Who Remembers Free To Be You And Me

Again I'll refer to the Wikipedia entry and a few excerpts. Oy, I feel old.

Free to Be… You and Me is a record album and illustrated songbook for children, first released in November 1972, and later in 1974 as a television special, featuring songs and stories from celebrities (credited as "Marlo Thomas and Friends"). Using poetry, songs, and sketches, the basic concept was to salute values such as individuality, tolerance, and happiness with one's identity; a major thematic message is that you, whether a boy or a girl, can achieve anything you want. The album has become a cult classic amongst many children raised in the 1970s.

The original idea to create the album came from Thomas; she wanted to teach her then-young niece Dionne about life. A well-received sequel, Free to Be . . . A Family, was produced in 1987.

The album has been published by Arista Records since 1983 (it was first published by Bell Records), and is still in print today.

Track listing

11 comments:

Ahuva said...

I LOVED that album. I didn't know it was a television special until.. hmm.. I think someone in college mentioned it. I'm in my 30s now and can probably still sing along with all the songs. I guess we're both old. ;)

Another meshugannah mommy said...

My daughter listens to this evey night at bedtime.

Anonymous said...

"There's a land that I see where the children are free, and I say it ain't far to this land from where we are. Take my hand come with me, where the children are free, come with me, take my hand and we'll liii-ive....in a land where the rivers run free, in a land in free country...."

Ummm, never heard of it ;)

Anonymous said...

I just discovered it! My sister bought it and played it non-stop...ladies first, ladies first...

Anonymous said...

I love this album and I especially love the wonderful actress Diana Sands who performs "Grandma". She was a phenomenal stage and screen actress who is greatly missed. Thanks for the opportunity to remember her.

Jack Steiner said...

Hi Ahuva,

Yes, we are both old but not as old as some of the others here. Hee hee, someone is punching me in the arm.

AMM,

Really? I have it on vinyl and CD but my kids aren't quite into it yet.

Tamara,;)

TRW,

As a kid I really didn't like that song, for obvious reasons.

Kathryn,

My pleasure.

Stacey said...

This album is one of the hallmarks of my childhood. I know every word to every song.

Anonymous said...

What, you thought it bad for a little girl to get eaten by a lion? How chivalrous ;)

Jack Steiner said...

You know every word because you are still a child.

TRW,

That is me. ;)

... Is the Window to Our Soul said...

A great one to add to that list comes from a recent show on self esteem and diversity. It's Called

Happy to be Nappy!

It's awesome.

Jack Steiner said...

Happy to be nappy. Cool.

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