Schody

Schody
Studio album by
Perfect
Released1 April 2004 (Interia)
20 December 2004 (CD + LP)
Recorded2001
GenreRock
Length46:50
LanguagePolish
LabelUniversal Music Polska
ProducerDariusz Kozakiewicz, Bogdan Olewicz
Perfect chronology
Śmigło
(1999) 		Schody
(2004) 		XXX
(2010)

Schody (English: Stairs) is the sixth studio album by the band Perfect, released on 1 April 2004 in a digital version (paid MP3 files) through the portal Interia.pl. It was officially released by Universal Music Polska in CD and LP formats in the autumn of the same year. It is the first album in the history of Polish popular music to be originally released in a digital format.[1]

The album's release was delayed due to the promotion and release of the compilation Perfect Symfonicznie. The band's vocalist, Grzegorz Markowski, cited the fight against widespread music piracy and theft as a reason for the digital release,[2] as well as enabling broader access for listeners, including those living abroad: "This is a step towards internet users. Poland has lagged behind a bit when it comes to selling music this way. I think it's significant for people living outside big cities or abroad".[3] The band initially sent tracks via email as a gift, eventually developing the idea of releasing the album online.[4]

By the end of March 2005, the album had been downloaded approximately 7,000 times from Interia.pl;[4] it is estimated to have sold around 10,000 copies in total.

Background, recording, and production

According to Grzegorz Markowski in an interview, the material for the album was recorded between 2001 and 2002, with its release postponed due to the composition and promotion of Perfect Symfonicznie. The idea for the album came from Bogdan Olewicz, who wrote the lyrics for all the tracks.[5] In an interview with Super Express in early January 2003, Markowski confirmed that the material was nearly complete, with a tentative release planned for February 2003.[6]

In spring 2003, Netia SA approached the band with a sponsorship offer for the album, proposing the title 1055;[5] additionally, a track titled K2 was planned, dedicated to the members of the Polish Netia K2 Winter Expedition.[7] On 3 July, the band performed at the TOPtrendy festival at the Forest Opera in Sopot.[8] On 21 September, they participated in the Dla Kawy concert, dedicated to the late Jerzy Kawalec, who had passed away two weeks earlier.[9] On 13 October, the band performed on the roof of a building near Roman Dmowski Roundabout in Warsaw, inspired by The Beatles' 1969 rooftop concert; after playing a few songs, they were removed by police, and Markowski was detained for an hour.[10] Later that year, the band performed in New York for the Polish diaspora.[11] Meanwhile, a reissue of the album Katowice Spodek Live ’94 debuted at number 37 on the OLiS chart.[12] The recording was co-financed by the authorities of Ruda Śląska; Andrzej Urny called it the band's best concert, while Markowski noted: "I wanted to see what had changed in ten years. In terms of the aesthetics of playing the same songs (...) I was pleased to find we stayed true to what we were (...) I had some reservations about the vocals... (...) Everything else in these songs is as it should be. There's that authenticity".[13]

In March 2004, Markowski participated in a Warsaw meeting of fans and friends of Czesław Niemen; in an interview with Info Tips, he stated that the music on the album differed stylistically from mainstream radio.[11] Days before the official release, the band held a press conference at the Stodoła Club, answering questions and premiering five new tracks.[3]

Release and reception

Release date Label[14] Format Catalog number
20 December 2004 Universal Music Polska CD 986 977 9[14]
Universal Music Polska LP 986 980 2[15]

The album was made available for purchase online on 1 April 2004 at 7:00 PM exclusively through Interia.pl.[1][3] It was sold in two formats: as a complete album (priced at 15 PLN) or individual tracks (3 PLN each). A PDF file with colorful artwork, including lyrics and band photos, was included. It was the first album in Polish music history to be released primarily online.[1] On the release day, the band performed at Stodoła Club in Warsaw, supported by Bohema.[16]

On 2 April, the band participated in a chat on Interia, debunking rumors spread by manager Adam Galas that the Stodoła concert was their last.[17] They announced that the concert was recorded and would be released on DVD later that year,[18] included with a limited CD edition released in late 2004.[19]

In April, the band embarked on a nationwide tour, including cities like Mielec, Warsaw, Krosno, Ciechanów, Suwałki, and Kraków.[18] On 20 May, Perfect received an award during World Communications Day for "promoting the internet by releasing Poland's first album distributed exclusively online as MP3 files". During the gala, they performed Kołysanka dla nieznajomej (Lullaby for a Stranger); manager Adam Galas noted: "The entire telecommunications industry congratulated us, and we dedicate the award to everyone who deserved it. (...) We recorded well over 100,000 visits to our album's page, with hundreds visiting daily. Sales met our expectations".[20] On 11 July, they performed at the Węgorzewo Rock Festival alongside TSA, Agnieszka Chylińska, Püdelsi, Łzy, and Myslovitz.[21] In late July, they played in Łódź to celebrate the launch of Złote Przeboje radio.[22] On 13 October, Jacek Krzaklewski released his solo album Dużo kurzu (Lots of Dust), recorded during the promotion of Schody.[23] On 19 October, the band performed at Warsaw's Proxima club in a charity concert for victims of the Beslan school siege, showcasing new material.[24] On 31 October, they played in Bochum, marking the international leg of their tour, performing new tracks and concert staples.[25] On 27 November, Perfect performed with Maanam and Skangur in Kraków in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Jacek Majchrowski stated: "This concert is a symbol of our solidarity with the Ukrainian nation".[26] The next day, alongside Piersi and Edyta Górniak, they performed at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv.[27] On 31 December, they played a New Year's Eve concert in Poznań, split into two parts to highlight the new album.[28]

Chart performance

The album did not appear on any official Polish charts – OLiS, Program 3 Chart, or Szczecin Chart. The only single, EM, released in 2004 via Universal Music Polska,[29] also failed to chart.

