Back Bay Shuffle (also with part of the Air Force song)

This was recorded during the convention of the Musical Box Society International. This is me playing the former Chicago Stadium Barton, now in the residence of Phil Maloof in Las Vegas, NV.

[@johnYthanatmsn]

How wonderful it is to see such a magnificent instrument. I am always in awe of the craftsmanship involved in these grand consoles, nowadays an organ comes in an MDF or chipboard box, with no grandure and no soul. I always feel that the makers and designers of the old consoles designed them not only to achieve acoustic perfection but to be a work of art, to be displayed for evermore. It is such a shame that there are less and less still functioning. Long live the theatre organ!

[@CRAM1REZ51]

@DaveCalendine agreed. That's the beauty of consoles. As long as you can get the ranks for it, it lives on. I am from Chicago, and this just brings back great memories of this instrument. Thanks for making me feel 5 again!

[@kathyk243]

WOW! I haven't seen a lot of theater organs,and never one with six ranks! I clicked on this site because of the Air Force anthem, and was super surprised to see the B24 suspended from the ceiling. My uncle, who died last year at age 96, was a flight commander for the Jolly Rogers, one of the most famous bomber groups in the Pacific, and flew B24s. He would have loved this! Thanks for putting it out here. Great job!

[@paulis4560]

I went to a lot of Hawks games in the late 70's through the 80's at the old stadium and that organ and it's pipes rocked the house. The crowd was loud but that organ, OMG, Awesome!

[@kwdrm1]

I remember when Al Melgard played the organ; it was he who found how to use the pipes and stops on the organ to best effect. The only other person who could do that was Nancy Faust.

[@378904]

install this organ at the united center please..thats where it belongs.the new place is so sterile without this organ!!they should have kept the old stadium!!thanks for posting this.nice to see it again after all these years!!

[@JimfromOH]

Yes--The aircraft at the end certainly provide a great finish !! Could you sometime do a video with just the aircraft and the AF Song ?? Hope to see you when it gets warm again !!

[@catkinsx]

Holy crap, the surprise with the airplanes at the end had my jaw on the floor! Never saw it coming! Ha haaa! Too bad it's a little truncated. :(

[@slowdog294]

This kicks absolute ass. He uses everything, all six boards and all the rankage and toys. Go, man!

[@jwp46]

this organ would have sounded great during this years cup run for the entire nation to hear the anthem before the game

[@johnnybartee3539]

Box 13 Folder 2. From the Artie Shaw Archives - Back Bay Shuffle - July 24, 1938 Score and parts; AS # 41 / 148; Arranger: John Bartee; copyist: unknown; recorded July 24, 1938; from the Bluebird Records 78 # 7759. Note: This arrangement was originally written for the 1937 band and contains the added 3rd trombone part by Russell Brown. It also contains a recopied set of parts, probably made by Jap Hutchinson in 1939. This arrangement was also adapted for the 1944 band. See also box 54.

[@princeboudewijn]

agreed!

[@kathyk243]

Sorry, I meant six keyboards--- I was too distracted just listening to this beauty!

[@sybil-roxanneclemons1333]

manuels

[@gregoryspring1303]

What pipes are hooked up to the Chicago Barton?

[@chrismiceli4858]

Re install it in the United Center, it's worth losing a luxury box.

[@sammee6602]

Good job but, calm down Dave, most of us T-O fans know the story. PS: Nobody beats the US Air Force!

[@davef.2811]

This is in someone's house??? Boy, I must have really done something wrong in life... LOL

[@rshafter4607]

Yeah! you weren't born RICH!

[@IDF1987]

This organ belongs at the UC and it needs a real organist to play it, not Frank freaking Pellico. He's the numbskull who wanted to get rid of this thing in the first place.

[@IDF1987]

Oh and bring back Nancy Faust too. Dollar Bill was an idiot for firing her.