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Celebrating Festival of Lights With Mix of Seasonal Sounds

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

If you celebrate Hanukkah at your house and you’re looking for family music for holiday humming, you may want to catch up with one or more of these seasonal offerings:

* “Happy Hanukkah, My Friend,” Blue Star, CD: $14.98. With waltz and calypso rhythms, mellow jazz and orchestral richness, this collection of mostly original songs by Doug Konecky and Justin Wilde celebrates family, tradition and unity. A few selections: the gentle title tune; “Jerusalem,” a haunting anthem to peace; the comical “That’s What Grandma Says,” about a cook who won’t take “no” for an answer (“A little more, aw, come on, just a taste”) until she discovers health food and aerobics. Hatikvah Music International: (213) 655-7083.

For the record:

12:00 a.m. Dec. 5, 1996 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday December 5, 1996 Home Edition Calendar Part F Page 9 Entertainment Desk 1 inches; 34 words Type of Material: Correction
Hanukkah recording--Ordering information for the family recording “Happy Hanukkah, My Friend” is available through Cat’s Whiskers Productions, (213) 849-5381. Incomplete information was included in a review in Tuesday’s Calendar.

* “Just in Time for Chanukah!,” Sheera Productions, cassette: $10; CD: $14. Singers and guitarists Margie Rosenthal and Ilene Safyan’s soothing harmonies and flutist Amir Yechieli’s beautiful accompaniment warm up traditional and contemporary sing-along songs of the season, with lyrics in English and Hebrew. Hatikvah Music International, or Rounder Kids: (800) 443-4727.

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* “Candles Long Ago,” Drive Entertainment, cassette: $5.98; CD: $9.98. Longtime children’s music faves, Canadian trio Sharon, Lois & Bram created this happy album with their usual harmonic joie de vivre, from a witty adaptation of selections from “The Nutcracker” to their evocative title song. And, yes, there’s a trademark pachyderm ditty: “Don’t Bring an Elephant (to a Family Meal).” Blockbuster, Kmart and other stores, or (800) 289-3748.

* “Hanukah Sing-Along for Kids,” Brentwood Music, cassette: $9.98; CD: $15.98. Sung in English and Hebrew by a youth choir, this pleasant, 18-song collection features such traditional fare as “Ma’oz Tzur” and “Sov S’vivon/My Dreydl,” for ages 3 to 12. It comes with a lyric sheet. Hatikvah Music International.

* “My Jewish Discovery,” Craig Taubman/Craig ‘n Co., cassette: $9.98; CD: $14.98. Craig Taubman and his supercharged Craig ‘n Co., a top act in children’s music and familiar to many for their Disney recordings, turn their talents to a notably innovative celebration of Jewish culture, from holidays and history to kosher culinary delights, in comic and clever original songs written by Taubman. Borders Books or (800) 6CRAIG8.

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* “Chanukah, A Singing Celebration,” Koleet Productions, cassette: $9.98; cassette with book: $11.98; CD: $15.98. A sprightly album featuring veteran children’s singer Cindy Paley and a youth choir in a generous, tuneful serving of Hebrew and English renditions of familiar seasonal songs. Hatikvah Music International.

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