John Cech

I’m From Barcelona is one of those bands that just happened one day, and grew, adding toy pianos, kazoos, glockenspiels, a harp, drums, and a chorus of a dozen or so voices as it went. Its songs are often about the simple but personal things of childhood — like having a stamp collection.

That’s the Japanese singer, Rikki, with part of a traditional lullabye, “Amami No Kmori Uta,” often sung to baby boys on the island of Amami in southern Japan.

That’s the famous Heritage Hall Jazz Band with their version of the classic Christmas song, “Silver Bells,” on a new recording from Putamayo called New Orleans Christmas.

That’s the New Orleans group, The Meters, with “They All Asked For You.” It’s their funky tribute to the city’s famous Audubon Zoo, and you can find it on a new CD from Putamayo Kids called New Orleans Playground.

Imagine having this on the CD player in the car, as you’re chasing around from store to store with the kids, on the busiest shopping day of the year, when we’re all obliged to be out and doing.