How I missed this, I’ll never know.

In rummaging around the site today, I discovered the page for the Spring 1974 VFMA Band concert. The page listed the music on the tape, but had the words “still needs to be digitized” at the bottom. Unbeknownst to me, back when I was digitizing the original set of tapes, I had some sort of issue with the 1812 Overture track on the tape. I had set it aside with a note to myself to “find a second tape” to complete the playlist.

Today, it was apparent that I never did.

When I started this project back when social security numbers were only two digits, I was using a borrowed reel-to-reel machine that was not in the best of shape. Many of the early digital captures suffered in audio quality because of that machine and my own inexperience at doing this. Some years ago, I got a vintage Teac reel-to-reel machine in good shape and it made all the difference in the world, so imagine my surprise today when the Spring ’74 tape played back first time flawlessly and with all tracks intact.

So now that concert is finally digitized and posted. Relatedly, I am delighted to report that even after a year still packed up from the move to Ohio, the reel-to-reel machine is is such good shape that I am considering redoing some of the earlier ones that sound less than optimal.

Before I do that, though, there’s more stuff in the queue to edit and some to digitize, too. I’ll be plugging away at it for awhile and hopefully make this collection a little bit more complete.

Thanks for all your support!

Dan
’74, ’76JC

Click here to listen to the new playlist from the VFMA Band record “Star Spangled Spectacular!”