Who Remembers Free To Be You And Me

Again I’ll refer to the Wikipedia entry and a few excerpts. Oy, I feel old.

Free to Be… You and Me is a record album and illustrated songbook for children, first released in November 1972, and later in 1974 as a television special, featuring songs and stories from celebrities (credited as “Marlo Thomas and Friends”). Using poetry, songs, and sketches, the basic concept was to salute values such as individuality, tolerance, and happiness with one’s identity; a major thematic message is that you, whether a boy or a girl, can achieve anything you want. The album has become a cult classic amongst many children raised in the 1970s.

The original idea to create the album came from Thomas; she wanted to teach her then-young niece Dionne about life. A well-received sequel, Free to Be . . . A Family, was produced in 1987.

The album has been published by Arista Records since 1983 (it was first published by Bell Records), and is still in print today.

Track listing

• “Free To Be… You And Me” – Music by Stephen Lawrence, Lyrics by Bruce Hart, Performed by The New Seekers

• “Boy Meets Girl” – Written by Carl Reiner and Peter Stone, Performed by Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas

• “When We Grow Up” – Music by Stephen Lawrence, Lyrics by Shelley Miller, Performed by Diana Ross

• “Don’t Dress Your Cat In An Apron” – Performed by Billy De Wolfe

• “Parents Are People” – Music and Lyrics by Carol Hall, Performed by Harry Belafonte and Marlo Thomas

• “Housework” – Performed by Carol Channing

• “Helping” – Written by Shel Silverstein, Performed by Tom Smothers

• “Ladies First” – Performed by Marlo Thomas

• “Dudley Pippin And The Principal” – Performed by Billy De Wolfe, Bobby Morse, and Marlo Thomas

• “It’s All Right To Cry” – Music and Lyrics by Carol Hall, Performed by Rosey Grier

• “Sister And Brothers” – Music by Stephen Lawrence, Lyrics by Bruce Hart, Performed by Sisters and Brothers

• “My Dog Is A Plumber” – Performed by Dick Cavett

• “William’s Doll” – Music by Mary Rodgers, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Performed by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas

• “Atalanta” – Performed by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas

• “Grandma” – Performed by Diana Sands

• “Girl Land” – Music by Mary Rodgers, Lyrics by Bruce Hart, Performed by Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones

• “Dudley Pippin And His No-Friend” – Performed by Bobby Morse and Marlo Thomas

• “Glad To Have A Friend Like You” – Music and Lyrics by Carol Hall, Performed by Marlo Thomas

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