Track listing

All tracks were produced by Dariusz Kozakiewicz, with lyrics by Bogdan Olewicz.[11]

CD and digital edition[14]

  1. Perfect Show & Hip Top Band part I (00:42)
  2. Taki jestem (That's How I Am) (03:27)
  3. EM (05:10)
  4. Kainowe pokolenie (Cain's Generation) (06:39)
  5. Wieczny dylemat (Eternal Dilemma) (03:17)
  6. Jeżeli chcesz nas zaskoczyć (If You Want to Surprise Us) (03:26)
  7. Jesteś jak wirus (You're Like a Virus) (03:18)
  8. Kto dziś przygarnie mnie (Who Will Take Me In Today) (04:32)
  9. Strzelec wyborowy (Sharpshooter) (05:52)
  10. Nad rozlanym mlekiem (Over Spilled Milk) (03:57)
  11. Schody (Stairs) (03:13)
  12. Urodziłem się nie do pary (I Was Born Out of Pair) (04:21)
  13. Perfect Show & Hip Top Band part II (03:28)

Vinyl edition[15]

  • Side A:
  1. Perfect Show & Hip Top Band part I (00:42)
  2. Taki jestem (That's How I Am) (03:27)
  3. EM (05:10)
  4. Kainowe pokolenie (Cain's Generation) (06:39)
  5. Wieczny dylemat (Eternal Dilemma) (03:17)
  • Side B:
  1. Jesteś jak wirus (You're Like a Virus) (03:18)
  2. Strzelec wyborowy (Sharpshooter) (05:52)
  3. Schody (Stairs) (03:13)
  4. Urodziłem się nie do pary (I Was Born Out of Pair) (03:25)
  5. Perfect Show & Hip Top Band part II (03:28)

Personnel[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Perfect: Internetowi pionierzy" [Perfect: Internet Pioneers]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 11 August 2005. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Perfect o walce z piractwem" [Perfect on Fighting Piracy]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 28 October 2004. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Perfect: Płyta już do kupienia" [Perfect: Album Now Available for Purchase]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 1 April 2004. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b Rożyński, Paweł (29 March 2005). "Sklepy z muzyką online w Polsce dopiero raczkują" [Online Music Stores in Poland Are Just Starting Out]. Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Hubsch, Andreas (November 2004). "Nasz drugi dom" [Our Second Home]. Samo Życie (in Polish): 75–76.
  6. ^ "Perfect: Grzegorz Markowski o płycie z orkiestrą" [Perfect: Grzegorz Markowski on the Album with Orchestra]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 6 January 2003. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Netia K2 – Polska Wyprawa Zimowa; Perfect song" [Netia K2 – Polish Winter Expedition; Perfect Song]. netiak2.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Najpopularniejsi na festiwalu Top/Trendy" [Most Popular at the Top/Trendy Festival]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 4 July 2003. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Będzie koncert "Dla Kawy"" [There Will Be a "For Kawa" Concert]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 20 September 2003. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Prowokacja zespołu Perfect w centrum Warszawy" [Perfect Band's Provocation in Central Warsaw]. miasta.gazeta.pl (in Polish). 13 October 2003. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Jaworska, Edyta (March 2004). "Schodami w górę, schodami w dół" [Up the Stairs, Down the Stairs]. Info Tips (in Polish): 21.
  12. ^ "Lipnicka & Porter nadal Numerem 1" [Lipnicka & Porter Still Number 1]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 24 January 2004. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012.
  13. ^ Kirmuć, Michał (February 2004). "Perfect – coś najuczciwszego" [Perfect – Something Most Honest]. Teraz Rock (in Polish). Warsaw: Orange Media.
  14. ^ a b c d "Perfect – Schody (CD)". archiwumrocka.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Perfect – Schody (LP)". archiwumrocka.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 29 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Schody Perfectu tylko w Sieci" [Perfect's Schody Only Online]. muzyka.wp.pl (in Polish). 31 March 2004. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Perfect na CZATerii!" [Perfect on CZATeria!]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 6 April 2004. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Perfect: DVD i trasa" [Perfect: DVD and Tour]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 28 October 2004. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Perfect – "Schody"". muzyka.onet.pl (in Polish). 5 April 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Perfect: Nagroda za płytę w Internecie" [Perfect: Award for Online Album]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 20 May 2004. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Coma zawojowała Węgorzewo" [Coma Conquered Węgorzewo]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 12 July 2004. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  22. ^ "Łódź jest perfect" [Łódź Is Perfect]. lodz.gazeta.pl (in Polish). 26 July 2004. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Płyta gitarzysty Perfectu" [Perfect Guitarist's Album]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 13 October 2004. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  24. ^ "Charytatywnie dla Biesłania" [Charity for Beslan]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 8 October 2004. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  25. ^ Kutz, Wiesław (February 2004). "Chciałbym mieć harem – rozmowa z Grzegorzem Markowskim" [I'd Like to Have a Harem – Interview with Grzegorz Markowski]. Fakty (in Polish).
  26. ^ "Maanam i Perfect solidarnie z Ukrainą" [Maanam and Perfect in Solidarity with Ukraine]. muzyka.wp.pl (in Polish). 26 November 2004. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014.
  27. ^ "Polski koncert w Kijowie" [Polish Concert in Kyiv]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 29 November 2004. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  28. ^ "Sylwester z gwiazdami" [New Year's Eve with Stars]. muzyka.interia.pl (in Polish). 31 December 2004. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
  29. ^ "Perfect – single". www.perfect.art.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 6 July 2025.
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