Charm City Sound Recordings
Click on some of the CD's below to sample select songs! To buy any of Charm City Sound's CDs, just send your $15 check or money order to Mike Matousek, 8372 Williamstowne Drive, Millersville, MD 21108. The price includes shipping and handling!
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“Christmas Lights”
"Christmas Lights" is like no other holiday CD you've ever heard!.
After a year of work, Charm City Sound proudly presents their most recent masterpiece, "Christmas Lights". "Christmas Lights" is truly a unique collection of works that manages to capture the wide range of emotions stirred by the holiday season. The CD opens with the group's "Christmas card", a lively original tune from which the recording gets its name. In fact, half of the selections are original CCS compositions and the rest include refreshing versions of classics like: "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", "Dzisiaj Betlejem", and "Little Drummer Boy". All the cuts are executed with rich arrangements in a superior commercial-quality production. Thanks to the traditional flavor of Little Wally's "Zebym Mi Santa Claus", the contemporary feel of the original rock/oberek, "Tell The World", the sentimental original ballad "Lots of Butterfly Kisses", the festive vibe of "What Christmas Means to Me", and the solemn "Song for a Winter's Night", the musical spectrum is covered with a holiday flavor. By the time you've heard the last few measures of the band jamming to, "And We Played", you will have experienced the diverse musical joys of the holidays. You will have heard the true meaning of Christmas proclaimed as well! Even IPA Polka Hall of Famer Jimmy Weber croons a couple tunes on the album! Other guest artists and surprises are featured as well, so getting your hands on this CD is a must!. Click on the CD cover above, and get yours now!
“Charmed
and Dangerous”
“Charmed and Dangerous”, Charm City Sound's fifth release, truly breaks new ground.
As with CCS' past recordings, this new CD is loaded with new material that’s influenced by a variety of musical genres. The seventeen selections featured on the disk are comprised of eight original compositions, three traditional songs, and six exciting arrangements of popular hits. This is definitely Charm City Sound’s most ambitious and creative recording effort to date. “Charmed and Dangerous” is unique in that it was specifically developed to entertain current fans while appealing to new listeners who may never have been exposed to CCS’s music before.
The CD takes the listener on an emotional, musical journey as Polish, Latin, Pop, Country, and Rock influences emerge from song to song. “Gdzie Ty Idziesz” and “Na Wawel” will particularly connect with those who enjoy a lively, traditional sound with Polish lyrics. “Sweet Lullaby”, a sentimental original waltz based on a Polish prayer, should warm those same hearts as well. The signature Charm City Sound style is evident in original songs like “Everything Is Fine”, “Do You Believe”, “Someone Special”, and “I’ll Get By”, while “Dance With Me” and “Quando Quando Quando” rekindle that Mediterranean sizzle that made CCS’s “Marina” a number one hit. Covers like “If You Only Knew”, “I Think I’m Going To Like Loving You”, and “Coloring Book” fit perfectly in the musical mix. Adding an extra dimension to the recording, the rock-infused originals “Got To Go” and “The Game”, as well as the moving ballad/oberek “In Her Room”, project that commercial, contemporary feel that modern listeners expect. For pure extra fun, dynamic arrangements of “Mr. Paul” and “Dance like A Musician” (clever parodies of “Charlie Brown” and “Dance Like An Egyptian”) were included to complete the diverse musical experience.
This is the CD that will excite both current and potential fans.
“Too Much of a Good Thing?”
During the five years prior to the release of this recording, Charm City Sound built a reputation as one of the most original contemporary push bands in the country. Their previous three recordings, loaded with clever, novel, original compositions, helped develop the band’s distinctive identity.
Well, CD number four carries on the tradition and even takes it up to a new level! “Too Much of a Good Thing?” is packed with sixteen songs demonstrating Charm City Sound’s infamous diversity of styles. The exciting original polkas include “Too Much of a Good Thing?”, “My Sunshine”, and “Here We Go Again” written and sung by accordionist Nicky DiSebastiano. He also wrote and sings “Drink ‘til I’m Sober” oberek, and is featured on Amanda Oleyar’s original “A Reason, A Season, A Lifetime”. Leader and bassist Mike Matousek is featured on the vocals of his powerful original contributions, “Livin’ On Polka Time” and “Falling Again”. Trumpeter Mike Ziemski croons his own tunes that include, “From Me to You”, and “Hearts are Breakin’ Again” co-written with Jerry Adamski. Even concertina player Ted Borzymowski sings a tune co-written by Mike Matousek called, “No I Never”. That’s nine, new, dynamic tunes!
