Spenser7

Wow Garry, thanks for the response. A little off topic for this thread, but this is by far the most I've read about when and where I marched I've ever seen on DCP. You mentioned the pool party before and I had no memory of it - now I know why. That first year was kind of a blur since I had no idea what I was doing; too young (13) and still didn't really know what this drum corps thing was. Back to On Topic a little more - In '72 I still hadn't dialed in to drum corps. When some corps mothers brought me my ticket to Finals I complained that I didn't want to go! In midsummer '73 we convinced the corps' directorship that we might have a chance to make Finals after scoring a 75 in Canada (very much a fluke in retrospect) and held mucho fundraisers to go. I couldn't wait to go to DCI in '73 and '74. Youth was wasted on the too young for me in '72.

I'd like to see all the Northwest corps reps from '72, '73, '74, and '76 (there's a selfish theme here). Also all Patriots and Renaissance scores from those years. Pics would be amazing too! I would PM you for these but maybe others would like to see these as well. As I mentioned before, this particular info seems hard to come by. If memory serves we lost a few shows in '72 to those invaders from Concord... Thanks Brian.

I'd sure like to see scores, reps, or pictures from the Sentinels and the NW shows (and other corps like the Titans, Shamrocks, Columbians, and a lot of others). Seems like info on them is hard to find and share.

I marched in prelims - '72, '73, and '74 with the P/N Patriots. Always dreamt of playing in Finals; closest we got was 21st (I think both in '72 and '74).

It's very possible the P-N Patriots marched in the parade or in exhibition. They did exhibitions for quite a while after 1974, but never again competed as a drum corps, to my knowledge.

Rice is correct - the Patriots did not compete again after 1974. Sounds like the program was set up before that decision was made. As far as "Sensational" - that would be in the ear of the beholder; and we were always "Percussion-naut", never "Percussionist" (but we were called many other names by our competition, I'm sure!)

It's on my copy of the soundtrack, which is by Ennio Morricone. It's track 13, and it shows as very cheap used on Amazon. Don't know if it's on iTunes.

Probably the most single exciting corps show I ever saw. I used to have a cassette tape of it before my car was broken into and it was stolen, along with Madison's early 1976 show. Close second, for similar reasons was the Glassmen at Allentown a few years back in the middle of a torrential downpour.

Give it a shot - it's New England. Half an hour ago it was hailing; now it looks like great drum corps weather.

Nice job - well-written review.

Renaissance didn't start until 1976, and the P-N Patriots were inactive competitively after 1974. I don't remember if the Seattle Shamrocks, Bellevue Sentinals (sp?), or Tri-City Columbians marched in 1975. Inquiring minds want to know - does anyone remember?

A pleasure to have known and marched with the man.

93 PR - Nikk, you didn't list this one?!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/Spe...7/BobYeager.jpg Bob 12/23/1978!

Hey Bruce - At the risk of getting all "PM" - Big Buddha Bob Yeager was an usher at my wedding over 27 years ago. A NW drum corps fixture. Poncho was an entertainer and a half. It's about time some Western (and Northwestern) corps got some space on these forums. Can't blame anybody, though. There were many more Eastern and Midwestern corps for a longer time.

Can't really respond without bias. Jim Ott wrote most of the 74 Patriots book, and Ray Baumgardt(sp?) and Mike Duffy had worked with the horn line. Judges said we had a very big sound. Plus we had a couple of amazing sop soloists, one being Dave Tippett, who was a soloist with the 75 champion Madison Scouts, and is a name associated with many legendary corps. Patriots never fielded another competition corps after 74, but many former Patriots created Renaissance in 76. First year we were small but avereage age and talent were very high, including Dave Tippett's last marching year. I left the corps after 76 but heard they were pretty darn good. I remember the Argonauts when they were the Flamingos with Pedro(?) as the DM, and then the quite competitive Argonauts after that. Black Watch was a small and young corps that we, the big boys, snickered at, but they sure grew quickly and had a very successful run. Another upstart corps we ran into my first year (72), was a Northern California corps that invaded the Northwest and took all our trophies...the Blue Devils. What ever happened to them? :)

Yes - it was the Tri-City Columbians. Built-in standing ovation, no matter how well or poorly it was played.

Thanks, Maggie... Have to vote for SCV, though. Even with their low placement this year, loved 'em.

I wasn't in New England in the 70's. Are we talking Peabody, MA, and Portsmouth, NH? It would be so cool if these towns still had corps.

Keith - Unfortunately I don't know what the tune is called either, but from your "Dum da dee da dee dee dum" quote I know what you're talking about! I've often wondered where it came from too. I stole it for my HS marching band the following fall. The hooks are really catchy.

GOSH - missed the fart joke - what an IDIOT! phone rings...TINA! Come get some ham!

Pass the test of not being distracted by the bell and enjoying the corps in spite of it; kind of like ignoring "Yowza" and appreciating the good parts of BD...

I didn't notice a bell at Quarters or Semis (same seats as Finals, just the opposite side). Since the sides were switched for finals, maybe no one realized the bell was going to go off constantly. Maybe...but it doesn't make sense that one side of the stadium would have an alarm-bearing elevator and the other wouldn't. Maybe it was a lightning alarm. It was actually a test to determine the powers of focus of drum corps fans. Did most of us pass?

Don't know about parking. As far as I know there are no construction projects on the stretch from Braintree to Boston. If you can, check the traffic updates on Boston.com. I drove the 95 stretch past Foxboro to Mansfield last Saturday afternoon and it was clear. Be aware that the major highways move very fast, if there are no jams; faster than any Western highways I've driven. Everyone please be careful of the breakdown lanes! Many breakdown lanes are opened during rush hours, but many people still use them at other times of the day. If at all possible, DO NOT STOP IN THE BREAKDOWN LANES. If you have to pull off, try to get to grass or well off the road. I don't know how many times I hear of accidents in the breakdown lanes, usually involving drivers from out of town, who aren't aware of yet another New England quirk! Hoping all drum corps fans stay safe during Finals Week...

Bliss - Colour Symphony, Checkmate Suite