| Rat Race | |
| Type: | studio album |
| Artist: | Child'ƨ Play |
| Cover: | Rat Race LP.png |
| Recorded: | 1989–1990 |
| Studio: |
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| Genre: |
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| Label: | Chrysalis |
| Producer: | Howard Benson |
| Prev Title: | Ruff House |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | Long Way |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
Rat Race is the debut studio album by hard rock/heavy metal band Child'ƨ Play, released on June 26, 1990, through Chrysalis Records.[1] It was produced by Howard Benson, who would later go on to produce for Motörhead, Sepultura, and Seether. It is the first album to feature new bassist Marion Idzi, going by the mononym Idzi. It is also the first album to feature Brian Jack on lead vocals, as previous vocalist Lawrence Hinshaw left the band in 1988, who only appeared on the band's 1986 EP, Ruff House. The band released three singles from the album, the title track which was the only song to have an MTV music video,[2] "Day After Night", and "Wind".
Richard Egan at AllMusic gave Rat Race four and a half stars out of five.[3] The album was a regional success in the band's hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, and they toured nationally opening for the band, Cold Sweat. The band parted ways with Brian Jack in 1991 and pursued a solo career. Brian was first replaced by Ty Crook in the Winter of 1992 then by Tommy McRae in late 1992.