Fans of Sandra Boynton's greeting cards and picture books well know that she is an animal lover. Her stable of humorous critters—from hippos to cats—has graced the pages of such popular titles as Moo, Baa, LA LA LA and Snoozers. It's only fitting, then, that Boynton's latest project, "an imaginary musical revue" entitled Philadelphia Chickens (Workman, Oct.), came together like a traditional barn-raising, with the help of family, friends and neighbors.
The first person to sign on was Michael Ford, the composer and musician with whom Boynton collaborated on a previous musical picture book, Rhinoceros Tap (Workman, 1996). "We had always planned to do a follow-up," Boynton said. "But Michael has three kids and I have four kids, so trying to schedule it was a little tricky. We finally decided that we had to set an actual deadline and get a contract."
In addition to providing her signature illustrations and penning the lyrics for the "17½" songs touted on the CD (including an "intermission song"), Boynton co-wrote the music with Ford. "On the first one, Michael did all the music," she explained. "In this case, the music and words came simultaneously for me, and Michael and I composed side-by-side. I cannot imagine a better collaboration."
As for the book's quirky title, Boynton, a Connecticut resident, admits it has no real significance. "I'm originally from Philadelphia and Michael is from Philadelphia," she said. "But the phrase 'Philadelphia Chickens' just popped into my mind. Philadelphia is such a great word in itself." She also credited a bit of inspiration to one of her daughter's classmates who was "truly chickens-obsessed." Boynton recalled, "They would greet each other by shouting 'chickens!' "
She Told Two People; They Told Two People…
As Boynton's melodic chickens began to hatch, she knew that she wanted each of the songs, ranging in style from blues to swing, to be sung by a different person. And, ideally, each performer would also have great acting chops and be able to convey the theatrical elements of the songs Boynton describes as "small stories." Boynton began her casting calls close to home, enlisting son Keith and daughter Darcy, both college students and singers, to take part. Soon after, Philadelphia Chickens started flapping in a most serendipitous way.
"Meryl Streep is a neighbor," Boynton said. "Her four kids are my kids' friends. About a year ago, she came over when I was working on some of the tapes and I told her about the project. She said, 'Why don't you ask me?' So I did." When Boynton's friend, actor Laura Linney, heard about her landing Streep, Linney told Boynton, "Now you can get anyone!" Linney and Streep quickly called their own musical pals, including Kevin Kline and Eric Stoltz, and an all-star line-up was assembled, with Linney contributing as well. "People just kept asking people," said Boynton. The recording even has its own six-degrees-of-Kevin-Bacon cachet. "Kevin Bacon's son was in preschool with my daughter," Boynton said, explaining how the Bacon Brothers came to record two tracks.
Performers recorded songs in Boynton's living room and home studio, as well as in a studio in New York City. "It's uncanny how it all flowed," she commented. "There should have been enormous logistical problems."
With the book-and-CD slated for release next month boasting a 100,000-copy first printing, Boynton and Workman have something to cluck about. A seven-city "Barnstorming Tour" this fall, which may include appearances by some of the performers, will further boost Chickens' profile. And continuing the helping-hand spirit of the project, a portion of the authors', contributors' and publisher's royalties are earmarked for the Cystic Fibrosis and Juvenile Diabetes foundations.
"How did this all happen?" Boynton asked. "Search me. But people could not have been nicer. It's been so much fun." The chorus lines of cows and chickens in her book look like they agree.
