Which music did military bands play as you passed in review when you were in the service? Which are played today?

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 31 May 2015 11:52:59 -0400

During my year in Infantry School in 1966, all I ever heard was "Hey Look Me Over" as we passed in review at Fort Gordon, Fort Jackson, and Fort Benning. It seemed quite popular with military bands.

I was one of the few who had seen Lucille Ball perform it live inasmuch as the musical Wildcat didn't have a very long run. I saw it in Philadelphia before it reached Broadway. Sadly, Ms Ball's popularity from the I Love Lucy series got in the way and the show's run on Broadway was brief.

Still the song "Hey Look Me Over" seemed to resonate with military bands. Although the lyrics don't have much to do with soldiers on parade, the title seemed appropriate and the score had a good martial beat to it. Watching American Bandstand during the 1950s we heard teenagers evaluating music as good when they remarked, "I could dance to that". I guess soldiers liked "Hey Look Me Over" because they could march to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V2z1nSrtkI

Lucille Ball and Paula Stewart - Hey, Look Me Over - live television - 1960

Lucille Ball and Paula Stewart as Wildy and Janey Jackson.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made May 31 at 2015 12:37 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 31 May 2015 12:37:56 -0400

the refrain from "We gotta get outta this place" was popular in basic training.

Response by 1LT James Clarke made Sep 18 at 2015 4:33 PM

1LT James Clarke — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:33:58 -0400

Music? I was in infantry OCS what music? I remember seeing John Wayne filming the Green Berets on several occasions. We sang Viet Nam Viet Nam . . . at night when you're sleepen Charley Cong comes -a-creeping all around the town! (to the music of poison ivy).

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Dec 13 at 2015 6:54 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 06:54:03 -0500

I hope it is still true that on every Marine corps base they have a Friday afternoon parade that they detail units into. And everyone bitches and complains about being in the Friday afternoon parade until the band strikes up "Semper Fidelis".

Then inevitably, every unit steps off with a lot of snap and pop. At Parris Island the recruits are in 3 FAP's during the 12 weeks so it probably just pavlovian.

http://www.marineband.marines.mil/Portals/175/Docs/Audio/Ceremonial/semper_fidelis.mp3

Walt

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Dec 13 at 2015 7:04 AM

Capt Walter Miller — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 07:04:41 -0500

I don't believe the Army has any song of its own.

Walt

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Dec 14 at 2015 8:54 PM

Capt Walter Miller — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:54:11 -0500

You Army guys don't parade to martial music? No 'Thunderer', no 'Washington Post March' no 'Stars and Stripes Forever'?

No 'Gerry Owen' to remind you of America's best known soldier?

No wonder you more and more resemble the USAF.

Walt

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Jun 11 at 2016 9:30 PM

SGT Aaron Atwood — Sat, 11 Jun 2016 21:30:49 -0400

We still do Semper Fidelis upon the call, "Pass in review!" from the Adjutant. Of course this is assuming we were there to do the ceremony. If we couldn't support the ceremony I'm not sure what the unit would do in our absence.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Sep 1 at 2017 10:16 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:16:50 -0400

CPT Jack Durish, I know this discussion thread is old, but I just saw it, and I thought I'd respond. One of the best Army marching songs is the West Point March. Frequently misattributed to John Philip Sousa, it was actually written by longtime director of the U.S. Army's West Point Band, Philip Egner, in the early 1900s. It was also used as the theme song to the 1956-58 television series, The West Point Story.

I honestly cannot remember any particular marches being played by Army bands during the various parades of which I was a part, but there are many other marches played by Army bands, to include The Army Goes Rolling Along (The Caissons Go Rolling Along). LTC Stephen F.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKMzri528ks

The Official West Point March

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises The Official West Point March · United States Military Academy Band United States Military and Patriotic Favor...

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Sep 1 at 2017 10:37 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:37:58 -0400

Sorry about bringing up an old discussion, but it just struck a chord (no pun intended). Not exactly a Pass in Review, but when I gave up my unit, the outgoing Commanding Officer got to pick one of the songs played during the band's Sound Off. Since I wasn't particularly happy about leaving my unit, I chose an old British march called "Mad Major", reflective of my feelings and attitude at the time.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 1 at 2017 5:52 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 17:52:12 -0400

Thanks CPT Jack Durish
As a company commander at Fort Benning and earlier as a line officer in an infantry battalion and most likely when I was an enlisted soldier completing BCT and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood, the music always included the Army Song, The Army Goes Rolling Along and sometimes ruffle and flourishes if flag officers were present.
Between 1976 and 1980 when I was a cadet at West Point there were a number of songs played during the many Pass in Reviews I marched in.
1.The Band plays the Generals March and then the United States National Anthem while Cadets and all military personnel are at attention prior to pass in review.
2. During the pass in review. whatever marches have been selected - includes the Graduation March
3. Ending with the Army Song, The Army Goes Rolling Along

