How Raffi’s Biggest Album Changed Rock and Roll History
'Singable Songs For the Very Young' launched the career of one huge music producer.
From the 1980s until today, parents have relied on Raffi for excellent kids’ music that accomplishes two things: Lifts kids up and doesn’t drive the parents nuts. AsFatherly‘s ongoing new podcastFinding Raffiis revealing, the enduring appeal of Raffi isn’t just that his music is made for kids to love, but that the music itself is actually good music. From his origins as a protest singer to writing hits like“Baby Beluga”and“The More We Get Together,”Raffi is just one of the greatest musicians of our time, regardless of the fact that he puts out kids’ tunes. But if you remain unconvinced of Raffi’s crossover musical greatness, check this out: The making of his landmark 1976 albumSingable Songs For the Very Youngdirectly launched the career of one of the biggest rock and roll producers ever.
In the 1980s, Daniel Lanois was a collaborator of Brian Eno, which eventually led to him producing theU2albumThe Joshua Tree. He also produced the underratedBob DylanalbumOh Mercyand Neil Young’sLe Noisein 2010.Rolling Stoneoncecalled himthe most important producer of the 1980s.
So what’s that got to do with Raffi? Well, Lanois, before he became a producer, is the guy who engineeredSingable Songs For the Very Young. As Raffi reveals in Episode 3 ofFinding Raffii,much of this classic kids’ album was mixed in the basement of Lanois’ mom’s house.
“It was Daniel Lanois’ mother’s home in the basement studio with egg cartons on the ceiling,” Raffi says. “I said to myself, ‘I’m getting my money’s worth here.'”
Had Lanois not collaborated with Raffi at this pivotal point in his early career, it’s very possible that the soundtrack for David Lynch’s沙丘would have sounded different, thatU2albums wouldn’t have been amazing, and that Bob Dylan wouldn’t have had a string of solid albums in the ’80s either.
And of course, thanks to the combined early brilliance of Raffi’s working with Lanois, kids, and parents everywhere also goSingable Songs For the Very Young,which remains essential to this day.
Get the full story in Episode 3 ofFinding Raffi,which you can check outright here on Spotifyon the following podcast platforms.
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