Are there any traditional favorites on the disk? You bet! Drummer Johnny Pilch Jr. sings his renditions of “Cium, Cium” and The Boys’ classic, “I Can’t Help But Wonder” . And trumpeter Randy Cusick gets into the act with his vocals on “My Heart Skips a Beat” . Even the old New Brass hit, “You Turn Me On” is featured with Mike Ziemski on the Polish vocal. Throw in the beautiful waltz, “Walk Through This World” and the fantastic Slovenian-style, “Newberry Polka” and all the bases are covered!
You’ve got it all; ten contemporary originals, five traditional classics and a “button box” favorite. Without a doubt, “Too Much of a Good Thing?” reiterates Charm City Sound’s unique polka power and charm. Remember, there’s no such thing as “too much of a good thing”!
"Third Time's A Charm"
"Third Time’s A Charm", Charm City Sound's third release, again features the talents of Mike Matousek, Nick DiSebastiano, Al Puwalski, Dave Jankiewicz, Mike Charney, and Ted Borzymowski. Much like their award-winning "Charmed" CD, this disk "pushes" all the right bottons.
"Third Time's A Charm" is packed with 16 selections representing a variety of styles including Polish, Honky, and Slovenian. Seven original songs, four new contemporary arrangements, three Polish classics, and two "button box tunes" are all featured on this entertaining recording. The voices of Nicky D, Al, Mike and Ted are again cleverly utilized throughout the disk. Even the young and talented female vocalist, Randi Bradley, performs a couple cuts including her exciting rendition of "These Boots Were Made For Walking". Nick's "Those Bitter Sweet Memories", and Mike's "In My Heart You'll Stay" are two of the original hits.
All in all, "Third Time’s A Charm" is a collection of 16 tunes carefully orchestrated to provide something for everyone who loves push music. The diversity of song selection and styles guarantees this CD to entertain the most discriminating listener.
"Charmed"
Charm City Sound's second release "Charmed" is the perfect
sequel to "Turn On The Charm." Once again the talents of leader, Mike Matousek
(bass, banjo, vocals), Mazurka Al Puwalski (trumpet, clarinet, vocals), T,
Nicky DiSebastiano (accordion, keyboards, vocals), Dave Jankiewicz (trumpet,
accordion), Mike Charney (drums) and Ted Borzymowski (concertina, button
box, vocals) combined to give the fans what they asked for; an innovative
and diverse "push" CD.
This recording is packed with sixteen cuts that represent Polish, Slovenian, Eastern, Italian, Country and even Cajun musical styles. Al’s arrangements and vocals on "On The Far Side Of The Lake", "Polish Highlander", and "My Confessor Warned Me", epitomize the classic "push" and "honky" sounds. Nick’s renditions of "Marina" and "Cupid" reveal his unique Italian flare and popular style. He also contributes a charming original waltz called Momma’s Song. Mike M. adds his own dynamic yet thoughtful tune, "What Kind Of Love" and croons his brother Stephen's original waltz, "Picture On The Wall."
Making her polka debut, the young and exciting female vocalist Randi Bradley, is featured on "Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad" and sings a duet with Al on "I Wanna Be Yours Forever." Special guest Ryan Ogrodny can be heard fiddling’ around on this Cajun cut, as well as the country-flavored, "Flowers On The Wall" sung by Al and Mike. Even the one and only IPA Hall of Famer, Lenny Gomulka, makes a cameo appearance on sax playing the Slovenian instrumental, "Windy City". Add in those legendary piano parts played by Randy Koslosky, and you have a mix that made "Charmed" on of the most entertaining CDs of its time. In fact, Nicky's "Marina" was voted the Favorite Song Of 2001 by the United States Polka Association.
"Turn on the Charm"
The CD that started it all. Released in 1999, Charm City Sound's first recording, "Turn on the Charm" instantly established the group as a major force among the contemporary "Push" bands. By mixing new original material like "Turn On The Charm", "Cheating Maria", "There Goes My Baby", and "Schizophrenic Diatribes", with some classics like "Blonde Bombshell", "High Bounce", and "Leaving For The Front", CCS put together a recording that celebrated both the legacy and progression of the musical genre. "Under The Influence", a high-powered rendition of a Blue Grass tune, really shows what "Push" is all about. All the original CCS members: Mike Matousek, Al Puwalski, Nicky DiSebastiano, Dave Jankiewicz, Mike Charney, and Ted Borzymowski are featured on this disk along with special guests : IPA Hall of famer, Frankie Liszka, Ryan Ogrodny, Randy Koslosky and Tom Puwalski.