1987 Blue Devils @ Riverside CA

[@Mark-sj3xb]

“Free” is one of the all time great charts in all of DCI

[@scottnewton9046]

Love the blend of old and newer drum parts in “Free”. Such a great tune.

[@GraysonBuzz]

This was the first year I watched DCI as a sophomore in high school. I have watched the Finals version of this so many times, I almost know every bit by heart. Back then, I had no idea about "in-season changes" and how shows evolved, so it's very cool to watch this and hear where there are differences to how it ended up by Finals! Plus, I saw John Meehan on the Funliner podcast with several recent BD members talking about how he played the Harlem Nocturne solo, so I want to see that again!

[@GraysonBuzz]

Oh...and they just don't do drum corps like THAT anymore!!

[@americanspirit8932]

@@GraysonBuzz they turned into a marching band superimposed on the three ring circus. As did many former Real Drum and bugle Corps. You can thank DCI for that. They killed one of the greatest youth programs throughout the country.

[@chrispettus2532]

It's great to see this. I enjoy seeing shows from other parts of the season to see how they evolved into the finals performance. This was a real rough year for BD. They had a very young, inexperienced group in 87. The horn instructors focused more on getting these guys to play loud than anything else that year. There were rumored anecdotes of rehearsals where the instructors stood at the top of the stadium and yelled at them to play louder, louder, louder. And they succeeded at that. They were certainly loud. But, they had a lot to live up to after 1986. 1986 BD had a gorgeously huge fat sound and they got the lower brass to beautifully balance out the notoriously top heavy BD soprano line, something BD had struggled with since the upper brass standardized on larger Claude Gordon mouthpieces with distinctively larger throats beginning in 1981 or 1982.

[@veronicazamora112]

I. Wish. I. Was. One. Of. Those. Grils. With. The. Flags

[@drumcorps0junkie]

Hey Scott, it's Will Spikes from the norfest makeshift drumline. Thanks for uploading all the AMAZING SHOWS, and bring a portion of dci that was a force to be reckoned with.

[@djpcinema]

One of the best snarelines of all time

[@Cliff-M-]

Dude, best snare line ever and it’s not close. The hands in that line were absurd.

[@srtyler]

Scott Johnson said 83 BD was the best Devs snare line

[@evanmnichproductions]

The Harlem nocturne soloist was John Meehan (BD Brass Arranger)

[@jacksonroberts6446]

The synthesizer sounds a lot like a real tuba!

[@jimmyjay6497]

Contra bass. Hehe

[@joemaliga16]

BD always formidable.

[@jaymizell9172]

I had to read a few comments to get the "early season" flavor of the show. I'm used to seeing BD polished. Loved it entirely any way. Even Harlem Nocturne without the feather fans.

[@k.coleman9317]

The opener in this video has more energy than the Finals recording...

[@sarniasam]

Popped up in my feed today, how does youtube know exactly when I need a Devil's fix? I love seeing early season stuff too. Thanks Scott.

[@jtlucas99]

Thats me at 1:24!

[@brianlunsford5512]

Marched the same type of euph in 89 with VK. Goid times, noodle salad baby!!

[@supersop]

Got to love those old Meehaphones. What a sweet instrument.

[@supersop]

@Micah Lall-Trail Designed by Jack Meehan and Wayne Downey (BD Brass Head Staff) is a mix of a mellophone with a French horn bell. They're really long like a bari (watch the vid... you'll see them). The sound is so unique. I believe they were used from 87-90? One year I believe they marched ONLY Meehaphones for the mid voice.

[@supersop]

@Micah Lall-Trail check 04:45 for a close-up

[@supersop]

@Micah Lall-Trail glad to help. And I agree. It cut through like a mello but was warm like a flugel.... even with the frenchie bell. 88 show is something really special to listen to .... especially for the Meehaphone parts.

[@veronicazamora279]

amazing

[@veronicazamora279]

Excellent

[@tomkaufman3914]

In my opinion the best drum solo ever,high drums in 87.

[@tomshea8382]

No.

[@sdssteward]

Do you have Freelancers from this same show?

[@Skyrideradventures]

Tenor drums are so messy @5:51 . I realize its early season but so obvious a problem. Had they just changed something?

[@kwbboyer]

opener of fanfare for the new was much better done by Argonne in 73. arranged by hall of Sandra opie.

[@istompconservativeass2029]

+kwbboyer NOPE! sorry, you're 100% WRONG

[@cbailey089]

at least cleaner.

[@tscoffey1]

Back when snare drums had projection, and were played with that clean Float style. Also, no one would dare march with a stripe on the pant leg these days.

[@americanspirit8932]

TOM FLOAT HE IS A GREAT DRUM INSTRUCTOR. FORMER MEMBER OF THE LONG ISLAND SUNRISES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS.

[@DennisJohnsonDrummer]

Float was my instructor in 1980 -Spirit of Atlanta snareline. Learned a lot from him.

[@melodiebreeding7613]

Right and back when the drumheads didn’t practically play themselves.

[@earlviney5212]

73 argonne rebels blows this away

[@whatthehellisthis0505]

🤔🧐Please provide a link for our 👀 s and 👂s🧐🤔

[@veronicazamora279]

the. las. song. is. one. more. time. chuck. cera

[@Inspadave]

This show was such a disappointment after the previous year.

[@igotthchop]

oh I don't know dave... I had 'em beating cavies at finals, which would of put them in 3rd... i'll give you; not my fav bd show though. :)

[@Inspadave]

3rd over Cavies? I don't know about that, but to each his own. Hell, I think Spirit deserved at least 8th or even 7th. My point was that no matter how well 87 BD performed the show itself was a disappointment after what they had the year before. I might no longer be a Devs fan, but 86 BD still reigns supreme as my all time favorite show.

[@jamestravers1896]

Inspadave no it wasn’t. GREAT SHOW.

[@chrispettus2532]

BD did have a more mature group in 1986 that mostly aged out that year. BD had a real young crew in 87. It was the first of a couple of rebuilding years. I enjoyed the 1986 BD sound. They had a very full balanced sound for the first time in that decade. They were notoriously top heavy in the eighties. 1986 was one of my favorite BD years because of that full balanced sound. 1982 BD was great because they were so disciplined musically. Their top soprano soloist that played the Pegasus solo was a great screamer but also a very disciplined, musical player, and it helps when the leads can set an example of musicality.