Bobby Bare

Bobby Bare's 1973 album Sings Lullabys, Legends & Lies, yielded two major hits, so he repeated the formula the following year on Singin' in the Kitchen. Both albums are largely devoted to the songs of Shel Silverstein, but Singin' in the Kitchen takes the loose, live-in-the-studio vibe of its predecessor to an extreme, making the listener believe that they're really hearing the Bare family singing around the kitchen table. The singles "Where'd I Come From" and "Singin' in the Kitchen" became only minor hits, which isn't surprising because this album is less appealing overall. It's too casual, and the lightweight material coupled with the ragged chorus of kids makes it sound like a children's record. Bare's wife, Jeannie, is a competent vocalist, and Bare brings a measure of solid professionalism to the effort by performing a couple of songs solo, but the end result is a little like watching another family's home movies. Singin' in the Kitchen is a cute album as long as you don't expect too much from it. [Omni's 2008 edition included bonus tracks.] ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide