Marc Soucy Rewinds to 1983 with High-Energy Jazz-Rock Revival ‘Charlie Backwards’
- Tamara Jenna
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
Recorded live in a Massachusetts stone cellar, this no-overdub track fuses progressive rock with Guaraldi-inspired flair—bringing the spirit of a creative era back to life.
Marc Soucy, Boston-based keyboardist and composer, rewinds the clock with the release of “Charlie Backwards”, released on 18 April 2025. The track, originally performed live in 1983 and recorded in a stone cellar in Dracut, Massachusetts, is an electrifying snapshot of a formative time in Soucy’s musical journey—revived, restored, and remastered for today.
Performed alongside Jeff Carano (bass) and Ray Lavigne (drums), the piece captures a heady blend of progressive rock and jazz-rock fusion. The session was raw: three musicians, three microphones, no overdubs or studio trickery. Just pure, unfiltered musical synergy. It’s this unrepeatable, live energy that makes Charlie Backwards stand out.
The title pays playful homage to Vince Guaraldi’s iconic “Charlie Brown Theme”, with Soucy describing the piano lead as “what that theme might sound like if played backwards”—a conceptual nod rather than a literal interpretation, but one that captures the track’s quirky brilliance and offbeat charm.
Visually, the song’s energy is reflected in a bobsled-themed music video, chosen to mirror the momentum and exhilaration of the track itself. From its improvised genesis to the adrenaline-pumping execution, Charlie Backwards is a love letter to creative spontaneity.
“This was one of the most high-energy pieces I composed back then,” Soucy shares. “It’s also a tribute to the era when I was becoming who I am as a musician. Antartica [his band at the time] was a pivotal moment—and I’m reviving these tracks to honour that.”
For fans of fusion, authenticity, and retro creativity, Charlie Backwards is more than a track—it’s a time capsule.
Genres: Rock, Jazz, Jazz-Rock Fusion, Progressive Rock
Moods: Energetic, Retro, Experimental, Playful, Improvisational
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