Rediscovered: Rocky Mountain College Choir recordings 1988-1990

Posted under A Geek Dad's Life, Blog Posts

We cleaned out our basement a couple of weeks ago, and I found three of my old audio cassette drawer units FULL of vintage 1988 tapes.  Two of the units were full of copies of terribly lame 1980’s albums. (Did my copy of Vixen’s Rev’ It Up really deserve its own type-written label?  In retrospect, I think not.) 

One of the units contained audio recordings of my old college choir, jazz band, and jazz singers.  Jackpot.  I have many fond memories of the RMC music program, college-type shenanigans, road trips and choir tours (usually involving beer), and staying up way too late with the crew.  I’ll save the story of how I met my wife for another time, but I want to thank my manipulative friends.  Ah, good times.

I dusted off the old Technics RS-T212 and plugged it into my computer.  Wow, there was some good stuff on those tapes.  Don’t get me wrong; there was a fair share of imperfect/poor performances to be found on the tapes, but most were quite respectable. 

I must say that Dr. P (Dr. Donald Francis Pihlaja) was an incredible director and an even more amazing person.

At the request of several former members of the RMC Choir from that era, I am making a few select recordings available as MP3 files here.  The key soloists shall remain nameless to protect the innocent. 

November 20, 1988 – Billings Presbyterian Church

• Deep River

circa 1989 – Unknown Date, Unknown location

• Romance – a kitche and sappy song to woo the old folks in the audience
• Rocky Mountain College Song – Rocky Mountain We All Love Thee…
• Unknown choral work with organ – (played by the epic organist, composer, and all-around super guy Dr. Fred Binckes)

Enjoy, and be well fellow choir mates.