‘Back In The Neighborhood: The Best Of Mister Rogers Volume 2′ Is Another Fitting Tribute To Fred Rogers’ Legacy

Posted on April 6, 2023 by philspicks

Courtesy: Omnivore Recordings/Fred Rogers Productions

Fred Rogers is one of the most important figures in the modern history of American television and music. His series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and the music featured in the show have impacted generations of audiences with their positive messages. They have been and continue to be so crucial to the development of children across America if not the world. Thanks to various releases on DVD and CD, the impact of his program and its music has continued to be felt even now in the 21^st Century. The legacy and impact of Rogers’ work will continue once more Friday with the release of the new compilation record, Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2. The 20-song compilation will be released through a partnership between Fred Rogers Productions and Omnivore Recordings and is another welcome presentation of songs from the timeless television series. That is due in no small part to its featured songs, which will be examined shortly. The liner notes that are presented with the record add to the appeal established by the songs. They will be examined a little later. The songs’ production rounds out the record’s most important elements and puts the finishing touch to the presentation. It will also be examined later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the presentation that is Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2. All things considered they make the compilation another welcome presentation for every family’s music library.

Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2, the new collection of music from PBS’ timeless series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, is an enjoyable new musical presentation from Omnivore Recordings and Fred Rogers Productions. The companion to the Grammy® award-winning 2020 compilation, Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mr. Rogers, its success is due in no small part to its featured songs. As with that recording and unlike many other collections of music from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, this is not just another collection of covers performed by a bunch of celebrities. It is the actual songs that were sung by Fred Rogers himself in his own inimitable fashion. Of its 20 total songs, only four are previously unreleased and only one was carried over from this record’s predecessor/companion collection. Now on the surface, carrying over so much music would seem a problematic issue. However in this case, it is actually a very good thing. That is because in all, the songs carried over to this set were pulled from a total of six other collections of music from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, all of which were released through Ominvore Recordings. Knowing the music was pulled from so many separate records and assembled together in this presentation means that regardless of whether audiences already own those collections, this presentation (and its predecessor/companion) audiences will be able to have the best of both worlds (or in this case many worlds) all in a couple of records. Those who do not already have the other records from which this set’s music was pulled now largely need not worry about buying them thanks to the amount of their content featured here. So again, this is a very rare case in which carrying over so much content from previous sources is actually a positive practice. It forms a strong foundation for the presentation in this case.

Building on the presentation formed by that content is the liner notes’ content. Crafted by writer and former Newsday TV critic Diane Werts, the liner notes paint a rich picture of Fred Rogers’ impact on America. Werts writes of Rogers’ legacy, “At the very moment TV was getting faster and louder, Rogers appeared: calmer and quieter…He emphasized the slow and steady, the familiar and routine. His sweater and sneakers. His tranquil attitude and serene way of speaking. His (only seemingly) simple songs. His open-hearted empathy.” She went on to note, “His intent was to reassure kids feeling overwhelmed by their burgeoning emotions.” Rogers clearly succeeded in that intent, too, as has continued to be shown to this day. The comments Werts shares here and so many others she included in her notes paint such a vivid picture of who Fred Rogers was and the reach of his positive influence. Her writing sets such a wonderful foundation for the compilation and will certainly add even more enjoyment to this presentation regardless of listeners’ ages.

The emotional impact of Werts’ liner notes is just one more aspect of this set that makes it so endearing. The record’s production rounds out its most important items and brings everything full circle. From beginning to end, the sound in each song is crystal clear, like it had been lifted right from the TV show. Of course this goes back to the fact that the majority of the record’s songs were themselves pulled from other previously released compilations. That means odds are the music probably was pulled from the show’s master recordings. If in fact that was the case, then it is just as much of a tribute to those responsible for handling the show’s production even when it was on television. The sound is rich and so easy on the ears even for those who might not otherwise by fans of cool jazz. The general effect that results from the positive production here finalizes the presentation and in turn makes for all the more reason for audiences to take in the collection. When it is considered along with the positives of the songs themselves and the liner notes that flesh out the packaging, the whole makes Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2 another wonderful presentation that every family will welcome in their music library.

Omnivore Recordings and Fred Rogers Productions’ new compilation record, Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2, is a welcome addition to this year’s field of new family music releases. Its appeal comes in part through its featured songs. The songs are largely carry-overs from previous collections of music from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. There is no denying that. The thing is that considering how many records the songs were pulled from, and that only one of the songs featured here was carried over from this specific set’s predecessor/companion, the collection is actually positive. That is because of how hard it might be to find those other records. Additionally, it also means less space will be taken up on shelves in families’ homes. The liner notes that are presented in this latest compilation are so heartfelt and genuine in outlining the impact of Fred Rogers, his show and its music. They build on the strong foundation formed by the songs to make the record all the more appealing. The record’s production creates an undeniably positive general effect that rounds out the set’s most important elements. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the recording. All things considered they make Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2 a welcome presentation to every family’s music library.

Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2 is scheduled for release Friday through Omnivore Recordings and Fred Rogers Productions. More information on this and other titles from Ominvore Recordings is available at:

Website: https://omnivorerecordings.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omnivorerecordings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmnivoreRecords

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Release Date Set For New ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Music Compilation

Posted on February 19, 2023 by philspicks

Fans of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and its wonderful musical content will get another collection of that music this spring.

Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mr. Rogers – Volume 2 is scheduled for release April 7 through Omnivore Recordings. The forthcoming compilation is the companion to the 2020 Grammy Award-winning compilation, It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mr. Rogers.

The 20-song record will feature the single, ‘What Would You Like To Do Today?,’ which was previously only available on the vinyl pressing of It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mr. Rogers. Also featured in this collection are songs, such as ‘Good People Sometimes Do Bad Things,’ ‘Sometimes Isn’t Always,’ and ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’

The record’s track listing is noted below.

Tracklist:

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

2. This Is Just The Day

3. What Would You Like To Do Today

4. We Are Elephants

5. Perfectly Beautiful Day

6. It’s A Lonely Kind Of Thing

7. Let’s Think Of Something To Do

8. Everything Grows Together

9. Good People Sometimes Do Bad Things

10. Please Don’t Think It’s Funny

11. I Like Someone

12. Did You Know?

13. It’s Very Hard To Wait

14. Sometimes Isn’t Always

15. I’m A Man Who Manufactures

16. The Truth Will Make Me Free

17. What Do You Do?

18. Sleep Little Baby

19. Peace And Quiet

20. It’s Such A Good Feeling

Back in the Neighborhood: The Best of Mister Rogers Volume 2 is the third collection of music from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to be released in four years. Thank You, Mister Rogers was released in 2019 through BFD.

More information on this and other titles from Omnivore Recordings is available at:

Website: https://omnivorerecordings.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omnivorerecordings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmnivoreRecords

PBS Distribution Scores One Of 2021’s Top New Family DVD/BD Box Sets With New ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Collection

Posted on March 15, 2021 by philspicks

Fred Rogers may have been an ordained Presbyterian minister, but considering the very real miracles that he performed for peoples’ lives during his own life, it goes without saying that he deserves some kind of special sainthood. Most of those miracles were performed daily on his beloved television series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The series’ miracles came thanks to the invaluable life lessons that the show taught. From dealing with the wide range of emotions that we all go through, to handling interactions with family and friends in various situations, to even more simple topics such as how things are made and work, the series connected with – and continues to connect with – generations of audiences. That is especially thanks to the efforts of the people at PBS Distribution. The company has already released two multi-disc collections of episodes from the series and one single-disc collection since 2018. The company added to that already expansive collection of episodes Feb. 9 with the release of another impressive collection dubbed Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection. The collection impresses so much in part due to its featured episodes. They will be addressed shortly. The set’s packaging adds an aesthetic touch that audiences will appreciate, too. The set’s average price point rounds out its most important elements. It will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the collection. All things considered, they make the collection one of this year’s top new family DVD/BD box sets.

PBS Distribution’s latest collection of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episodes is another presentation that any family will welcome into its home. Just as with the previous two box sets and single-disc collection already released, this collection stands out in part because of its featured episodes. The episodes in question pull from a span of more than 20 years (1979-2000) just as is the case with the series’ two other DVD sets. In the case of this collection, the episodes largely follow the overlying theme of meeting new friends, just in various ways. Those friends are both two-legged and four. The two-legged friends range from supermarket workers to musicians, to librarians. None of the episodes featured in this collection are repeats from its predecessor sets. However, there are some continuations for some. Case in point is episode #1498, “Mister Rogers Talks About Pets.” It compliments episode #1499, which is a continuation of the pet talk. Episode #1499 is featured in the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood collection, Would You Be Mine Collection. Episodes #1526, 1527, and 1529, all of which run under the title, “Mister Rogers Talks About Work” are all featured in the new set. They accompany episode #1530, also “Mister Rogers Talks About Work,” which is also in the aforementioned collection. These are just some of the episodes that continue in this new collection. There are many others that connect back to the set’s predecessors, so families who own those other sets now have even more reason to own this set. Between that and the fact that the collection’s episodes do, again, largely follow the central theme in the set’s title, there is all the more appeal. It forms a solid foundation for the new set, and is just one of the set’s most important elements. The set’s packaging adds to its appeal.

The packaging used for the Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection is important primarily for the episode listing therein. Every episode featured in this collection is outlined inside the case. It is printed on the inside of the box’s art in the form of a brief, but concise summary of each episode. What’s more, the episodes are listed within their respective discs. This inclusion means that families will have to spend less time trying to decide which episode(s) to watch and trying to find them. It may just be an aesthetic element, but in the bigger picture, the fact that it will help audiences navigate the set more easily means it will increase enjoyment of the set that much more, just in a different fashion than that which the content ensures. Adding to the discussion here is the fact that this is not the first time that PBS Distribution has gone this route. The company took the same route with the series’ first two DVD sets, so this is just a continuation of a positive track that PBS Distribution has already been riding so to speak. It still is not the last of the set’s most notable elements. The collection’s average price point rounds out its most important elements.

