The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

×

The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

Close

The Sons of Champlin is an American rock band, formed in the late 1960s and from Marin County in the San Francisco-Bay area. They are fronted by vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist Bill Champlin, who was also a member of the rock band Chicago. They brought to the late 60's music scene in the Bay Area a soulful sound built around a horn section, sophisticated arrangements, philosophical themes, Bill Champlin's songwriting and blue-eyed soul singing, and Terry Haggerty's jazz-based guitar. They are one of the 1960s San Francisco bands, along with Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead and Moby Grape.

The Sons recorded their first album in 1967 for Trident Records, owned by Kingston Trio manager Frank Werber. They released a single, "Sing Me a Rainbow," (B-side "Fat City") which got airplay in the Bay Area but did not crack the national charts. The plan was to follow this release with another song from the album, a Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil composition called "Shades of Grey." Unfortunately for The Sons, the Monkees released their version of the very same song before this could happen. The album was not released and the Sons left Trident Records. A few years ago this collection was released under the title, "Fat City," and is now available on CD.
In 1968 the Sons of Champlin signed with Capitol Records, releasing "Loosen Up Naturally" in January, 1969. Two more Capitol albums followed, "The Sons," and "Follow Your Heart." In 1970 the band broke up and Bill Champlin moved to Santa Cruz, where he joinedMoby Grape guitarist Jerry Miller in a short lived project called The Rhythm Dukes.
The Sons reformed in 1971 as a five piece band with Bill Vitt on drums and David Schallock on bass. Briefly, the group went by the name Yogi Phlegm, as which they played one of the last last concerts at Bill Graham's Fillmore West, June 30, 1971. In 1972 James Preston replaced Bill Vitt on drums, and the band once again went by the name Sons of Champlin.
After recording their 1973 Columbia album, "Welcome to the Dance," as a five piece, The Sons once again added a horn section, which included Mark Isham now a well known film scorer and composer, on trumpet and synthesizer.
In 1975 The Sons recorded "The Sons of Champlin" in their own studio and released it on their own label, Goldmine Records. This was purchased and re-released by Ariola America. The next two albums, "A Circle Filled With Love," and "Loving is Why" were also released on Ariola.
The Sons released seven albums between 1969 and 1977. The albums were generally well-reviewed, but were low sellers. In 1977, Champlin went solo, recording Single and Runaway before joining Chicago in 1981.
In 1997, the Sons got together for a series of reunion gigs, then recorded and released their first live CD in 1998. In 2002, Champlin said it was, "too good not to continue," and the Sons have since put out several new CDs that please fans, Hip L'il Dreams and Secret among them (they have also remastered much of their back catalogue).

×

The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

Close

×

The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

Close

×

The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

Close

×

The Sons Of Champlin - 4 Studio Albums (1973-1977) [Reissue 2001-2007] (Re-up)

Close