Rochmon Record Club At Caffe Lena

The Art is IN the Story Telling

 

 

William G. Gotimer, Jr.

 

Art takes many forms. Most directly art is a creation or performance, but sometimes, the art can be in the telling of the story behind the creation or performance and so it is in Saratoga Springs through the Rochmon Record Club.

Presented regularly at Caffé Lena and other locations in the Capital region, the Rochmon Record Club can be difficult to explain to newcomers.  Part history lesson, part college class, part listening session, the full experience is truly more than the sum of its parts. The brainchild of Chuck Vosganian, assisted by his wife Karen, each Rochmon Record Club session dispenses a lifetime of knowledge and experience from Vosganian on all things rock and roll. Vosganian’s love for both the music and its creators is evident during each presentation as he couples his experience with painstakingly meticulous research to dissect a chosen classic rock and roll album from start to finish.

The examination of the subject album is complete. No stone is left unturned – be it the history of the artists, the genesis and lyrics of each song, the musicians on each track, the art work on the album cover, the metrics behind the album’s performance – all tinged with humor, audience participation and fun.

The songs themselves are played over Caffe Lena’s superb sound system in the order    presented on the album by the artists (with lyrics displayed) with narration by Vosganian.  The two hours fly by buoyed by a short intermission that includes a short trivia quiz for prizes consisting of Rochmon Record Club pens and local merchant discount coupons.  (As you would expect in the spirit of the event the quiz is self-graded on the honor system.)

Each monthly session is akin to a comfortable night listening to a classic album with knowledgeable friends – because that is what it is.  The venue, the presentation, and the crowd are all relaxed in ways rarely felt in public.  It is a pure form of entertainment – no marketing, no commercialization, no pressure – just celebration. That something this entertaining and affordable has avoided ruination by the urge to commercialize or exploit it is a tribute to Vosganian’s mission (and that of Caffe Lena) which is to simply share the joy felt from music and its production and presentation.

It is no easy task for Vosganian to put together each 15,000 word factually detailed multi-media presentation and its clear the research is Vosganian’s and Vosganian’s alone without the use of Artificial Intelligence – (another form of art in short supply).

A roomful of friends in a comfortable setting, which in many ways, could describe much of Saratoga itself. Rochmon Record Club at Caffe Lena is yet another reason why my grandmother was correct when she used to advise “If you are lucky enough to be in Saratoga – you are lucky enough.”

Note: Next two presentations

• January 20, 2026 “Boston”

• February 17, 2026 “Bat Out of Hell” – Meatloaf

 

About the author – Bill Gotimer makes his home in Saratoga Springs with his wife Elise. Both are practicing attorneys and Bill regularly writes articles on horse racing and entertainment.