BC and PC

[astrid]

Hi Bill,

Could you please get together with pC and tour around Europe???

Just had to ask! Would love that.

Kus from Holland
Astrid

[Bill]

Why Not? Bill

[BiggerThanElvisFan]

Ahhhh, those voices. What a pair, complement!

[astrid]

I´ll ask Peter to give you a call !
But i would be great fun!!

Kus,
astrid

[hansum joe]

I was playing XVI in the car yesterday,

From 'Waiting for you to Decide'

The gorgeous harmony

'I don't wanna know if you've been lying, all along'

T-74 daze and counting...

[Hysteria]

Hi,

I'm a long time reader, first time poster...

First off I'd like to say I'm quite a young fan in his early 20s from the UK, and without the internet I would have never been able to stumble across a lot of fantastic music...especially from the West Coast session players. So I'd like to say thanks to the likes of Mr Champlin who allow people like me to find great music through this medium.

I'm a real nerd for David Foster production (as well as Jay Graydon, of course!) and as a consequence, Chicago 16 and 17 remain two of my very favourite albums. But it's more than just their respective production values that I cherish. An arguably even bigger reason why I love those two albums is the combination of Peter Cetera and Bill Champlin either as a 'duet' or on those great harmonies...songs such as Waiting For You To Decide, Bad Advice, Sonny Think Twice, Once in a Lifetime and last but not least Hard Habit to Break, which is probably my favourite song (possibly ever?) as it ticks all the boxes...production, arrangement, instrumentation and vocals! I was really pleased to see from fan vidoes that Peter Cetera has recently performed the song with David Foster.

Regardless if BC and PC ever get together to perform live and tour, I'd just like to round off by saying that those two together are my favourite vocal team (I wouldn't be surprised if a lot people shared those sentiments) and I wish both of them every success in the near future!

Rob

[Bill]

Rob, Thanks for the kind words. Bill C.

[Michael Hayes]

Hey Rob -
Glad to see you here and hope that you pass the music site around to your friends. It's a new grassroots thing that is going on in music and when you find a source that is as rich as the Champlin thing there's much music to check out. Turn on your friends and welcome.

Aloha,

Michael

[Hysteria]

Hi,

Thanks for the welcome Michael, and thank you Mr Champlin for your reply. I really appreciate it.

The grassroots thing has been great for me as I've found a lot of music I would have otherwise never had the chance to listen to! For example, certain websites have allowed me access to a plethora of information, especially those dedicated to keeping alive that whole ‘West Coast’ session player scene. I apologise if that's a generic term or even an unwanted one but it's a convenient label. Unfortunately the UK isn't Scandinavia when it comes to a love of that whole thing so it's hard to find like-minded individuals. Of course, that's only a stereotype I get from looking at a lot of websites, but it came as no surprise to see that a recent tribute band called Airplayin' are in fact from Norway! No prizes for guessing who the tribute is to...

Of course, it all starts at a basic level. If you don't have a love of checking out liner notes or credits then there's a big chance you won't take advantage of the resources online. I remember wondering who this certain 'Jay Gruska' was who co-wrote 'What You're Missing' on 16. After a little research I found myself typing 'Maxus' into the Youtube search engine. Soon, I was wondering where I could get my hands on the album after hearing an upload of the music video to 'Nobody's Business'. Thankfully the album is now on iTunes, but I remember having to get it second hand on vinyl from some Canadian dude just to be able to hear it, which I was very grateful for. Unfortunately, Warner Bros took down the video in the end...their loss I suppose. On the subject of Maxus, it's great to see a certain Mr Champlin listed in the credits. I'm sure I can hear those background vocals on 'Part of You'?

And back to the whole ‘BC and PC’ thing, it was great to hear that chemistry again on ‘Never Been Afraid’. That was a real nice touch...

Oh, and I can’t forget to mention I was really pleased to see an upload of a recent performance of ‘Please Hold On’ on Youtube. What a groove!

Rob

[Bill]

Rob, I think there are more "West Coast" fans than anybody thinks in the UK but there's not a convenient label. I've met a lotta' R&B fans from there who are way into the Toto, Foster, Steely Dan, etc.. kind of music but they don't lump it all together into a category. Hey, just having anybody like this kinda' stuff is pretty cool. A lot of those records, like Maxus, didn't see the light of day when they were released and are now getting some visibility, well deserved, 20 or 30 years later. One thing about records, or CD's, they stay around even past the lifetime of the people who created them. It's never too late to be appreciated. Thanks for your input; I really appreciate it. Be good, bill c.

[Tommaso]

Talking about quality pop/westcoast music lovers in the UK check out TALC. It's a duo of UK session players from the Incognito circle, Nicol Thomson and James Knight, trombone and sax player respectively on their day job but also fine multi instrumentalists and good singers. Their two cds are very good and heavily influenced by the most refined music like Steely Dan, Graydon/Foster, Christopher Cross and more. The all original stuff included is beautifully played and arranged with unusual lyrics. One of the song on their first cd, Bobby Fame, literally steals the intro from Champlin's I Don't Want You Anymore...but i see it as an homage and tribute to our legendary host. Those records are must have, in my opinion. Check 'em out!
http://talconline.com
Tommaso

[astrid]

Now see what this topic has lead to!! I agree with Rob about the perfect voices of
PC and BC together!! And yes Peter did sing Hard Habit to Break at the Foster gig wiht
Michael Johns.
But wouldn't it be awsome if the originals did sing it together again!!!

Rob i'm your neighbour from Holland!
Astrid

[Hysteria]

Thank you Tommaso! Grazie!

I didn't even know that stuff existed. The music is very slick but the lyrics seem quintessentially British! Although I'll admit that a 'pub' is not the first place that springs to mind when I think of slick music!

And to my neighbour Astrid from 'Koninkrijk der Nederlanden', I agree it would be very nice to hear Hard Habit to Break sung by the original vocalists again, if it was ever a possibility. Well, it is arguably my favourite song so I'd love to hear a remake or a live version with BC and PC. I know that 'ballads' aren't everyone's 'cup of tea' as we say here in the UK, but I've never heard one which surpasses Hard Habit to Break. I'm sure David Foster has said it is his favourite production ever...and who could blame him? Everything just seemed to come together in that song perfectly.

[Bill]

Hey, It certainly sounded good when we did it. I think Peter has put together a cool band, with Bruce Gaitsch and others, and I'm pretty sure he's been doing "Hard Habit" with Gene Miller singing, too. Gene is an awesome singer, as is Peter, so if you get a chance to catch them it's well worth it. The last time we spoke Peter mentioned that he was completely knocked out playing with this new band. I can't wait to hear them. Bill C.

[Hysteria]

Hi,

This month on Youtube, a very kind fan (where does he get this stuff?!) has uploaded rare live audio footage of 'Bad Advice' from 1982, showcasing the very talents we have been talking about so readily over the past week! Good timing don't you think?

So this is for all the Champlin/Cetera fans out there who might be interested in checking it out...Guess what? The harmonies are GREAT!

I'll have to check out Cetera's new band...somehow, someway!

This thread has been a blast. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiXWvqVVEdM