POP-A-LOOZA

Rena Strober and Friends

Imagine That! The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss

renastrober.com

It’s no stretch to say that over 100 children’s CD’s cross my desk in a year, and I listen to the bulk of them, for better or for worse. Rarely, have I been so impressed by a release in this genre, that my socks were literally blown off. I only wish that it happened more often.

Listening to Imagine That! Was like taking in a first-class Broadway show. You know how when you see a professional production, and as soon as the singing begins, you’re so taken aback that you remark to yourself, “Oh, Wow! These people aren’t fooling around!”? This CD will give you that same sensation.

Rena Strober’s pitch-perfect voice is as friendly as they come, and her renditions of classic Sesame Street songs are delightful. Somebody Come And Play immediately transported me back to my Kodachrome childhood in the 1970’s, when it seemed like the sun was always shining. Kermit The Frog’s trademark Being Green is wistful, if not a bit sad, and it’s sentiments related to the world today are not lost on me.

My fave of the set, however, is Im Pretty/I’m An Aardvark, sung with all due silliness by guests French Stewart and Jason Alexander. They get lost in their characters, and the listener does, too. To be fair to the extremely talented Miss Strober, though, it’s a great moment that is surrounded by only great moments. Highly recommended!

From the press kit;

Imagine That! The Sesame Street Music of Joe Raposo & Jeff Moss is being released in celebration of National Guide Dog Month in September. A portion of the proceeds from all digital and hard copy sales of the album will go to Guide Dogs of America and the Gavin R. Stevens Foundation, whose mission is to find a treatment and cure for blindness, focusing on Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA).

Dan Pavelich