Baby's First Record by The Merry Singer's & Orchestra

In the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the Merry Singers released a series of albums targeted towards children at the time. A division of A.A Records, Merry Records ended up releasing a variety of children’s songs and stories. While not confirmed, the artist was likely the producer, cartoonist Ralph Stein, who became famous for his work on early Popeye comic strips. The cover art is characterized by bright, bold colors and sketch lines left in. The intent was to mimic drawings of children in hopes of appealing to them more. Featuring various animals in clothing gathered about a piano, the bright colors with soft lines seem to split the difference between the bold colors that appealed in the 80s, and the hand drawn whimsical trends of the late 1970s. 

Discogs. “The Merry Singers & Orchestra,” n.d. https://www.discogs.com/artist/920213-The-Merry-Singers-Orchestra.

“Ralph Stein.” Accessed October 30, 2024. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/user/login?destination=document-view%3Fp%3DWORLDNEWS%26docref%3Dnews/0EB030236E82F551%26f%3Dbasic.

Wartella, Ellen. “A Brief History of  Children and Media Research.” Northwestern University, January 25, 2018. A Brief History of  Children and Media Research.