Rockabye Baby!

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Rockabye Baby Music
Founded 2006
Genre Childrens
Country of origin United States
Location Los Angeles, CA
Official website www.rockabyebabymusic.com

The Rockabye Baby! series creates lullaby versions of songs from popular bands including Led Zeppelin, Metallica,and Nirvana. The series was created by CMH Records, an independent lable in Los Angeles. Vitamin Records is also under CMH Label Group and have also become known for their Vitamin String Quartet Tribute series as well as their “Pickin’ On” Bluegrass tributes.

Contents

[edit] History

The idea behind Rockabye Baby was conceived by Valerie Aiello, who was a member of the art department team at CMH Records. Inspired by her work with tributes, Aiello came up with a unique idea… a lullaby version of Slayer. [1] Aeillo also cited Queens of the Stone Age's 2005 album, "Lullabies to Paralyze," (which has no association with lullabies) as inspiration to create lullaby versions of rock bands. [2] After pitching the idea, CMH Records decided to move forward and release a CD that included lullaby versions of The Queens of the Stone Age songs.

This album soon led to the birth of the Rockabye Baby series, whose concept may seem wildly incongruous until one notices that many traditional lullabies do have a dark side. [3] For example, the song Rock-a-bye Baby has lyrics such as "the wind blows, the cradle rocks, the bough breaks and then down comes baby, cradle and all."

In August of 2006, the label followed up with Lullabye Renditions of Radiohead, Coldplay, and Metallica on its new Baby Rock Records imprint, which later became Rockabye Baby! Records. [4] In the first year, the Rockabye Baby! series sold more than 100,000 units in North America. Moving more than 18,000 copies, Lullaby Renditions of Metallica quickly became the bestselling title in the series.[5] Other top sellers include renditions of Coldplay, the Beatles, and U2. The response to the series was so positive that lullaby versions of Pink Floyd and Tool followed in September of 2006. [6]

[edit] Criteria

Rockabye Baby! recordings are completely instrumental, meaning they do not include any vocals. Instruments that are used include glockenspiel, vibraphone, mellotron, harp, and bells.[7]

The company decided against using grand piano in Rockabye Baby recordings, due to the concern that the albums will sound too similar to piano tribute albums. Other instruments that are avoided include strings, flutes, or acoustic guitar due to the concern that it would sound similar to chamber music or a Renaissance festival. [8]

[edit] Current & Upcoming

There are currently 23 Rockabye Baby! albums on the market featuring the songs of Coldplay, Metallica, Radiohead, Tool, Pink Floyd, The Cure, The Beach Boys, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Queens of the Stone Age U2, The Ramones, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt, Bob Marley, Green Day, Rolling Stones, AC/DC, The Beatles, and Björk.

Rockabye Baby's most recent releases include Lullaby Renditions of The Rolling Stones, which was released on November 11th, 2007 and Lullaby Renditions of AC/DC, which was released on March 4th, 2008. [9]

Upcoming Rockabye Baby! albums include tributes to The Pixies, Prince, Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode, Black Sabbath, and more.

[edit] Reviews & Press

  • Scott Kirkland of The Crystal Method and his wife, Brandi, have stated that the Rockabye Baby! CDs play nightly in the nursery of their 14-month-old son Jett, [10]
  • During a videotaped interview Metallica guitarist, Kirk Hammett, mentioned playing the Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Metallica for his own son. [11]
  • In the March 17th, 2008 issue of People (magazine), Rockabye Baby! is mentioned in the cover story, Nicole's Baby Girl, that features an interview with Nicole Richie and Joel Madden. A blurb in the article says, "Rockabye Baby! CDs: Lullaby versions of Radiohead and Nirvana sooth Harlow (Richie's new baby girl) on car trips."
  • Rockabye Baby CDs were included in gift bags given to all of the presenters and performers at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. [13]
  • Rockabye Baby has garnered rave reviews in the national media and the seal of approval from the child-rearing magazines Parents, Parenting, American Baby and Child. [14]
  • "The 'Rockabye Baby!' series is designed for modern-music-minded parents who want to share songs like 'Paranoid Android' with their kids without scarring them for life."

-Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA)

[edit] Awards

  • 2007 Greatest Product - iParenting Media Award for three of their albums: Lullaby Renditions of Green Day, Lullaby Renditions of The Rolling Stones, and Lullaby Renditions of U2. [15]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Music: Rockabye Baby: Rock & roll lullabies for the Pampers set
  2. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/28/AR2006082801458.html The Cradle Will Rock, to Metallica, By J. Freedom du Lac
  3. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/28/AR2006082801458.html The Cradle Will Rock, to Metallica, By J. Freedom du Lac
  4. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Music: Rockabye Baby: Rock & roll lullabies for the Pampers set
  5. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Music: Rockabye Baby: Rock & roll lullabies for the Pampers set
  6. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Music: Rockabye Baby: Rock & roll lullabies for the Pampers set
  7. ^ The Poop : Rockabye Baby With These Lullabies
  8. ^ The Austin Chronicle: Music: Rockabye Baby: Rock & roll lullabies for the Pampers set
  9. ^ Welcome to Shock Ink
  10. ^ www.shockink.com/documents/client-press-release/BRBigThumbsUp042407.doc -
  11. ^ Hammett: - Vi føler oss som 80-talls Metallica - Rampelys - VGTV
  12. ^ Rachael Ray Show Kate Hudson
  13. ^ http://www.keepitcleanusa.com/details2.asp?uc_id=58
  14. ^ www.shockink.com/documents/client-press-release/BRBigThumbsUp042407.doc -
  15. ^ iParenting Media Awards Winners
  16. ^ The 2007 ESKY (Mini) Awards - Esquire