Album Notes

Uncle Rock U, a collection of 17 songs, explores the joy, excitement and imagination of childhood. The album also reflects Uncle Rock’s indie-rock background (former bassist with The Fleshtones), his theatrical gifts (the lead in the London production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story) and his knack for connecting with children (being a Dad himself, as well as a preschool teacher).

National press has praised Uncle Rock and his previous records for “…treating [his] juvenile audience with respect, not condescension—and making music that really rocks” (LA Times, which ranked his sophomore effort Plays Well With Others as one of the best albums of 2006 - in all categories). Cookie Magazine included the CD in their ‘Roundup of the Best Music for Kids’. And Harp Magazine raves: “they [kids and their parents] just wanna rock with Uncle Rock, whose colorful, engaging, subversive tales of shoe bandits, disco naps, sugar highs and swashbucklers have made him a hit on the children’s circuit.”

Several of Uncle Rock's songs - including cuts from Uncle Rock U. - have become mainstays on Sirius satellite radio's channel 116 Kids Stuff, resulting in a recent invitation to come to the Sirius studios and record live exclusive versions of much-requested tunes.

Uncle Rock - AKA Robert Burke Warren - looked to his experiences with his son, Jack, as well as his time spent as a teacher at a nearby rural pre-school for the direction of his latest record.

“I created a fictional show for the kids in my life,” Warren explains, “with different characters – Captain Courage, Hippie Harvest, Grumpy Gus - and some compelling subject matter for children and their parents to experience through song; we marvel at bats, polar bears dealing with global warming, the wonder of local and homemade food, etc. Questions and curiosity are encouraged.

“The backdrop of the whole collection is your genial host Uncle Rock, who lets kids know, ‘It’s all right, you can’t go wrong/ Anything, everything can be a song.’ Music is a great resource for kids – for anybody – to explore all aspects of their world, both outer and inner.

“The material has an edge to it, both sonically and thematically, and that comes to me naturally. It sets me apart from a lot of what’s out there,” Warren says. “Songs like “Too Many Presents!,” “Predator Dinosaur,” and “The Elephant In The Room” explore the shadows, while “Play Outside Today,” “The Season Of Light” and “Baby Loves The Moon” are all about the light.”

Uncle Rock U allows and encourages folks young and old to delve into the many facets of their world, with music as their escort. Uncle Rock’s thought-provoking lyrics, easy-to-sing-along-to vocals, and catchy melodies involve not only the young fans—but their parents too.