The Sons of Champlin Live
"The Best Band You Never Heard"

Review by Robert Weiner

It's not every day that I get to spend an afternoon with one of my musical heroes; when I found out Chicago was coming to town on July 30th, I was ecstatic because, through a strange twist of events, I was to meet with and interview Bill Champlin (a lead vocalist, keyboardist, and guitar player for Chicago for the last 16 years, as well as a founding member of The Sons of Champlin). We met to discuss the recent release of The Sons of Champlin Live on Grateful Dead Records.

I came to know the music of Bill Champlin through Chicago; I am a longtime Chicago fan and had been impressed by the voice that graced many of Chicago's later hits like Look Away, I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, You're Not Alone, Chasin' the Wind, and last year's #1 AOR hit Here in My Heart. Bill Champlin's voice is his instrument (although he is no slouch when it comes to songwriting, keyboards, or guitar), and he has one of the best voices in rock/pop music today.

I had often wondered who Bill Champlin was, and if he had recorded music before his time with Chicago. As it turns out, Champlin had many other side projects, as well as being a founding member and guiding force of San Fransisco's Sons of Champlin ("The Sons") in the 1960s through today. Through the Internet, I found information on Champlin's various solo albums and The Sons.

The Sons formed in 1965; they performed until 1977, then took a twenty-year hiatus until 1997, when they began playing in the Bay area. In the thirteen years of their active performing, The Sons released around seven albums and contributed tracks to various compilation albums and best-of collections. They are referred to as the San Francisco "band that got away" (because they never had any national hits or got much press, unlike their contemporaries Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Grateful Dead, or Jefferson Airplane). In San Francisco, The Sons are considered to be a local favorite; their recent gigs have received both critical and fan acclaim.

The Sons released their first album, the double Loosen Up Naturally, in 1969. It was a landmark late-sixties release; from the opening notes of 1982-A (named for the album's catalog number) to the 15-minute magnum opus, Freedom, it was apparent that this band could both rock and be as soulful as any Motown artist. From their beginnings, the Sons have had a horn and rhythm section second to none. Before Chicago or Blood, Sweat, and Tears, the Sons had a horn section which continues to play an integral part in the band's sound. I found Champlin to be unpretentious and even self-deprecating, with a wonderful sense of humor; however, he made it clear that, in the studio, he's a serious worker. He is very excited about the Sons' new live release, and there's a good reason why.

Because of their longtime association with the Grateful Dead, it seems a perfect match for The Sons to have joined with Grateful Dead Records. Dead bassist Phil Lesh and drummer Mickey Hart are big fans of the Sons, as are members of Grateful Dead Productions. (Champlin was also a guest musician on Dead guitarist Bob Weir's 1978 solo album Heaven Help the Fool). The Sons recorded several of their recent gigs, and those tapes reached folks at Grateful Dead Productions who loved it and decided to release a live album culled from The Sons' performance at the Luther Burbank Center on January 24th, 1998.

From the opening notes on Live of Fat City/1982-A, the band is in fine form. Champlin's voice is excellent, and Terry Haggerty's guitar chops show no sign of wearing thin. Geoff Palmer's vibraphone playing shines through brightly throughout, another progressive example of The Sons' musical prowess; what other rock band do you know of which has a vibraphone player? Tom Saviano's sax and Mic Gillette's trumpet and trombone playing are tasteful throughout Live; rhythm section Jim Preston (drums) and David Schallock (bass) hold the sound together and keep a steady pace. Much of Live consists of tracks from their first album, including Rooftop, the ethereal Get High, Misery Isn't Free and Black and Blue Rainbow. Also included is an angelic performance of Champlin's Grammy-winning song Time Will Bring You Love. Unlike Chicago, Champlin and Co. have plenty of room to improvise (a San Francisco band trademark) in the Sons' repertoire, which is most evident in the jamming on the 15-minute Freedom. They also do a spirited performance of the old standard Tobacco Road, and a sweet version of Hold On ends the disc. What is remarkable about The Sons' Live CD is that even though the band took a twenty year hiatus (the band never really broke up), it sounds as though they never stopped playing together. The music is fresh and crisp. Don't miss this one.