Here's another iteration of my Nick song. I played multitracked instruments that I recorded with my Tascam M-208 mixer and my Tascam 38 1/2" 8-track reel-to-reel tape recorder. I played my Yamaha DX7 synthesizer keyboard and my electric bass, if memory serves. I collected all this equipment sometime around 1985 or '86.

Here's the earliest musical sketch of the song: on.soundcloud.com/ftNWHzQKwcVFmWs19.

Here's the 2nd musical sketch of the song: on.soundcloud.com/76ESK.

I believe I began drawing my comic character Nick the Cliff Dweller in 1968, or perhaps 1967, when I was 9 or 10 years old. I probably began singing the song around then. The Nick the Cliff Dweller song was inspired by my older brother Buddy who improvised a song with lyrics I didn't use but a tune that I did. Here's Buddy's original lyrics:

Nick the Cliff Dweller he's a fine feller

As swell as swell can be.

He lives on a hill with his moonshine still.

If the bats don't get 'em then the vultures will.

You can see my Nick the Cliff Dweller comics here: michaelanthonybohacz.name/childhood_pictures.html.

I played multitracked instruments that I recorded with my Tascam M-208 mixer and my Tascam 38 1/2" 8-track reel-to-reel tape recorder. I played my Yamaha DX7 synthesizer keyboard and my Yamaha RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer. I collected all this equipment sometime around 1985 or '86. If memory serves, this is the third iteration of my tune "Nucleus'"

Here's where you can hear the first version: https://on.soundcloud.com/V4s6aZvACq5C7zSW9.

Here's where you can hear the second version: https://on.soundcloud.com/cY61om7Ufk2KGFoU6.

If memory serves, this was the first song I ever wrote. I was around 9 or 10 years old. My brother Monte Paul Bohacz and I liked to sing it with our niece and nephew Donna McFarland and James Mefford, celebrating their pets Rusty and Tiki. Finley the fish was my pet. I didn't get around to recording this until 2024.

If memory serves, this was the second song I ever wrote (the first was "Rusty, My Favorite Dog"). It was 1968 and I was ten years old. I specifically remember that when I heard the Beatles’ “Goodnight,” I thought to myself: I came up with my song first. This short version represents the state of the song as I left it when I originally created it. The lyrics cut off after “Listen to the birds sing everyday…” I imagined an elongated section that would repeat into a sunny dreamscape. I didn’t have the patience to compose the extension while young. Happily I have since recorded the song with the extended section. Here’s where you can hear the finished version: https://on.soundcloud.com/4sFgG4TJY5HhugNc6. Here’s a musical sketch: https://on.soundcloud.com/5XDwwVXA4tihE5em9.

Myself having fun in the recording studio. I scratched in audio from a sound effects record while I played with the echo. This was recorded at Faith Chapel Radio Recording Studio in Berwyn (yes, Svengoolie's Berwyn). I had access to that studio after I began working there in January of 1981.

My very talented friend Ralph Warchol outfitted his luxurious basement with a quarter inch reel-to-reel 8 channel recorder. Ralph wrote this, sang lead and backing vocal and played all of the instruments. He got the drums from an LP. This was probably recorded in very late 1982 or 1983.

My very talented friend Ralph Warchol outfitted his luxurious basement with a quarter inch reel-to-reel 8 channel recorder. Ralph wrote this, sang lead and backing vocal and played all of the instruments. HIs girlfriend at the time, Mia DiSantis, also sang. He got the drums from an LP. This was probably recorded in very late 1982 or 1983.

This audio recording, referring to my listening to the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" after Christmas 1967 and its affect on me, was made in February of 2024.

I wrote this tune and played acoustic guitar. Ralph Warchol scratched in audio from a sound effects record as I played. As recording engineer, Ralph also applied tricks with the echo while I played. In this way we improvised with each other live. This was recorded at Faith Chapel Radio Recording Studio in Berwyn (yes, Svengoolie's Berwyn). I had access to that studio after I began working there in January of 1981.

Here's where you can hear a version of the song with Mike Davis singing: on.soundcloud.com/Rhbdi.

Here's where you can hear another version of the song with Ralph Warchol singing: on.soundcloud.com/Ggfs8.

Mike's version of this tune was made for my School of the Art Institute of Chicago student video "Trans-Mission." You can see it here: youtu.be/8WyVV_OXcxU.

I sang a version on my album "Mostly Acoustic" available here: https://on.soundcloud.com/UssrPNYRW7yURbou5.

Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor (WoO 59, Bia 515) for solo piano, commonly known as "Für Elise" (German: transl. For Elise), is one of Ludwig van Beethoven's most popular compositions. It was not published during his lifetime, only being discovered (by Ludwig Nohl) 40 years after his death, and may be termed either a Bagatelle or an Albumblatt. The identity of "Elise" is unknown; researchers have suggested Therese Malfatti, Elisabeth Röckel, or Elise Barensfeld. I'm playing my chord organ version for my nephew Jimmy. My appreciation of Beethoven came from viewing "A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

This piece is from the 8-track cartridge tape “Mike In Concert” that I recored for my brother Buddy's family sometime in or after the fall of 1976. That's my niece Donna and nephew Jimmy, Buddy's children, in the picture with me. My brother Monte appears framed in a photo.