THE Hard Rock and AOR Reference on the Internet!

Bands: 10325 CDS: 25012 Songs: 297499

Nov. 13, 2024: 25,000th CD added to Heavy Harmonies! The 25,000th CD has been added here at HH, and the album with that distinction is the new comeback album from Krokus lead singer Marc Storace, entitled Crossfire. -Dan

#s A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Compilations    Soundtracks    Tributes

Artist: Child's Play

(click on Artist's name above to return to artist's main page)

Child's Play Homepage

CD Title: Rat Race

 

Category: Hard Rock

Year: 1990

Label: Chrysalis

Catalog Number: F2 21758

Personnel

John Allen drums, percussion, backing vocals
Brian Jack lead vocals, guitars
Idzi bass, backing vocals
Nicky Kay guitars, backing vocals

Tracks

1.	Good Ol' Rock and Roll	4:24
2.	Day After Night	3:25
3.	My Bottle	4:38
4.	Rat Race	3:26
5.	Wind	3:48
6.	Evicted	3:46
7.	Knock Me Out	3:26
8.	Girl Like You	3:43
9.	Capricorn/Bang Bang	3:57
10.	Pay Your Dues	3:09
11.	Damned if I Do	3:46
12.	When Hell Freezes Over	3:33
Total Running Time:		45:01

If you see any errors or omissions in the CD information shown above, either in the musician credits or song listings (cover song credits, live tracks, etc.), please post them in the corrections section of the Heavy Harmonies forum/message board.

The music discographies on this site are works in progress. If you notice that a particular Child's Play CD release or compilation is missing from the list above, please submit that CD using the CD submission page. The ultimate goal is to make the discographies here at Heavy Harmonies as complete as possible. Even if it is an obscure greatest-hits or live compilation CD, we want to add it to the site. Please only submit official CD releases; no bootlegs or cassette-only or LP-only releases.

EPs and CD-singles from Child's Play are also welcome to be added, as long as they are at least 4 songs in length.

---

Existing comments about this CD

From: tom	Date: April 2, 2001 at 17:05
my personal highlight from 1990, i didn't like their second album but 'ratrace' is a kick ass rock n roll album. tomcat@dolfijn.nl

From: David	Date: June 14, 2001 at 17:35
Just love the song "Knock Me Out", check it out!

From: l.a.rocker	Date: February 21, 2002 at 14:37
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Festival/8710/home.html Child's Play official website !!!! hope to hear some new stuff-keep on rockin' roman rb555@web.de

From: l.a.rocker	Date: February 21, 2002 at 15:06
Child's Play - Rat Race The Video!!! download (rm 1,69mb) http://www.rocken.org/RealVideo.html Child's Play kick ass roman rb555@web.de

From: BPG	Date: March 7, 2002 at 12:24
What an incredible CD. Great Vocals,Guitars,Drums,& SongWriting. All I can say is it rocks!!!!

From: jason	Date: May 9, 2002 at 18:35
I got this album when it came out. The song Rat Race caught my ear with that driving beat. I think the best song on the album might be Knock Me Out. The problem this band had is, they let the drummer sing two of the songs (evicted & pay your dues). That wasn't a good idea. He sounds like he grew up an only child. What I mean is, he sounds like a Bitch! outside of that it's alright.

From: Desslar	Date: May 10, 2002 at 3:11
Great hard rock with a hint of blues. My Bottle has to be the best song, Evicted is fun too. In DC they played Wind on the radio so much it drove me nuts at the time, but now I think it's pretty cool.

From: tonikki	Date: August 20, 2002 at 13:53
1st category sleazy.like the best la guns. obligatory for any sleazy, west coast hard rock fan

From: nitrodoll1974	Date: August 20, 2002 at 14:39
one of the best albums of that year...kick ass rock n roll. the only "weak" moment is when the drummer starts singing on two songs..but certainly a 9 on a scale of 10. a that time i was glad i could program my cd player so those two songs were skipped.. nananana day after night aaaaaaw.. nitrodoll1974@hotmail.com

From: The Fizzy One

Date: September 15, 2002 at 0:52

I got this at an in-store they did on 12/30/90 at a record store in Salisbury, MD. I wasn't really into it at the time, but when I listened to it, teh ten-year-old Fizzy One threw up his fists immediately for a pint-sized "Hell yeah!" I tend to prefer the first half of this one, but it's all pretty good, and I only appreciate it more as time passes. There's no BS about this album, it's just straight-up rock 'n' roll, plain and simple. elfizzbo@hotmail.com

From: Trick Taylor	Date: December 14, 2002 at 4:24
The drummer is now in SR71. This was servicable hard rock, almost Lord Tracy like. What do we know about the 2nd album?

