I had the pleasure of seeing the Boston Common twice in the early 80's. I also heard the Four Statesmen and the Rascals. They were all really fine quartets but the Common had a certain blend and incredible energy that puts them in my opinion at the top with possibly the Buffalo Bills or the Schmitt Brothers.Thank you Dad in heaven for dragging me along as a kid to see these barbershop legends. I have recently added the Suntones to my top 5 of all-time. God Bless!!!
:) thanks for the post. I knew Rich and Larry well back then and have such great memories. Quartets come and quartets go but for me the BC was the ultimate.
I have an autographed vinyl LP they gave me after their show at Ovens Auditorium here in Charlotte in 1976 or '77. I was allowed at the "After Glow" because I was in the show as the Plantation Boy for "Carolina Mammy." I was only 10 or 11, but these guys were so much fun at the After Glow. I remember talking with my neighbors about the Indy Championship and we concluded no one could hear the pitch pipe because the crowd was SO LOUD. Great Tags: "Dancing...Pic Ball." "Ten Feet Off the Grnd"
I remember the 1975(?) championship in Indianapolis when they were CLEARLY screwed by the judges. They came out to sing after that and received a long, LONG standing ovation. It was a protest by the audience. Never saw that before. Everyone knew they were cheated. It was an emotional moment for me. Almost as emotional as when, later, I asked them to sing "Imagination" to me and my girl at the Purdy Corral. Wow, was that a special moment I'll remember for the rest of my days...
This is the newer recording that the "common" recorded with Tom Spirito singing lead. He took over the lead slot after Rich knapp was injured in a car accident. The other one was the "sitting by the fireside" intro.
I remember learning this tune with the "fireside" intro, but ever since I heard the BC album which included the "every quartet here today" intro, I've loved singing it. It's so fun to sing. We did this tune at the retirement of our quartet's original bass...hard to get thru with dry eyes!
I think they took so long to win because , they sing with vibrato, something that is frowned upon in barbershop, but is an important ingredient in the sound of a voice , that is why you can always say " This is Boston Common " , more difficult to name other quartets, because they sound so much like each other.I left Barbershop because of judges, i think its wrong when someone with no natural ability can judge me because he's been to a few seminars, and suddenly become an expert. .
Amen brother. Most judges I have found have absolutely no talent for singing. That is one reason I left also; aside from the fact that if you were to sing what was truly barbershop 100 years ago, you would be disqualified.
haydn & hugo Becoming a judge is an exhaustive 3 yr process. It is by no means easy + ur argument is unsound. One must not have talent to be able to evaluate and recognize it. Thats a talent of its own. In addition bbshop is more than a musical style. Its a lifestyle and a culture made of the members that partake. Through ur emphasis on vibrato and criticism of history u show only ur ignorance. The true essence of bbshop, the friendship and that feeling, will always be there. Thats my bbshop.
They openly criticized the society's system of judging - competition judges can be coaches of the quartets they are judging - which questions the impartiality... This is thought to be the reason why it took them so long...
What a great tribute montage with the only song that could have fit. BC is my all-time favorite quartet, and are as responsible as my father for me singing barbershop today. Thanks recquilt!
BRAVO! This put names and faces to many quartets that I have heard over the past 40 years...Played repeatedly by my dad on a 60hz-strobe-synched turn-table. GHG at 4:25 is a superb twist that will be appreciated by anyone who savors the raw talent, longevity, passion and hard work of the artists. I am certain that SOG76 understands that fact and enjoyed the show. Only a true connoisseur would have detected this cleverly inserted detail. Well done to both of you.
i neeeed the mp3 of this so bad!
any one know where i can get it?
jordanradf 4 months ago
Comment removed
stevepressley 10 months ago
I'd love to have this piped in, to my coffin. Not tomorrow, but someday.
stevepressley 10 months ago
I just posted the boston Common performing their first set at the 1980 International Championship on youtube. Type in boston common 1980
Jamie Carbone
jcarboneda10r 11 months ago
anyone know where one can get a hold of this version of the verse?
the arrangement i got from the bhs is the same from the chorus out, but the verse is completely different (and not as nice imho)
crwv 1 year ago
this strikes your heart; nay your soul.
onionmon 1 year ago
Comment removed
onionmon 1 year ago
I had the pleasure of seeing the Boston Common twice in the early 80's. I also heard the Four Statesmen and the Rascals. They were all really fine quartets but the Common had a certain blend and incredible energy that puts them in my opinion at the top with possibly the Buffalo Bills or the Schmitt Brothers.Thank you Dad in heaven for dragging me along as a kid to see these barbershop legends. I have recently added the Suntones to my top 5 of all-time. God Bless!!!
truslerve 2 years ago
:) thanks for the post. I knew Rich and Larry well back then and have such great memories. Quartets come and quartets go but for me the BC was the ultimate.
ggoodo11 2 years ago
I have an autographed vinyl LP they gave me after their show at Ovens Auditorium here in Charlotte in 1976 or '77. I was allowed at the "After Glow" because I was in the show as the Plantation Boy for "Carolina Mammy." I was only 10 or 11, but these guys were so much fun at the After Glow. I remember talking with my neighbors about the Indy Championship and we concluded no one could hear the pitch pipe because the crowd was SO LOUD. Great Tags: "Dancing...Pic Ball." "Ten Feet Off the Grnd"
ChltMusic 2 years ago
Comment removed
ChltMusic 2 years ago
I remember the 1975(?) championship in Indianapolis when they were CLEARLY screwed by the judges. They came out to sing after that and received a long, LONG standing ovation. It was a protest by the audience. Never saw that before. Everyone knew they were cheated. It was an emotional moment for me. Almost as emotional as when, later, I asked them to sing "Imagination" to me and my girl at the Purdy Corral. Wow, was that a special moment I'll remember for the rest of my days...
D9saber 2 years ago
Song by Bob Godfrey & Jack Betzner; Arrangement by Lou Perry
Nuance5 2 years ago
This is the newer recording that the "common" recorded with Tom Spirito singing lead. He took over the lead slot after Rich knapp was injured in a car accident. The other one was the "sitting by the fireside" intro.
bgsubqe1 2 years ago
I remember learning this tune with the "fireside" intro, but ever since I heard the BC album which included the "every quartet here today" intro, I've loved singing it. It's so fun to sing. We did this tune at the retirement of our quartet's original bass...hard to get thru with dry eyes!
mlbg10158 2 years ago
I think they took so long to win because , they sing with vibrato, something that is frowned upon in barbershop, but is an important ingredient in the sound of a voice , that is why you can always say " This is Boston Common " , more difficult to name other quartets, because they sound so much like each other.I left Barbershop because of judges, i think its wrong when someone with no natural ability can judge me because he's been to a few seminars, and suddenly become an expert. .
hugoforth 2 years ago
Amen brother. Most judges I have found have absolutely no talent for singing. That is one reason I left also; aside from the fact that if you were to sing what was truly barbershop 100 years ago, you would be disqualified.
haydnquartet 2 years ago
haydn & hugo Becoming a judge is an exhaustive 3 yr process. It is by no means easy + ur argument is unsound. One must not have talent to be able to evaluate and recognize it. Thats a talent of its own. In addition bbshop is more than a musical style. Its a lifestyle and a culture made of the members that partake. Through ur emphasis on vibrato and criticism of history u show only ur ignorance. The true essence of bbshop, the friendship and that feeling, will always be there. Thats my bbshop.
smulli36 1 year ago
this intro is new to me.
Where is "sitting by the fireside" ?
Houihnm 3 years ago
I never understood why it took so long for the "Common" to be recoginized as "CHAMPS"
ilistenalot 3 years ago
They openly criticized the society's system of judging - competition judges can be coaches of the quartets they are judging - which questions the impartiality... This is thought to be the reason why it took them so long...
ds9writer 3 years ago
That is the accepted reason, certainly not their ability.
I have recently posted the original quartet's version of "Lida Rose"
ilistenalot 3 years ago
Excellent work providing wonderful vintage AUTHENTIC CHAMPION photos of those great quartets who have paved the way for the great quartets today.
sonofachamp 3 years ago
The pic of GHG is when they did their OWN tribute of past quartets (Shine/Bright Was the Night package). I'm guessing that was intentional!
gotchabari 3 years ago 2
Actually I just stuck that in as a tribute to GHG but that was a good obsevation
recquilt 3 years ago
Haha. I laughed at GHG. Thanks for this project!
marredsun 3 years ago
What a great tribute montage with the only song that could have fit. BC is my all-time favorite quartet, and are as responsible as my father for me singing barbershop today. Thanks recquilt!
airdale15 3 years ago 2
thats some dam fine barbershop
hugleberthumperdink 3 years ago
What's the deal with Gas House Gang inserted at 4:25?! They won in the 90's!
SexyOperaGuy76 3 years ago 2
BRAVO! This put names and faces to many quartets that I have heard over the past 40 years...Played repeatedly by my dad on a 60hz-strobe-synched turn-table. GHG at 4:25 is a superb twist that will be appreciated by anyone who savors the raw talent, longevity, passion and hard work of the artists. I am certain that SOG76 understands that fact and enjoyed the show. Only a true connoisseur would have detected this cleverly inserted detail. Well done to both of you.
Keep up the good work Recquilt.
fbalantic 3 years ago 2