Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween Digital Album

The Album

There are holiday albums for nearly every season, but Halloween records for children are rare. At long last, here is Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween! Johnette Downing stirs a brew of traditional and original slightly spooky, mostly silly Halloween songs for families. For over three decades, Downing has used these songs while teaching and performing early childhood music. The familiar “Five Little Pumpkins,” “Skin and Bones,” and “Dark Dark Night,” are paired with fan favorites such as her originals “Shake Your Skeleton,” “Little Bat Song,” and “Jumpin’ Jitters.” Joining vocalist, guitarist and ukulele player Johnette Downing on this spine-tingling and toe-bone-rattling album is a cast of monster musicians including harmonica player Scott Billington, violinist Gina Forsyth, accordionist Nathan Williams, guitarist Jake Eckert, keyboardist/organist C. R. Gruver, mandolin player E. J. Ouellette, bassist Lee Allen Zeno, and drummer Doug Belote. A student chorus from Whole Music School invites listeners to sing along.

The Songs

Shake Your Skeletons

Mean Old Witch

Little Bat Song

Skin and Bones

Five Little Pumpkins

Dry Bones

Scary Things

Goose Bumps

Hocus Pocus

Jack-O’-Lantern

Stirring My Brew

Where Is the Wicked Witch?

Dark Dark Night

Jumpin’ Jitters

JD12

© (P) 2022 Johnette Downing

Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP

P. O. Box 13367, New Orleans, LA 70185, USA

Administered by Concord Music Group

All Rights Reserved

The Team

All songs written, or adapted and arranged, by Johnette Downing

Co-produced by Johnette Downing and Scott Billington

Recorded by Steve Reynolds and Jake Eckert at the Rhythm Shack, New Orleans, Louisiana; Naylan Williams at Cha Cha Studios, Lafayette, Louisiana; and E. J. Ouellette at Whole Music Studios, Byfield, Massachusetts

Mixed by Steve Reynolds, Creede, Colorado

Mastered by Jeff Albert, New Orleans, Louisiana

Cut-paper collage cover art by Johnette Downing

Graphic design by Scott Billington and Johnette Downing

Partially funded by a generous grant from Threadhead Cultural Foundation.

The Musicians

Johnette Downing - vocals, guitar, ukulele, and percussion

Scott Billington – harmonica and backing vocals

C. R. Gruver – Wurlitzer piano and Hammond B3 organ

Gina Forsyth – violin

Nathan Williams – accordion

Jake Eckert – lead guitar

E. J. Ouellette – mandolin

Lee Allen Zeno – electric bass

Doug Belote – drums and percussion

Whole Music Student Chorus – Marissa O’Connor, John de Bernardo, Colin Porter, and Josie Porter.

2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Johnette Downing’s first album for children with then musical partner Richard “Dickie” Knickerbocker titled “New Moon, Tunes for Little Folks,” (1990). Recorded by George Izquerido at Zymondo Studios in Metairie, Louisiana on reel to reel analog (with plenty of chorus reverb that was popular at that time), this “country for kids” album was never released publicly. Only 100 cassettes were printed, most of which were given to friends and family as gifts.

In 2010, the album was digitized and remastered by David Farrell of Ultrasonic Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana for preservation, but still not commercially released. For the first time ever, we officially release this sweet little historical record of twelve original and traditional songs, with a country twang, for children. We hope you enjoy it.

2019 Parents’ Choice Silver Award winner

2019 National Parenting Product Award (NAPPA) winner

2019 Fids and Kamily Award winner

School Library Journal’s Top 10 Music of 2019

A Louisiana dance party for children filled with songs that evoke a joie de vivre, a zest for life, this recording offers a mélange of many of the Louisiana roots music styles we love, from the Cajun, zydeco, and swamp pop of South Louisiana; to the rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, brass band, and street music of New Orleans; to the rock’n’roll of North Louisiana; along with a small side trip to Mississippi. We asked our musician friends who represent the best in each genre to record with us. The result, we hope, is a record that will be enjoyed equally by children, parents, and educators, and maybe even music fans who simply enjoy a good Louisiana tune. From our food to our music to our diverse cultural heritage, we open our hearts, homes, and tables to friends, family, and visitors. So come on in and join the fun. Allons danser! Bailemos! Let’s dance!

