House Party

1	House Party Time 3:04
2	Wabash Cannonball 3:40
3	Queremos Bailar / Barbara Brousal 2:47
4	Hop Up Ladies 2:36
5	Washington at Valley Forge 2:35
6	Jamaica Farewell 3:14
7	Tankoh-Bushi / Yoshi Waki 0:59
8	Down in the Valley / Wayne "Rankin Don" "Father Goose" Rhoden 3:40
9	Waltzing Matilda 3:18
10	West Indian Counting Song / Courin Gibbs 0:59
11	Sunny Old Sun 2:53
12	Tennessee Wig Walk 2:22
13	Shining Star 2:04
14	How Do You Do? / David Jones 2:39
15	Daniel in the Den / Donald Saaf 3:00
16	Surrounded by Friendship / Cynthia Hopkins 2:40
17	Old Joe Clark 4:01
18	Hey Little Red Bird 2:39
19	We Shall Not Be Moved 2:52
20	A Place for Us 6:33

All Music Guide

Former Del Fuegos frontman Dan Zanes is one of the few artists making children's music that appeals to both kids and their parents. House Party is his fourth kids' record and it shows no drop-off in energy or imagination. He and his band create lighthearted, easily rocking tunes with mostly acoustic instruments. Zanes has a great voice for kids' records; loose and light, he sounds more like an older brother than some stuffy old teacher. The tunes are a mix of traditional songs like "Old Joe Clark," "Down in the Valley," and "Hop Up Ladies" and Zanes originals like the fun "House Party Time" and the laid-back country rocker "Sunny Old Sun." A hallmark of Zanes' records is the wide range of guests who show up to join in the fun. Here, Debbie Harry lends some vocals to a stately "Waltzing Matilda," Bob Weir helps out on "Wabash Cannonball," Angélique Kidjo helps romp through "Jamaica Farewell," and Philip Glass plays pump organ on the sweet ballad "A Place for Us." A couple of the songs feature a group of kids known as the Dandelion Chorus adding vocals, and there is plenty of unique instrumentation to keep the recorded from sounding bland. House Party is a rare kids' record that doesn't condescend to kids; maybe that is why parents, and maybe even people without kids, will find it to be a whole lot of fun. Tim Sendra

Time Magazine

The Muppet-haired guitarist of '80s indie-rock band the Del Fuegos now makes eclectic folk rock for kids. House Party combines covers of the familiar (Jamaica Farewell) and the obscure (the rollicking Tennessee Wig Walk) with crafty originals, like the R&B-inflected House Party Time. And the cast of surprise guests, such as Deborah Harry and Bob Weir, will give you an excuse to inflict Blondie and Grateful Dead albums on your children later.