Opus 1967 LPs digitized

Just finished recording LPs 1 and 2 of Opus 1967 (Opus Goes South) to raw digital audio. Some quick impressions and caveats, before I begin cleanup and track separation:

• Dad left only one copy of each of the discs among his recordings. This turns out to be a pity.
• LP 1 is an oddball. There are no separate tracks and the pressing was defective. I noted several pits or bubbles that were actually molded into the original vinyl. This LP contains the first 17 selections, from the Alabama Bound grand opening through the Jesters’ rendition of Wonderland by Night.
• LP 1 is marred by many, many skips. Hardly a single track is spared, although some are better than others. I’ll try to capture this audio again after gently washing the disc with some demineralized water. Couldn’ hoit!
• I regret that the recording of Basin Street Blues — in which our student teacher, David M. Baber, was the featured vocalist — is another casualty of record damage. As some of you may recall, Mr. Baber passed away at the very young age of 33 in 1978.
• UNSPOILER ALERT: The band selection Old Creole Days was interrupted by a passive-aggressive “piano tuner.” There was some discussion between him and band director James Keadle, after which the LP went to several minutes of dead audio. Sorry, Bert Bostic. Looks like your legacy has fallen victim to a technical snafu.
• LP 2 contains the final 13 selections. Not so many skips on this disc and the pressing shows the customary lead-out bands between numbers.

Now a little good news: apart from the egregious skipping on LP 1, the audio quality seems generally pretty decent, especially when you consider that Opus was recorded in the SAHS gymnasium. By this time, the choruses had a portable shell erected behind their risers.