This and forthcoming pages are here to provide some sort of list for classic and vintage children’s records. It is aimed at listing records that were played for children through to 1970 on British radio. Therefore it doesn’t expressly seek to include scouting records (althought we might touch on “Ging, Gang, Gooley”), TV themes, nursery rhymes, pop records, Disney records, and more traditional records. However, I couldn’t leave out “Yellow Submarine” or “Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party”. Owing to my problems with the PRS/MCPS, I do not include sound bytes – nevertheless I do try to help with providing the source for such records.
“The Sun has got his hat on”
– Sam Brown
– Val Rosing & Chorus – vocals
This is a favourite that works very well with children. However, the older versions would be viewed as being very politically incorrect. From “Me and my girl” – “He’s being roasting peanuts out in Timbuktu”. Jonathan King is near to the original, “He’s been tanning negroes out in Timbuktu”. The others are worse.Ambrose – English Country Garden
Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a Bear
If you look back to my main Children’s record page you will see the 45 RPM version of Fuzzy Wuzzy that I had as a child – by The Sandpipers with orchestra conducted by Mitch Miller.I managed to buy the 78 RPM 6″ disk (pictured right) from the USA via ebay. It’s rather scratchy – by Betty Clooney and Mitch Miller. Sings: “Fuzzy Wuzzy lost his crop in the North Pole Barbershop”.
The rather more jazzy version by Rosemary Clooney is featured below. Sings: “Fuzzy Wuzzy lost his hair in the Noth Pole barber’s chair.
Rosemary Clooney Records
One of Rosemary’s legacies from her years with Colombia was her library of recordings for children.
The 7 CD Clooney boxset includes two CDs exclusively devoted to childrens records.
It availalbe from Amazon , but is rather overpriced. I got it for about £60 from Audiostreet.
Disk 5
1. I Found My Mamma
2. Me And My Teddy Bear
3. Little Johnny Chickadee
4. Peterkin Pillowby
5. Who’ll Tie The Bell (On The Old Cat’s Tail)
6. Little Sally One Show
7. Punky Punkin (The Happy Pumpkin)
8. The Wobblin’ Goblin
9. Fuzzy Wuzzy (Wuz A Bear)
10. My Choc’late Rabbit
11. The Land Of Hatchy Milatchy
12. The Syncopated Clock
13. Songs From Alice In Wonderland, 1 (Alice In Wonderland/The Unbirthday Song)
14. Songs From Alice In Wonderland, 2 (All In A Golden Afternoon/I’m Late)
15. Dandy, Handy And Candy
16. Willie, The Whistling Giraffe
17. Eggbert, The Easter Egg
18. Bunny On The Rainbow
19. On The Good Ship Lollipop
20. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Part 1
21. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Part 2
22. Little Red Riding Hood
23. Goldilocks And The Three Bears
24. Little Josey
Disk 6
1. Dennis The Menace
2. All The Pretty Little Horses
3. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic
4. Little Red Monkey
5. Little Tink-A-Toy Man
6. Little Joe Worm (Son Of Glow Worm)
7. The Kitty Kats’ Party
8. (Tin-A-Ling-Ling) Here Comes The Ice Cream Man
9. Betsy, My Paper Doll
10. Shoo, Turkey, Shoo
11. Peachy Peachy
12. Shaun, Shaun, The Leprechaun
13. The Little Shoemaker
14. Peter Cottontail
15. Easter Parade
16. The Key To My heart
17. Mommy, Can I Keep The Kitten?
18. Suzy Snowflake
19. Little Red Riding Hood’s Christmas Tree
20. (Let’s Give) A Christmas Present To Santa Claus
21. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
22. He’ll Be Comin’ Down The Chimney
23. The Night Before Christmas Song
24. Look Out the Window (The Winger Song)
25. Winter Wonderland
26. Happy Christmas, Little Friend
27. Snow
28. White Christmas
29. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
“Three wheels on my waggon”
When a gentleman sent me an e-mail suggesting that I should add “Three wheels on my wagon” to my site, I wasn’t sure who sang it.First off suggestion was Dick Van Dyke (who did indeed sing it), but I think that the version with which we are familiar is by the New Chrisy Minstrels.
I have ordered my copy from but I also downloaded a preview from Napster.
You will love this one and so will your children.
Champion The Wonder Horse
is sung by Frankie Laine. It was well know because of the 1950s and 60s television programmes. Opposite is a copy of an annual (1958, I think).Listen to the theme at Whirligig: The exploits of Champion, a wild stallion who befriends twelve year-old Ricky North (Barry Curtis) in the American Southwest in the 1880’s. Although Ricky, who lived on his Uncle Sandy’s (Jim Bannon) ranch, had a magnetic attraction for trouble, he was always rescued by the wonder horse, aided by the boy’s other bosom companion, German shephed dog, Rebel.
“Wedding of the painted doll”
It’s a jolly day, the news is spreading all around the hall.
Red Riding Hood and Buster Brown,
The Jumping Jack jumped into town…
Wow, I had no idea children’s records had such a rich history! Thanks for sharing. 😊
Can you provide more information on “Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a Bear”? I remember this from my childhood!
Why are there no sound bytes included? It’d be great to hear some of these classics.
The nostalgia is real with this article! Love it! 💖
Is there a reason why TV themes and nursery rhymes aren’t included on this list?
Some of the older lyrics are quite shocking by today’s standards. Interesting to see how times have changed!
Yellow Submarine” and “Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party” are must-haves! Great choices.