The Music Podcast for Kids! · The Music Podcast for Kids!

“Special Days” Producer Fred Mollin Interview

·20 min·1 clip

Fred Mullen wrote 'It's Great to Be a Kid' to help his granddaughters cope with the loneliness of the pandemic.

This episode features an interview with legendary record producer and composer Fred Mollin about his new children's music album, "Special Days." Hosts Mr. Henry and Mr. Feit, both music educators, welcome Mollin back to discuss his follow-up to the award-winning "It's Great to Be a Kid." Mollin explains that "Special Days" is a collection of songs celebrating various holidays and calendar events to excite young listeners. The album covers holidays like Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Easter, and includes a song titled "Happy, Happy Birthday." Mollin wrote the songs during the pandemic, aiming to give children something positive to anticipate. He recorded the album in his home studio in Nashville with a team of seasoned session musicians, including Pat Buchanan, Kerry Marx, Pat Coyle, Tommy Hardin, and bassist Larry Paxton. Vocalists on the album include in-demand Nashville session singers Troy Johnson and Tanya Hancheroff, as well as Mollin's fiancée, actress Karen Richmond. Mollin reveals he specifically wrote songs for Hanukkah and Passover to ensure diversity on the album. He shares that his favorite track is "Be My Valentine," sung by Tanya Hancheroff, and that a kindergarten class successfully sang along to it. The album also features "joint inverses," or instrumental bonus tracks with muted vocals, allowing children to sing or shout along. "Special Days" is available on all digital streaming platforms, CD, and vinyl, distributed by the label Eight Pound Gorilla Records. Mollin mentions he and his fiancée create 30-second puppet snippets featuring dog puppets to promote songs on YouTube. He won a NAPA award for his previous album, "It's Great to Be a Kid," which he considers a deeply personal project. Mollin emphasizes the value of physical CDs as gifts for children, especially for car rides, despite the prevalence of digital streaming. The hosts confirm the album is available on Mollin's artist YouTube channel as well. The conversation is casual, friendly, and focused on the creative process behind family-friendly music. The tone is educational and promotional, highlighting the album's content and its potential use in classrooms or at home. Listeners interested in children's music, songwriting, or music production will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at a professional's creative project. Those seeking high-energy entertainment or critical music analysis might find the episode too niche or relaxed.

As heard by us

A relaxed interview that keeps its focus on songs kids can actually sing.

Fred Mullen comes across as practical and unshowy. The discussion moves from album formats to what holds up with children, and his plain answer is the hook: after making so many records for little kids, writing for them is not the hard part.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a friendly chat with Fred Mullen about songs kids can sing back right away.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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