Album Notes

You Are My Flower was recorded in one afternoon, during a day off from one of Ida's lengthy US tours in the fall of 1998. It was intended to be a gift for nieces and nephews, but became a word of mouth sleeper hit and the band released it commercially last year.

Featuring spare, beautiful and timeless performances of Elizabeth Cotten's "Freight Train" Woody Guthrie's "Little Sack of Sugar" and the title track, the Carter Family's "You Are My Flower," this record is for children and their parents to enjoy together. There is joy and grace in each song. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this cd goes to organizations dedicated to making the world a safer and happier place for children.

Elizabeth Mitchell, a former assistant teacher at the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery in NYC, is a founding member of the NYC band Ida. Formed in Brooklyn in 1992, Ida have released 5 full length albums on independent labels. Their release "Will You Find Me," on Tigerstyle records, was voted album of the week by Jon Pareles in the New York Times, August 18, 2000, and named among the years end list "un deservedly obscure- the best overlooked music of 2000" by Ann Powers, also in the New York Times.

for more information, here are some websites!
youaremyflower.org- Elizabeth Mitchell's site for kids music
idamusic.com- the official website for the band ida, and information about last affair records
tigerstylerecords.com- ida's record label

praise/press for You Are My Flower

"You Are My Flower is the only childrens music I have heard (and I have heard a lot) that is both simple and rich enough to fascinate everyone in the family. My daughter still requests it after two years of steady play and I am grateful everytime."
--Ethan Hawke, academy award nominated actor!

" A hip New York band's labor of love... Be glad when your little flower sends You Are My Flower to the top of the charts in your home. This is kids music that's a balm to every mother's savaged nerves.."
-- Ayun Halliday, HIPMAMA, author of The Big Rumpus!

"Children's album of the year...the quiet sweetness and intimacy of people performing for an audience of one very small person. Get it for somebody who'll thank you in 20 years."
--Douglas Wolk, Boston Phoenix, very nice guy!