From: Fizz	Date: December 14, 2002 at 6:12
The second Child's Play album was from '93, and Brian Jack wasn't on it, as he'd left the band sometime in '91. The new singer was named Ty something, I believe, and although I've not heard the album myself, they say it sucks. Shit, it didn't even get any airplay in Bawl-Tee-More at the time, and they played the hell out of Rat Race even over on the Eastern Shore, where I'm from.

From: Drag-in-Bones	Date: December 21, 2002 at 20:12
Call it rebellious, intense, full of additude and a commitment to hard-workin', hard playin', back-to-basics rock 'n' roll. call it CHILD's PLAY!!! "My Bottle" being my top fav. song on the hole album!!! "Aint no body, gonna tell me, that I can't drink no more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From: Keenan	Date: January 5, 2003 at 17:18
This is a great album never the less...doubt it will ever be re released but if it is ill be damn...they are a good local band out of Baltimore "Wind" is an unusual ballad for drummers mainly due to the Bossa Groove and the s/t song Rat Race is very political for the time and it rocks

From: alex	Date: March 12, 2003 at 14:13
this album is good but not the better album of hard rock

From: jason (FA - Q)	Date: March 12, 2003 at 23:14
What did he just say??????

From: Scott

Date: May 8, 2003 at 2:50

Child's Play is the best band I ever seen in concert. Sure there are more talented bands but after seeing these guys around 20 times in concert in the late 80's to early 90s I can say no other band gives as much as they did onstage. I miss the old Hammerjacks and the New Years Eve party's they had with Child's Play and Kix every year...man what great times were had. My favorite song by Child's Play never made it on any release. It was L.H Blues. When Hell Freezes Over is my next.

From: Jason	Date: May 9, 2003 at 12:43
CHILD'S PLAY IS REUNITING THIS SATURDAY IN BALTIMORE FOR A SHOW AT THE THUNDER DOME. DON'T MISS IT. IT WILL BE ALL 4 ORIGINAL MEMBERS W/BRIAN JACK SINGING IT SHOULD BE A REALLY KILLER SHOW

From: tommy faulken	Date: May 30, 2003 at 18:11
they are frekin awsem

From: PauloFernandes	Date: June 16, 2003 at 12:57
The second album is excellent - just got it today - i'll add it to the database later today

From: Kevin	Date: July 23, 2003 at 19:08
The band kicks ass it a shame that the guys could not work it all out and I really think the could have been main stream.But I love going to the reunion shows they are so much fun.And to those of you who have never seen them if you closed your eyes at a show you would think you were listing to the C.D Trust me when I say this these guys ROCK.Seen them about 20 times and ready for a few more.

From: Mike	Date: October 3, 2003 at 14:13
Maybe I'm not listening to the right CD.....I can't find even 1 half-way decent song. This one is going in the garbage bin, not even worth the recycling/used bin. Adios.

From: Jeff	Date: November 24, 2003 at 17:50
Child's Play reunion in Baltimore at Thunderdome in January '04. Also Kix reunion Dec 27th at Thunderdome. All but Donnie Purnell will be there (he's a di** anyway!!!) See all you Baltimorons there. Go Ravens!!!

From: Metal T	Date: November 25, 2003 at 20:49
I normally like my metal/hardrock a little bit heavier than this,but this disc isn't bad.Cool Cult'like vocals with a nice delivery added to some kick-ass music.They sound a hell of a lot better than crap like Poison,thats for damn sure.Bet these guys were a kick-ass bar band .

From: Metal Pete

Date: December 31, 2003 at 17:49

A rock classic, this ranks right up there with KIX's 'Midnite Dynamite', no lie! An incredibly good album. I almost never listen to the second one though, it is a different vocalist and not nearly as heavy. This album completely blows it away. I made the mistake of getting Brian Jack's solo album later on, oh my God what a piece of chit. Incredibly sad, please don't seek it out. Don't think there is even an electric guitar played on it. He sounds like a pathetic loser who just lost his girlfrien

From: Xedious	Date: March 6, 2004 at 0:48
After catching part of the ratrace vid on MTV, I was hooked. Definitely glad I snagged this cd a while back!

