VANCOUVER (CP) - Daniel Cook is singing a few lines from "Down By the Bay" to illustrate his part in the ditty on a new CD inspired by his hit children's television series "This is Daniel Cook." "Well, I never had a really good singing voice," says the kid with a penchant for frank one-liners from his home outside Hamilton, Ont.
The CD, called "This is Daniel Cook: Here We Are!" includes an eclectic mix of musical styles including rock, jazz, country, Celtic, hip hop, reggae and Elvis Presley-style rockabilly on a tune called "Chocolate Cake."
Many of the songs are inspired by the Gemini-Award nominated show.
Three versions of the theme song from the series are included on the CD - an extended take on the original, another with the Toronto Youth Symphony Orchestra and a third track for karaoke fans.
Then there's the funky, synthesized "This is Daniel Cook Breakdancing," which introduces yet another musical element on the record that includes an array of instruments such as the banjo, harmonica and horns.
A track called "It's Daniel Cook," which Daniel co-wrote with Barenaked Ladies' vocalist and guitarist Ed Robertson, also features the young TV star singing.
The tune is from an episode of the TV series when Daniel learned about the art of songwriting.
Mark Bishop, the show's executive producer, says Daniel had worked hard the night before to come up the lyrics.
"When he and Ed started to jam together it was like two kids playing in the sandbox," says Bishop, adding Robertson wanted to ensure the tune would one day be released.
He says the CD that has come along two years later includes a variety of tunes that can withstand repeated listens.
"We wanted something that parents would play, that wouldn't be like a traditional kids' record, where you'd put it on and want to leave the room."
Classics among the 26 tracks inject some nostalgia into the record and include "Puff the Magic Dragon" and a catchy version of "The Candy Man," which Daniel introduces by saying: "Sometimes sugar helps your brain."
But it's the infectious rendition of "Old McDonald" that will have parents bopping around the house and playing the same song over and over and over again.
There's also a Stray Cats-sounding "The Cat Came Back" and a Bob Marley-like take on "Shortnin' Bread."
Terry Brown, who produced 10 albums for the rock band Rush, did the mixing on Daniel's CD, which he says is a huge departure from the ho hum variety of cheaply produced kids' records.
"There's quite a variety of different genres and I think that's a really good thing, with different-sized bands on each tune, which I thought was really cool."
As for Brown's favourite tune, he gives thumbs up to the Irish jig "Tell My Ma," which was inspired by an episode of Daniel's show in which he makes his mom a Valentine's card.
"I couldn't stop singing it, drove me crazy," says Brown, who also produced Blue Rodeo's first album Outskirts, and Cutting Crew's hit "Died In your Arms," in the mid 1980s.
"I always fancied myself doing a kids' CD, something that was intelligent," he says. "It was quite fun and challenging, too. There were 40 tracks on some of those tunes."
Laura Hunter, vice-president of the Children's Group, says the record label went beyond its typical classical picks for kids with Daniel's CD because it doesn't talk down to youngsters.
"We didn't dumb it down," she says. "It's got great artists, great musicians."
So does Daniel, who will turn 10 on May 10, consider himself an up-and-coming recording star?
"I like working with the equipment," he says, adding he's really a science guy who's mostly into dinosaurs.
Daniel's dad, Murray Cook, who's joining his son on the call, adds: "He likes playing with the microphones and some of the equipment that they use for mixing."
After wrapping up another show, called "This is Daniel Cook, I Dare You," Daniel is set to start filming another series in August called "Dino Dan."
After that, it's anyone's guess.
"Life has its own path," he says. "You can't tell the future."
