Not ready to get back to school? Not ready to say goodbye to summer? Still looking for school supplies? Maybe some of these songs will create a back to school mood! Check out these CD's to say goodbye to summer and get inspired to get Back to School.

Bottle of sunshine [sound recording] by Milkshake

Multiplication [sound recording] by Teacher and the Rockbots

Disney's beach party [sound recording]

Back to school [sound recording] by Mr. Al & Stephen Fite

Today is the first day of the first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee and the beginning of a week long remembrance of the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' death. Some of the planned events include a tour of the Graceland Mansion, Shake, Rattle & Roll at the Shell (a benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association), the Elvis Presley 5K Run, Walk, Rock & Roll to benefit cerebral palsy, and a tour of the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.

Summer is finally here! And we all know what that means in Michigan — don't we? Orange cones! Traffic snarls! Gridlock! It seems there's no avoiding it, especially in and around the Canton area where it seems that every major road is under repair — including right in front of the library. Well, as they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em — in song, that is. Sing along with gridlock! And to get you started just try any one of the many great songs about cars and driving from our list below. Start your engines!

• Automobile (1979) — John Prine
• Cadillac Ranch (1981) — Bruce Springsteen
• Cars (1980) — Gary Numan

Songs from Lonely Avenue by The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Fans of the Brian Setzer Orchestra will not be disappointed by this latest album, a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. It's what Setzer imagines might be the appropriate accompaniment to a throwback noir film, including blues, swing, and jazz tunes that feel like they could be classics. It's a fun exploration that provides plenty of opportunity for Setzer to show off his virtuosic guitar chops.

Wild Young Hearts by Noisettes

This album is full of fun, upbeat songs that feature the versatile vocals of lead singer Shingai Shoniwa. She seems completely comfortable with styles from disco to 60s soul to jazz, all of which are reflected in the pop songs on this album. Perfect for bopping around the house or around town, these happy songs will keep a spring in your step.

Plymouth Symphony Music Director and Conductor, Nan Washburn, will present a multi-media presentation on the Life and Music of Tchaikovsky on Thursday, March 4, at 7:00PM. Come hear this presentation in the library Community Room and have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Tchaikovsky Spectacular at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill on Saturday, March 13th at 7:30PM. It's a win/win opportunity for all.

Are you a woman who has a life-changing story about your library? Would you be willing to share it with others? If yes, consider entering the Woman's Day/American Library Association essay contest. Up to four winners will have their essays published in an upcoming Woman's Day issue. Good luck!

Road to Rock by the Boogers

What more perfect name for a punk rock band for kids could there be than the Boogers?  This album is loaded with high-energy Ramones-style punk that is completely appropriate for all ages. From new takes on old standbys (Bah Bah Black Sheep, The Wheels on the Bus) to originals, this album is raucous and irreverent, and a real treat for parents and kids alike.

R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass passed away earlier this week after a long illness. Pendergrass, 59, got his start singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, and later became a drummer for a local group called the Cadillacs. After merging with another more well known group, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, he became their lead singer in 1970. He later left the group and struck out on a solo career after signing with Philadelphia International Records - where his next several albums went gold and platinum. During this time he received several Grammy nominations, Billboard's 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award, an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, and awards from Ebony magazine and the NAACP. A tragic car accident in 1982 left him paralyzed from the waist down. He made a dramatic return to the stage at the Live Aid concert in 1985, and in 1998 he founded Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to aid people with spinal cord injuries.

A Treasury of Field Recordings from the Library of Congress is a collection of recordings. These recordings have been collected since 1928. They include folk songs from all across America. The ones from the back roads in the Delta are examples of the precursors of the Blues. It is a great historic record of American music.

To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas. Check out the PowerPoint presentation.

'Tis the season for some great Holiday music. First, come to the Library, browse our wonderful music collection. Second, choose your selection and come to the checkout desk where our friendly associates will greet you with a smile and gladly checkout your items for you. Lastly, go home and sit in front of the fireplace...(don't forget your snuggie) and enjoy some relaxing Holiday music. Happy Holidays!!

If you are already tired of Christmas music, try some Blues.

We recently received a new Big Bill Morganfield cd. It has as very traditional blues sound. It includes several slow blues tracks, which were just the thing to slow down the Christmas rush.

With colder weather coming fast and more holiday vacations in sight, it's always great to think about activites you can do indoors with young children. One easy and economical idea is creating your own at-home storytimes. I've gotten some great ideas from Pam Schiller and the library has many of her books and CDs available for check-out. My favorite is The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Preschoolers!

John Fogerty's rockabilly style returns with The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. This CD, released in 2009, features accompanying musicians Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit. This CD is a follow up to the Blue Ridge Rangers album that was released in 1973 after the breakup of Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Check out this cd and other John Fogerty CDs at the Canton Public Library.

I'm old. I admit it. I remember WKNR (Keener 13) and I remember Swingin' Time with Robin Seymour and best of all, I remember Scott Morgan and the Rationals. The Rationals were IT, as far as garage bands went in Dee-troit City in the mid to late '60s. They did a cover of Otis Redding's Respect that landed on the Billboard top 100 long before Aretha Franklin ripped its head off. It's here on Think Rational!, a 2-CD retrospective of the whole Rationals oeuvre. I Need You is here, too, and Gloria and over 30 more examples of the kind of rockin' R&B Detroit was serving up while the Beatles ruled the rest of the world.

Recently, I discovered the beauty of Native American flute music. The flute has a very serene and soothing sound. I particularly enjoy the one and two flute sounds of R. Carlos Nakai's music. If you are interested in listening to more Native American music check out our catalog.

Weird Al Yankovic is the latest celebrity to snag a deal to write a picture book. His book will be published in 2011 and will feature an eight-year-old protagonist who fantasizes about the unusual careers he wants to pursue when he grows up.

“I’ve always wanted to write children's books,” said Yankovic. “And now, it’s not only a goal, it’s a contractual obligation.”

Since it'll be awhile before the book is published, why not check out some of Weird Al's music in the meantime?

photo by mufan96 used under Creative Commons license