Honor roll:Children's albums

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Original Score

Harry Gregson-Williams

• 2006 Golden Globe-Score nominee
• Score: 6.56

Not to be confused with the collection Songs Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia, this album is Harry Gregson-Williams’s instrumental score for the movie. Marking the composer’s third collaboration with director Andrew Adamson (after both Shrek flicks), this score also is one of the more mature offerings from Gregson-Williams, best known for his work on family films. The music is lush and assured, if a bit predictable. Indeed, it fits squarely in the current style popular for big epics—even using (on a few tracks) the vocals of Lisbeth Scott, which…

Rainbow Connection

Willie Nelson

• 2001 Grammy-Country nominee
• Score: 6.51

This charming, super-casual collection began as a children’s record and later became a “family” record—a designation that reflects the contributions of Nelson’s daughter Amy as well as the inclusion of more “adult” material. It’s difficult to think of another artist who’d pull together such a unique selection of songs. Nelson tackles odd kid-friendly little ditties from country’s past such as “I’m My Own Grandpa” (a 1948 hit for Lonzo & Oscar), the Western swing favorite “Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon,” and Jimmie Dolan’s boogie “Playin’ Dominoes and…