Philadelphia Chickens

Album Review

Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford's second album, Philadelphia Chickens, is the soundtrack to an "imaginary musical revue" that features the vocal talents of Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Natasha Richardson, and Boynton's children, among others. Like Boynton and Ford's debut album, Rhinoceros Tap, Philadelphia Chickens' musical touchstone is the sound of classic show tunes, and the duo and its (mostly) all-star cast make the most of it, beginning with the A Chorus Line-like intro, "Cows," sung by the Seldom Herd. Streep's witty "Nobody Understands Me" emphasizes that this album is more grown-up-sounding than Rhinoceros Tap, even though it's still well within the realm of children's music. Songs like Keith Boynton's "Be Like a Duck," Patti LuPone's "I Like to Fuss," Michael Ford's "Those Dinosaur Blues," and Eric Stoltz's appropriately cuddly "Snuggle Puppy" — which Boynton later turned into a children's book — keep the album young at heart. Scott Bakula's "Pig Island," Kevin Kline's "Busy Busy Busy," and Adam Bryant's "Pajama Time" are other standout tracks from this Grammy-nominated album, which truly has appeal for all ages.