Mathematics is a particularly sensitive educational area in the United States (and, for that matter, the world in the digital age). This set is tremendously simplistic but appropriately so, rooting through numerical issues but also introducing the gist of so many “story problems” that kids have encountered since at least the 1970s. The music has a distinctly ’70s feel, sounding a touch like Paul Simon backed by some more-staid offshoot of the Staple Singers. “Ready or Not, Here I Come” is a rambling blast, shuffling quickly and soulfully and showing the depth of jazz vocal veteran Bob Dorough’s command of language and rhythm. Things are spry–maybe a bit too much–but single-digit kids (mostly the 4-and-over range) will catch the snappy groove easily and ask for more. –Andrew Bartlett

5 Responses to “Schoolhouse Rock: Multiplication Rock”

1. K. Sund says:

   August 27, 2007 at 12:00 am

   I remember when these were first reissued, at least the videos…. My friend (7 or 8 year younger than I am – he hadn’t really sen them) and I were in a huge media superstore, and they were playing them on the monitor. I was watching “Figure Eight” and my friend, finished with his shopping, came up to me and said “Why are you crying?”
   
   I hadn’t noticed that I was, but there was something very wonderful about seeing it again, always thinking it was a forgotten footnote of my childhood. It’s wonderful to know that I’m not alone and that these are still pertinent enough to still be teaching kids something all these years later. I don’t know if it’s the chords or the little daydreaming girl, but “Figure Eight” still moves me to tears every time I see or hear it now. It’s nice to know we don’t have to let everything go as we grow older. We’re so lucky to have recorded media as part of our culture. So much of it is awful, but there are priceless gems mixed in. Schoolhouse Rock is one of them.
2. school lady says:

   March 11, 2007 at 12:00 am

   I LOVE THIS CD. However, this is completely ridiculous that there is such a market for this cd and they won’t release it again. FIGHT BACK! Refuse to pay this. I’ll tell you how to make your own–I bought the DVD set and there are programs on the internet that enable you to get the music off of DVDs. It was easy. DO IT YOURSELF!
3. Anonymous says:

   January 27, 2006 at 12:00 am

   i grew up watching schoolhouse rock reruns on abc. i will never forget how much i enjoyed them. i love the songs and they are so catchy that kids don’t even realize they’re learning. i highly recommend this cd for children in 1st to 5th grade. this cd has my favorite schoolhouse rock song of all times LITTLE TWELVETOES witch is why i purchased it in the first place. i am totaly satisfied with it. i hope you will love it as much as i do[...]
4. Anonymous says:

   June 16, 2004 at 12:00 am

   i love this stuff, and my kids do too. genuinely good songs played and sung well. one nitpick: why is ‘my hero zero’ in the middle, instead of at the top? don’t make no sense in the middle.

   but who cares? buy this cd.
5. Jonathan Kindred III says:

   April 25, 2003 at 12:00 am

   The math disc is very useful for children’s education.
   Also, I just found exactly what I was looking for – a disc called *Scripture* Rock.
   The spiritual learning with the general skills is a powerful combination.