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I have been listening to this for about half an hour, and something Mr. Kline told me back in 1984 was that these started at a recording project via a series of concerts all through that school year, and that they set up to record the album in the Eastman Theater after each concert. When they ran out of time or money or had a technical issue with something, the live concert recording of that piece was cleaned up as much as possible and put into the record "rotation," and I think he said about a third of the record was actually from those live concerts. If you use headphones, you can hear some folks out in the hall rustling around and coughing. So anything you hear that is not super clean was live. The super-clean stuff was recorded multiple times and spliced together using very minimal edits, mainly because that technology was very primitive back then, involving scissors and tape. Some of these are single takes, and one or two are first takes. Some great stuff for back then. Some great stuff for today. I have always loved this band because of Mr. Kline's influence, and I nearly attended Eastman on scholarship, but went into the Army instead. (I desperately needed the job.) Instead, I attended North Texas on my GI Bill. But who knows where I might be had I taken that path instead? I would have been in college at a much younger age and might not have done so well as I did as a no-BS Army veteran at UNT. I might be famous. I might have quit music altogether. Makes you think…

I’ve got that Screamers album - but can’t remember if I’ve got it on vinyl or CD. I love CIrcus music - great stuff and that album was excellent. I had no idea Mr P was on it - although my time with him was way back in the 1970’s. If I got it on vinyl it’s buried in storage as I stopped using my turntable 25 years ago. I’ve been thinking of getting my turntable out again. Who knew vinyl would make a come back.

My only interaction with Dr Fennel was once at the Midwest Band Clinic. Harvey got him to conduct the TubaXmas ensemble. He struck me as great fun - great energy and someone who it would have been a fun experience to have studied with. He also looked & reminded me at that time in the 90’s of Professor Irwin Corey (you got be a certain age to remember this comic who Johnny Carson had on the Tonight Show all the time).

the elephant wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 9:19 pm

MN_TimTuba wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:45 pm By the way, Wade - the last school in which I taught had that Screamers album, and I played the heck out of it. Before I left I recorded it to cassette and still have it. Wonderful music, fabulous low Brass!

If you still have access to the liner notes, please post a photo of them! (I am guessing this is a big negatory, but it never hurts to ask.)

Wade, I wish I had copied those notes, but I had not that foresight. I'm just glad I still have that cassette, now need to burn it to a CD to play in my truck!
Tim

If you need liner notes for any LP, check eBay:

My thinking is that bands, especially community bands, are for participation and camaraderie. They also may attendantly serve a musical purpose or have a mission. One of my favorites, Soli Dio Gloria out of Chicago has more euphoniums, baritones, and tubas (as well as other instruments) than you can shake a stick at. If a person wants to participate and add his or her voice to the mix I wouldn't deprive than because he or she is "too many".

Schlitzz wrote: Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:47 pm Younger players always tend to complain about older players. Until they age a little bit.

Older players always tend to complain about younger players, and do so more and more every little bit they age. And the cycle continues

tofu wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 12:08 am I’ve got that Screamers album - but can’t remember if I’ve got it on vinyl or CD. I love CIrcus music - great stuff and that album was excellent.

I also have that album and it is great. It doesn't have my favorite circus march: Barnum & Bailey's Favorite.