ANIMAL ALBUMS FROM A TO Z

For record collectors and fans of old-timey music, an alphabetical sampler of rockin’ tunes from the likes of Mandy and the Meerkats and the Fabulous Foxes of Folk.

Tongue firmly in cheek, Bell explains in her introduction that she’s a collector of records by animal musicians, from the 1940s to the ’80s. Thanks to a QR code, young audiences can listen to the “original” vinyl tracks and follow along as armadillo accordionist Arnie Dillow regales listeners with “My Aromatic Armpit Is Astonishing to All” and the Barbershop Beagles bark out “Bud Believes in Betty (But Betty Believes in Brad).” Other performers holler out their hits, from Darryl and the Dodo Devilettes to the Hip-Hop Hedgehogs and the Zydeco Zebras. Like the psychedelic “Philip, Phone the Plumber (It’s Time To Plumb the Pot),” featuring the lyrics “The faucet oozes out rainbows / And unicorns hot and cold / They sneeze on my towels, I’ve gotta move my bowels / But the toilet’s overflowing with silver and gold,” most of these uproariously funny, clever lyrics don’t need their musical accompaniment to stand up. Along with an introduction and background notes on the careers of these bands or solo performers, Bell supplies paint- and cut-paper images of album covers expertly evoking eras from big band to disco, with the occasional concert ticket and other memorabilia tucked in.

Hilarious, high-stepping tributes to a musical niche that never was.