Rosenshontz - Rock N' Roll Teddy Bear

Name: Rosenshontz
Album: Rock N' Roll Teddy Bear
Year: 1986
Style: Children's Pop
Similar Bands: Kids Bob,
"One-Word" Review: Cringeful Embarrassing Multi-Genre Pop
Based Out Of: Brattleboro VT
Label: RS Records

Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

 Rock N' Roll Teddy Bear (1986)

1. Rosenshontz Rap 2:27
2. Do Be Do Good 3:20
3. Billy Don't You Cry Now 3:20
4. Quiet Time 2:55
5. Bobo & Fred 3:28
6. Go For It 3:12 /
7. Rock N' Roll Teddy Bear 2:57
8. Mr. Stringbean 4:40
9. The Circus is Here 3:20
10. Little Light of Mine 3:12
11. The Best That I Can 3:24

Album Rating (1-10): 2.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Gary Rosen - Vox, Classical Guitar
• Bill Shontz - Vox, Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Sax (Roberta Peters)
• Bill Usher - Percussion (Sharon Lois & Bram, Bruce Cockburn, Horseflies, McBride, Dave Essig, David Wiffen, Irish Rovers, Bill King, Truck, Bob McBride, Valdy, Doug McArthur, Stringband, Shirley Eikhard, Willie P Bennett, Raffi, Ron Nigrini, Zachary Richards, Robert Paquette, Marie-Lynn Hammond, Travellers, Sesame Street, Wicky Sears, Mark Rust, Tuin)
• Tom Griffiths - Bass (Sandy Hooks, Jim Thompson, Bob McGrath, Colin Linden, Willie P Bennett, Joe Mavety, Chris Spedding, Dean McTaggart, Terry Blersh)
• Gary Craig - Drums (Bruce Cockburn, Colin Linden, Eddie Schwartz, Chris Hall, Wrabit, Arrows, Air Supply, Teal, Terry Kelly, Alannah Myles, Rita Coolidge, Dan Hill, Eddie Kirkland, Exchange, Scott Dibble & Watertown, Lawrence Gowan, Suzie Vinnick, Barbara Payton, Blackie & Rodeo Kings, Rick Fines, Anne Murray, Aidan Mason, Stephen Fearing, Lennie Gallant, Mae Moore, Salamander Crossing, Katherine Wheatley, Ray Montford, Roberta Michele, Ruthann Springle, Leonore Elaine, Parmela Attariwala, Arlene Bishop, Kathleen Edwards, John McDermott, Rex Goudie, Melissa O'Neil, Linda McLean, Charlie A'Court, Edwin, Tyler Kyte, Agnessa, George Canyon, Twilight Hotel, Sora, Terri Clark, Jenn Grant, Jim Brickman, Justin Rutledge, Ian Tamblyn, Kirsten Jones. Tim Chaisson, Jadea Kelly, Lee Harvey Osmond, Doug Paisley, Stuart Ward, Jenny Scheinman, Eden Brent, Lindi Ortega, Steph macpherson, Lucas Chaisson, Steve Dawson, Big Dave McLean, JadeMya, Michelle Willis, Campbell Woods, Fred Penner, Trailerhawk, Nashville Cast, Joe Aylward)
• Bucky Berger - Drums (Chiliwack, Rise and Shine Band, Rough trade, The Canadian Aces, Flying Bulger Klezmer Band, Raffi, Murray McLauchlan, Compass, John Mays, Fruteland Jackson, Garnett Ford, Marie-Lynn Hammond, Mendelson Joe, Jerry Brodey, Scott Merritt, David bradstreet, Chris & Ken Whiteley, Available Space, Morgan Davis, Brent Titcomb, Fred penner, Eric Anderson, Deborah Dunleavy, John Hammond, Sylvia Tyson, Jackie Washington, Mose Scarlett, Penny Lang,grit Laskin, Amos Garrett, Kathy-Reid Naiman, Fathead, Garth Hudson, Treasa Levasseur, Al Lerman, harmonica Shah, 
• John Bride - Guitar (Greaseball Boogie Band, Shooter, Time Twins, Stella, Partland Brothers, Rita Chiarelli, The Panthers, Men Without Hairs)
• Keven Breit - Electric Guitar (Folkalarm, Sisters Euclid, Stretch Orch, Superfenerous, The Guess Who, Norah Jones, k.d. lang, Janis Ian, the Breits, Celine Dion, Jane Siberry, Amos Lee, Rosanne Cash more)
• Ray Parker - Synth, Piano (Cargo, barry White, Blue Peter, Muscle Tones, O Ji Ji,. Cliff Edwards, Sharon Lois & Bram, Semsame Street, Keith Hampshire, Albert Hall, Sidney Bechet, The Front, Bob McGrath, Stan Rogers, Terry Carisse, Ken Tobias, Guido Luciani, Brian Browne, Terry Kelly, Anita Perras, Joan Kennedy, Eric Nagler, Rankin Family, Susan Aglukark, JP Cormier, Celtic Connection, Bruce Guthro, Jeff Heley Band, Good Brothers, Cyril MacPhee, Louise Lambert)
