My Guestbook

Submitted by
Name: Brendan J. Rayner
From: Northampton UK

Comments:
Hi I just wanted to say that I stumbled across this website quite by accident, but am I glad I did. There are recordings on here that take me back to my childhood days when I used to go through my Dad’s vinyl Army record collection which he still has to this day and when you listen to a lot of these recordings the playing is superb for the day but still stands up today. My favorite recordings are of the original Christmas with The Salvation Army and anything recorded by the I.S.B. under Bernard Adams. I must congratulate you on superb job bringing these vintage recordings back to life; I shall most definitely be returning to this website again. With very best wishes. Brendan J. Rayner Northampton, UK

Added: Dec 23, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Chris Cloke

Comments:
What a marvellous site. I have been looking for a recording of Softly The Night is Sleeping for ages, My father had a copy of the Salvation Army playing it and also What a Friend we have in Jesus, which he used to play to us in the 1950’s. So glad someone has taken such time and effort in preserving all these for posterity.

Added: Dec 12, 2009

Submitted by
Name: J Simpson

Comments:
Impressive work here. I am indebted to your archivist tendencies. I never would have heard any of this, without your work. Conjuring images of dusty antique stores. Eagerly anticipating the sonic discovery.

Added: Dec 8, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Lt.-Colonel Bob Chapman

Comments:
I remember in 1946 entering the Training College in Toronto, Ontario as a member of the Warriors Session. My Dad was an avid listener to Army music, and as a remembrance of his influence upon my life I sent back home to London, Ontario a dozen regal recordings of Army music. Whenever I returned home on furlough, I would put them on the old home gramophone and play them. Thanks for reviving a lesson in history for me.

Added: Dec 2, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Pete Whitehead

Comments:
Thanks again for this wonderful site.

Added: Nov 29, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Brian Hanchett
From: Norwich UK

Comments:
Once again thank you for all these memories. I am now 65 & this music I grew up with In Chelmsford Citadel. Wonderful to hear the old G Trombone in King of Kings I remember my father Arthur Hanchett playing this I can almost feel his presence When listening. The LP section is great The Festival of Gospel Song LZ4006 I was there participating with Chelmsford Songster’s. This was the biggest thing the Army had attempted. The work put in by Norman Beacroft, Dean Goffin, Chas Skinner they were up & down the country rehearsing the various brigades for months before the event. What wonderful years, Thank you Ian Brian Hanchett (Norwich,UK)

Added: Nov 27, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Ian G Jones
From: Melbourne Australia

Comments:
Like many of your listeners who grew up in the Army in the 50’s and 60’s, this is nostalgia unlimited. I well remember the joy of looking after Ray Bowes’ electric gramophone whilst he was in the Training College, so our 78’s were given a solid work out on Sunday afternoons. So what pleasure I get now in playing all those old records once again but so far removed from my Upper Norwood days now here in sunny Melbourne. Ian Jones.

Added: Nov 27, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Jim Hood
From: Basel 1 Switzerland

Comments:
Great stuff. I will share your site with some Salvationists around the world. I am sure that it will bring back a lot of memories and blessings. I was a soldier at Kilbirnie Citadel in Scotland for many years before moving to central Europe, where I now soldier at Basel 1 Switzerland.

Added: Nov 23, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Ian Barton
From: Australia

Comments:
In response to Neil’s comments about the Norwood Citadel LP I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing the Norwood Band & Songsters perform on many occasions back in the 60’s & 70’s as they were a neighbouring Corps here in South Australia. I knew they were good but it is now only on reflection listening to this recording I truly appreciate just how good they were. Neil is correct in that the selection of tracks on this LP is just about perfect. It is an LP I can thoroughly recommend listening to. I have sourced another copy of the record in the last week or so and am hoping to present a better quality audio as soon as I can get my hands on it. Regards to all, Ian

Added: Nov 18, 2009

Submitted by
Name: Neil Carter
From: Montreal Canada

Comments:
I don’t want to take over Ian’s Guest Book, but . . . . . . . . . . Last weekend in response to a gentle enquiry to Ian about being unable to find any recording of Songs in Exile anywhere on his site, having only been able to find this work on a current recording, the latest ISB Supremacy CD, when just like that, and within mere hours, Tottenham Citadel’s LRZ 4003 was uploaded, and I was once again transported back to so many 1960 Sunday Evenings, just down the road from Tottenham Citadel, playing Songs in Exile with Wood Green Band. I thought things could hardly get any better than that, but then this morning, with so many other titles from which to choose, I somehow clicked on another of the Ian’s latest uploads, namely the Adelaide Norwood Citadel LP, #2 on the LP page. Oh my. This recording is now apparently fifty, yes fifty years old, and I have to admit, that technically, the years have taken their toll, but this LP has to be a shining gem amidst Ian’s RZ treasury. I just wish I could say thank you to these fine Salvationist musicians for the blessings they have brought me today. How can one LP programme contain such an amazing selection of Army classics. From Montreal Citadel, surely one of the finest Marches ever composed, plus Colonel Steadman Allen’s typical 1960’s GS march Crown of Conquest, and even more so, to the devotional pieces. The Band playing Love Divine, All Loves Excelling and then three beautiful Songster pieces. The Army Songster arrangement of Psalm 23, Thou Art My Shepherd Indeed, a simple Sunday Evening transcription of Just As I Am, and finally, almost with tears in my eyes, Colonel Brindley Boon’s most moving and thought provoking I Dedicate Myself To Thee. Fifty years old or not, this is an LP I wish I had in my collection. God bless you Ian, I know the work involved here is immense, but the rewards come when your visitors out here re-discover and remember our Army of yesteryear, and God bless those 1950’s musicians and leaders of Norwich Citadel. If ever I should re-dedicate myself, it will be not be from today’s pulpit, but through such music and dedication from the composers and musicians of the Army who have gone before. Neil Carter Oxford UK PS For a recent, & totally unique video of Montreal Citadel, played on the march with the Canadian Staff Band, follow this link canadianstaffband.ca/2009/visit-to-Cobourg

Added: Nov 17, 2009