be Waiting" from "White Sky" |
| 3) Slim Jewel Cases: $18 (for a pack of 25) | | | | (lyrically could easily be a love song from parent to |
| 4) Labels and Software: $15 (for 40 complete sets of | | | | child. Archer has one of the finest singing voices of the |
| CD labels) | | | | past decade) |
| Total: $60. Or a little more than $2 each for a party of | | | | The Gilroys "Martin Candy" from their self-titled CD |
| 25 kids. | | | | (kid's should love the instrumentation and parents with |
| Here are some suggestions for "adult" music that can | | | | a love of older comedy films should get the funny |
| be downloaded from iTunes (or most other digital | | | | movie reference in the refrain's lyrics and song title. full |
| download services) and shared with your kids of any | | | | disclosure: my old record label released this song. ) |
| age, organized as "Louder" and "Softer" selections. | | | | Nick Drake "Northern Sky" from "Bryter Layter" (simply |
| Don't worry, the loud is not ear shattering and the soft | | | | one of the prettiest love songs ever written) |
| will not put you to sleep. | | | | Be sure to include a nice blend of the "adult" songs |
| Louder: Bright Eyes "True Blue" from "Motion Sickness | | | | that your child enjoys as well as their favorite kids |
| - Live Recordings" (a studio version of "True Blue" is | | | | tunes. This suggested playlist has been compiled as an |
| available on their "Lua" EP. "Motion Sickness", a more | | | | iMix on iTunes, titled "OWTK Volume 1", for quick and |
| recent release, was only made available through | | | | easy downloading. |
| independent record stores. Both versions are quite | | | | Enjoy the music and your child's birthday party! |
| good, but our daughter prefers the more raucous live | | | | |