This is my gift to the older viewers who used to visit the Chicago Stadium. This was Al Melgard's final song after every event. It was written for Sonja Henie as a tribute. Enjoy because there are not many copies of this anymore.
Пікірлер: 72
@ghairraigh11 жыл бұрын
Al had retired in 1974, and this song wasn't heard after that for twenty years. The organist played "My Vision" in tribute to Al Melgard and "the Grey Lady" after the last Blackhawks game in the Chicago Stadium, a 1-0 loss to Toronto that eliminated them from the 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs 4 games to 2. I had heard Al play it after every game since my first as a little boy in 1958. No one wanted to leave the Stadium that night for the last time, and hearing the song again moved me to tears.
@andyw.20213 жыл бұрын
That was my grandfather and I just cried hearing it again!
@ET2carbon8 ай бұрын
@@andyw.2021who was
@ntclinton9 жыл бұрын
As a teen, whenever I would listen to the Blackhawk games on the radio, as Lloyd Pettit was doing the final wrap up, you could hear this in the background. It lended a sort of distinct aire to the surroundings and made the Stadium all that much more magical. When I first played this on the organ from memory, my father was amazed and wanted to know where I got the music. Good music just stays in your head. The old barn is truly missed.
@ikonix3607 жыл бұрын
The sad thing is the building could have been kept intact had the owners wanted to. The organ could also have been moved to the new building where it would still be used today. If enough wanted to and the money could be raised perhaps all the pipes could be recreated and the organ installed in some other large arena or stadium or convention hall.
@JorgeCat786 жыл бұрын
Do you know if they still play My Vision at the United Center?
@milton11475 жыл бұрын
JorgeCat78 they do
@glennlarsen85712 жыл бұрын
Great story! Indeed!! I remember, also!!
@dieppe19585 жыл бұрын
Brings back alot of memories. Written by Al Melgard for the great Sonja Heine. I played this song for my wife's fathers funeral in 2014. They really appreciated it. At the Blackhawk's Convention, Frank Pellicoe played it, & this fan broke down, reminded him of his late father & his younger days of going to the games. We all feel the same!
@Crackers254910 жыл бұрын
I will never forget this song as long as I live... Such a calming song after a great night at the Old Chicago Stadium...! Fantastic memories of the Stadium, Al Melgard and the Blackhawks!!!
@miloillich86588 жыл бұрын
How I always enjoyed hearing this wonderful song. Have two 331/3 s of Al and the sheet music to this wonderful song MY VISION written by Al . So now can play it on my Yamaha keyboard at age 83.
@stephenparker94157 жыл бұрын
How did you get the sheet music ?
@Aerospacer776 жыл бұрын
So beautiful. Like a song from heaven. I miss the old stadium. I miss the old organ. My dad would take me and my brother to Blackhawks games at the old stadium when we were in our teens and I feel so fortunate and lucky to have been able to experience it. Wayne Mesmer singing the national anthem and that old pipe organ that was truly unique and sounded like nothing else in the world because it was one of a kind. Oh the good 'ol days! Gone forever but remaining in our memories.
@christianwebb35537 жыл бұрын
As a 20 year old who missed the Stadium by two years, I have to say this is beautiful. The junk the play today is total garbage...
@markrocovich22348 жыл бұрын
A sincere thank you from a dyed-in-the wool habs fan...rivalries never grow old....
@juliaroesler68305 жыл бұрын
My mom played the piano and the organ and Al Melgard was a friend of her father and family. When we would go to the stadium, my Mom would ask the usher to let Al know that she was there. We would go up a stair and into an area where Al was also able to view what was going on below. It felt really special as a child to be able to meet someone as important as Mel, and to see and hear that music being played. My mom would have been 96 this May, so it was a long time ago.
@sst5684 жыл бұрын
That's a wonderful story!
@armnhamr4739 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the "gift". It is the Chicago Stadium as much as the Blackhawks and Bulls
@jgroend11 жыл бұрын
Boy do I remember this. Back in the late 70's I was working in a store in Mesa, Az and an older gentleman came in, and we got to talking and it turned he was one of men who helped build the mighty Chicago Stadium organ.
@thomashealy99984 жыл бұрын
This video brings back lots of memories. When I was a child, during the Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita years, my parents would take me to a couple Blackhawks games each season. After each game was over, my mother would not leave until Al Melgard was done playing this song. As an adult I became a Blackhawks season ticket holder and heard other assorted organists play this organ, but none could compare. Unfortunately, William Wirtz was too cheap to have this magnificent instrument transferred over to the new United Center.
@mannolas10 жыл бұрын
Thanks for putting this up on KZbin. I heard this song for the first time on November 2, 1960 in the aftermath of a 4-4 tie between the Blackhawks and the Rangers, my very first in-person hockey game. I can remember listening to to Al Melgard's rendition as my father and I slowly worked our down to street level from the second balcony. I've seen hundreds of NHL games since then, but I'll always remember that first one.
