''You Are My Little Bird'' is an album by
Elizabeth Mitchell
Elizabeth Mitchell (born Elizabeth Joanna Robertson) is an American actress known for her lead role as Juliet Burke on the ABC drama mystery series ''Lost'' (2006–2010). Mitchell also had lead roles on the television series '' V'' (2009–2 ...
, released in 2006 by
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution. It is a part of the Smithsonian's Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, located at Capital Gallery in downtown Washington, D.C. The label was fou ...
. The album presents a collection of folk songs for children. In addition to versions of folk tunes, it features covers of a variety of songs by other artists, among them "
What Goes On" by
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. The original line-up consisted of singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. MacLise ...
, "Little Wing" by
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Fur ...
, and "
Three Little Birds" by
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
. On most of the songs, Mitchell is accompanied by family members.
[Ostergard, Maren (January 2007), "You Are My Little Bird". ''School Library Journal''. 53(1):72] The liner notes include personal stories from the artist, but no lyrics.
The song "Little Bird, Little Bird" was used in the ''
Futurama'' episode "
Lethal Inspection
"Lethal Inspection" is the sixth episode in the sixth season of the American animated television series '' Futurama'', and the 94th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on July 22, 2010. In th ...
". Her version of "Three Little Birds" appears in the first episode of the
HBO TV series ''
Watchmen
''Watchmen'' is an American comic book maxiseries by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. It was published monthly by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987 before being collected in a single-vo ...
''.
Track listing
#"
Little Liza Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane", "Liza Jane", and "Goodbye Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and blu ...
"
( Arr. Elizabeth Mitchell) — 2:24
#"Who's My Pretty Baby"
(Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...
) — 1:53
#"Zousan (Little Elephant)" — 1:38
#"Little Bird, Little Bird" — 2:28
#"
Three Little Birds"
(Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements o ...
) — 2:34
#"
What Goes On"
( Lou Reed) — 2:54
#"Pom Na Tu Ri (Springtime Outing)" — 1:20
#"Buckeye Jim"
(Arr. Elizabeth Mitchell) — 2:01
#"Peace Like a River" — 2:57
#"Los Pollitos (The Little Chicks)" — 1:50
#"Winter's Come and Gone"
(David Rawlings
David Todd Rawlings (born December 31, 1969) is an American guitarist, singer, and record producer. He is known for his partnership with singer and songwriter Gillian Welch. He and Welch were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Son ...
, Gillian Welch
Gillian Howard Welch (; born October 2, 1967) is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, bluegrass, coun ...
) — 1:59
#"Little Wing"
(Neil Young
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Fur ...
) — 2:38
#"Lily Pond"
(Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan (born Jennifer Vashti Bunyan, 1945) is an English singer-songwriter. Beginning her career in the mid-1960s, she released her debut album, ''Just Another Diamond Day'', in 1970. The album sold very few copies and Bunyan, discourage ...
) — 0:59
#"The North Wind" — 0:38
#"If You Listen"
(Micky Jones, Tommy Brown) — 3:11
#"
Down in the Valley" — 2:22
#"Grassy Grass Grass"
(Woody Guthrie) — 0:56
Critical reception
Warren Truit, in ''
School Library Journal
''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...
'', called the album "a superb and eclectic group of songs performed uniquely, yet flawlessly."
[Truitt, Warren (July 2007), "12 KIDS' ALBUMS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT". ''School Library Journal''. 53 (7):30-35]
Footnotes
2006 albums
Elizabeth Mitchell (musician) albums
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