The average price point of PBS Distribution’s new Mister Rogers’ Neighorhood DVD collection is $15.88. That price is obtained by averaging listings at Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, and PBS. The set was not listed through Amazon, Target, and Books-A-Million at the time of this review’s posting. PBS’ listing of $19.99 is the most expensive of the available listings, while Walmart’s price point of $13.55 is the least expensive. Barnes & Noble Booksellers lists the set at $15.99 while Best Buy lists it at $13.99. Looking at these prices, two exceed the average, but not by much, while the other two listings are well below that number. The prices basically range between $14 and $20. So regardless of which retailer audiences choose, they will not break their budgets. What’s more paying any of the noted prices also means viewers will once again get their money’s worth, considering the amount of content spread across the collection. Adding even more, no matter which retailer consumers choose, PBS will once again benefit financially so that it can continue to provide such great content to audiences. When this is taken into account with the set’s content and packaging, all three elements combine to make the Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection one of the early candidates for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new family DVD/BD box sets.

PBS Distribution’s new Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episode collection, Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection is another presentation that audiences of all ages will appreciate and enjoy. That is due in part to its episodes, which connect to the series’ previous collections. They also are not just repeats of the episodes in those sets. What’s even more, they largely follow the central theme of the set’s title. The packaging adds to the set’s appeal for aesthetic reasons, while the average and separate prices will hardly break any viewer’s budget. Considering the amount of content in this collection, the set’s price becomes even more appealing. Each item noted is clearly important in its own way to the collection. All things considered, these elements make the Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection a must for any family that is also one of this year’s best new family DVD/BD box sets. The Mister Rogers Meets New Friends Collection is available now.

More information on the DVD set is available along with all of the latest Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood news online at:

Website: https://misterrogers.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVNeighbor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FredRogersPro

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Arthur’ Leads 2019’s Top New Family DVDs/BDs With Its New Celebration Of Diversity

Posted on December 29, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS/PBS Distribution

Entertaining children and keeping them entertained is not an easy task. Every parent out there can attest to this statement, including this critic. Thankfully, new DVDs and Blu-rays are released annually that go a long way toward keeping children entertained while also bringing families together. This year saw its own share of strong new DVDs and Blu-rays for families, too. That was thanks to PBS Distribution, Shout! Factory and even — believe it or not — Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. From Sesame Street to Wild Kratts to even Scooby Doo and more, this year’s family-friendly DVD and BD releases offered hours of entertainment.

As with every list presented so far, this year’s list features the Top 10 titles of the year, plus five honorable mention titles for a total of 15 new releases. Without further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks 2019 Top 10 New Family DVDs and BDs.

PHIL’S PICKS 2019 TOP 10 NEW FAMILY DVDs/BDs

Arthur: Arthur Celebrates Community
Ready Jet Go!: One Small Step
Ready Jet Go!: Space Rocks
Nature Cat: Nature Cat & Mr. Hide
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes
Ready Jet Go!: Chasing The Sun
Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection
Sesame Street: Celebrate Family
Scooby Doo & The Curse of the 13th Ghost
Wild Kratts: Creepy Creatures
Wild Kratts: Briny Blue Sea
Splash & Bubbles: Pole To Pole
Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs Big & Small
Oddsockeaters

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Audiences Would Be “Mistaken” To Not Own PBS Distribution’s Latest ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ DVD

Posted on December 28, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS Distribution/PBS

We all make mistakes. It’s part of who we are. Those are words spoken by the late, great Fred Rogers multiple times in PBS’ latest Mister. Rogers’ Neighborhood DVD, Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes. It is such a simple statement, yet so powerful in its simplicity, and is a statement that every person needs to hear every day. Now thanks to PBS, audiences of all ages can get that reminder in various different ways every day in the recently released DVD. Released through PBS Distribution Dec. 3, the DVD features five episodes of the timeless series that all focus on the issue of making mistakes. The presentation of the various ways in which mistakes can happen is key for the DVD’s presentation. It is just one of the important pieces of the DVD’s overall presentation to note. The episodes’ sequencing plays into the DVD’s presentation in its own key fashion, too. The DVD’s average price point is yet another important item to consider in the DVD’s presentation. When all three of the items are considered together, the whole of Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes proves to be a release that would be a mistake for audiences to not own.

