Dog on the Moon
(Penny & The PineCone People)
Music and Lyrics by Fred Blankenburg. Bass by Russ Montalbano, Drums Vance McNear
"Dog on the Moon" was originally written as a single, and was actually recorded several years prior to the release of our "Dog on the Moon" CD. The Single was to be released as part of a greatest hits package that never materialized. The song was built upon a drum track by Vance McNear; originally intended to appear on "Penny Saves the PineCone Kids". That track was recycled for the song. Guitar, vocals, and keyboards were overdubbed using a Boss 24 track digital Multitracker. Russ Montalbano would later add his Bass track. Sound effects were created by Fred blowing into a microphone and adding distortion. The results were quite astonishing, and the song would later become the focus of our "Dog on the Moon" CD.
If Dogs Ruled the World
(Fred Blankenburg)
Music and Lyrics by Fred Blankenburg. Drums Vance McNear
This song is the finale of our first Penny and the PineCone People CD. Some of the lyrics were actually written by my Father, William Blankenburg (fetch your own slippers while I watch the news, and I'd drive my own car instead of chasing one home) both were his ideas. The original version did not have a cowbell. It was overdubbed in the final mix for the CD. The original version was given out to the first 100 people who purchased tickets for our CD release party; also on that disc were alternate versions of "Mr. Sun Moon and Stars" and some rare outakes of Fred's other solo works. Andy Orr provides the voice of Cautious Cattail at the end of the song. Vance McNear played the drums in addition to the ending piano riff after Cautous Cattail is fired.
Unidentified Flying Dog Biscuit
(Penny & The PineCone People)
Music and Lyrics by Fred Blankenburg, drums Vance McNear
The idea behind "Unidentified Flying Dog Biscuit" goes back many years to Fred's childhood fascination with UFO's. As a youngster Fred spent many hours in a neighborhood tree-fort searching the skies with binoculars for any signs of intelligent life. Who would have known that UFO's weren't extraterrestrial in origin after all! On the song, Fred plays bass, guitar and vocal. Vance McNear plays drums. If you listen closely to the end of the song, at the end of Fred's guitar effect you can actually hear a biscuit crash into a snow bank!
"Unidentified Flying Dog Biscuit" is featured in an advertising campaign by a dog biscuit company called "Yummy Flying Objects". It might be hard to believe, but someone else also had the idea that dog treats could take to the skies! "Yummy Flying Objects" are dog treats shaped like tiny flying saucers. They come in several flavors, baked to order and delivered right to your home.
The PineCone Kids
(Penny & The PineCone People)
Music and Lyrics by Fred Blankenburg. Drums Vance McNear
"The PineCone Kids" was written and recorded for our "Penny Saves the PineCone Kids" CD. Fred came up with the the idea for the song one morning after waking with a melody in stuck in his head. Fred recalls, "it was kind of like having an advertisement for dog food repeating over and over in my mind... I remember walking around the house all morning singing, (Little Champions... Little Champions)", which would later would become the hook of the song (Preemie pine cones... left behind cones).
"In a nutshell, the song tells the story of the PineCone Kids who are prematurely knocked from their branches into Penny's back yard. This song was recorded on a Boss 24 track digital multitracker. Marykate Blankenburg is the voice of the PineCone Kids. Fred Blankenburg plays bass, guitar keyboard and vocal. Vance McNear plays drums. The story-line for the "Penny Saves the PineCone Kids" has become the basis of our live shows.
