About this Record
Hailing from Chicago, The Coctails were pioneers of the early 1990s cocktail lounge and retro-pop indie revival, blending jaunty jazz arrangements, quirky pop sensibilities, and DIY garage ethos. Released in 1991 on their own imprint, Hi-Ball Records, Songs for Children (subtitled The Coctails Sing and Play Songs for Children) is a charming 7-inch Extended Play running at 33 ⅓ RPM.
Featuring playful, mid-century-inspired cover art and mock-serious liner notes penned by fictitious or cheeky commentators, this release showcases the band’s penchant for whimsical melodies, nursery rhymes, and acoustic chamber instrumentation (including accordion, xylophone, toy piano, and upright bass). Recorded in September 1991 at Hi-Ball Studios and engineered by Jeff Johnson, this EP remains a prized, nostalgic indie pop artifact for collectors of 90s underground Chicago musical lore.
Tracklist & Notes
- Side 1:
- Ferris Wheel Song
- Bold Rat
- Frere Jacques
- Side 2:
- The Original Cake Walk
- Road Hog
- Old Gray Mare
Audio: 33 ⅓ RPM Extended Play (EPR-4184). Recorded September 1991 at Hi-Ball Studios. Sleeve printed in Canada.
「おさるのジョージにでてきそう。」
(Wife’s thought: The playful artwork and acoustic toy-town sounds feel like something straight out of Curious George.)