PBS Distribution’s latest Mister. Rogers’ Neighborhood DVD Mister Rogers &Making Mistakes is a strong new release that families and educators alike will appreciate. That is due in no small part to the DVD’s overall content. The DVD features five episodes of the timeless series in which mistakes are made (and discussed) in a variety of settings. In one episode, Mr. Rogers sits down with a famed pianist and talks about the mistakes that he – the pianist – makes in practicing songs and that he even made throughout his life as he learned to play the piano. In another case, Mr. Rogers receives the wrong tape from Mr. McFeely. He was expecting a tape that shows how erasers are made, but instead, receives a tape showing how books are made. By connection, Mr. Rogers also discusses an error made in a book that he was reading. The Land of Make Believe segments feature their own lessons about making mistakes. Mr. Skunk, at one point, points out that it’s easy for him to accidentally make a foul-smelling odor when he is scared. He points out that he does not do it on purpose – even though in real life skunks do just that intentionally as a defense mechanism – and that it is embarrassing when it happens. Mr. Skunk is reminded by others that they understand, and that mistakes happen. Their understanding cheers him up. In an even heavier moment, Daniel Tiger asks one of his friends if he was a mistake. Taking on such thoughts and feelings was nothing new for Mr. Rogers, considering that he tackled during his time on television, issues, such as death, divorce and violent acts. Daniel is reminded by his friend that he is not an accident and is loved because he is who he is. Mr. Rogers then reminds his own viewers that everyone is different, and that is what makes them so great, stressing that no one is a mistake. This is a powerful moment and one that is certain to live on forever. Between these noted moments and others featured throughout the course of Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes, the lessons about making mistakes featured in this DVD make for more than enough reason for audiences to own the single-disc presentation. It is just one of the positives presented in the DVD. The sequencing of the episodes plays its own important part in the DVD’s presentation.

The sequencing is important to note in that all five of the episodes featured in the DVD are sequential. They are not just a handful of episodes pulled from the series. Audiences get to take in the full story of Audrey Duck and her poem’s reception thanks to this format, and the full week-long focus of making mistakes from Mister Rogers. This may not seem overly important on the surface, but looking at it on a deeper level, it proves very important. That continuity creates a feeling of completion among audiences. That sense of completion, in turn, creates a positive feeling in viewers’ minds. Yes, it’s mainly a psychological matter, but clearly key in its own right. It would have been so easy for those responsible for the DVD’s assembly to simply throw in some random episodes. Those individuals didn’t do that, though. They paid attention to the importance of fluidity of the episodes. That attention and thoughtfulness paid off for them and for audiences alike. The result is just as much enjoyment from the episodes’ presentation as from their content. Keeping all of this in mind, it makes the DVD’s average price point quite important in its own right, too.

The average price point of Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes is $7.62. That price was reached by averaging prices listed at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers and PBS’ online store. At the time of this review’s posting, it was not listed at Books-A-Million’s website and at that of Target. Barnes & Noble Booksellers presents the least expensive listing for the DVD — $6.63 – while PBS’ listing of $9.99 is the most expensive of the listings. Best Buy’s listing of $7.99 is the middle ground for the listings. Regardless of which retailer one uses, PBS will benefit from the DVD’s sales. It features content that is appealing to audiences of all ages and formatting that makes it that much more appealing. All things considered, this compilation proves to be a presentation which it would be a mistake to not own.

PBS Distribution’s latest Mister. Rogers’ Neighborhood DVD Mister Rogers & Making Mistakes is another positive new offering from the company. It is a presentation that audiences of all ages will enjoy time and again with its lessons about making mistakes. Grown-ups will relate to the lessons just as much as children thanks to the very directed aim of the lessons. The fact that the episodes are featured in precise linear fashion adds even more appeal to the DVD, as it creates a sense of completion for audiences. The fact that the DVD’s price, both singular and at average, is less than $10 adds even more appeal. It means that the DVD is affordable to everyone, to say the very least. Each item noted is important in its own right to the whole of the DVD. All things considered, they make this release one that audiences would be mistaken to not own. More information on this and other Mister Rogers-related content from PBS Distribution is available online at:

Website: http://pbsdistribution.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PBSDistribution.org

Audiences Will Be “Thankful” They Bought ‘Thank You, Mister Rogers’

Posted on November 9, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR

Fred Rogers was and is one of the most important figures in the modern history of American television, and Americans’ lives in general. It was through his program, which featured so many invaluable life lessons and unforgettable songs. He might not have been Catholic, but the ordained Presbyterian minister still worked his own great miracles during his life and career. Now thanks to independent entertainment firm Act IV Music, some of that music and those lessons have been given new life in the brand new compilation record Thank You, Mister Rogers. The 13-song record features new arrangements of some of the songs that Rogers and his staff composed for his timeless series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood that are just as enjoyable as their source material. Those songs and their arrangements are both key in their own right to the whole of this compilation and each will receive its own attention here. The album’s sequencing is important to its presentation, too. When it is considered along with the songs and their arrangements, the whole of the noted elements makes Thank You, Mister Rogers a wonderful tribute to the life and legacy of a wonderful man.

