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Five Cent Piece

by Randy Kaplan

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1.
"Hello, It's So Good to See Ya'" by Woody Guthrie / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan
2.
"I'm a Little Dinosaur" by Jonathan Richman
3.
"Grape Juice Hesitation Blues" — Traditional / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan If the river was grape juice and I was a duck I’d dive to the bottom and I’d never come up Tell me, how long do I have to wait? Can I get some grape juice now or do I have to wait? If the river were grape juice, you know, the purple kind? You could catch me swimmin’ in it anytime Tell me, how long do I have to wait? Can I get some grape juice now or do I have to wait? I was born in Alabama but raised in Tennessee If you don’t like my peaches don’t shake my tree Tell me, how long do I have to wait? Can I get some peach juice now or do I have to wait? A nickel is a nickel and a dime is a dime I got a house full of children, not one of them mine Tell me, how long do I have to wait? Can I get some coconut juice now or do I have to wait? I was standing on the corner, looking as far as I could see Some other man’s got my girl and blues got me Tell me, how long do I have to wait? Can I get some blueberry juice now or must I hesitate? I got the hesitation socks, I got the hesitation shoes I believe to my soul I got the hesitation blues Tell me, how long must I have to wait? Can I get some carrot-apple-beet-ginger juice now? How about some wheatgrass juice? Mosquito juice? Dinosaur juice? Kiwi juice? Okay, can I get some grape juice now or must I have to wait?
4.
"Freight Train" by Elizabeth Cotton / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan
5.
Shampoo Me 03:37
"Shampoo Me" by Randy Kaplan I was just relaxing in the tub When things got pretty strange I heard a sound like “bubleeblub-blub” And something was coming out of the drain I said, Hark! Who goes there? Well I cleared away some bubbles And I thought, Man I’m in trouble It was a shark, a hammerhead And he said, Shampoo me… Well I didn’t want to get my hand anywhere near a shark’s face Because I heard a shark has sharp teeth and he could bite your hand right off So I started to come up with excuses to get myself out of the situation And I said, But you’re already clean From swimming in the sea He said, Man, have you even seen How dirty the ocean is lately? Then I said, But you got no hair And he said, Neither do you But in the corner over there There’s a big bottle of shampoo I said, Why can’t you shampoo yourself? He said I got no fingers only fins They’re second-stringers And that’s why there’s a favor you’re gonna do me… Shampoo me… So if you’re ever relaxing in your tub And things turn pretty strange If you hear some sound like “blubbedyblubblub” And you feel something comin’ out of your drain Just say, Hark! Who goes there? And if you clear away some bubbles Don’t worry you’re not in trouble if it’s a shark, a hammerhead Just do what he says if he says
6.
"You Are My Sunshine" by Jimmie Davis & Charles Mitchell
7.
"Mosquito Song" by Randy Kaplan I was playin’ in my backyard when I looked up into the air I saw a mosquito hoverin’ around my head He said, “I like the smell of your hair” Then he landed right next to me And he alighted on my arm I said, “Hello Mr. Mosquito I hope you don’t mean to do me any harm” He said, “No, I’m not gonna do you any harm I’m just gonna suck some of your blood Now hold still. It shouldn’t even really hurt” I said, “What? You’re not gonna suck my blood No way, Jose.” And I flicked him in the dirt Well he must have flown out of the dirt While I was slidin’ down the slide Because when I got to the bottom he was right there waitin’ And he said, “You can play but you can’t hide” Then he flew onto my back I couldn’t see him back there I was trying to see him I was twirlin’ around and around Then I saw him He was right there on the back of my shoulder And I said, “Hey, Mr. Mosquito! Get down!” He said, “Oh, you want me to ‘get down’? Okay” And he started dancin’ He boogied on back to my back He did the Tango up my neck and did the Hustle on my head And said, “Now I’m gonna bite you, Jack” I said, “My name’s not Jack. It’s Randy. And I’m not gonna let you have even one little drop of my blood.” He said, “Oh yeah? That’s what you think. I’m gonna bite you right now.” But before he could do it I flicked him in the mud! Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Flick that mosquito in the mud Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Don’t let him suck your blood. Well later on I was playing in the sandbox I was hogging all the shovels and the pails I was buildin’ a great big building out of sand But it wasn’t a sand castle. It was a mosquito jail I said, “Mr. Mosquito, wherever you are You know you’ve caused me so much heartache Stress, sorrow, and strife That the next time I see you I’m gonna capture you I’m gonna throw you in this jail for life” Then I heard kind of a mixture of a flappin’ and a buzzin’ sound I looked to my left, I looked to my right No one was around It was kind of like this: “bzzzzzz, twszzzzzp, zzzztwsssszzzzz.” But it wasn’t that loud I thought, Maybe it’s comin’ from far away From the mosquito’s hideout. Maybe he’s hidin’ out up there in the clouds! And I was right. Because when I looked up I saw him. He came swoopin’ on down through the sky. It looked like he was heading right for my head It looked like he was gonna land right on my right eye So I put out my arm to block him But he landed on my hand He said, “Now I’m mad and I’m really gonna bite you!” But before he could do it I flicked him in the sand. Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Flick that mosquito in the mud Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Don’t let him suck your blood. Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Flick that mosquito in the m-m-m-m-mud Flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flicka-flica-flick Don’t let him Don’t let him Don’t ever let him suck your blood!
8.
"Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg
9.
"The Motorcycle Song" by Arlo Guthrie / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan
10.
"We're in the Same Boat, Brother" by Earl Robinson and E.Y. Harburg / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan
11.
Roaches 03:18
"Roaches" by Randy Kaplan There's a roach on my ceiling He's too high to reach There's a roach in my garbage Resting on the pit of a peach There's a roach in my hat Soon he'll be in my hair There's a roach in my closet He's trying on my underwear There's a roach on my counter He's checking out my grocery list There's a roach on my bookshelf Reading Metamorphosis There's ten roaches in my sink Baby roaches I might add And their mother's in my shower Living in my loofah pad There are roaches in my walls I can't see them but I know they're there If I had x-ray vision I think it would be more than I could bear There's a roach on my carpet If I squoosh him he’ll be a stain If I catch him, though, can I kill him? I wonder if he feels any pain All the roaches in my apartment Are moving their antennas around And I know what they're saying Their voices got a high-pitched sound like this We'll be here tomorrow Just like yesterday We'll be here forever 'Cause we're immune to all your poisons And your traps and your sprays
12.
"Mostly Yellow (Big Bird's Song)" by Randy Kaplan & Brian Schey He's mostly yellow But deep down inside He's a basketball player Unemployed Froot-Loop ankles He's feathery and An invisible elephant Is his best friend He never hatched He never flew He's mostly yellow And just a little blue
13.
Donut Song 01:58
"Donut Song" — Traditional / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan I went out the other day to have lunch. And I walked a really long distance just to get to my favorite restaurant. I walked, let me see, six, seven, eight … nineteen blocks. And I got almost all the way there when I realized I’d forgotten my wallet! I had no money with me whatsoever. Well, I couldn’t go all the way home to get some money because I was hungry. I mean, I was absolutely starving. Going home just wouldn’t do. And then I saw it. On the ground right in front of me was a shiny nickel. I picked it up and I thought, Now, now, now I can get some food! But then the thought struck me, Where am I gonna find something to eat for a nickel? And I had a bigger problem. This was no ordinary nickel. This nickel had a hole right through the middle of it. Now not only did I have to find lunch for five cents. I had to find lunch for five cents with a hole in the middle of it! I didn’t know what I was gonna do. But then an idea came to me and I hatched a brilliant plan. And I’ll tell you what I did … Well, I walked around the corner And I walked around the block I walked right into a donut shop And I picked up a donut And I licked off the grease And I handed the lady my five cent piece Well, she looked at the nickel And she looked at me And she said This nickel is no good for me There’s a hole in the middle And it goes right through I said Lady, there’s a hole in the donut, too.
14.
"You Can't Always Get What You Want" by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan
15.
"Hey, Mike?" by Randy Kaplan & Mike West
16.
"Kids" by Charles Strouse & Lee Adams
17.
"So Long, It's Been Good to Know Ya'" by Woody Guthrie / additional lyrics by Randy Kaplan