From: Mike

Date: April 13, 2004 at 1:11

Stumbled across this site and can't believe people are still talking about Child's Play! If you like Ratt Race check out their 1988 demo with the original versions of Evicted, My Bottle and the never released (that I know of) L.H. Blues. They're a great live band especially when Brian shows up (I was at a show where he decided to stay at the beach with Roanne and blow off the show). I still occasionally talk to John Allen, he just finished the new SR71 album.

From: Metal Pete	Date: April 13, 2004 at 13:14
Nice to hear Mr. Jack returns to his roots now and again! Would have loved to have seen them live. I always get amped when I play "Day After Night". They broke up right around the time I started scanning the papers to catch them at HammerJack's! (RIP) Ah, well. We still have the recording! :-)

From: bobby	Date: May 16, 2004 at 1:26
i've seen child's play so many times i've lost count.i've seen them when they had larry henshaw on lead vocals.back then they were a five man band,and released an ep called ruff house.although i love the rat race cd,and the long way cd.ruff house stands today as my all time favorite

From: Gryphon	Date: July 9, 2004 at 21:50
Never got a chance to see these guys. Heard My Bottle on DC101 and had to have it. Could only find it on tape at the time. Was in a pawn show a couple of years ago and saw it. Can we say sold. Am lookin forward to movin to Baltimore next year so I can catch some reunion shows. Anyone know of some similar bands that never got any further?

From: CC	Date: February 16, 2005 at 7:02
Owned this on cassette for years but never really did anything for me. Bought it the other day on CD cause I found it real cheap. Forgot the opening track was one of theirs which I do quite like,but overall I am happy as its grown on me more than when I bought it years ago. Still not a stunner,but its ok!

From: Geoff

Date: March 8, 2005 at 2:25

I bought this one expecting nothing at all from it. For all I knew, with a cover like that it was going to be some sort of psychadelic ride. But I got it for cheap, they had hair and I didn't care. Well, bowl my over with my own nuts if this is not quite an impressive disc! 'Knock me out' and 'Damned if I do' are awesome hard rock tracks and overall it's pretty solid stuff. Still proudly in my collection today. And linked to the might SR-71 too!

From: metalmaniac777

Date: February 28, 2006 at 13:47

Wow, after all the positive comments about this CD, I feel like an only child when I say that aside from a song or two, nothing about this impressed me. Their approach to hard rock reminds me of Disturbance, another band I consider good but highly overrated (though Disturbance is better than Child's Play). Some folks think this is great stuff and would smear peanut butter on their nuts and let rabid rats gnaw on them if that's what it took to keep their copy, but I just didn't care for it.

Heavy Harmonies Volunteer
From: Blue Charvel	Date: March 1, 2006 at 14:18
Nope, I'm there with you, I found this to be average at best. I even relistened to it after reading a number of the comments but it leaves me wanting something with more balls. It's not bad, mind you but for me it paled by comparison to much of the other stuff be released around this time.

From: rallen399	Date: January 19, 2008 at 5:01
This band rocks theres 8 or 9 great tracks from a band nobody heard of.The same year this came out another band that also should have made it big came out, Cry Wolf,they are very similar. I think both are great.

From: vince_crue	Date: April 21, 2008 at 10:36
Decent enough CD, worth the price for "knock me out" alone. One of my fave tunes of the moment.

From: BIG-TIME	Date: June 6, 2008 at 12:54
The singer is more glam but he suck's, the song's are more or less the same for every track. I'm with mike on his first comment what do people like about this, very generic, nothing special and not that killer CD the above comments are raving about...KEEP ROCKIN ALL!!!

From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: June 6, 2008 at 15:18
I can understand why some might think this CD is generic or unspectacular. To me, it's just good, blue-collar hard rock with a singer who, refreshingly fo rthe time, isn't a shrieking glamster. The first five tunes are the best, but most of the rest are at least decent as well.

From: rockhardrock

Date: March 25, 2009 at 8:41

great hair metal band. this is the only album of them i've heard untill now and i like it. i don't know how the follow up sounds-i hope they didn't ruin the sound by adding grunge style into their music. the only thing that i don't like very much is John Allen's drumming. nonetheless there's a lot of good songs here, like:Good Ol' Rock and Roll, Day After Night, Rat Race (which is my fav here) and Wind.