Act IV Music’s new tribute to Fred Rogers and his music is a recording that listeners of all ages will enjoy. That is due in no small part to the songs themselves. Every one of the 13 songs that make up the record’s body are works that were featured in PBS’ timeless and beloved series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ and ‘It’s Such A Good Feeling,’ the songs that Rogers sang to open and close the show in every episode are here. So are ‘Many Ways To Say I Love You,’ ‘Some Things I Don’t Understand’ and ‘Please Don’t Think It’s Funny’ among so many others. The songs are performed by some very well-known names, adding to the album’s appeal. Famed singers Vanessa Williams and Kellie Pickler are joined by the likes of TV personality Tom Bergeron (whose performance of ‘Some Things I Don’t Understand’ is one of the record’s most surprisingly enjoyable moments), Jon Secada, Micky Dolenz and Rita Wilson (the wife of legendary actor Tom Hanks) as well as many other figures for the performances. That such big names were willing to come on board for this project and to perform such beloved songs says a lot about this compilation. The songs and their performers are collectively key to the whole of Thank You, Mister Rogers. They are only a portion of the compilation’s appeal. The arrangements featured in the recording play their own pivotal part to its whole.

The arrangements featured throughout the course of this record are important to note because they do stay true to their source material in large part. At the same time though, they also give the songs their own new identity in the process. In other words, they give audiences a touch of something old and something new at the same time. Case in point is Pickler’s take of ‘It’s Such A Good Feeling.’ Instead of keeping the song in its original form, Pickler took the song a step up, giving it more of a pop style work with a certain mainstream sensibility. On top of that, Rogers’ famous lines in which he sings, “I’ll be back/When the day is new/And I’ll have more ideas for you/And you’ll have things you’ll want to talk about/I will too” are replaced here with Pickler singing instead, “I’m glad we’re friends.” It comes across as surprising at first listen, but grows on audiences with each listener. That combination makes this take of the timeless work more than just another song from a children’s series, but almost a viable mainstream pop song. Williams’ vocal delivery n ‘Many Ways To Say I Love You’ meanwhile is so angelic. It works perfectly with the song’s gentle lullaby-style arrangement, making the song’s impact such that it will make even the most emotionally strong person get choked up. Bergeron’s performance in ‘Some Things I Don’t Understand’ does its own good job on this song is a bit more upbeat than Rogers’ take, yet doesn’t take away from that original by any means. If anything, it builds on Rogers’ version with its upbeat take and actually does a very good job of sounding and feeling like it is coming from the vantage point of a child. Some of the “whys” may even leave older listeners smiling and laughing slightly. The Cowsills’ take on the theme song of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood is yet another example of the importance of the compilation’s arrangements. Yet again, audiences get here a song that stays mostly true to its source material, but instead of just leaving it as is, gives the song a bit of a kick, upping the tempo and making it slightly more poppy. The harmonies in the vocals add their own touch to the song’s whole. Between these arrangements and the compilation’s others, the whole of the compositions featured in this record does more than its share to make the recording enjoyable. When the arrangements are coupled with the song selections and their featured performers, the end result is a work that is that much more worth adding to any family’s home music library. The noted elements are not the record’s only notable elements either. Its overall sequencing is just as important as its content.

The sequencing of Thank You, Mr. Rogers is important to note because of the focus that it shows in making sure the record’s energy keeps listeners engaged and entertained. As noted, The Cowsills’ take of Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ is a slightly more upbeat take of the song than Mr. Rogers’ own original. It’s not some poppy type of work though. There is a certain reserved nature to the arrangement, but it is still slightly more upbeat than Rogers’ version of the song. The energy picks up more from there in the Afro-Cuban arrangement of ‘You Can Never Go Down The Drain’ before pulling back dramatically in ‘Sometimes People Are Good.’ The retro feel of ‘Perfectly Beautiful Day’ picks the record’s energy back up slightly while also transporting listeners back to the 1960s and 70s. That is something that older listeners will appreciate, that psychedelic sound here. Immediately after that song, the record’s energy pulls back again in ‘Many Ways To Say I Love You.’ Of course that lullaby gives way to a slightly more relaxed and smooth vibe in ‘Some Things I Don’t Understand.’ ‘This is My Home,’ which immediately follows ‘Some Things I Don’t Understand’ pulls back the album’s energy again before giving way to the more upbeat funk-style arrangement of ‘Let’s Be together Today,’ again changing the record’s feel. The up-and-down of the album’s energies continues from this point on to its finale, the ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas-esque ‘Thank You For Being You,’ which closes out the record with combined talents of all of the compilation’s featured artists. Simply put, from beginning to end, the album’s energies never remain the same from one song to the next. They change just enough from one work to the next to make sure they keep listeners engaged and entertained in this facet just as much as the songs and their arrangements do. Keeping all of this in mind, the thought and time put into the record’s sequencing, the work putting into the song selection and the artist selection makes the record in whole a fitting tribute to the life and legacy of Fred Rogers.

