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Remembering Bill Allen: Assistant Director: 1970-1982. Director: 1982-1989. Bill directing The Lord's Prayer | Bill's songs and albums | Obituary |
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Christmas Show Playlists are back! |
End of Season, 1968 |
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/2/2021 | Era: 1960s | Director: Al Stewart
Comments: 0 Page views: 1395
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Source: Bill McGaughey collection
Description:
“Hey Paul. Found a write up I did shortly after I found and digitized the tape. I think the thing that was so special about it was here was Al at his very best. Something we never got on the records.”
Let There Be Music
It started as a simple basement cleaning exercise a few months ago. I was on a no holds barred; take no prisoners mission when I came upon a simple, brown cardboard storage box. I thought I should at least see what’s inside before I committed it to the dumpster. To my surprise, it was filled with old reel-to-reel tapes I hadn’t seen, or obviously listened to, in many, many years. The box had survived numerous moves and had been sitting in a damp basement for at least the last 15 years, an almost certain formula for audio tape disaster. My first instinct was to just toss it. After all, any tapes in the box were certainly ruined by now. But my natural curiosity and some innate need to never throw anything of any value away drove me into that box. As I started to sort through the tapes I found most to be old pop music I’d recorded back in the 60’s and 70’s. As I got to the bottom I found them: two boxes of Scotch ¼” audiotape, Model 111. On the back of the first box, hand written in blue ink, was the following: Side 1 – Beginning through Plothow “Yesterday.” Side 2 – “Danny Boy through Introduction to “Scholars”. I knew immediately it was Mickey McGuire’s handwriting. I was stunned.
I don’t remember exactly how I came to have these tapes. I suspect I asked Mickey to run a copy of my final concert, as I had done on previous occasions while in the club. I took the first tape out of its box and to no surprise; the sides were covered with mildew. Not a good sign. I took them upstairs and cleaned them up the best I could. Then the search began for my vintage Sony reel-to-reel tape recorder. I knew I hadn’t thrown it away. A frantic rifling of the house finally located it in the back of one of our closets. At least I had the sense not to store it in the basement with the tapes. I probably haven’t used it in 20 years so I wasn’t expecting much. I took the covers off, cleaned the rolls and capstans, oiled the rollers and put it back together. I apprehensively plugged it in and pressed the on button. Much to my surprise there was no smoke. The lights came on and I could hear the motors purring. So far, so good. The moment of truth had arrived. I gingerly loaded the first tape, threaded it through the capstan and onto the take up reel. Remember the old reel to reels? I put the earphones on and with not much confidence twisted the start lever to play. The tape started rolling.
Coming from offstage, I heard us singing the Purdue Hymn. I was mesmerized. As the song ended I heard us start to run on stage. The applause started to build; then it increased as Bill moved to the piano and finally it was obvious Al had walked to center stage. Bill started an introduction that became so much a part of us, Let There Be Music filled the earphones and I was off on a trip I thought I’d never experience again. I was back on that stage for nearly 2 hours with the goose bumps and the tears and the emotions that made us so great.
I have some old glee club records I’ve tried to play from time to time, but they were so worn out it was always a disappointment. Plus, Al was never there. I even went so far as to contact Brian Breed a couple of years ago to see if there was a possibility to issue some “vintage” glee club material on CD. No luck.
The quality of what I listened to that afternoon was amazing considering the history of the tape and the machine it was being played on. There was more hiss at the beginning of each reel than I wanted to hear and an occasional dropout. Certainly not up to the digital standards we have become accustomed to these days, but overall, the quality was incredible. I believe now it was a first generation tape, copied from the master that was made for a WBAA broadcast that was scheduled for the day after commencement.
I knew immediately what I had to do: preserve these treasures and share them with as many of my Brothers as possible. Fortunately, a year and half ago, I obtained a digital MP3 player / recorder I have really enjoyed using. I eventually produced digital MP3 files from the tape and started the editing process of cutting the songs into individual tracks and doing what limited processing I could do to improve the sound. Finally, I reassembled the tracks and burned the CD’s you’re about to listen to. A true labor of love.
It’s all there…Al’s truly unique down home showmanship, Bill’s awe inspiring accompaniment, Dick Plothow, The Scholars, Kenny Knowles, Let There Be Music, The Eagle…only a few moments from our past, but a time that will live in my heart forever. I thought I’d never be in that place again.
So, 35 years later, the house lights are coming down. Make that last adjustment to your tie, check your fly and get ready to run on stage one more time.
Brothers, Sing On!
