I stumbled across this record in our stacks the other day (yet another Uncle Henry special) and decided that rather than trying to find out the history of this group, it would be infiinitely more fun to invent my own. I’ve never heard of The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, let alone listened to any of their music, so they present a perfectly blank canvas on which to fabricate a triumphant and/or tragic story of musical excesses, misunderstood genius, or flying monkeys.
Please join me in this endeavor: Using only the front and back cover art, the song listing (see below) and the lone clue that this album was released on Atco records in 1968, create an imaginary biography for this self-titled release. Want to use midgets, spacemen, and a dancing statue of liberty?? Super – the more out there, the better, as far as I’m concerned. Want to create a fake family history, where this was your mother’s favorite album, and she once had an illicit affair with the oboe player?? Excellent – you’ll probably end up on the NY Times Bestsellers list!
About the only thing discouraged here is the truth. Facts have their place, but sometimes it’s fun to just make stuff up…
Front cover:
Back cover:
Song listing:
[side one]
Sounds Of Time
Began To Burn
Monkey
Bach’s Trio Sonata No.1 In C Major (2nd Movement)
She’s Gone
Poor Pauline
Mr. Tree
[side two]
You Know Just What It’s Like
Studeao Atlantis
Pick Up In The Morning
The Seasons
a) Fall
b) Winter
c) Spring
d) Summer
[Prize alert: the most convincingly humorous and entertainingly ficticious write-up of this album (as selected by The P) will receive a special dk presents... prize package. Best liar wins, so get to scribblin'! Also, I will post my own 100% fabricated write up of this album at some point in the near future (check it out here), so please check back for the sensationalized history of The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble.]
Tags: Choose Your Own Adventure, The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, Uncle Henry
18 March 2008 at 2:02 pm |
Following failed stints at the NYC hair and beauty college this quintet, formally know as the New York Hair Ensemble, picked up their instruments and donned the name The NY Rock and/or Roll Ensemble, which was later shortened to NYRARE because they liked the pseudonym. The name, ironically, was also a harbinger of how often listeners bought their albums in NY, or any other place for that matter.
NYRARE are considered the godfathers of the short-lived spoken word rock and roll movement. Critics have debated whether this album can actually be classified as rock and roll as opposed to just a series of barely audible mumbling. The initial format of the album consisted of each member’s spoken word rendition of their beauty college thesis. After a few smokes, the five members: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer and Monkey, felt that they needed a few more tracks than just their individual titled sessions. After much deliberation (and a few Malboros) they decided to add new tracks which derived their names from what each member was thinking at the time. Although the original notes where lost, historians now believe Monkey was the original author of “Mr Tree” although earlier evidence pointed to Spring.
19 March 2008 at 9:35 am |
a really cool record. you know just what its like is really a beautifully sad song. one of my faves.
19 March 2008 at 9:36 am |
sorry, i didn’t play by the rules…. i’m a rebel like that…
26 March 2008 at 4:13 pm |
Born of an acid trip spent bent over a very full ashtray in 1966, the 5 Flying Cousins Bamboni (AKA The New York Rock and Roll Ensemble) decided to leave their Coney Island Sideshow in pursuit of loftier dreams. (Rocco was the toughest to convince due to his unrequited love for the Bearded Lady.)
As the eldest Bamboni, Mario (known for his glorious moustache), took the reigns and began recording in his Dentist’s basement*. The Quintet quickly realized they had no idea how to play guitar or read music and recording slowed to a halt.
Faced with the inability to write songs, play instruments or sing, the cousins decided to record a concept album based on smoking various brands of cigarettes. The world had never heard anything like it – an entire album of orchestrated coughs, wheezes and inhales set to a background of bic flicks.
Guido favored Parliaments and his masterpiece, “You Know Just What It’s Like” received rave reviews in San Franciscan smoke houses. The pivotal moment in the song where he exhales a long slow smoke ring goes down in infamy as one of the strangest sounds ever recorded.
*It is widely known that Mario has horrible teeth, hence the magnificence of his lip hair.
4 April 2008 at 9:20 am |
Without compromising their dark image as a malevolent rap group from the South, The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble quickly evolved from a humble underground rap collective to a commercially successful dynasty by retaining their raw qualities and releasing countless albums under a number of monikers. Representing Memphis, TN, the group’s six core members — Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, Juicy “J,” and DJ Paul — give the group its dark image, vividly rapping about drug use, violent aggression, pornographic sex, and anything else remotely evil. While these topics weren’t exactly MTV material, they did garner a considerable cult following.
Furthermore, group leaders Juicy “J” and DJ Paul’s cinematic production perfectly compliments the group’s theatrical rapping, causing many to call them the South’s Wu-Tang Clan, as both groups are led by in-house production, feature a closed roster of rappers, and also release innumerable affiliated solo and compilation albums. After releasing their first official album in 1995 and their first major-label album in 1997, The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble soon found themselves on the verge of superstardom; once their self-titled album, The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, debuted at number six on Billboard’s album charts in summer 2000, it became evident that The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble no longer were an underground group. And The Ensemble has yet to let up as the group generates hit after hard-hitting hit. While battle anthems like “Mr. Tree,” “Studeao Atlantis” and “Poor Pauline” will forever cause dance riots in da clubs, label owners Paul and Juicy J (AKA Juice Man) have also loaned their frenzied production skills to such musically diverse artists as Mike Jones, Remy Martin, Ludacris and Ying Yang Twins. But despite all the cred and collegial props and consistent hit-making, the gentlemen in The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble are still the most under-appreciated pioneers in southern rap today. The Ensembles long list of club bangers with cuts like the braggadocios “Pick Up The Morning,” the pimped-out groove “Sounds Of Time,” feature Houston hard hitter Lil Flip, and the angst-filled “Monkey” features headlining label signee Project Pat, who was recently released from prison on probation violation charges. Whether or not The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble is ever recognized as one of the most consistent and prolific groups to arise from the south, The Ensembles’ legacy will continue to speak for itself. Real will always be recognized amongst the real.
29 May 2008 at 6:07 pm |
As a student at the University of Michiagn in 1970 I discovered that albums could be checked out of the Library. I borrowed this one and later came to own it. I love the tune “Mr. Tree” and today whistled it as a good night song to the birds who sing in my neighborhood. They liked it and responded. I think that is more than cool.
I also whistle it to the trees I’ve planted and have become mature in my yard. I thnk that they love it too.
When we are younger we can still appreciate things we previously have known nothing about. May all of us retain this blessed interest so that we are open to things that are new and a little bit strange.
25 June 2008 at 7:05 pm |
FYI, for re-casting the NYR&R Ensemble as a rap collective, Rob won our prize – a $25 iTunes gift card.
Thanks to all who played along on this!