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"...Some Things
To Show..."
Taking
their name from bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Bill Champlin – THE SONS
OF CHAMPLIN [aka The SONS] were something of well-kept West Coat secret for
most British fans. But this fantastic 2014 double-CD haul on Britain’s Beat
Goes On (BGO) rectifies that San Francisco hole in your life with huge style.
Here are the longhaired be-speckled LSD-induced details…
UK
released April 2014 – "Loosen Up Naturally/The Sons/Follow Your Heart" by THE
SONS OF CHAMPLIN on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1135 (Barcode 5017261211354) contains 3
full albums Remastered onto 2CDs (one is a 2LP set) and plays out as follows…
Disc
1 (73:08 minutes):
1.
1982-A
2.
The Thing I Do
3.
Misery Isn’t Free
4.
Rooftop
5.
Everywhere [Side 2]
6.
Don’t Fight It, Do It!
7.
Get High
8.
Black And Blue Rainbow [Side 3]
9.
Hello Sunlight
10.
Things Are Gettin’ Better
11.
Freedom [Side 4]
Tracks
1 to 11 are the band’s debut album “Loosen Up Naturally” originally released
May 1969 in the USA as a 2LP set on Capitol Records SWBB-200
12.
Love Of A Woman
13.
Terry’s Tune
Tracks
12 and 13 are the first two tracks on Side 1 of their 2nd American album ”The
Sons” (now credited simply as The Sons) released November 1969 on Capitol
Records SKAO-332
Disc
2 (71:24 minutes):
1.
Boomp Boomp Chop [last track Side 1 of "The Sons"]
2.
Why Do People Run From The Rain [Side 2]
3.
It’s Time
4.
Country Girl
5.
You Can Fly
Tracks
1 to 5 are the remainder of “The Sons” LP
6.
Before You Right Now
7.
Children Know
8.
Hey Children
9.
Follow Your Heart
10.
Beside You [Side 2]
11.
Headway
12.
The Child Continued
13.
A Sound Love
14.
Well Done
(Also
credited as by The Sons) Tracks 6 to 14 are their 3rd American vinyl album
“Follow Your Heart” released January 1971 on Capitol Records ST-675
There’s
a classy card-wrap on the outside and the chockfull 20-page booklet has
typically brilliant and informative JOHN TOBLER liner notes. Tobler also
rightly acknowledges CHARLIE KELLY - a former Roadie for The Sons whose website
has strung together huge amounts of info about the band and its previous
incarnation as THE OPPOSITE SIX. None of these three Capitol Records albums
ever saw a UK release on vinyl and up until a few years ago info on the Band
had remained virtually a mystery. There’s even lyrics to the 3rd LP “Follow
Your Heart”. It’s impressively done.
But
as ever the real news comes with the great sound… All 3 albums saw CD reissue
on One Way in the mid 1990s and on Acadia in the 2000s – yet to my ears these
newly minted remasters by ANDREW THOMPSON trump the lot – filled with a sonic
power that is overwhelming at times. There’s wonderful clarity and presence on
all three outings – a deftly handled transfer.
Proceedings
open with truly fantastic clarity on the poppy “1982-A” (a title supplied by
the Engineer) and continue that way with “Misery Ain’t Free” and “Rooftop”.
There’s a lovely musicality to “Black And Blue Rainbow” and they even get a bit
commercial on the guitar-up of “Hello Sunlight” and “Things Are Getting’
Better”. But it all comes together in the near 15-minute “Freedom” that made up
the whole of Side 4. With an assault of Tenor and Baritone Saxophones fronting
jagged guitars and a funky backbeat – the mammoth song sounds like a marriage
between the Chicago Transit Authority 2LP set from 1969 and the first Emerson,
Lake And Palmer album from 1970. Prog-like organs do battle with brass fills,
punctuated intermittently by impassioned vocals and funky guitars to impressive
if not long-winded effect.
But
while the slightly stoned double-debut is good – the single-album follow up
“The Sons” saw real improvements in the songwriting – especially restraining
the brass overload that afflicted some tracks on its predecessor. Side One
openers “Love Of A Woman” (Bill Champlin on Vocals) and “Terry’s Tune” (Terry
Haggerty on Vocals) now featured far calmer arrangements. Mellow one moment and
hip the next - Haggerty’s voice on the second sounded not unlike a pleasing
rendition of Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. The 10-minute “Boomp Boomp Chop”
ended Side One sounding again like the outcome of a Blood, Sweat & Tears
after hour’s party. There are trippy vocals and vibes on the short “Country
Girl” and the funky finisher “You Can Fly” was an obvious single (Capitol 2786)
in early 1970.
Things
take a more organized and mature turn with “Follow Your Heart” and the keyboard
funky opener “Before You Right Now” contains a fantastic organ solo by
Champlin. The acoustic “Children Know” feels almost concept album as does the
near six-minute title track – both superbly produced by John Palladino. It’s
surprising the short and upbeat “Headway” wasn’t chosen as a lead off 7” single
sounding like “Can’t Buy A Thrill” Steely Dan with Jeff Baxter in the
ascendancy. The wordy seven-minutes of “The Child Continued” sounds Todd
Rundgren in its complex yet soft reach. But most impressive of all is the
trippy “A Sound Love” which has gorgeous instrumental flourishes (lyrics above)
and sounds not unlike Greenslade three years prior. The upbeat “Well Done”
gives it their best Three Dog Night with Guitars – and that’s not a bad thing
in my book.
At
times its hard to pin down The Sons Of Champlin and their sound – part Chicago
part BS&T part ELP meets Todd Rundgren meets Three Dog Night… And I suppose
that’s what’s made so many fans forgive the occasionally bland vocals and
overdone brass – because theirs is a unique listen - varied and interesting and
therefore worth returning too.
It’s
not all genius by any stretch of the imagination – but there’s a huge amount of
largely unheard talent on display here (one double album and two singles) – and
all of it sounding just amazing on this truly great remaster.
And
if you’re curious about THE SONS OF CHAMPLIN (forgotten heroes of those heady
California days) - then this is 'the' place to start exploring…