• Alex Dean - Alto & Tenor Sax (Al Henderson, Bobby Rice, DEW East, Kieran Overs, Rob McConnell, Kam Falk, Sharon Lois & Bram, Jim & Rosalie, Sesame Street, Aaron Davis, Henry Kucharzyk, Jeffrey Hatcher, Purplechanges, Arlene Smith, Barry Elmes, RJimmy Riley, Cynthia Schloss, Kieran Overs, Wayne Wade, Tyrone Taylor, Memo Acevedo, Acoustics, Oliver Jones, John Herberman, Mel Torme, Tom Leadbeater, Universal Honey, Matt Minglewood, Dave McMurdo, Humber Jazz Ensemble)
• Colina Phillips - Backing Vox (Laurie Bower, Northern Lights, Sway, Hollywood Vampires, Tiaras, Alabama, Alice Cooper, Triumph, Moxy, Anne Murray. Nils Lofgren, Doug & the Slugs, Murray Mclauchlan, Rough Trade, Bruce Cockburn, Martha & the Muffins, Rick Moranis,   more
• Sharon Lee Williams - Backing Vox (Basic Black & Pearl, Northern Lights, Sway, Hollywood Vampires, Michael Bolotin, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Rough Trade, Moxy, Bruce Cockburn, Martha & the Muffins, Rick Moranis, Anne Murray, Atomic Betty, more)
• Shawne Jackson - Backing Vox (Sweet Blindness, Hollywood Vampires, Majestics, Mandala, Domenic Troiano, Rory Block, Bill Amesbury, Alice Cooper, Diane Heatherington, Murray McLauchlan, Long John Baldry, Doug & the Slugs, Rough Trade, Bob & Doug McKenzie, Garnett Ford, Wrabit, Moe Koffman, Rick Morrison, Robotman & Friends, Craig Ruhnke, Lisa Price, Bruce Cockburn, Martha & the Muffins, Santers, Luba,  Robert Armes, Doug Cameron, Sheree jeacocke, Partland Bros, Voices With Heart, Christopher Ward, Siobhan Crawley, Hugh Marsh. Rick Moranis. Sheree, Lisa Lougheed, Rick Santers, Patria, Sattalites)
• John Whynot - Synth Emulator (Bruce Cockburn, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Colin Linden, Blue Rodeo, Whitenoise, harlan Pepper  more)
• Kevin Doyle - Engineer
• Ivar Vaag - Asst. Engineer
• Scott Boyling - Asst. Engineer
• Marjorie Merena - Art Direction & Design
• W. Allan Gill - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but it looks quite interesting...i mean the album name is quite juvinile, as are the photos of stuffed animals with instruments. However, the two members are two older, middle aged men. There is a quote of praise from Parents Magazine (and Newsweek), so maybe this is designed for little kids. 

Album Review: Wow. I don't think i've ever heard anything more embarrassing. Not really sure who this is for, or who would actually think about buying this for themselves or their kids. It is just awful style representations of rock, "rap (which sounds closer to Devo)" pop, vaudevillian country, with lyrics that try to relate to young children or present motivational anecdotes. One can only hope there were all only good intentions with this duo, as they do have a 9+ album discography (and i've only seen positive reviews and praise, so that's great to discover). Still,  I hope this was no child's first experience with music. One of their songs was picked up and played on Captain Kangaroo in the mid 70's, and from there, they transitioned from an adult act to a kids act, moving from NYC to VT. When their popularity waned in 1993, they split ways and performed solo-ly independently, only reuniting once as a benefit for an ailing Rosen in 2005. He passed away in 2007 from ALS. Shontz focused more on environmental education in music, and made his solo career almost completely void of Rosen. As they invited kids to their shows to bring their favorite teddy bears in the audience, it should be no surprise that their big hit was Teddy Bears' Picnic, which even became an emmy nominated video.

Stand Out Track: The Best That I Can

Links:

Spotify Full Album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Rosen article Morning Call 1999

geek usa

rotten tomatoes Teddy Bears' Picnic