Do you dance with your baby? I’m not suggesting moshing or slam-dancing with your newborn, but babies like to be held and gently rocked, and one way to do this is to put on some tunes and sway to the music — while you hold your baby close. Dennis Caplinger offers a series of CDs that feature “lullaby renditions” of popular music. His latest is Rockabye Baby – Lullaby Renditions of Elvis Presley. This CD is perfect for dancing with your baby.
One would think that Caplinger’s work would “get old,” after listening to a few of the collections. Go ahead, think that, but you’d be wrong. The music-box sound complements the songs in clever ways, producing a relaxing soundtrack for baby’s day. Put a few of these, some Mozart, and a bit of Beethoven in the CD changer and you may end up with a musical prodigy.
The heart of Rockabye Baby – Lullaby Renditions of Elvis Presley is the transformation of “timeless rock songs into beautiful instrumental lullabies. Guitars and drums are traded for soothing mellotrons, vibraphones and bells, and the volume is turned down from an eleven to a two.” Caplinger’s CDs offer parents an opportunity to share their favorite music with their infants.
Included on the collection are: “Jailhouse Rock” (appropriate to enjoy while gazing through crib bars), “Burning Love,” “Suspicious Minds,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “In the Ghetto,” “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “That’s All Right,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
I’m convinced that police detectives should use Dennis Caplinger’s music in interrogation rooms — every time I hear his latest CD, I am prompted to make a confession. Everyone who has every learned this is shocked: I am not an Elvis fan. The shocking part, I guess, is that it runs a little deeper than just not being a fan. How could any red-blooded American not love Elvis? I dunno… but I don’t. There are a lot of songs Elvis recorded that I like; I’d just rather hear them performed by Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard, if I have the choice. Or Dennis Caplinger.
Bottom Line: Would I buy Rockabye Baby – Lullaby Renditions of Elvis? Yes I would, thank you, thank you very much.
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