I recorded all 952 songs at my home studio using an 8-channel digital recorder (Tascam Digital Portastudio, DP-01FX/CD). Using the Tascam, I usually record a song three times (layered sound or tracks). The first time I record a track, I play a lead instrument along with the rhythm section, which includes percussion (drums), background strings, or Chorus. The rhythm is controlled by my playing chords on the left side (120 buttons) of my accordion. If I press a C major button, the rhythm and bass play in C major, and if I select a D7 chord with my left hand, the rhythm and bass follow in a D7 pattern. The second track recording is usually a full background sound, such as having an organ, chorus, or strings. With my third track, I play another accompanied instrument with the lead sound. This instrument is played softer than the lead instrument. The majority of my recorded songs have three layers, but a few have only two layers, and a few have four layers.
The different rhythms and orchestral sounds are created by playing my Modern Accordion (Borsini Accordion). This special accordion was Tony Dannon and Oli Petrini's best jazz accordion. They owned Modern Accordion Studio in the Detroit metropolitan area. At its peak, they had more than 1,000 students studying the accordion per week. The studio was well known as The School of Champions. Students competed and would dominate the state, national, and international competitions, always bringing home a large collection of trophies and medals.
I had my accordion installed with a built-in MIDI. My accordion is connected to an Orla XM 600 Orchestra/Rhythm Module. This module was the original module for most of my CD's. In my final ten or so CDs, I no longer use my Orla XM 600. In 2011, I upgraded to the Roland BK7M Backing Unit. The BK7M has hundreds of professional, realistic rhythms. For example, my Orla XM 600 has only four Foxtrot rhythms, whereas my Roland BK7M has a couple of dozen Foxtrot rhythms, and this is the case for all types of rhythms. My Roland BK7M is connected (MIDI) to the Solton Ketron X4 Orchestra Module. The Ketron X4 contains dozens of professional, realistic instrumental sounds and dozens of different rhythms. I don't use my Roland BK7M when playing in a band because I no longer need a rhythm section of drums. After all, a drummer will be providing the rhythms. The Ketron X4 can let me play my bass buttons without affecting the rhythm the drummer is providing. I have my Roland BK7M connected (MIDI) to two other digital sound modules. I use the Korg N1R Sound Module for its great organ sounds like the Hammond B-3, Wurlitzer, Lowrey, Vox, Farfisa, and Thomas. I am also connected to the Ketron SD4 sound module. The Ketron SD4 is at the top for digital, professional instrumental sounds. I started using the Ketron SD4 on CD 47 (only four songs). Albums 48 to 61 contain instrumental sounds from the Ketron SD4 and the Ketron X4. Some of the different instruments you can hear on my CDs are accordion (five different types, including musette), saxophones, clarinets, guitars, vibes, marimbas, mandolins, all percussion, bass, organs (dozens of varieties), harmonica, flutes, strings, chorus, human voices and many more. Each sound module has its own foot pedal so I can control the volume for each module.
Perfidia (Merengae)
The Wayward Wind (Country) BK-7M
I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love Rita Coolidge
Tweedle Dee (1950's Rock)
Rainy Days And Mondays The Carpenters
Arrevederci Roma (Italian Classic)
A Taste of Honey Tiajuana Brass (Lead Trumpet)
Begin The Beguine (Rumba)
If I Fell The Beatles - BK-7m
Beyond The Sea (Lead Clarinet)
Brown Eyed Girl (Caribbean)
Chansonette (Cha-Cha)
Clarinet Polka
Cumana (Salsa)
Drifting and Dreaming (Hawaiian)
I'll Never Smile Again (Old Standard)
Days of Wine and Roses (Foxtrot)
Moonlight Serenade (Glen Miller Classic)
Oblivion (Tango)
On A Slow Boat To China (Swing)
In My Life The Beatles - Bk-7m
It's Impossible (Latin)
Somewhere My Love (Waltz)
The End Of The World (1950's Classic)
Que Sera Sera (Italian Waltz)
Sea of Love Chorus & Alto Sax (1950's Hit)
Take Good Care Of My Baby (Lead Trumpet)
Twilight Time (Old Standard Ballad)
We'll Be Together Again (Soft Jazz)
You And The Night And The Music (Rumba)
You Don't Know Me (Country - Slow)
He Ain't Heavy BK-7m 8 Beat
It's Still Rock And Roll To Me Billy Joel
Nowwhere Man The Beatles - BK-7m
Created March 2006