Classy Penguin
The Books was an American-Dutch duo, formed in New York City in 1999, consi… Read Full Bio ↴The Books was an American-Dutch duo, formed in New York City in 1999, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong. In early 2012, Nick Zammuto announced the end of the duo and the beginning of his solo project Zammuto. Subsequently, Paul de Jong released two solo albums.

Zammuto and de Jong met through a friend in New York City. Sharing similar interests but different backgrounds in acoustic music and found sound, Zammuto and de Jong took their sonic experiments to the studio. Eventually, with some urging by Tom Steinle of Tomlab Records, they created what would become their debut record, 'Thought for Food', in 2002. Within a year, the Books relocated to Hot Springs, NC, and recorded and released 'The Lemon of Pink'. With a lot of favorable word of mouth and critical buzz from the first two records, the Books relocated again in winter of 2004 and recorded in an old Victorian home in North Adams, MA. With the release of 'Lost and Safe' in April of 2005, the Books prepared to tour with their unique blend of samples and acoustic music. All three Books albums were released on Tomlab Records.

One of the most unique aspects of the band was the video compositions which play during their live performances. Video was synched with the music and provide visuals to coincide with the many found-sounds the band employs. According to the band, much of the video was pulled from home movies and ephemeral films bought from thrift stores. For example, on the track entitled 'A Cold Freezin' Night', the many audio samples were pulled from Tiger Electronics Talkboy tapes also acquired from thrift stores.

In the late 2000s, The Books announced the addition of a third member of the band, who plays violin, guitar, and electronics. In August 2010, their final album entitled 'The Way Out' was released on Temporary Residence. 2012 saw a compilation release 'A Dot in Time.'

In early 2012, Nick Zammuto announced the end of the duo and the beginning of his solo project Zammuto. Subsequently, Paul de Jong released two solo albums.

Classy Penguin
The Books Lyrics


We have lyrics for these tracks by The Books:


