line up 1 (1967-72)

- Brian Corrigan -- rhythm guitar

- Martin Futterman aka Mark Snow) -- drums, percussion, oboe

- Michael Kamen (RIP 2003) -- vocals, keyboards, Arp synthesizer,

  oboe

- Clifton Nivison -- vocals, guitar, percussion

- Dorian Rudnytsky -- vocals, bass, cello

  line up 2 (1972)

- Martin Futterman aka Mark Snow) -- drums, percussion, oboe

- Michael Kamen (RIP 2003) -- vocals, keyboards, Arp synthesizer,

  oboe

- Clifton Nivison -- vocals, guitar, percussion

- Dorian Rudnytsky -- vocals, bass, cello

- Peter Autschbach Projekt (Dorian Rudnytsky)

- The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Dennis Whitted)

- Michael Kamen (Dennis Whitted)

- Former Members Of The N.Y. Rock Ensemble

Genre: rock

Rating: * 3 stars

Title: Freedomburger

Company: Columbia

Catalog: KC 31317
Year: 1972

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $25.00

Along with streamlining the name to "New York Rock Ensemble", the band's fifth studio set featured a change in musical direction.  Under producer John McClure this time around their efforts to meld classical musical elements with rock moves was all but absent.  With the exception of a poorly advised cover of Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale"  1972's "Freedomburger" (horrible name for a record album), focused on giving the quartet a straight-ahead rock sound. With drummer Martin Futterman, singer/keyboard player Michael Kamen, guitarist Clifton Nivison and bassist Dorian Rudnytsky all contributing to songwriting chores, tracks like "More Like the Master", "Magic Lady" and "Kiss Your Future" focused on giving the quartet a straight-ahead rock sound.  While their classical-rock fusion had always frustrated me, the shift to conventional rock didn't really do them any favors. It wasn't that they didn't have their share of talent, rather there wasn't much here to distinguish them from the flood of more talented early-'70s bands. The title of their previous album, the title track "Roll Over" made it on to this LP and served as the best rocker.  Elsewhere, bassist Dorian Rudnytsky's ballad "Barrel Full of Wine" was the album's most captivating track.  Not a stunning collection, but for a band rapidly running out of creative steam, it wasn't half-bad.

Here are the album credits and liner notes: "Halloween 1971 was our fifth birthday.  We've been working about a year to finish this 5th album.  (The changes just wouldn't stop happening.)  Happily, in all this time an amazing bunch of people have come wandering through the studio, playing and singing and dancing and everything.  We'\d like to thank various brothers, sisters, wives and lovers and Norman Weiss for helping us get the lead out, and Bruce for his computer mind, and Adrian (love always).  M.J. for her everything.  Bruce Nichol for his. David Bromberg for David Bromberg, the "B.J/." Road Crew (wherever they are), John McClure for superhuman patience and his charge account at Stage Deli, and Clive Davis for the New Year's in Jamaica - and of course Murray - who wanted to call the album "Between the Buns" - but you all know where that's at."  The Paul Davis cover art was kind of cute.

"Freedomburger" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) More Like the Master (Michael Kamen) - 3:23 rating: *** stars

"More Like the Master" opened the album with a Gospel-rocker. Complete with Kamen's come-to-Jesus styled vocals and some nice Clifton Nivison lead guitar, it sounded a but liked a frenzied Delaney and Bonnie performance.  Nothing progressive here.

2.) Magic Lady (Cliff Nivison) - 2:44 rating: *** stars 

Nivision did have the best voice in the group, but his slightly raw, raspy delivery was well suited for their new-found rock direction.  He was also a more than decent lead guitarist.

3.) I'm Sending A Friend To You (John McClure - Martin Ulsterman - Michael Kamen) - 2:34 rating: *** stars  

Shifting to a ballad, "I'm Sending A Friend To You" wasn't bad.  The title and refrain were a bit wordy and cumbersome and the female backing singers added little.  Kamen's cheesy Arp '70s synthesizers were certainly old school, but I'm a sucker for those nostalgic sounds.

4.) Kiss Your Future (Adrian Barber - Michael Kamen) - 2:40 rating: *** stars  

The first time I heard "Kiss Your Future" I wondered if I'd mistakenly slapped a J. Geils Band LP on by mistake.  The snide, smirky vocals certainly reminded me of Peter Wolf, as did the stick-it-to-the-man '70s lyrics.   Really doubt he's "a good boy now" ...

5.) Whiter Shade of Pale (Gary Brooker - Keith Reid) -3:36 rating: * stars

Perhaps it was meant to show they could still play classical instruments (cello, oboe, piano), but I've always been at a loss as to why they thought covering this Procol Harum classic was a smart thing to do.  It wasn't.  Yeah, it was nice to see Martin Futterman and Dorian Rudnytsky given a chance to showcase their classical training, but for goodness sakes, just listen to the original since their cover really doesn't deviate from that arrangement.  Even more bizarre given Columbia decided to release the song as a single:

- 1972's "Whiter Shade of Pale" b/w "Roll Over" (Columbia catalog number 4-45574)

6.) Willow Tree Violin (Dr. Michael Dreyfuss - Michael Kamen) - 2:30 rating: * stars

The country ballad "Willow Tree" was a complete miss for me.  McKendree Spring's Michael Dreyfuss featured on fiddle

(side 2)

1.) Shuffle (Cliff Nivison) - 1:57  rating: *** stars  

Even though it was a shuffle, "Shuffle" was the album's most pop sounding performance. It wasn't a great performance, but I liked Nivison's wah-wah guitar on this one.

2.) Barrel Full of Wine ((Dorian Rudnytsky) - 2:35 rating: **** stars

Bassist Rudnytsky's lone writing contribution, the atmospheric ballad "Barrel Full of Wine" boasted the album's best melody.  Not sure if Rudnytsky handled the multi-tracked lead vocals, but whoever it was had the band's best voice.  This was the track I would have tapped as a single.

3.) Carry Me Up (Michael Kamen) - 3:41  rating: *** stars   

Kamen's soulful ballad "Carry Me Up" was another track reflecting a Southern Gospel edge (funny for a bunch of New York City guys).  Pretty tune and one of his best vocals.

4.) Roll Over (Cliff Nivison) - 3:09 rating: **** stars 

I'm sure there was a reason for it, but even though their fourth studio album was entitled "Roll Over", the title track didn't appear on the LP.  For anyone who was curious, the song made it onto the fifth album.  Powered by Nivison's guitar "Roll Over" was the album's best rocker and was probably the song most likely to do well on the charts.  That made it odd it was relegated to the "B" side on their "Whiter Shade of Pale" 45.

5.) Raise Your Barriers (Cliff Nivison - Martin Fultermann - Michael Kamen) - 2:54 rating: ** stars

A blues-rock ballad, "Raise Your Barriers" just never shifted into first gear and went underwater when the female backing singers kicked in.

6.) Goodnight Irene (John Lomax - Leadbelly) - 2:52  rating: *** stars   

Opening up with Martin Futterman funky drum pattern their arrangement of Leadbelly's blues classic "Goodnight Irene" turned it into a Band slice of Stax-flavored soul.  Not bad though I suspect blues purists will be appalled.

 © Scott R. Blackerby January, 2026