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A Parents’ Choice Recommended Award, a Gold Family Review Center Award, and a Family Choice Award winner! From Bluegrass to Rock music, Reading Rocks! is a singing story time gone fun. Featuring songs, finger plays, poems, stories and readings from several of Johnette's beloved picture books, READING ROCKS! is sure to get children rolling into books and rocking into reading!

Tracks

1. Reading Rocks!

2. Open a Book Finger Play

3. Today is Monday in Kentucky

4. Why the Oyster Has the Pearl (book reading)

5. Oyster Limerick

6. R E A D

7. Story Time

8. The Colors of the Sky

9. Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud (book reading)

10. Reach Every Achievement Desired

11. There Once Was a Boy Named Cary

12. Read to Me

13. Principal’s Desk

14. Why the Possum Has a Large Grin (book reading)

15. Readers are Leaders

16. Today is Monday in New York

17. Do-do (Sleep) My Child

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Item #: JD10
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2012
CD: 17 Songs
UPC #: 885767373235

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Winner of “Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award

Spiders and slugs and roaches, oh my! The backyard is buzzing alive with a boogie-woogie jive. Play in the bug band and sing some creepy, crawly and catchy songs about insects. Join Johnette Downing as she sings her catchy songs on this Boogie Woogie Bugs CD!

Tracks

1. Ladybug

2. Bug Band

3. Bed Bugs

4. Itsy Bitsy Spider

5. Bugs on the Rug

6. Skip to My Lou

7. A Little Caterpillar

8. Backyard is Buzzin’ Alive

9. Arachnid

10. Ants in Your Pants

11. Sly Slug

12. Milli the Millipede

13. Flower Limerick

14. Love Bug

15. Cockroach

16. Mariposa

17. Head Thorax Abdomen

18. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Bugs

19. Twenty Bees

20. Five Little Butterflies

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Item #: JD09
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2010
CD: 20 Songs
UPC #: 687066702927

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Winner of a Parents’ Choice Approved Award!

Staying true to her Louisiana musical roots, Johnette collaborates with Jimmy LaRocca’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band to introduce children of all ages around the world to the joyful sounds of Dixieland Jazz; the music she heard growing up as a child in New Orleans. Nineteen original songs blend the upbeat, happy sounds of Dixieland Jazz with lyrics for children and their extended families. It is our hope that this authentic and innovative recording for children keeps the tradition alive with a new generation of Jazz lovers.

Tracks

1. Introduction

2. Dixieland Jazz

3. Got To Have That Swing

4. Do the Charleston

5. Rolling Down the River

6. Busy Beeline

7. I’ve Got Happy Feet

8. Swaying With the Trees

9. That Dixie Beat

10. Walking in the Sunshine

11. Make It a Happy Day

12. Alligator Snap

13. It’s Time for Mardi Gras

14. Lazy Sunday

15. Rocking Seahorse

16. New Orleans Strut

17. Dance and Sing

18. Throw Me Something Mister

19. Tiger Rag

20. Someday Your Dreams

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Item #: JD08
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2008
CD: 20 Songs
UPC #: 634479678257

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Winner of a Parents’ Choice Approved Award and an iParenting Media Award!

Dive into fun with songs from the sea. Learn about seahorses, stingrays, penguins, hermit crab, sharks and more. From the ocean to the bayou, we’ll have a whale of a good time.

Tracks

1. Rock Hopper Penguin

2. Amazon ABCs

3. Amphibians

4. Clamshell Clap

5. Circle of Life

6. L’ecrevisse

7. I Want to Be a Frog Today

8. A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea

9. Moving Along

10. Stingray Shuffle

11. Camouflage

12. Most Fish Swim

13. Seahorses

14. I Went to the Aquarium

15. Tooth Fairy

16. Turtles

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Item #: JD07
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2006
CD: 16 Songs
UPC #: 634479346392

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Received a rave review from the Grammy Foundation’s ChildWatch, and winner of a Parents' Choice Award, NAPPA Honors Award, 2005 iParenting Media Award, 2005 Family Choice Award and 2005 Family Review Center Award. Celebrate childhood by spending a day in the life of a child.

