When the box of old records was discovered ... I think I was most anxious to check out the "Animals" music again. Little Red Caboose was probably the song most remembered by the Westra Siblings as a whole, and Music Machine was a favorite, that I'd been lucky enough to find digitally. But "Animals" ... I'd done searches on YouTube and other music sites, general Google searches - and just hadn't been able to find any results. "Animals" is just too general a term.
So when the records resurfaced, it was fun to look over the booklet with illustrations and lyrics. When I received a record player, it was one I definitely wanted to listen to. There was one little problem ...
... the record had been dropped at some point, and the outer edge was broken in one part. This really only affected the first song, and I was able to listen to the rest. So next I was debating on how to share here on the blog. Make a video? Attempt to convert the record to digital (my record player has a USB input and seems to indicate this was a possibility). Looking at the cover in hand however, I saw the "and other things" and tried a Google search one more time, including the full phrase and there it was!
A full recording on YouTube, including the first song on each side -unlike my broken album. Easy to share here (and an MP3 copy has been saved to Dropbox, as I never know if external links will stick around). I found I remembered almost all of these songs, more so even than Music Machine. Like Music Machine, all the songs are about a quality we should strive for. Faithfulness, Diligence, Contentment, Perseverance, Loyalty, Self-Value, Thriftiness, Generosity, Boldness, Cheerfulness. Like Music Machine, the record case is actually a little booklet, with several pages featuring illustrations and lyrics. Here, there is a quote (scripture), a "story" and a "living lesson". While not LDS per se ... each song and story could be a family home evening lesson! The tunes are so cute and catchy, I found myself singing along and remembering the words some 35+ years later. When I was over to the folks, I sang several of the songs. Mom and Dad didn't remember them as much as me, but as I started singing ... they both said "I remember that one!"
I'm a Galapagos. I'm a Galapagos. I am a G-A-L-A-P-A G-olopagus.
And though I sound like some disease, I'm a tortoise if you please,
least that's what they call my mama and my papa-gus.
So here's the full album on Youtube, with timestamps for each song.
I've bolded my favorites *Ü*
00:00 Animals & Other Things 01:29 Cock-A-Doodle-Doo 03:56 It's So Great To Be A Beaver 06:30 Penguins 08:53 Gorilla Walk 11:04 The Waggin' Of A Tail 13:22 Itty-Bitty Flea 14:13 I Love Animals 15:41 I'm a Galapagos 17:55 The Nutty Factory 19:49 Livin' That Givin' Way 21:51 The King of the Jungle 24:56 Howdy-Do Kangaroo 26:54 I Love Animals (Reprise)
https://youtu.be/plhF4WHruWE
... and I took pictures of the booklet to showcase and share. I noticed that the complete lyrics aren't included (but just ask me, I probably know them!) All the songs aren't printed up either. The second "intro" song (first song on the second side) "I love animals, you love animals, we all love animals too. From chipa-munks, squirrels to each hip-pip-o-otamus, monkeys to the kangaroos" and a short final song on the first side "Itty-Bitty-Flea" (I always got a kick out of this one!)
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