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The Fezziwig Express: The Demo Sessions Collection Vol-I

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Tom Kusek, Paul Nunez, and Keith Heffner (AKA "The Boys") started writing and recording

original Polka songs a couple of years ago. Inspired by Tom Kusek’s Hazelton, PA polka roots,

Keith composed a couple of polkas that were met with immediate critical success

(that means our wives liked them a lot.) The band caught a lucky break when

Polka Joe Manjack began playing the songs on his weekly 
Magic Polka Machine every Sunday 10am-1pm EST.
 So come back and visit our site when you can and look for more polkas coming up as we
explore the essence of the east coast style Tom is so fond of.
 

A little backstory on the songs: 

 

If My Dog Could Dance She’d Do The Polka
 
We sure do love our dogs and when we blast the Magic Polka Machine on

Sundays our German Shepherd loves it. This is just a silly song dedicated to our very own

Polka Pups that we think would love to dance with us—especially to the Polka!
(Not to knock the feline friends of the show, we just don’t have any at home.)
Enjoy! (and remember to give your Polka Pup a big hug today)

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I Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

 

Just a fun little ditty from The Fezziwig Express.

Who among us hasn’t spoken the phrase: “I Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda” at

some point in our lives.This song describes how we get nervous

sometimes before asking someone to dance for the first time.  

Features Paul on the tenor sax.   
“This one has a great beat,” says Peg Kusek (an Arizona Polka Pal)

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There Ain’t No Kielbasi in Ireland

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This song was inspired by a phone call with Polka Joe Manjack before Keith left

for an Ireland trip. He told Joe that he wondered what kielbo tastes like over there.

Joe wished him good luck with that and to report back if he found any when he returned. 

No one goes to Ireland for Polish food, but Keith had to try anyway.

None of the restaurants or pubs he went to had it on their menus—I mean why would they?

It occurred to Keith that there’s gotta be a way to write a funny song about this for the

Magic Polka Machine.  The trip was great and we hope that everyone can go there someday—

But just so you know: There Ain't No Kielbasi in Ireland.

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My Good Friend I’ll Be There

This tune was inspired by Keith’s fellow Fezziwigger Dr. Tom Kusek. Not too long ago,

Tom had been enduring considerable physical pain and mental strain and underwent

a series of operations on his legs and back. (He's doing much better now!) Keith

wrote this polka to cheer him up. Sometimes we all just need to hear the words

even though we know our friends and family are there for us.

So, if you get a chance to tell someone you’re there for them, just say it out loud.

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Our One and Only Polka Joe

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Polka Joe and his Magic Polka Machine have been on the air every Sunday since 1974.

As Joe approaches his 50th year anniversary in May 2024, the Fezziwig Express

wanted to do something special for the DJ that introduced them to

his polka listening fans. We hope he loves the tune and we all hope he stays

on the air for another 50! It just wouldn’t be Sunday mornings without him!

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 Mr. Accordion Man
 
This is a tribute to all the amazing polka accordionists in the world.

And everyone knows “it ain’t no joke-a, it’s really not a polka” without an accordion.

The fictional character, Mr. Accordion Man, represents the quintessential

polka accordion player. Gotta love those bellows shakes . 

So, give them their props (man or woman)

next time you go to hear your favorite polka band! 

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The Drinks Are On Me!

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Tom and Keith keep buying those tickets but never win any more than a dollar or two.

So why not imagine winning and sing about all those lucky signs everyone looks for.

The guy in this song actually wins and wants to tell everyone about it.

Which could cause some concerns, but hey, we all should be so lucky to have that problem!

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My Gal Val

Keith has been bitten by the Polka bug ever since he’s been listening to Polka Joe.

He’s now retired and having a ball working on new Polkas for fun.

“My Gal Val” is a solo venture inspired by

his wife Valerie and a desire to come up with a polka for Valentine’s Day.
He says if he keeps this up, he may have a complete album by Thanksgiving!
(He’s also getting a few year’s worth of good Karma credit from

Valerie as she loves the song too!)

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Home is Where the Heart Is

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Keith wrote this waltz for Val's birthday. Kinda self-explanatory. 

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Don’t Cha Know who I Think I Am!

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Keith says this about the song: 

 “Just poking fun at myself for those moments when I get a big head 

about who I think I am but no one else quite seems to know it”

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Happy Birthday/ Sto Lat

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Keith wrote this original birthday tune and added the traditional

Polish birthday song Sto Lat. This is his first attempt at singing in Polish.

Hopefully he got it close enough for your enjoyment!

May we all live one hundred years!

 
Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boilo!

This song captures the spirit and humor of making Boilo, a traditional holiday libation

attributed to regional PA coal miners. The magic started when band member Tom Kusek shared

his Boilo stories with his pal Keith Heffner. Keith decided to whip up a batch of his own

using a recipe he found in a Susquehanna Valley paper. One sip and he was inspired to write this song.

Click on this link for a video: 

Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boilo!