Images: Carrying our nation’s colors; The band marches towards the plain; USMA-Parade; A parade review in action.
Video of Class of 2016 graduation pass in review with parachute demo including last jumper with parachute and ground personnel rushing to ensure the USA flag does not touch the ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMvjCMMiuiI

"The Pass in Review
If you’ve ever heard a West Point Band member (or anyone else affiliated with West Point) mention a “parade” on the plain or a “review,” these terms are synonymous with the “pass in review.” The pass in review is a long standing military tradition dating back to when Baron Von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge and reported to Washington during the American Revolution in 1778. Von Steuben’s training technique was to create a “model company” and one of the ways he did this was through drill and ceremony, which is still being used to this day. It is of interesting note that when he arrived, he spoke very little English (he is of German decent) and he would often order his translator to swear at his men for him in English. Upon his arrival to Valley Forge, the men were anything but a model company; that is to say until Von Steuben was through with them. He developed what is known as Regulations for the Orders and Discipline of the Troops of the United States of America, also known as the “Blue Book.” The West Point Band and Hellcats are an integral and essential part of this long standing military tradition.

Here at West Point, the pass in review happens before each home football game as well as various other times throughout the year such as graduation week and for alumni exercises and the annual Thayer Awards Review. The pass in review consists of several companies of cadets marching past a reviewing party for inspection purposes. On the command of “eyes right,” the cadets turn their head and eyes towards the ranking officer as they pass the reviewing party. This officer is usually the Superintendent of West Point.

For the West Point Band, the pass in review begins in our rehearsal hall about an hour and a half before the start time. It is there that we go over the sequence of music to be played and rehearse any marches that may be unfamiliar or new. The next step is a quick change into whatever uniform is to be worn. This could either be full dress blue, full dress blue over white, or the sierra uniform. (For more specific information on these uniforms, look for a separate blog post detailing our different unique military uniforms.) The band forms up in the parking lot of the band building before marching at a “route step” up to the parade field, or as it is formally known, “the Plain.”

Upon arrival to the Plain, we make our way down diagonal walk (photograph below), marching to the ceremonious sounds of the Hellcats and a simultaneous narrative about the history of what will be observed in the review.

After arriving at our position on the Plain, the Hellcats join our formation, which is usually a six-person front. It is from here that the Hellcat buglers sound Attention, which alerts the cadets in the sally ports of Washington Hall that the march-on is about to begin. The march-on consists of one to two marches (depending on the size of the participating cadet brigade) which send the cadets pouring out of the sally ports in company formations as they move to their positions on the field.

Once the corps of cadets have gone through a series of “order arms” to “present arms” and back to “order arms” to pay military curtesy to both the Cadet Captain and his/her staff and the reviewing party (usually consisitng of the USMA Superintendent and other West Point leaders), it is now time for the West Point Band to perform honors. This consists of the Generals March right into the United States National Anthem. At the conclusion of honors, the Superintendant utters the words “pass in review” to signal the start of the review portion.

After a quick reposition by the West Point Band and Hellcats, the command of “right turrrrrrn” is heard from the corps of cadets followed by the West Point Band drum major’s command of “forwarrrrrrd,” which is then followed by “maaaaaarch” from within the corps. This signals the downbeat and stepoff for the band, as they lead the corps in groups of companies past the reviewing stand. Once past the reviewing party, the band does a series of three left turns to position themselves facing the reviewing party. They remain there at the position of “attention” as they play the remainder of the companies past the reviewing party to the command of “eyes right.” Once past the reviewing party, each company is dismissed and continues marching back to the sally ports of Washington Hall, from where they came.

After the last company has marched past, there is an announcement for the playing of the Army Song, The Army Goes Rolling Along, as the crowd stands and sings along. Upon completion of the Army Song, the West Point Band steps off and is also dismissed, exiting the plain and marching past the Superintendent’s house. The Hellcats remain behind to march off the residual companies who are still exiting the parade field toward Washington Hall. This signals the end of the review."
From westpointband.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/the-pass-in-review/
Thanks for mentioning me LTC Stephen C.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Wall MSgt Jason McClish AN Christopher Crayne LTC Bill Koski Sgt Trevor Barrett SPC Tom DeSmet SGT Charles H. Hawes LTC Wayne Brandon SGT Private RallyPoint Member

West Point, Graduating Class of 2016

Response by MSgt Jason McClish made Sep 1 at 2017 7:20 PM

MSgt Jason McClish — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 19:20:09 -0400

I honestly don't remember, but seeing as it's likely different between the enlisted corps and officer corps, I wouldn't expect it to be extravagant.

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Sep 1 at 2017 7:59 PM

LTC Wayne Brandon — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 19:59:04 -0400

The Thunderer & El Capitan

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 1 at 2017 9:49 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 21:49:12 -0400

Throughout Camp San Luis Obispo, CA in 1953, Stars and Stripes Forever was broadcast for 2 hours in the morning, one hour at lunch and for one and a half hours before Retreat in the afternoon. Would you care to guess what ringtone is on my cell phone?

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2022 11:18 PM

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