Chip Taylor’s new album is a family effort, teaming him with his grandchildren for a refreshing and engaging kids’ record. Golden Kids Rules (Smithsonain Folkways Recordings) features songs they wrote and performed together.
The title song sets the positive and loving tone: “5-6-7-8 who do we appreciate? Kids, even if they’re breaking some rules.”
“Big Ideas” is sweet and melodic, but also a confident statement from a 10-year-old: “Take a good look at me I’m not just a kid I’ve got big ideas. I don’t tell them to everyone. What about you?”
Not that the album is free of tension. “Daddy is a Red Sox Fan/Mommy Is a Yankees Fan” asks “What’s a little girl to do?”
You get the idea. It’s a fun and smart album that will entertain you and your kids (or grandkids.)
It’s a bit of a surprise to see the man who wrote “Wild Thing” record a song called “Magical Horse,” but this album, like his recent collaborative effort Rock and Roll Joe, makes one thing very clear.
Chip Taylor plays well with others.