| Free to Be... You and Me | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Cast recording | |
| Released | November 1972 |
| Recorded | May–July 1972 |
| Studio |
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| Label | Bell Records (original issue) Arista Records (reissue) |
| Producer | Carole Hart, Stephen J. Lawrence, Bruce Hart |
Free to Be... You and Me is a children's entertainment project, conceived, created and executive-produced by actress and author Marlo Thomas. Produced in collaboration with the Ms. Foundation for Women,[1] it was a record album and illustrated book first released in November 1972 featuring songs and stories sung or told by celebrities of the day (credited as "Marlo Thomas and Friends") including Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, Shirley Jones, Jack Cassidy, and Diana Ross. An ABC television special, also created by Thomas, using poetry, songs, and sketches, followed sixteen months later in March 1974. The basic concept was to encourage post-1960s gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one's identity. A major thematic message is that anyone—whether a boy or a girl—can achieve anything.
In 2021, the album was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry.[2]
- ^ Martin, Rachel (December 7, 2012). "40 Years On, 'Free To Be' Still Resonates" (Audio interview). Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
- ^ Schuessler, Jennifer (March 24, 2021). "Janet Jackson and Kermit the Frog Added to National Recording Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2021.