ALL MUSIC (OURS) POSTS
Bigfellas Origin Story (Part 2)
The Exciting Conclusion To Our Beginning
Part 2 shows building the band, early rawness and poor attendance, losing Tim Gadzinski to Wisconin and settling in to what The Bigfellas would end up as.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-09-01 Read post
Bigfellas Origin Story (Part 1)
We Answer What Nobody Was Asking About
Part 1 focuses on why we started playing together in the first place and how glorious those inglourious shows were for the first couple of years. Just three (then five) knuckleheads in music for all of the right, ridiculous reasons.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-08-25 Read post
Never Going Back Again
Or: Going Back To "Never Going Back Again"
A spontaneous Fleetwood Mac cover recorded in under 75 minutes became one of my most popular songs. A look at friendship, music-making, memory, and why some recordings end up meaning far more than expected.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-06-23 Read post
New Song: "Flicker"
An Overdue Cathryn Beeks / Chuck Charles Joint
My friend Cathryn Beeks and I made song a few years ago and we finally released it this week. Everything you want to know about it here. Perhaps it being so easy to make let us forget about the last step in making a song: putting it out into the world.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-04-14 Read post
World's Fair, 1915
First Song From This Year's Album
Yes, factual world history has a place in pop music. Or at least in this song. Not much of length post here, just letting you know the song is available on all of your favorite streaming music places.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2026-03-03 Read post
We Owe You A Christmas Album
For Now, "Mele Kelekimaka"
Here's an early listen of one of our upcoming Christmas songs set for release next year. This post shares the story behind the track and a message for the season.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2025-12-23 Read post
Deja Vu
My Favorite Not Popular Song
I shouldn't describe this as my favorite song I've written that nobody likes. It's just my favorite that people haven't fallen in love with yet. Just a couple of weird guitars, some odd voices and a drummer tapping on a wooden stool.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2025-04-01 Read post
In The Daytime
Our First Music Video - And Memories Of Bigfellas 1.0
Everybody should have access to home movies of themselves. We do with this music video and a short almost film called "Idiots." What's even better about your home movies is that they contain great absent friends AND are legitimately funny.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-12-03 Read post
Stuff On The Moon
Easier To Write A Song Than A 20,000-Word Article For Wired
This post looks at how the track came together, why it ended up closing Chubbed Up, and how humor, curiosity, and being too lazy to be a real writer all aligned to make a spacey groove. A behind-the-scenes look at a Bigfellas song that doesn't shout for attention, but sticks around long after the record ends.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-06-04 Read post
The Hiya Photo That Never Was
Solo Album Cover Outtake
Brief look at a family photo that I almost used for a solo album, but didn't; why I still love this picture of my dad even though it was unusable from the get-go.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2024-03-19 Read post
Merry Xmas - A Free Album From Me
I Mean, It's On Spotify And YouTube So It's Free
Not to sound bitter but all of the places an independent recording artist has to put their music for any exposure means that everybody can listen to it without paying. No worries. I did it anyway with this recent live album. Enjoy, it's all good.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-12-26 Read post
We're Going To Be In The Movies
Upcoming Documentary About Us!
It still feels weird to say but there is going to be a documentary about The Bigfellas called "You Are Here" from Rick Bowman and Backyard Green Films. Read on about an idea so stupid that it just might work.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-12-12 Read post
My TV Friends
The Story Behind The Song
Of all the songs we've done about how terrific television is, this is definitely our favorite. All about the horn section song that gives a taste of what we'd sound like as a 7-person band.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-11-21 Read post
Independence Day
The Story Behind The Song
Everything you want to know about "Independence Day" by Chuck Charles - the origin story, lyrics meaning, the rehearsing and recording. Listen to it here with lyrics and personnel.
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-07-04 Read post
Our Polka Moment
I Wish That I Were Gay - Polka Version
Once upon a time we made an EP with some remixes of our song "I Wish That I Were Gay". If you can turn that song-loving market over to polka: bingo! Jackpot! (That joke works if you've seen The Last Polka with John Candy and Eugene Levy.)
Posted by Charlie Recksieck on 2023-03-14 Read post