From: hair metal again

Date: July 19, 2009 at 4:10

childs play had it all:big hair,sleazy attitude,hard guitars,bluesy sound,big name producer(howard benson) and a big company(chrysalis).the result is good,well played ,with balls hard rock.what was missing is some catchy songs and mayby some slower and easier stuff."day after night","my bottle" and "girl like you" best moments here.overall this will satisfy every fan of hair\sleaze.like childs play mention just some kids playin good ol' rock n roll

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: August 26, 2011 at 21:25
Good album,i mean not something to kill for but it has its fine moments...best tracks for me are "Good Ol' Rock'N'Roll","Day After Night","Rat Race"( ),"Knock Me Out","Capricorn/Bang Bang","Damned If I Do" & "When Hell Freezes Over"...i remember that in the U.K they did quite a fuss but after that they just vanished...85/100

From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: August 27, 2011 at 13:15
No kidding, Rick? I always figured they never really made much noise outside the East Coast, although I do have a bootleg of them performing live on the old Z-Rock radio station, based out of Texas.

From: rick kerch vzla	Date: August 27, 2011 at 13:37
Yeah Doghouse Reilly...they did some fuss over England...do not remember if they played there though...the album was promoted quite well...cheers mate!!!

From: MetalllianStallion

Date: October 4, 2011 at 4:46

As I recall this album went 'lead' in the States selling similar numbers to David Hasselhoff's 'Night Rocker'(somebody submit that gem). Maybe the band had Spinal Tap Syndrome and they where big in Japan. Another act I have to scratch my head at how they got signed to a major label as they blended in much more than they stood out. Signed by Chrysalis Records,the British label who had a handful of hard rock/metal bands in their arsenal, including Armored Saint,Billy Idol, Slaughter,Stage Dolls,Trouble Tribe, & Vinnie Vincent Invasion. Child's Play might be called a poor man's 'Kix' as they where also from the Maryland but not as talented IMO. The music video for 'Rat Race' barely made a blip on 'Headbangers Ball' radar with the lead singer playing guitar with his gloves on (poser alert! with the velvet touch) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmgWrl3NmH4

From: Doghouse Reilly

Date: June 28, 2018 at 8:10

Interesting trivia: while wandering around online, I found some articles in the Entertainment section of the Baltimmore Sun from around Christmas of 1990. It seems Brian Jack and the band were on the outs, and their string of holiday shows were in serious jeopardy, because he'd disappeared on them. Seems he was having problems with his longtime girlfriend, and had gone to North Carolina with her and her family for Christmas to work things out. She was a former Miss Maryland named Rowanne Brewer who had, just recently, been fucking--wait for it--Donald Trump. (Years later, she married and divorced Jani Lane.) He got back with the band, managed to salvage the New Year's week shows, but left ffor good sometime in the summer of '91.

From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: June 28, 2018 at 21:10
Also in the morgue of the Sun, circa September of '91, somebody from Kix (Donnie, if I recall), blithely explaining how Kix would survive any rock 'n' roll recession (worries already starting to percolate). Because by God Kix were a different kind of band, they were a bar band and always would be, and in the bars was where they belonged and would thrive. Or something like that.

From: Tollitiger	Date: October 17, 2020 at 8:46
Good ol Boys Play Good ol Rock and Roll,Nothin‘ more to Say,this is an hell of an Album

From: Auslander	Date: April 20, 2021 at 12:08
The call and answer vocals on the title track are friggen awesome, along with that foot-tapping drum beat. Other great tracks on this one like "Knock Me Out". This is one of those albums that came and went, but for fans of this style of music - you should try and track it down. I won't ever be selling this one. Grade B+.

From: Auslander	Date: April 20, 2021 at 12:16
Also, thanks Doghouse for the detective work in 2018 on why this band went nowhere after this album.

From: Doghouse Reilly	Date: April 20, 2021 at 18:29
As someone pointed out long ago, their original singer was named Larry Hinshaw, but apparently, when they were signed to Chrysalis, Larry was not included in the deal, for whatever reason, so they were given an ultimatum: dump him and take the deal, or stick with him and hope to be signed by someone else.

From: Erikk	Date: November 20, 2021 at 15:16
Average at best. Damned if i do kinda the best song. But still nothing memorable here.

---

You cannot leave comments for this CD because you are not currently logged in. Please click here to log in or create a Username for leaving comments.