Act IV Music’s new Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood musical compilation Thank You, Mr. Rogers is a work that will appeal to listeners of all ages. It will take older listeners back to a better time while introducing a new generation to the greatness that was the music of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. That is proven in part through the songs featured in the compilation. The artists who perform the songs add even more interest to the record, as does the record’s sequencing. Each item examined here is key in its own way to the whole of Thank You, Mr. Rogers. All things considered, they make this compilation a presentation that listeners will themselves be thankful they added to their home music libraries. More information on Mr. Rogers-related titles is available online at:

Website: http://www.thankyoumisterrogers.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThankYouMisterRogers

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

New ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Music Compilation Available Now

Posted on October 26, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Sugar Mountain PR

Fred Rogers, a.k.a. Mr. Rogers, composed more than 200 songs during his many years on PBS’ beloved series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. A new musical tribute to Rogers and his work was released Friday in the form of the new compilation record Thank You, Mr. Rogers.

The 13-song record features performances of beloved songs from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, such as its theme song, ‘Many Ways To Say I Love You’ and ‘Podemos Ser Amigos?’ The songs are performed by the likes of Vanessa Williams, Tom Bergeron and Kellie Pickler.

Williams offered her own kind words about Rogers and his work in a recent interview, saying, “As a child, you appreciated the songs, but as an adult, you really appreciate the music.”

David Newell, who played McFeely in the series expanded on Williams’ comments in a separate interview.

“Each song in this collection is different from the other…and each singer has made it their own,” he said. “Fred would be delighted to know that his music lives on to new generations.”

Actress Rita Wilson — wife of fellow actor Tom Hanks, who will portray Rogers in a new biopic of the beloved celebrity — also offers her talents to the compilation on a performance of ‘Sometimes People Are Good.’ She offered a thought similar to those of Newell and Williams in another interview.

“Mister Rogers’ melody and lyrics are beautifully integrated together,” she said. “his words of kindness, acceptance and peace are a classic message.”

Videos of many of the compilation’s songs being recorded in studio are streaming now at the record’s official YouTube Channel. The record is available to download and stream through various outlets here.

More information on Thank You, Mister Rogers is available online now at:

Website: http://thankyoumisterrogers.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThankYouMisterRogers

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Every American Family Will Want To Make PBS Distribution’s New ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Collection Theirs

Posted on September 14, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS/PBS Distribution

Late this past July, PBS Distribution released a brand new collection of episodes from the timeless, beloved PBS series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Released July 16, Would You Be Mine Collection is the second official collection of episodes from the series to be released by PBS Distribution, its predecessor It’s A Beautiful Day Collection having been released last year. This latest collection is another wonderful presentation from what is one of the greatest programs in the modern history of television. That statement is supported in part through the collection’s episodes and their content. This will be addressed shortly. The four-disc box set’s packaging proves to be just as important to the collection’s presentation as its primary content and will be addressed a little later. The set’s bonus content rounds out its most important elements, and will also be addressed later. Each item addressed here is important in its own way to the whole of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: Would You Be Mine Collection. All things considered, they make this collection one that every family will want to make theirs.

PBS Distribution’s recently released Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood box set Would You Be Mine Collection is another impressive presentation from a series that is one of the greatest programs in the modern history of television. That is proven in part through the collection’s primary content. The primary content is made up of 30 more episodes lifted from the series’ years-long run. The episodes are pulled from as far back as 1979 and as recent as 2000. The set opens fittingly with the episode “Mr. Rogers Rides The School Bus.” Considering that the set was released in late July, just ahead of the start of the new school year, it is a great way to start the set and start getting. A little deeper into the set, Mr. Rogers tackles the subject of the different kinds of families that exist in the Disc Two episode, “Mr. Rogers Talks About Families.” Even farther into the set, audiences are presented with one of the series’ heaviest episodes in “Mr. Rogers Talks About Mistakes.” The episode finds Daniel Tiger asking if he was a mistake at one point because there is no one else like him. This is a huge deal that so many parents have to tackle, as well as children. The episode also focuses on the less deep matter of making mistakes in general in life, and explaining that mistakes happen, that it is natural. The whole thing closes with Mr. Rogers showing a tape of how erasers are made. This is important because while he does not just come out and say it, the focus on erasers serves as a starting point on talks about how mistakes can be “erased” whether they be on paper or in real life. It’s too bad he did not get to start that talk, but it is there. This is just the start of how much the set’s content has to offer audiences of all ages. Mister Rogers also tackles issues, such as pollution and ecology, dealing with negative emotions and even the arts in this set’s episodes. Between all of this and much more, the primary content featured in this set offers audiences of all ages plenty to appreciate. It is just one part of what makes the set so enjoyable. The set’s packaging adds to its appeal.

