Joanie Leeds "Bandwagon" Album Review!

My children's favorite song is "I Don't Want to Go to Bed!" They sang along with it because the lyrics are easy and so much fun to them. The song "Jump on the Bandwagon" had both kids jumping and dancing and singing along and begging for more! I really love music that they like because it's nice to listen to while in the truck while running errands and taking my children to and from school. They actually behave well in the truck if we listen to music that they like and can sing along to.

My three and a half year old daughter Chloe is standing on the end table, not something she should be doing, I know, but she's bopping and dancing to "I Love New York!" So cute!

I copied and pasted the press release below for you to check out! Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights are so awesome! I can't wait to learn the lyrics to their music and sing along in the truck with my children.

JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON
with
JOANIE LEEDS & THE NIGHTLIGHTS

WITH JUSTIN LANSING (OF THE OKEE DOKEE BROTHERS), JONATHA BROOKE, DEAN JONES & RACHEL LOSHAK


"From funk and blues to country and pop, with even a little hip hop thrown in, this album has a style for everyone ... the band is high caliber, and the raw energy of the songs jumps off the speakers."
NAPPA Gold Award review of Joanie Leeds' What a Zoo!

"Leeds has one of those big, beautiful rock 'n roll sopranos that can go full-out or soft and tender, and she uses it to full effect.  Her tuneful melodies and rich, funny and thoughtful child-respecting lyrics give depth and irresistible zip to songs."
Parents' Choice Gold Award review of Joanie Leeds' I'm a Rock Star.

NEW YORK -- With legions of devoted fans throughout the country and Parents' Choice Gold and NAPPA Gold Awards in her hip pocket, independent children's musician Joanie Leeds looks ahead with pride and excitement to the June 25 release of her fifth kids' CD, Bandwagon  ($15.00, for ages 2 - 9, run time 42 minutes).

Joining Joanie Leeds and her band, The Nightlights, on Bandwagon are Justin Lansing (of the GRAMMY winning The Okee Dokee Brothers), GRAMMY winning producer Dean Jones, folk superstar Jonatha Brooke, and acclaimed singer/songwriter Rachel Loshak of the Gustafer Yellowgold family.

Gifted with a soulful, "rock solid" voice and an instinctive knack for capturing the essence of any style she goes for, Joanie Leeds has delivered, with each new release, music that thrills admiring adults yet speaks to kids in a friendly, non-patronizing way.  Says Sirius/XM's Kids Place Live Program Director Mindy Thomas, "Joanie Leeds is that cool babysitter who would let you try on her lip gloss once your mom left the house.  You idolized her, and your mom knew she could trust her.  That's Joanie.  Only she's also likely to completely ROCK THE ROOF OFF YOUR HOUSE!"

Produced by GRAMMY winner Dean Jones, Bandwagon showcases Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights at the very top of their game.  The album kicks off in a bluesy groove with a family road trip anthem, "Are We There Yet," and then picks up speed with the fast country-rock "Back to School."  Bandwagon's title track, a family front porch jam in a  happy, two-beat style, is graced by contributions from guest artists Justin Lansing, Dean Jones, and Rachel Loshak.  Other highlights include "UFO," an out-of-this world story-song powered by driving bass and drums; Jonatha Brooke's and Joanie Leeds' beautiful vocals on "Family Tree"; and perhaps the most deliciously funky offering on Bandwagon, "Nutritious," an ode to healthy eating that serves up some of Joanie's original lyrics to the Stevie Wonder classic, "Superstition."

Reflecting on the making of Bandwagon, Joanie Leeds enthuses, "One of the coolest things that happened was being allowed to use Stevie Wonder's song, 'Superstition.' In order to re-write lyrics to a song, you need to gain permission from the publishing company or the artist himself.  Stevie Wonder's record label sent him my lyrics, and he gave the OK!   I was also thrilled to be able to work with one of my idols, Jonatha Brooke.  I reached out to Jonatha to record 'Family Tree,' not expecting a reply, but she wrote back saying that she'd love to hear the song, and we were soon in the studio together.  Aside from my recent wedding, it was one of the best moments of my life!"

People Magazine singled out Joanie Leeds' 2011 NAPPA Gold Award-winning What a Zoo! for praise, writing, "Animal-crazed kids will dig these new tunes."  AOL Kids lauded the album as one of the year's best.  Declared Parents Magazine, "This indie rock CD is fun from start to finish."  "Happy as a Clam," from What a Zoo! was a 2012 International Songwriting Competition winner.  The Washington Post named Joanie Leeds' 2010 release, I'm a Rock Star, as one of the best kids' CDs of the year.  In addition to winning a Parents' Choice Gold Award, the album was honored with a NAPPA Award, its title track was a finalist in both the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the USA Songwriting Competition, and the song "More Cowbell" won an Independent Music Award for Best Children's Song and reached #1 on WXPN's Kids Corner.

Previous to What a Zoo! and I'm a Rock Star, Joanie Leeds released a children's holiday CD, Challah, Challah (2009), a Parents' Choice Recommended children's album, City Kid! (2008), and two albums for adult listeners: Soul From My Footsteps ( 2004) and My Job Application Knows More About Me Than You Do (2000).  Joanie's City Kid Live! DVD, released in 2010, won three Telly Awards.

Bandwagon will be available online at joanieleeds.com, amazon.com, cdbaby.com, iTunes, and at specialty toy and bookstores across the country.

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JOANIE LEEDS & THE NIGHTLIGHTS IN PERFORMANCE
Highlights - Spring/Summer 2013

April 14 -   92YTribeca - New York, NY
April 21 -   Israel@65 - Palm Beach, FL
May 11 -    P.S. 191 Public School Carnival - New York, NY
June 19 -  JCC Manhattan CD RELEASE SHOW! - New York, NY
July 13 -   Jammin' Java - Vienna, VA
August 8 - Summer on the Hudson Concert Series - New York, NY

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For more information about Joanie Leeds, to schedule an interview, or to request a review copy of Bandwagon please contact Elizabeth Waldman Frazier at Waldmania PR: 415-334-2787 or elizabeth@waldmaniapr.com

Check out Joanie's website at http://joanieleeds.com.

Joanie Leeds on Facebook: http://facebook.com/pages/Joanie-Leeds-The-Nighlights/169340443114091.