Album Notes

I started using music in some classes I was teaching to kindergartners... through time I realized that children need and like real music, not the folky stuff that they been hammered with for years. My friends own a recording studio and were nice enough to record many of the songs that the kids liked. We only used real instruments, and never took any shortcuts like synthesized drums. The songs, combined with my lessons, became a bit more abstract over time, which made the children like them all the more. I taught a class about how magnificent chickens are. It seemed kids assumed chicken was some sort of vegetable or something, never making the connection that it was once an animal. "Call Me Chicken" calls for respect for the animal, and points out a few unknown tidbits (nuggets) about chickens that need recognition. Kids like dinosaurs, and who knew the chicken was the closest living relative to the T-Rex. Who knew that those goofy little T-Rex arms would evolve into such a tasty morsels of meat? I approached making this music with the constant critique from the children I teach. I have had some songs that I thought they'd love, and they sat politely just shaking their heads after even my most bombastic performance (I'd break a string or two). I would throw those songs away. I've learned that they tend to enjoy absurd stuff ("You can't hear through your nose"), gross stuff ("When I burp it smells like pickles"), and stuff with power-chords (?). They don't ever like songs about photosynthesis, no matter from what genre it sneaks up in. Of the pile of songs that I've tried to remember all of the chords to, I think there is about a dozen that will be appropriate for a full-length album, which should be completed by next Spring. I have demos of most and the final recordings are in progress.

Please send any questions or comments to: mrdonahuesmonsters@yahoo.com