The packaging of this latest collection is right in line with its predecessor. It features a brief synopsis of each of the featured episodes as well as the exact episode number. The episode summary makes it easier for viewers to choose which episode(s) they want to watch. This is an aesthetic element, but truly important in its own right. The less time viewers have to spend choosing a favorite episode, the sooner they can enjoy the set’s episodes, so kudos to those responsible for this addition. The specific episode number might not seem important, but in fact is very important in that Mister Rogers tackled many of the same topics many times over throughout the course of his show. At the same time, he tackled the topics in many different ways throughout that run. The discs are placed on either side of two plates inside the case, protecting each from scratching, and at the same time, assuring the case itself is not a bulky package. That means that the case saves space on DVD racks and shelves. So herein is another positive in the set’s packaging. All of these positives taken into consideration make clear why the packaging of this set is just as important to its whole as the set’s primary content. When the two elements are examined together, they show even more clearly why the collection is another appealing offering from PBS Distribution. They are not the set’s only positives. Its bonus content rounds out its most important elements.

The bonus content featured with Would You Be Mine Collection is an extra episode that is also perhaps one of the most famous and beloved of the series’ run – “Mister Rogers Talks About Competition.” It is within this episode that audiences are taken into a factory and learn how crayons are made. The segment is a subtle starting point on a discussion on crayons’ different colors and how they come together to make a beautiful whole. The crayons are a metaphor for humans and the different colors of everyone’s skin. This is genius and is just as relevant today as it was in its original broadcast. He also uses this episode as the basis for a discussion about the importance of doing instead of just winning. This is an all-too-important lesson considering how competitive so many parents can and do get when they put their children into competitive sports. Stories have run on the news quite a bit even now in the 21^st Century, about parents who are so overly competitive with their kids’ sports that they interject themselves into their children’s sporting events in violent fashion. Keeping that in mind, this lesson is one from which viewers of all ages can take a certain amount of insight and knowledge. He also takes a moment to remind his young viewers that they are special because they are not like anyone else. This echoes the sentiment in the episode noted here about mistakes. No one is a mistake, and we are all special. These lessons, reiterated by Mister Rogers, make this collection that much more special. When all of this is considered, it shows why the famed “Crayon Factory” episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is such an important presentation. When the importance of this bonus is considered with the impact of the collection’s primary content and its packaging, all three elements join to make the collection in whole another presentation that every family in America will want to make theirs.

Mister Rogers Neighborhood: Would You Be Mine Collection is another positive presentation from PBS Distribution. It is more proof that while Fred Rogers might not have been Catholic or performed physical miracles, he did perform miracles in making this world and its people better, and in turn deserves sainthood. This collection also serves as another reminder of why television needs more of this and less of the crime and drama that makes up so much programming today. These statements are all supported through the set’s primary content and its packaging. The bonus content that is featured with the set rounds out its most important elements. All things considered, they make this collection another that every family in America will want to make theirs. It is available now. More information about this collection is available online now along with lots of printables, activities and more at:

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PBS’ New Fred Rogers Doc Is A Good Starting Point For Audiences Unfamiliar With Rogers’ Life, Career

Posted on September 29, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution

Almost one year from now, iconic television figure Fred Rogers will have his life story told….sort of….in a new biopic from Big Beach Films and Tristar Pictures. The movie will star legendary screen actor Tom Hanks in Rogers’ signature red cardigan sweater and sneakers. Of course while this seems all good and fine, everybody knows that far too often, biopics are overly embellished with some falsehoods. Keeping that in mind, so many more accurate documentations of Rogers’ life and career have already been released that have proven far more worth audiences’ time. One of the most recent of those more worthwhile presentations is PBS’ latest Fred Rogers doc, It’s You I Like. Having originally aired on PBS stations nationwide March 8, the hour-long program will be released on DVD Oct. 2. Not to be confused with Universal Pictures’ equally popular big-screen Fred Rogers doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor, this program is not the first toe be released from PBS, but is still an enjoyable look at Rogers’ life and career. That is due in no small part to the story at the center of the doc. This will be discussed shortly. The program’s transitions, by connection, are just as important to examine as the story. They will be discussed a little bit later. The footage, pictures and interviews used to help tell the story round out its most important elements. Each element is important in its own right to the whole of It’s You I Like. All things considered, they make It’s You I Like another welcome look at Fred Rogers’ life and career.

