Below is a letter written by David describing how this project came about and photos of the original album cover.
This album project just kind of happened. The Polley family grew up in Greenhills and we lived on Inman Ln.
We moved there in 1962, and my sister Bunny graduated there in 1965. Terry graduated in 1969, I graduated in 1975, and my brother Dennis graduated in 1977. My brothers and I all played instruments in the band with Mr. Wimmer, and my sister sang in the Concert Choir. Our mother, Violet died in 2002, and our father, Parker passed away in 2007. When it was time to sell the house and move everything, my family gave me my Mother’s record collection, along with several albums my sister said I could have. That is when I found the LP recorded in 1969, only to find it had been played a lot and had a lot of scratches on it. When I told Terry about it, he had told me that he had the same album, but had never really played it all that much. He pulled it out of his collection, and when I played the recording, it was in mint condition, and I just felt that this was something a lot of folks would want with all of the reunions going on this summer, mine included. Terry and I agreed to put this project together so every one else who performed on the Record would want a copy of it, especially in the condition it is in. I have now transferred it to Compact Disk for all to enjoy all over again 41 years later. It sounds great, and it is so good to hear it again after all these years.
Alex Martin did the actual recording of the LP with Ampex recording equipment and Neumann microphones.
The photographs on the back of the album were taken by John Burningham and Mr. Ronald Larke, who I believe was the art teacher too, at least he was my art teacher in 1971. David A. Polley
The print of the man on the front cover was Steve Hoskins who was the Drum Major for the marching band. Debby Dobson designed the front cover.
Something else about the album that I think we take for granted today is the fact that the LP was recorded in Stereo. In 1969 Stereo was still pretty new to most folks. Though stereo recordings have been around since about 1958, the consumer did not start catching on to the new technology until the early 70’s. I think a lot of folks will be surprised when they hear this recording today. Most folks that had Stereo equipment in their homes were usually one piece furniture cabinets, that the separation was not very good. When folks started buying components and could separate the speakers further, but again you are talking about the mid 70’s for the newer stuff. I am sure most that played this record in the day listened to it on High Fidelity mono systems, and it could be that many will hear this for the first time in stereo when they play it. Just another passing thought.
David Polley
GHS Class of '75
To hear a sample, click play on the music player below.