about

“FIVE CENT PIECE (2006) combines a gloriously wacky collection of oldies (and originals)” (NEW YORK MAGAZINE). It features all-time classics like "Over the Rainbow", "Kids" (from Bye Bye Birdie), and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (a good first mantra for children) as well as original songs like "Shampoo Me" (the account of the friendly but demanding shark in the bathtub), "Mosquito Song", and "Roaches" (they're tryin' on your underwear, checkin' out your grocery list, readin' your copy of Metamorphosis).

__________

REVIEWS of Five Cent Piece:

"Brooklyn's Randy Kaplan hits the mark with his first release for kids, Five Cent Piece, which combines a gloriously wacky collection of oldies (and originals)."
—Susan Avery / NEW YORK MAGAZINE

"One of the most exciting newcomers to kids' music since Dan Zanes, Kaplan's debut is full of rollicking folk tunes."
—E.M. / PARENTING MAGAZINE

"With a bunch of groupies under the age of five... Kaplan, who released five CDs for grown ups before putting out his first kids' album, is continuing to celebrate with performances that all of his fans can enjoy. Five Cent Piece, a mix of Kaplan's own original work as well as covers of Mom and Dad's favorites, will have ears of all ages perking up..Parents will laugh too, getting the joke that's years over their kids' heads."
—Sophie Friedman / TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS

"Randy has one of the most interesting voices I've ever heard... He shares some of the nasal twang as singers like Michael Stipe and Arlo Guthrie, and there's also just a bit of grit in there, as if his vocal chords forgot to shake their shoes out after a day at the beach... "Over the Rainbow" is one of those songs like "Unchained Melody" or "O Holy Night", where I thought it would need a particularly virtuoso vocalist to pull it off, but Randy's version is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard. The earthy twang of his voice along with the gently rolling guitar may not be in perfect pitch or perfect intonation, and yet it is so "just right" in every deeply soulful sense that really matters."
—Eric Herman / CoolTunesForKids.blogspot.com

"(Kaplan's) debut (kids') CD is a mix of well-chosen (and often reworked) covers and skewed originals... With his mixture of somewhat different arrangements, traditional bluegrass and folk instrumentation, affinity for storytelling, and wide choice of covers... Kaplan has fashioned one of the more unusual kids and family albums of the year, good for chilly winter afternoons or late summer days. Recommended."
—S.A. Shepherd / ZOOGLOBBLE.com

"Straight outta Park Slope, Brooklyn, Randy Kaplan presents an eclectic collection of covers and originals on one of his newest CDs, Five Cent Piece. Released on his own Yellow Thing Records & Books label, Five Cent Piece runs the musical gamut from Judy Garland to the Stones, from Woody Guthrie to Jonathan Richman. Now, remember, kids' albums aren't meant to be the only source of musical history, so the fact that Kaplan includes a song made famous by the Rev. Gary Davis, two songs by legendary lyricist Yip Harburg, and another from the Bye Bye Birdie soundtrack doesn't mean he meant for you to ONLY listen to his version. It's an invitation to explore, to find out more about music and it's history and sources. Kaplan's performance and style could most easily be compared to Arlo Guthrie; and, coincidentally or no, he covers songs by Woody and by Arlo, plus his 10-minute "You Can't Always Get What You Want" resembles Arlo's album side-long "Alice's Restaurant". The bohemian bluegrass/dixieland played by Kaplan and his extremely cohesive and talented band tie together the varying song sources into a unified package, so that Jonathan Richman's "I'm a Little Dinosaur", Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train", and "We're In the Same Boat, Brother" (made popular by Leadbelly), all sound like they were performed at the same sitting. Plus, his rendition of "Over the Rainbow" has to be THE sweetest you'll ever hear...Kaplan's first kids' CD... after releasing five for grownups will no doubt be equally loved by tots and their adults."
—Warren Truitt / KIDSMUSICTHATROCKS.com

"Randy Kaplan once again reminds us of the difference between childish and childlike. His folk songs for children are honest and ring true, and retain a childlike wonder at the ways of the world. To remain in awe even in the dark times is a sign of someone on the right road... Kaplan is as trustworthy a guide through childhood as you'll find, at least musically. Everyone needs this record."
—Mike Wood / MUSICEMISSIONS.com

"One of my favorite things about Five Cent Piece is that the CD itself looks like a giant nickel. But it sounds even better than it looks... Kaplan's original songs, including "Mosquito Song" and "Shampoo Me," are as imaginative and rambling as a pre-schooler, and musically brilliant. The folksy acoustic sound throughout Five Cent Piece is beautifully mixed. Again, this is an amazing album."
—Amy Davis / LOVELYDAVIS.blogspot.com

"Following up his stupendous "Perfect Gentleman" album with an album that's for children and adults who still like their music fun and sing-along-able Kaplan covers such children's classics as "Over the Rainbow", "Kids" of 'Bye Bye Birdie' fame, "I'm a Little Dinosaur", and "You Can't Always Get What You Want". His own originals are just as entertaining and fun for both adult and child. My own 5-month-old son really loved this album. Thanks Randy!"
—J-Sin / SMOTHER.net

"Guitarist Randy Kaplan knows something about kids -- to the toddlers of Park Slope, Brooklyn, he's as recognizable as Elmo from his coffee house morning shows and pre-K gigs. But as his first record for children shows, he's also an excellent musician and songwriter. Kaplan combines refreshingly straightforward takes on traditional folk songs... It's territory familiar to Dan Zanes fans, but wittier, with less of the folk-music-is-good-for-you attitude. Then there are Kaplan's own compositions, like "Mosquito Song" and "Roaches", with menacing man-bug dialogues to make parents squirm and kids cackle."
—M.J. Wilson / WORDPRESS.com

"Five Cent Piece combines twangy pop covers and Kaplan's own endearing tunes in a 17-track set both four-year-olds and their parents can relate to. In Kaplan's hands, the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" becomes a lesson in kiddie compromise, and the popular ditty "Roaches" slips in references to Kafka's Metamorphosis... He doesn't dumb it down for the kids... He just expects them to come along for the ride. And they do."
—Irene Bradish / TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS

"I beg you, dear parents: This album is as vital a part of your child’s proper development as milk, sunshine and challenging established orthodoxies... a masterwork."
—Thurston Dooley III / THE BROOKLYN PAPER

credits

released October 30, 2006

Five Cent Piece Produced, Recorded, & Mixed by Mike West
at 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor; Lawrence, Kansas - June 2006

Personnel
Randy Kaplan: Guitar, Vocals
Mike West: Mandolin, Banjo, Resonator Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
Katie Euliss: Upright Bass, Percussion, Vocals
Colin Mahoney: Snare Drum
John Thompson: Accordion
Tom Johnson: Trombone
Bridget Law: Violin
Esther Sparks: “Freight Train” Vocals
Lydia Miller: “Dinosaur” Vocals
Choristers: Sadie Capps, Vega West, Lydia Miller, Una McKay, Phelan McKay, Cannzana StockWil, Addie Unekis, Arthur Mahoney, Elliot Mahoney, Ev Heironimus Bishop, Allie Martinez, Luca StockWil

Design, Layout, & Graphics by Tom Johnson for Brand2Labs
Insect & Animal Drawings by Randy Kaplan
Insect Craters by Michelle Fiordaliso

Photographs:
As Jefferson – Mary Schuster
At the Kids’ Counter - Ira Hodgkins
Peloncito – Karina Correa Romero

Thanks to Scott Bernstein; Michelle & Joseph Fiordaliso; Caryn, Sue, & all inhabitants of the Beansprouts & Special Sprouts worlds; Deirdre Jones & The Perch Cafe crowd; Susan Fox & the Park Slope Parents cyberscape; my Thursday morning clique; Mike & Katie – Truckstop Honeymoon; Ira Hodgkins – au pair extraordinaire; Richard Levine; Virginia Halfwolf; Lisa Miller; Gabriel Leigh; Graham Nugent; Mary Schuster; Karina Correa; Jody & the Wee Scotsman; my family & my friends

Special thanks to Judith & Marvin Milich, Nancy & Adam Rosenberg, Karin & Eric Greenberg, Jillian & Michael Schatzberg

“Over the Rainbow” is dedicated to Will Brennan and his family

Five Cent Piece ©2006 Yellow Thing Records & Books

1. Hello, It’s So Good to See Ya’ – based on “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Ya’” by Woody Guthrie – Folkways Music Publishers, Inc. (BMI)/additional lyrics by RK 2. I’m a Little Dinosaur – by Jonathan Richman - Modern Love Songs (ASCAP) 3. Grape Juice Hesitation Blues – based on “Hesitation Blues” – Traditional – Treeleigh Music (ASCAP)/additional lyrics by RK 4. Freight Train – by Elizabeth Cotton – Piccadilly Music Corp. (BMI)/additional lyrics by RK 5. Shampoo Me – by Randy Kaplan - Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) 6. You Are My Sunshine – by Jimmie Davis & Charles Mitchell - APRS (BMI) 7. Mosquito Song – by Randy Kaplan - Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) 8. Over the Rainbow – by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg - EMI Feist Catalog, Inc. (ASCAP) 9. Motorcycle Song – by Arlo Guthrie - Appleseed Music, Inc. (ASCAP)/additional lyrics by RK 10. We’re in the Same Boat, Brother – by Earl Robinson & E.Y. Harburg - Glocca Morra Music Corp. (ASCAP)/additional lyrics by RK 11. Roaches – by Randy Kaplan - Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) 12. Mostly Yellow (Big Bird’s Song) – by Randy Kaplan & Brian Schey - Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) 13. Donut Song – Traditional – Treeleigh Music (ASCAP)/additional lyrics by RK 14. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards - ABKCO Music, inc. (BMI)/additional lyrics by RK 15. Hey, Mike? (Kids Preamble) – by Randy Kaplan & Mike West - Treeleigh Music (ASCAP) 16. Kids – by Charles Strouse & Lee Adams - Strada Music Co. (ASCAP) 17. So Long, It’s Been Good to Know Ya’ – by Woody Guthrie - Folkways Music Publishers, Inc. (BMI)/additional lyrics by RK

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Randy Kaplan Detroit, Michigan

ADULTS: Nashville Blues & Roots Alliance calls Randy “a master of old-time, Delta-influenced guitar,” and the Smoky Mountain Blues Society says he’s “an absolute ace guitarist, picker, and ragtime player.”

KIDS: Randy's blend of American Roots Music and Comedic Storytelling has inspired the likes of NPR and PEOPLE magazine to name Randy one of the nation’s top family entertainers.
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