@ET2carbon8 ай бұрын
Beautiful
@josephbunzol17528 жыл бұрын
as a kid, I always stayed in my seat until this was over. then it was time to leave. I think this recording or similar is played on occasion after Blackhawk games at the UC
@josephcirignani97969 жыл бұрын
What a beautiful song, and Al Melgard was able to play My Vision so well bringing out such a sweet sound from the Barton Organ I never tire listening to him playing his good night song.
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
Al in fact wrote this for Sojna Heine.
@gamifelodge47147 жыл бұрын
We all need more Al Melgard and the chicago stadium Bartin Organ. It gave us better times ahead; a future to look forward to. Not like today.
@Crackers25494 жыл бұрын
WOW, does this bring back memories of the end of those Blackhawk games, as I'd be walking out of that great Chicago Stadium...! After the battle it had such a calming effect and then I would walk down to Gate 3 1/2 to see if I could get a few autographs....! You could never explain to anyone what it was like at the Chicago Stadium with Al Melgard at that great organ...!!! The greatest hockey venue on earth.... I didn't realize I commented on this 5 years ago in a different post.... LOL
@suemadsen37825 жыл бұрын
This is beautiful and priceless. I, too, was that kid that grew up listening to the organ and knew My Vision by ear. I play My Vision at the end of all my practicing and playing.
@stepheneggert73885 жыл бұрын
Ive got all the records of mr.melgard 1 2 3..i spin them once a yr..good old days.of hockey..after a game played..ice shows..he was the best..the old gal could sing..miss the old barton..
@alanpacer3502 жыл бұрын
My dad & I would not leave the Chicago Stadium after the college basketball doubleheaders in the '60s until Al Melgard signed off with this amazing song!
@stepheneggert73884 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed hearing this played.at the games ending .as we went down the stairs going out into the cold winters nights..as a kid..with my father..miss the staidum...
@3789049 жыл бұрын
i remember the roar!!
@klg2634 жыл бұрын
My parents met at the Chicago Stadium in 1954 during a public ice skating session. Thank you for posting this video. It's sweet to think of them skating together to this music.
@scottmcpherson73692 жыл бұрын
Amazing. Memories flooding back
@unclelouie38286 жыл бұрын
I LOVE HIS PLAYING. ONE OF THE BEST.
@mousevisiter25 Жыл бұрын
Would be at Chicago Stadium 2 1/2 hours before puck drop. Standing room only would be the only people in the building then My Vision would come on and I knew where and. Why I was there . Then right after the hawks pulled out a win . Al would play it as we were trying to file out. Such great memories for me felt so lucky to see Mikita and Hull. That will stay with me forever
@tomhickman57032 жыл бұрын
I grew up in the 40's thru the 70's in Chicago going to Blackhawk games and for the most par listening to Al Melgard on the fabulous Chicago Stadium Organ. What a great sound.
@nanigoose26 күн бұрын
We have an old 78 record of this piece that we listened to as children. It probably sounds pretty scratchy.
@raoulmongilardi61522 жыл бұрын
He knew the song and the unique instrument were composed for him equally. Lovely registration.
@chrisvogel31616 жыл бұрын
Going to the Stadium and hearing the organ was almost an event in and of itself. I recently found the video I recorded at the last regular season Hawks game in 93, also a loss to Toronto. Brings back great memories. Miss the Stadium and its near complete lack of amenities.
@sst5684 жыл бұрын
Is it on KZbin?
@chrisdennehy94253 жыл бұрын
Will you be posting this old video?
@ikonix36011 жыл бұрын
From what I've read online the only thing left of this organ is the console the rest from what I read having been destroyed in a fire where it was stored. The console survived because it was stored somewhere else. Most likely will never hear this organ play again and sound as it did unless one can exactly recreate the pipes and everything else including the stadium.
@herbpetrillo1634 жыл бұрын
What a shame....this was a piece of history
@sdiubw8943f2 жыл бұрын
That is correct, a propane tank exploded and the resulting fire destroyed all of the pipework/chests/etc. The organ console was restored and installed in the residence of Phil Maloof, in Las Vegas, NV, and is commanding a different set of pipes. Phil died in April of 2020, and I am not sure whether the console still remains in his home or not. It is a shame that this organ wasn't moved over to the new United Center. They settled for a custom Allen Organ Digital Theatre Organ designed to sound like the original Barton, although I am sure it doesn't come close to capturing the sound of the Barton.