PBS’ latest profile of Fred Rogers, It’s You I Like, is another welcome look at the life and career of one of television’s most iconic figures. The network’s first profile of Rogers since 2011’s Mister Rogers & Me, it is a good companion to that profile. That is due in part to the program’s central story, which discusses what made – and makes – him so respected and beloved to this very day. It presents – as with so many other previously released docs – a man who was genuine in how he addressed tough topics, such as death, divorce and even where babies come from and who was just as genuine off camera as he was on camera. Audiences also learn through the program that apparently, Mister Rogers had quite a sense of humor, and not in a bad way, either. The story is told partially through interviews with celebrities, such as John Lithgow, Judd Apatow and Sarah Silverman, as they discuss Mister Rogers’ influence on them as they watch vintage clips of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Veteran actor Michael Keaton, who got his start in show business on the long-running series, serves as the program’s host, and adds his own stories of life on set and of Fred Rogers, the man behind the camera. The whole thing uses music, fittingly, as the foundation for the presentation. The focus on music here is fitting because, as noted at one point in the program, it is noted that Rogers earned a degree in music composition in college. Again, this is not the first time that this has been noted in a documentary on Rogers’ life and career, but maybe not everyone knew this. To that end, it is a good addition to the program, as it explains why there is such a heavy emphasis on music throughout this story. Considering all of this in mind, many audiences will find the story at the center of It’s You I Like familiar. For those who might be less familiar with Rogers’ life and career, it is a good brief, but concise introduction. To that end, this presentation will appeal, at least in terms of its story, more to audiences less familiar with Rogers’ life and career than those who have seen the other Fred Rogers docs that have been released already. Staying on that note of the story’s familiarity, the story’s transitions are just as important to its presentation as the story itself.

The story’s transitions are of note because they are so smooth. What is really of note is that Rogers’ beloved “picture-picture” is largely the source of those transitions. At many points, the story will go from the final scene of one chapter to a slow zoom out of the picture frame and back in at the end of Keaton’s segments. At other times, the transitions are more basic, going from the final moment of a given chapter to a fade or a smooth cut back to the old set of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Regardless of the transitions, it can be said that each one keeps the story progressing so smoothly from one segment to the next, ensuring that viewers will never be lost. Getting back to the doc’s story, this means that, again, audiences less familiar with Mister Rogers’ life and career are that much more apt to remain engaged and entertained throughout the program. When the two elements are coupled, they show even more why those noted audiences will enjoy this presentation as their first exposure to the man who was more than just a television figure, but one of America’s most important figures on and off camera. Having noted all of this, the actual material used to tell the documentary’s story rounds out the most important elements of It’s You I Like.

The material used to tell the story of It’s Your I Like is as familiar as the story itself for most audiences, and just as fresh, again, for those less familiar with his story. Audiences are presented here with footage and pictures of Mister Rogers on the set of his show, as well as interviews with various celebrities to tell the story. The footage includes moments, such as Rogers joking with fellow cast mates David Newell (Mr. McFeely), Francois Clemmons (Officer Clemmons) and crew members as well as footage of Rogers interviewing stars, such as Yo-Yo Ma (and his son), Wynton Marsalis and Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz) at various points throughout. The pictures featured across the program were taken from the days when the show was still running. There are candid pictures featuring Rogers and the show’s cast and crew, a picture of Mister Rogers with the one and only Big Bird (from Sesame Street) included in the discussion of Big Bird crossing over into the “Land of Make Believe” and even pictures of Rogers in his youth. Between those pictures and others, audiences get a wonderfully rich picture of the show from its birth to its end. Meanwhile the interviews with Rogers’ widow and the previously noted celebrities serve to illustrate even more the legacy and impact of the man who was Mister Rogers. When those interviews, pictures and footage all come together to tell the story of a man who truly did like everyone, the end result is a documentary that those just starting to learn about Mister Rogers will enjoy.

PBS’ latest Fred Rogers documentary It’s You I Like is a good introduction to the life and legacy of Mister Rogers for those who might not be so familiar with Rogers’ life and career. That is due in part to a story that for other viewers, proves relatively familiar. It touches briefly on Rogers’ accomplishments and efforts, giving a concise overview why he is still such a revered figure, even in death. The story’s transitions ensure audiences’ engagement just as much as the story itself, as do the collective interviews, footage and pictures used to help tell the story. Each element is important in its own right to the whole of the presentation. All things considered, they make It’s You I Like a doc that fans unfamiliar with Fred Rogers’ life and career will like as much as he liked everyone. It will be available on DVD Oct. 2, and can be ordered direct via PBS’ online store. More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online now at:

Website: http://www.pbs.org

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PBS Announces Release Date For New Fred Rogers Doc

Posted on September 8, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution

Public Media Distribution will release to DVD next month another documentary focused on Fred Rogers and his beloved series Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Mister Rogers: It’s You I Like was released digitally Sept. 3 and is currently scheduled to be released on DVD Oct. 2. The hour-long documentary, which originally aired on PBS and not to be confused with the other Fred Rogers documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, is a retrospective on Fred Rogers and his beloved series.

Veteran actor Michael Keaton (Batman, Baman Returns, Spiderman: Homecoming) serves as host for the heartwarming documentary. It also features interviews from other well-known figures, such as Yo-Yo Ma, John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun, The World According to Garp, Interstellar), Whoopi Goldberg (The View, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ghost) and others.

Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like was produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of my Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, A Raising in the Sun Revisited). Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions executive produced.

Mr. Rogers: It’s You I Like will retail for MSRP of $19.99 and can be pre-ordered now at a reduced price of $14.99 at PBS’ online store. More information on this and other titles from PBS is available online now at: