i've been told by friends who were in seatle in 83' how frenzied the convention was after that tag. i never understood how such a simple tag could be so impactful but after finally hearing the actual tag and just how PERFECT the unison was, i now understand completely how a 7 chord tag shook seatle. i still get goosbumps everytime i replay it
Hey Dennis Malone, I've been trying to get in touch with you for years. I'm at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. You did it--congratulations.
Does anybody know the medley you hear in the background around 1:30? My first real introduction to BBS 20 years ago was a dubbed cassette tape of competition and the SSR's song blew me away. It was a medley that started off with 'Oh we are the boys from the bowery, we sell papers on time square' and included 'Smile Darn Ya Smile', 'Coney Island Babe' and the one you hear at this point.
It was so impressive and I lost the cassette long ago.
Does anyone know where I can find the video tape of the Side Street Ramblers' appearance on the Phil Donahue Show? These guys were awesome in my eyes and very entertaining, fun to watch and all the while creating a very pleasing sound. Creative in their style they championed many a heart.
Wow, so Dennis Malone is my uncle. I never knew how popular they were at that time. Lol he taught me and my cousins the cry tag once. Its really cool to find out how big it actually was.
You only CAN win once lol. Once you win gold, you're not allowed to compete! Kinda stupid, since it encourages successful barbershoppers to disband and form new quartets, as many of them have!
Don't know if you're up with it all, but there's a big book of tags compiled by David Wright (google "mens classic tags" and you'll hit a ".pdf" file), and the "Cry" tag is in it. It is written as being sung on an F#. After I watched this video, however, I listened to the multi-track again, checked the piano, and found that the Cry tag is clearly a G. Not a particularly earth-shattering revelation, but meh. I'm like that!
Back in the 80's I knew Keith Houts, the one always being left out in their act. Got to hear them practice and perform many times. They were World Champions for at least two years during that time. They certainly were entertaining and good!
Thanks for posting that! The SSR always were my favorite quartet - I had just started singing in 1983 when they came to our little spring show in Nacogdoches and ever since then I have tried (with no success at all) to sound like Earl. And man oh man, nobody can match their stage presence.
i've been told by friends who were in seatle in 83' how frenzied the convention was after that tag. i never understood how such a simple tag could be so impactful but after finally hearing the actual tag and just how PERFECT the unison was, i now understand completely how a 7 chord tag shook seatle. i still get goosbumps everytime i replay it
jayliminator 6 months ago
Hey Dennis Malone, I've been trying to get in touch with you for years. I'm at Glendale Community College in Glendale, Arizona. You did it--congratulations.
Your first tenor from university days.
Jim R.
412tenor 1 year ago
Does anybody know the medley you hear in the background around 1:30? My first real introduction to BBS 20 years ago was a dubbed cassette tape of competition and the SSR's song blew me away. It was a medley that started off with 'Oh we are the boys from the bowery, we sell papers on time square' and included 'Smile Darn Ya Smile', 'Coney Island Babe' and the one you hear at this point.
It was so impressive and I lost the cassette long ago.
guibox3 1 year ago
Does anyone know where I can find the video tape of the Side Street Ramblers' appearance on the Phil Donahue Show? These guys were awesome in my eyes and very entertaining, fun to watch and all the while creating a very pleasing sound. Creative in their style they championed many a heart.
whistlingboy 1 year ago
Wow, so Dennis Malone is my uncle. I never knew how popular they were at that time. Lol he taught me and my cousins the cry tag once. Its really cool to find out how big it actually was.
GreatWhiteProduction 2 years ago
I just found out they were the International Champs in 1983. I guess they only won once. Just wanted to correct my mistake.
TitusBass1 3 years ago
You only CAN win once lol. Once you win gold, you're not allowed to compete! Kinda stupid, since it encourages successful barbershoppers to disband and form new quartets, as many of them have!
DanishCartoonist 3 years ago
That I didn't know. Thanks for the information. I haven't been in contact with the guys since the 80's. I hope they are still singing.
TitusBass1 3 years ago
Don't know if you're up with it all, but there's a big book of tags compiled by David Wright (google "mens classic tags" and you'll hit a ".pdf" file), and the "Cry" tag is in it. It is written as being sung on an F#. After I watched this video, however, I listened to the multi-track again, checked the piano, and found that the Cry tag is clearly a G. Not a particularly earth-shattering revelation, but meh. I'm like that!
DanishCartoonist 3 years ago
You are incorrect. My pitch pipe is new and intune, and that is clearly an F#
Purenicotine 2 years ago
I just got my brand new German "Trutone" pitch pipe today, and it is indeed an F#. Clearly certain pianos are flat!
DanishCartoonist 2 years ago
Back in the 80's I knew Keith Houts, the one always being left out in their act. Got to hear them practice and perform many times. They were World Champions for at least two years during that time. They certainly were entertaining and good!
TitusBass1 3 years ago
Thanks for posting that! The SSR always were my favorite quartet - I had just started singing in 1983 when they came to our little spring show in Nacogdoches and ever since then I have tried (with no success at all) to sound like Earl. And man oh man, nobody can match their stage presence.
Peter B. Steiger
Director, Cheyenne Wyomingaires chorus
LumiereBrothers 3 years ago