@ikonix3602 жыл бұрын
@@sdiubw8943f unless it had the same exact stop tabs and number of manuals it couldn't possibly have sounded the same. Not to mention back then digital computer organs weren't as advanced. Had it been done now it would have sounded very close but not quite the same. Nothing can quite match pipes. There's just something about moving air like pipes do that no speaker can 100% do. From what I understand this was the largest theatre organ ever made. Wonder if it would be possible with enough money to duplicate the original pipework provided there's enough documentation on the stops? However technology is so advanced now that the original sound could be pretty much recreated with a computer and would be reasonably close. One cannot possibly get the exact sound even if the pipes were 100% recreated like the originals because the organ wouldn't be in the space it was designed for. In my opinion they could have found some other use for the Chicago stadium versus just tearing it down. However if a new stadium was being built today with how people are all about saving things the Chicago stadium might have been saved and repurposed or at minimum the organ would have been moved to the new stadium or at least properly stored. Who in their right mind has anything that can explode near storage buildings and who in their right mind stores anything in a building near a tank of propane. Also read where a fully restored organ for a church was also in the same building and was lost as well. Nor sure exactly why the organ wasn't moved to the new stadium. Think there's several stories out there as to why, although i did read where there were organ chambers on the original plans of the new stadium.
@jackjames7806 Жыл бұрын
Shit, makes this all the more poignant.
@kwdrm12 жыл бұрын
Sometimes, it would be the first song he'd play as people came in for a Blackhawks game.
@glennlarsen85712 жыл бұрын
Great song to exit the Chicago stadium after a Blackhawk victory!!!
@Crackers254910 жыл бұрын
By the way.. My folks took me to see Sonja Hennie at the Stadium and that was my first visit there and afterwards they took me to "The Stockyard Inn" for a steak.. What a thrill.. I will never forget that night and I was very young probably 6 or 7.. And of course as he was from 1930 to 1973, Al Melgard at the organ!!!
@pianojosef12 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this!
@JAYZIGGY55 жыл бұрын
It was probably played by Nancy Faust or Frank pellico but I definitely remember this song walking out of the old barn. The only thing missing the sound of cups popping all around the building. Sure wish they would've moved the old organ across the street. "The fans won't know the difference" my ass!
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
It's because of that overfed frank pellico that this wonderful instrument is no longer with us. He didn't like playing it and convinced the Wirtzes it was going to cost 11 million to move it across the street.
@JAYZIGGY54 жыл бұрын
@@aandrus7 Yup. Love the guy but I can't ever forgive him for that.
@mhsjim7 жыл бұрын
Such a relief from the heavy metal trash they pump in your face today. Thanks for posting this masterpiece!
@sammee66029 жыл бұрын
Wonderful!
@roadworthy78845 жыл бұрын
thank you @william hayes
@stepheneggert15516 жыл бұрын
mabe mr.rocky w..can get the old Barton console back ...to finish the healing process...put it back in the uc. since it was restored in someone's home in vagas..ibefor it ends up in the new hockey venue there in vagas...it will be a slap in face if it happens...Tampa Bay lighting have the best elc organ in all of sports..it's sad to be in there when the Hawks are in Tampa ..u see lighting fans enjoying there organist in the crowd playing for there team. Frank sits in a booth now. 20 some yrs now.time to make a change and bring home our Barton ...console..back into the crowd...so our young organist can enjoy. what Mr.melgard did ..
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
You're 100% right sir. It WOULD be a travesty if some upstart team, ESPECIALLY in a place like Las Vegas, ended up with this magnificent instrument!
@Staszu1311 жыл бұрын
I tend to think of this as the "Well the Hawks just lost again" song because it seems a bit melancholy
@jackjames7806 Жыл бұрын
It transcends winning and losing
@Mike-kc8rl2 жыл бұрын
Must have been one of the finest theatre pipe organs ever built? Looking very much like Barton were going for the Wannamaker organ style here? This organ has been saved in part but it will never sound again like this? Its now like a caged animal! In a private collection i believe
@dieppe1958 Жыл бұрын
Should have been played at Rocky's Memorial Service on Wed 8/9/23 at the UC
@arn1b711 жыл бұрын
"Martial Law"'s statement below says it all. Thank you so much for posting this. Do you know whether it is available on any LP or CD?
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
I have seen several Al Melgard LP's (Vol. 1 on the REPLICA label) for sale on ebay. It's the only one that contains My Vision. Occasionally a CD set comes up.
@arn1b74 жыл бұрын
Thanks Albert
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
@@arn1b7 If you're still looking I may be able to help you get one
@arn1b74 жыл бұрын
@@aandrus7 I appreciate the thought, but I think I can access enough of Melgard's work on KZbin, etc. Thanks again.
@aandrus74 жыл бұрын
@@arn1b7 Yes, now I'm seeing a lot more of Al's stuff on YT.
@mannolas Жыл бұрын
They should play this at Bobby Hull's funeral service. The memories.....
@williamhayes144910 жыл бұрын
Once again, for you Chicago Stadium old-timers: My Vision is now available in a much cleaner rendition on Spotify. Type in Al Melgard and enjoy all of the old classics but especially My Vision, his trademark finale.