Free to Be... You and Me
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Free to Be... You and Me was a record album for children, and later a 1974 television special featuring celebrities (Marlo Thomas and Friends). Using poetry, songs, and sketches, the basic concept was to salute being oneself; the thematic message was: you, whether you are a boy or a girl, can achieve anything you want. The album has largely become a cult classic amongst many children raised in the 1970s. The idea to create the album was purely Thomas's idea; she wanted to teach her then-young niece Dionne about life.
The TV cast included:
- Alan Alda
- Harry Belafonte
- Mel Brooks
- Rita Coolidge
- Billy De Wolfe
- Roberta Flack
- Rosey Grier
- Michael Jackson
- Kris Kristofferson
- Shel Silverstein
- Tom Smothers
- Marlo Thomas
- Dionne Warwick
- The New Seekers
- The Voices of East Harlem
Songs included "It's Allright to Cry," sung by football hero Rosey Grier, the title track by the New Seekers, "Help" by Tom Smothers, "Sisters and Brothers" by The Voices of East Harlem, and "When We Grow Up" by Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack.
Other sketches included "Atalanta," narrated by Alan Alda, "Boy Meets Girl" with Marlo Thomas and Mel Brooks, and "Dudley Pippin" with Billy De Wolfe.Template:Album-stub