Tracks

1. Music Time

2. Shaky Tooth

3. Honey Jar

4. Getting Dressed

5. Riding My Bike

6. Body Parts

7. Rhythm Band

8. Tick Tock Rock

9. Fish Dance

10. Wonderful Friends

11. Make It Rain

12. Tennis Shoe

13. Peanut Butter Sandwiches

14. Chugg-A-Lugg-A-Choo-Choo

15. Hurray!

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Winner of a National Parenting Publications Award, a Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award, and an iParenting Media Award.

Grab a scarf, turn on Johnette Downing’s The Second Line, and join the parade as we celebrate in a New Orleans’ style Second Line with jazzy scarf activity songs and games. This one of a kind scarf activity recording includes instructional lyrics making it perfect for home (birthday and pajama parties) and school (P.E., music, and dance classes as well as school assemblies).

“In New Orleans, the “second line” refers to the crowd that marches joyfully behind the band during celebrations, often waving scarves or handkerchiefs. The simple lyrics suggest things children can do with scarves.”
— Paul Shackman, American Library Association Booklist

Tracks

1. Introduction

2. The Second Line

3. Shake Your Scarves

4. Scarves Up and Down and Around

5. Water, Wind and World

6. The Sacroiliac

7. Thread the Needle

8. Scarves on Your Laps

9. Flitter Flutter

10. Crazy Eights

11. Wow!

12. Rhythm in the Scarves

13. Circus Parade

14. The Second Line Reprise

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Item #: JD06
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2003
CD: 14 Songs
UPC #: 687066577921

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A 2000 Parents’ Choice Award and a 2000 Parents’ Guide Award winner.

This animal songs album for children will monkey around in musical fun.

“Distinctive country-flavored vocals and gentle educational touch are Downing’s trademark and here her Louisiana rhythms and creative lyrics give effervescent life to one of the staples of children’s music – animals.”
— Lynne Heffley, The Los Angeles Times

Tracks

1. Dark In The Jungle

2. Leap Frog Croaky

3. Ants In Your Pants

4. I’ve Got The Blues

5. Let’s Go Bananas, Two

6. Give Me That Zydeco

7. Music Of The Sea

8. Going To Tijuana With An Iguana

9. On The Farm

10. Zebras

11. Book Worm

12. Monkey See, Monkey Do

13. The Herds of Africa

14. Wild and Woolly

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Item #: JD04
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2000
CD: 14 Songs
UPC #: 687066 000429

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Winner of a Recommended Parents’ Choice Award and a National Parenting Publications Award.

“To Downing, songs are the toll booths into the world of play, the most important destination for any kid. Silly Sing Along is solidly in the tradition of pioneering kid’s musician Ella Jenkins. For Downing and for Jenkins, music is participation.”
— Michael Tisserand, Gambit Weekly

Tracks

1. Pajama Party

2. Do Your Ears Hang Low?

3. Bumped My Toe

4. The Elephant Song

5. Mish Mash

6. Lady With The Alligator Purse

7. Mama Don’t Allow

8. Silly, Silly, Silly Song

9. My Dog

10. Five Little Monkeys

11. Grandpa’s Beard

12. Five Little Possums

13. Anna Banana

14. Bubble Gum

15. Wiggle Worms

Item #: JD05
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2001
CD: 15 Songs
UPC #: 687066589825

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Winner of a Silver Honors Parents’ Choice Award.

This album is a spicy musical gumbo of Louisiana songs for children.

“The yummy ingredients in this rich musical gumbo include the spicy Louisiana lilt in Johnette Downing’s voice, and irresistible Cajun and Creole rhythms in playfully evocative songs about gators, skeeters, crawfish and the Cajun werewolf the Loup Garou.”
— Lynne Heffley, The Los Angeles Times

The song for Johnette’s book Today is Monday in Louisiana is on this CD!

Tracks

1. Feliciana LeRoux
2. Bon Jour, Mes Amis
3. Playin’ ‘Possum
4. Today Is Monday In Louisiana
5. Strolling Along
6. Mosquitoes
7. Kitchen Band
8. Gumbo Pot
9. Mary Mack
10. Michi Banjo
11. Armadillo
12. Messy Room Blues
13. Crawfish Song
14. Loup Garou

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Item #: JD03
Genre: Kids/Family: General Children’s Music
Release Date: 2000
CD: 14 Songs
UPC #: 687066000320

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