Maria Muldaur - Swingin' In The Rain (1998)

When your brood's in a mood, tell 'em (as Duke Ellington surely would've) it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. Maria Muldaur's Swingin' in the Rain is just the ticket to perk things up and get those kiddos shuffling off to Buffalo rather than to the time-out corner! With a generous helping of horns, along with guitar, bass, and keyboards, Muldaur puts her sweet and lively spin on swing with revamped renditions of yesteryear's pop. "Aba Daba Honeymoon" is a zingy little number sure to get the gang singing along between giggles and "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" is pleasantly sassy. "Animal Fair" is a welcome inclusion sandwiched by the nonsensical "Mairzy Doats" and "A Bushel and a Peck," a tune for tuning up the old shuffle-ball-change and waltz-clock combinations. --Paige La Grone