A Cold Freezin' Night (In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.)…
A Cold Freezin’ Night A cold freezin night. Oh, Baby. Kill em'. I wish I was…
A Dead Fish Gains the Power of Observation a dead fish gains the power of observation speaks the fish …
A Little Longing Goes Away Yes and no are just distinguished by distinction, so we cho…
A True Story of a Story of True Love Anything (x16) A true story of a story of truth With y…
All Bad Ends All ohh, ohh, ohhh You're with me Where's my instrument? …
All Our Base Are Belong to Them 9 8 7 [I heard you got to the top this year] 6 5 4 3 …
All You Need Is a Wall yeah... and if it's a wall, then you should cast…
An Animated Description of Mr. Maps He saw Mars but he felt Neptune, he had hoped to…
An Animated Description of Mr. Maps. He saw Mars but he felt Neptune, He had hoped to…
An Owl With Knees Eat rye straw Leave, withdraw Drink ink tea Stay with me Fa…
Be Good to Them Always That's the picture. You s-you see it for yourself. There it …
Beautiful People [Reverse]Behold the finite set of thirteen convex figures T…
Cello Song Strange face, with your eyes So pale and sincere Underneat…
Cello Song feat. Jose Gonzales Strange face, with your eyes So pale and sincere Underneath,…
Cello Song featuring Jose Gonzalez Strange face, with your eyes So pale and sincere Underneat…
Chain of Missing Links At this extraordinary time in history where consciousness is…
Contempt -What about my ankles, do you like them? Yes. -And my …
Deafkids Kids making noises Silenzio! (*) Kids making…
Enjoy Your Worries You May Never Have Them Again ~No Lyrics~ Voice Samples: "[Cheers]. Eagle." "Fault" "G…
Fralit%C3%A9 Fraternite ??? Il faut chanter On chante parce qu'on aime 1…
Fralité Fraternite ??? Il faut chanter On chante parce qu'on aime…
Free Translator And I see The hold-out boy and the weather girl, Know th…
Getting the Done Job Ear to the ground I sift through Piles of falling letters Co…
Glass Glass At a fork in the road To follow your conscience, or Do…
Group Autogenics I Hello, greetings and welcome. Welcome to a new beginning, fo…
Group Autogenics II Putting your body on the line here, so tuning in…
I Am Who I Am (laughter) Nuttiness. ...Oh you think you're gonna do so…
I Didn't Know That I didn't know that, I didn't know that... (Le cinéma, c'est…
If Not Now Whenever Can we talk some more? I don't know. I don't either. Monda…
It Never Changes to Stop Sit up straight and be quiet, Sit down, son. Sit up straight…
It's Musiiiiic! It's music It's music It's music It's music! It's musi…
La la life Fuck faire les flammes sur snap j'en crache dans la…
Meditation Outtakes MeditationMeditation? Meditation Meditation. Meditation. …
Millions of Millions five point five oh million dollar, eh two point six seven…
Motherless Bastard Child: "Mommy! Daddy...Mommy! Daddy!... Mom? Dad?" Man: "…
No Way I hate this place This living hell Everyone inside Pretends …
None but Shining Hours following the line of the tide reclining living on the fat…
P.S As I write this letter, send my love to you Remember…
Pig RUBBER PIG, RUBBER PIG,RUBBER PIG,RUBBER PIG,RUBBER PIG, RUB…
PS As I write this letter, send my love to you Remember…
Radio I can't feel my legs anymore Can you please help me? There'…
Read Eat Sleep R-E-A-D E-A-T S-L-E-E-P R-E-A-D (okay) Aleatoric. …
S Is for Evrysing Wow So we can see a, uh Where'd he go? What? Yeah They're st…
Smells Like Content Balance, repetition, composition, mirrors. most of all t…
Take Time Tutto è santo Tutto è santo Tutto è santo Non c'è niente di…
that right Ai'nt Shit "Independent. Independent." "As we put it this way. Rich ge…
That Right Ain't Shit "Independent. Independent." "As we put it this way. Rich …
the books I hope you understand, I gotta get this off my…
The Lemon of Pink The lemon of pink Flowing velvet The lemon... of pink …
The Lemon of Pink I The lemon of pink Flowing velvet The lemon... of pink …
The Story of Hip Hop Alright now, shhhh, I have the nicest surprise for you, but…
there is no there I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of…
Thirty Incoming --- "Hello Mary. Called to, um, wish you good evening…
Three Ma gueule le rap c'est RNG T'as pas d'background comme PNG S…
Three Day Night January Monday…
Tokyo Hey! It has been a great pleasure to have you aboard…
Twelve Fold Chain at last it started in the milk? beginning as it all…
Venice Maestro, as you paint this picture would you tell me what…
Vogt Dig for Kloppervok 'Twas brilling, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in…
We Bought the Flood I was born with a teacup on my head, Copper tin…



You'll Never Be Alone 11 autosuggestion you'll never be alone creative imagina…


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Comments from YouTube:

Grant Harris

I can't describe how much joy this has brought me.

Nick Hemphill

2021, and I still haven’t heard another band make music such a memorable experience as this. I hope to get a comment every year reminding me of the date I first heard classy penguin.

runninlikehell

you clearly didn't hear about Penguin Cafe, which is a continuation of the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra and leadered by Arthur Jeffes, Simon's son.

MetalSlugzMaster

The Books had to have been influenced by Penguin Cafe Orchestra. They have so much in common in their soundscapes. I imagine this is a salute to them.

MarkSBTW

that's what I just thought of today!!!!!!!

Gabriel Sarnikov

that it's all about penguins ?

Just Jeanne

was totally thinking the same :)

Gabriel Sarnikov

And such

Gabriel Sarnikov

It's all about penguins

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MajorGeneralPanic

The Books have the power to make you feel good without ever resorting to being sappy.

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