It’s always exciting when you unearth an album you’ve never seen or heard of before, then you go home and Google it only to find that it doesn’t exist. In the case of David Krajcik’s “Did You Ever Wonder Why” the only Google result is for the track “Animals Are Everywhere,” which was the third track to appear on a freeform radio playlist compiled in August of 2012. Other than that, the record does not appear to have any presence anywhere on the Internet.
So, what do we know about the artist? David Krajcik was a children’s musician. That’s apparent from listening to the record. It’s also written in the liner notes on the back cover:
“Once in a while a childrens [sic] album appears that motivates and captures the imagination of a child. David Krajcik has written and performed the songs on this album that will invite children of all ages to sing along. Each song has a smooth textured sound that encourages creative expressions in a variety of rhythms. David Krajcik is a Special Education teacher in Ohio, and has written a childrens [sic] books series with the same title of this album that is to be released within the next year.”
If such a book was ever released, one would think it would reach a wider audience, and thus Internet searches for “David Krajcik” and “Did You Ever Wonder Why” would return many more results. Similar web searches for Krajcik within the state of Ohio and nationwide as a teacher came up largely empty. Although there was one interesting article that might be related published on an Ohio news website in December of 2011. It seems that one of the finalists on the last season of “The X-Factor” was named Josh Krajcik (of Columbus, Ohio). The News Leader (focusing on Minerva, Malvern and the Tri-County Area, Ohio) pointed out that there was a local connection between Josh and his second-cousin, David Krajcik, a former Malvern teacher and owner of the Minerva Music Center. Coincidence? Who knows!
As for the album, well, hear it for yourself and decide whether or not you like it. Musically (minus the kazoos) there are plenty of moments that could have hinted at a potential folk/acid-folk career for the singer/guitarist, but the simple melodies and child back-up singers get in the way too much for this to be consider some kind of lost psych/acid gem. By the way, the three kids who sing along with David were Jeanie Fleming, Natalie Baltzer, and Benjamin Payne. Bruce Whitsel engineered the session(s), and all songs were written, composed and performed by David Krajcik.
Will I ever find out the meaning of the inscription on the front cover!? “To: Mac, Never stop believing / Never stop growing / & Never stop dreaming. David Krajcik”? Probably not! Oh, well…
Dig in.
David Krajcik
Did You Ever Wonder Why
(Kopperhead Productions, Inc.)
MediaFire DL Link
01. Did You Ever Wonder Why
02. Colors Are Everywhere
03. The Letter Parade
04. Counting Can Be Fun
05. The Days Roll Along
06. Senses
07. Animals Are Everywhere [MP3]
08. What I Want To Be
09. Faces-Faces
10. Taking Care Of Your Body
11. See The Wind
