1968 The Fightin' Texas A&M Aggie Band Lt Col EV Adams Vinyl LP Record Album

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1968 The Fightin' Texas A&M University Aggie Band Lt Col EV Adams Vintage Vinyl LP Record Album
Austin Custom Records WPS 33 6832

The Texas Aggie Band Lt. Col. E. V. Adams / Director “Recall, step off on Hullabaloo? Twelve silver bugles flash and the 255- man fightin’ Texas Aggie Band steps onto the field, reminiscent of powerful Roman legions parading victoriously into the coli- seum of Rome. There is little dispute that the Aggie Band is the best of its kind in the nation. Their intricate maneuvers have thrilled hundreds of thousands in audiences from the Pacific to the Mississippi and countless millions of television viewers across the country. The current version of the band marches 12 files by 21 ranks. Three drum majors — one in front and one on each flank —make visual and “whistle-contact" with each inember despite the unit’s size. The band which made this recording includes enough instruments for several large playing groups: 6 flutes and piccolos. 25 Bb clarinets. 2 alto and 4 bass clarinets, 19 alto saxophones, 10 tenor and 5 baritone saxes, 69 cornels and trumpets, 9 French horns. 22 baritones, 37 trombones, 18 basses and 22 percussion instruments. It covers 35 yards of football turf at a time and can march only 40 seconds in one direction before turning or a countermarch. But size is not its most unique feature. The band contains no music majors. Composed of students majoring in every- thing from aerospace engineering to zoology, the band is a strictly voluntary group. Bandsmen receive no academic credit for music. The unit has yet to issue its first scholarship. Many of its members, former high school all-state or all-district musicians, turn down music scholarships al other schools to play in the Aggie Band. The band doesn't require auditions. All that is needed is previous marching and playing experience. And a desire to work. Organized and housed as a military unit, the band is an integral part of the Corps of Cadets. The self-discipline, leadership and fellowship inherent in this military organization makes intricate drills possible. Each man-including 100 freshmen each year-must be able to lead as well as follow. Each must learn to rely upon himself under the stress of performance. The "proof of the pudding” is evident in the amazing drills they do. Lt. Col. E. V. Adams (a classic at the art of understate- ment) has described a winning drill "as one when we start together and finish together'.’ In reality, the 1929 graduate works for perfection. He usually gets it. “The Colonel',’ as his men affectionately call him, has led the band since 1946. He was hand-picked by Col. R. J. Dunn, band- master from 1924 to 1946. Music has been his life. Colonel Dunn made only one re- quest of Adams when he turned over the baton. "Please don’t change the way we play the National Anthem’’ Dunn asked. His wish is still honored. Small, hand-tuned tympani given to Colonel Adams by the retiring Dunn were added to the percussion section for the recording of the Star Spangled Banner. The kettledrums, once played from horse- back in a mounted, military band Dunn directed, give the National Anthem a special sound and feeling, the way Francis Scott Key intended it to be played. Most of the numbers for this recording came from the band’s regular folio, chosen for their suitability for the Aggie Band's instrumentation. Perhaps the most widely acclaimed number (aside from the fight song and alma mater) is the group’s treat- ment of Green Beret, the Yankee Doodle of the 1960’s. The song always brings listeners to their feet. It seems to “capture the spirit of sacrifice that young men, particularly young A&M men, make to keep America free. Here they are: big and brassy, y^t well in command of themselves and their in- struments . . . the last of the great marching, military, college bands ... a veritable giant under perfect discipline . . . described best, perhaps, by a fan who wrote: "I have seen them all —back to the years of Sousa but never have I heard a band with such a thrilling sound, I am nearing my 80th year and. being a newcomer from New England, saw the Aggie Band for the first lime this week. Everything I have heard is true. The Aggie Band is the best in the world ...” Side 1 The Aggie War Hymn (Wilson/Arr. by Dunn) 3:04/ Spirit of Aggieland (Mimms/Dunn) 2:00( Ballad of the Green Berets (Sadler/Moore) 1:10 Moon Shot (Mesang) 2:46I The American Soldier (Koff/Jones) 3:10( Sounding Brass (Maxwell) 2:38( Side 2\ The National Anthem (Key/Arr. by Dunn) 1:10 Texas, Our Texas (Marsh) 1:31 Gate City (Weldon) 2:14 Joyce’s 71st Reg't March (Boyer/Lake) 2:45/ Voice of the Guns (Alford) 2:48I New Colonial March (Hall) 3:42 Carrolton March (King) 2:39 Produced by the Texas Aggie Band Association Box 7368 / College Station. Texas 77840 Joe Busor '59/Executive Producer Recording by Austin Custom Records, Inc. Photogruphy by Jud Rogers ‘67 WPS 6832



We follow grading parameters from Goldmine Magazine:
Mint (M)  Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never been played, possibly even still sealed.
Near Mint (NM or M-) A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no record is ever truly perfect.  The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.  An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like.  Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. 
Very Good Plus (VG+)
A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.  Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".  The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.  Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. 
Very Good (VG)  Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.  Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. 
Good (G), Good Plus (G+)  Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).  A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. 
Poor (P), Fair (F)   The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. 





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