Song Safari In Africa
BOX SET
A collection of 75 Original songs from folklore to conservation of animals, birds, and the ecology. – Take a trip into the heart and bush of Africa and sing-a-long! A fantastic gift to bring back memories or even make new ones!
In this box set you will find:
WILD AND BEAUTIFUL AND FREE
Wild and Beautiful and Free is a spectacular album produced by John and co-produced by Zane Cronje and the now world famous TREVOR RABIN! With 16 beautiful original tracks backed by real full orchestra including violins flutes oboes etc. It includes classics like Jock of the Bushveld Did you ever see a Kudu cry Save the Mountain Zebra Chipimbiri and Nomad of the Kalahari Big Boy Blue and Love for life
Great listening with an eco message. This is probably John's most elaborate musical adventure ever and a must have for your music collection!
1. Jock Of The Bushveld
2. Chipimbiri
3. Ehlathini
4. Sparrow My Universal Friend
5. Wild And Beautiful And Free
6. Big Boy Blue
7. Nomad Of The Kalahari
8. Hapoor
9. Noah The Phantom Ranger
10. Chayira
11. Did You Ever See A Kudu Cry?
12. Save The Mountain Zebra
13. Chief Seattle
14. Coal Mine In Paradise
15. Love For Life
16. Sitting In The Bundu
SONGS OF THE AFRICAN BUSH
This CD has 24 songs extracted from tlaes of The Game Ranger Series. All songs based on African Folklore with a campfire feel.
1. Story In The Sand
2. Poor Little Unkolwane
3. Flick Of The Hippo's Tail
4. Ngulube Made The Wallow
5. The Spell Of Impisi
6. Ixoxo Crowned The King Of The Beasts
7. Where Do The Elephants Go?
8. Hadeda And Umpangwa
9. Inja The Dog
10. Old Thekwane
11. Klokwe And Kalulu
12. Chingwe's Hole
13. Tree Without A Name
14. Never Monkey Around With A Giraffe
15. The Wild Wild Melon
16. Zonke Tina
17. The Wise Old Eagle Owl
18. Oowe The Hyena
19. How Did The Leopard Get His Spots
20. The Croc Needs A Doc
21. The Jackal And The Eland
22. The Hare And The Duiker
23. The Mahobbahobba Tree
24. Balisa And The Bees
SINGIN' WITH THE BIRDS
This album is a collection of the songs only - from the 4 albums “Tales of the Bird Watchers” series, which comprises of 24 stories followed by songs. The stories with bush background sounds and bird calls describe a bird, its appearance, habits, habitat, history and a fable for the young set.
This song compilation makes for easy listening and having the whole collection of songs, which are hopefully both entertaining and informative, all on one album.
When I was at school I found that learning was made easier by little rhymes and songs like “Thirty days hath September”… As a pilot I found the easiest way to remember take off, landing and emergency checks were by acronyms and rhymes. (Even wrote a song called Checklist Blues for fellow aviators). Sailors and Boy Scouts have rhymes for tying knots (Leftover right and under….. and repairmen have rhymes when working with nuts and bolts “Leftie loosie, rightie tightie…”)
As an entertainer having performed for children interested in wildlife, at bird clubs, historians’ associations and at International Game Ranger Conferences, I found the best way to put my story across was to say it then sing it!
When my children and grandchildren became interested in wildlife, I found the easiest way for them to learn about birds was to start by getting them to listen to their calls. Again it was easier for them to learn by my writing songs about them incorporating the tempo, rhythm and melody of their calls as well as their characteristics, habits, habitats and appearance. I also would add an amusing story which would really hold their attention. Not only did I sometimes touch on historical facts of how birds got their names but also sneaked in mythical stories and underlying messages like “Never cry wolf” (Black Collard Barbet). “Life is beautiful (Black-crowned Tchagra). “Check your bike tyres” (Black-backed Puffback). “Watch where you walk” (Secretary Bird). “Don’t lose hope” (Emerald Spotted Wood Dove). “Healthy lifestyle” (Chinspot Batis).
I also reminded them that birds are also indicators of the weather (Red Chested, Le Vaillant's and Jacobin Cuckoos), danger (Grey Go away Bird) and where beehives are (Greater Honeyguide).
Birding boffins know much but children and beginners both young and old have enjoyed and learnt from my songs on CD and at “live” performances.
As Mark Twain once said, “If you want to be happy make someone else happy!” If my songs make you happy… I have succeeded.
Yours in Birding.
1. Jacobin and Le Vaillant's
2. Fish Eagle
3. Green-Wood Hoopoe
4. Crested Barbet
5. Emerald - Spotted Wood Dove
6. Verreaux's Giant Eagle Owl
7. Red-Chested Cuckoo
8. Bru Bru Skrike
9. Woodland and Brown-hooded Kingfishers
10. Chinspot Batis
11. Secretary Bird
12. Spotted Thick Knee
13. Diederik Cuckoo
14. Yellow-Fronted Tinker Bird
15. Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike
16. Grey Go-Away Bird
17. Black-crowned Tchagra
18. Pearl-spotted Owlet
19. Klass' Cuckoo
20. The Greater Honeyguide
SONGS OF KRUGER PARK
1. The old Voortrekker Road
2. Uncle Paul
3. James Stevenson Hamilton
4. Paradise names on the Breeze
5. Crook's Corner
6. Jock of the Bushveld
7. Harry with the Lion Heart
8. Ingwe-Beautiful Loner
9. The Nile Crocodile's Lament
10. Big Five Little Five
11. Love is a Walk in the Park