Bill McGaughey
Easton, Connecticut
June 3, 2003
- Purdue Hymn
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 695 Duration: 00:02:50 - Let There Be Music
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 608 Duration: 00:03:11 - Al welcomes audience and introduces Ein Traum
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 984 Duration: 00:00:45 - Ein Traum (A Dream)
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 602 Duration: 00:02:39 - Al introduces The Eagle (Composer Noble Cain is in the audience)
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 1101 Duration: 00:00:28 - The Eagle
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 680 Duration: 01:37 - Al introduces Brothers Sing On
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 883 Duration: 00:28 - Brothers in Song Sing On
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 703 Duration: 02:12
Singers: - Al introduces The Spirit Flower
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 963 Duration: 01:18 - A Spirit Flower
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 660 Duration: 03:57 - Al introduces Cool Water
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 526 Duration: 00:33 - Cool Water
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 678 Duration: 03:41
Singers: Byron Fox - This Is My Country
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 541 Duration: 03:18 - Al introduces Yesterday
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 706 Duration: 00:54 - Yesterday
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 723 Duration: 02:26
Singers: Dick Plothow - Danny Boy
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 625 Duration: 02:20
Singers: Dick Plothow - Al introduces Marching To Pretoria
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 873 Duration: 00:09 - Marching To Pretoria
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 558 Duration: 01:31 - Al introduces Gonna Build A Mountain
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 817 Duration: 00:21 - Gonna Build A Mountain
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 595 Duration: 02:54
Singers: Ted Howard - Al introduces Set Down Servant
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 740 Duration: 01:44 - Set Down Servant
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 625 Duration: 03:05
Singers: Bob Smith, Ted Pearson - Glee Club Introduction
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 608 Duration: 03:35 - Al introduces Row Row Row
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 539 Duration: 00:12 - Row Row Row
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 616 Duration: 02:34
Singers: Mack Shultz - Al introduces I Wish You Love
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 654 Duration: 00:19 - I Wish You Love
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 549 Duration: 02:11
Singers: Ron Walz - Al introduces Walk Into The Dawn
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 945 Duration: 01:01 - Walk Into The Dawn
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 498 Duration: 02:27
Singers: Michael W. Chung - Al introduces I’ll Walk With God
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 871 Duration: 00:16 - I’ll Walk With God
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 609 Duration: 03:03
Singers: Dan Macy - Al introduces Three Scholars
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 990 Duration: 01:53 - A Very Good Year
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 789 Duration: 04:21
Singers: The Three Scholars - A Woe A Me
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 664 Duration: 02:51
Singers: The Three Scholars - Al introduces Soliloquy From Carousel
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 1076 Duration: 00:24 - Soliloquy (From Carousel)
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 515 Duration: 06:59
Singers: Zig Berzins - Al introduces Sugarcane Jubilee
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 672 Duration: 01:01 - Sugarcane Jubilee
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 598 Duration: 02:25
Singers: The Pappas - Al’s followup, Sugarcane Jubilee
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 762 Duration: 00:26 - Happy Birthday Tom Ringer
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 585 Duration: 00:29 - Al introduces Once In Love With Amy
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 483 Duration: 00:30 - Once In Love With Amy
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 555 Duration: 02:12
Singers: Rick Pickering - Lazy River
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 606 Duration: 01:38
Singers: Rick Pickering - Al introduces Old Man River
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 996 Duration: 01:00 - Old Man River
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 611 Duration: 02:24
Singers: Phil Jenkins - Old Man River (Fast Version)
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 1 | Page views: 733 Duration: 01:56 - Senior Cane Ceremony
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 581 Duration: 03:03 - Senior Cane Ceremony Continued
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 572 Duration: 01:05 - Al introduces Water Come A Me Eye
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 615 Duration: 00:06 - Water Come-a-Me Eye
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 547 Duration: 02:39 - Al introduces Dominique
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 878 Duration: 00:06 - Dominique
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 509 Duration: 01:03 - Al Stewart introduces Mosquitoes
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 741 Duration: 00:24 - Mosquitos
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 659 Duration: 02:19 - Al Stewart, Ken Knowles Introduction
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 995 Duration: 02:23 - Once Upon A Time
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 752 Duration: 02:38
Singers: Ken Knowles - I Believe
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 1 | Page views: 856 Duration: 02:51
Singers: Ken Knowles - Al Stewart’s Comments on Purdue Students
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 673 Duration: 02:27 - Born Free Introduction
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 1081 Duration: 04:24 - Born Free
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 783 Duration: 03:10 - Auld Lang Syne
Rec. Year: 1968 | Added: 9/1/2021 | Comments: 0 | Page views: 926 Duration: 01:38
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