Norwood Park Imperials Alumni Forum
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John Anderson said:
I still wished we'd played "Por Favor." If you asked me what song, arrangement and sound was most representative of that era, I'd pick "Por Favor"--Bugles Up 1960 recording of Sac. (Same record has best recording of the Cavaliers from that era, not as good as Sac but close.) I'd pick Sac's 1963 (and 1964) concert of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and "Give Me the Simple Life" as a close second. I think a guy named Jim Day was their brass arranger after 1961 but assume Hayes influence was there as Day had marched in SAC.
.. My response: gosh, those were all GREAT tunes by Sac. Hayes had a great way of writing these corps charts which brought out the true musicality intended in the song.
...yes, Jim Day was a member of Sac and a protege of Hayes. His charts followed the same style.
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Sac also did stuff like finish a song and then there would be an eight count rest (no percussion), then the drum solo, then another eight count rest before the brass would start. Seems to me it added some to general effect but it also reduced exposure to drum execution. Not that the 1960 Sac drumline needed to risk exposure--seems to me that as well as having the best brass line their drum line was also the best.
.......John, the BS drum line WAS the BEST around in those days. They were not only technically excellent, but their charts were amazing.
....... Using the silent periods was probably done for effect, but there were drill things going on in those silences too. I don't remember them all, but do remember horn flash (bugles up!).
......Blessed Sacrament was a corps which did drum corps it's own way ....
arrangements, drill, drums, effect. For almost 10 years (1954- 1963) THEY were on the top and were the corps to beat. 
