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BichinFirst of all, let me explain the "bichin'" history. A few years ago on the road with a band I used to be a member of, we were handed about 2 million pictures to sign, and I found myself bangin' through them at a pretty fast clip. The next thing I knew was that I was using 2 letters from each name and I realized that I was signing "BICH". So someone started saying, "Bill, could you bich these photos?" Anyway, this section is just stuff that crosses my mind about everything from A to Z. Usually about music, or the state of it, or whatever. There is a message board for you guys to do the same. And like that. - Bill November 23, 2011 The Champlins played with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns last night for a Pro-Tools recording and DVD shoot for a live audience, Santa Fe's awesome Monday night crowd, who we'd love to bottle and take everywhere we go. First of all, I didn't think those guys could improve 'cause they were unbelievable 2 years ago when I last heard them, they've always been great but they're even deeper than ever now, especially on their own stuff. They played a few new songs, which were awesome including a new tune that Jamie Hosmer wrote and sang that was so soulful I had tears in my eyes when they played it, Yeah Jamie! Anyway, anyone who has been to a Monday Night "Healing" knows what I'm talking about. The rhythm section locked onto every song all night like an angry Pit-Bull: Jerry is one of the best guitarist/singers ever: Rochon Westmoreland, bass, takes no prisoners, one of the best ever: Pepe Jimenez, drums, is on a major roll that had me screaming: Gabriel on congos was killing it: Dave Richardson on keys always takes it to new levels and is one of my all time favorites: Jamie had a B-3 under him and was having his way with it and played synth with his usual "Jazzball" groove. They were hitting their R&B oriented stuff with an even deeper pocket than 2 years ago. The Fat City Horns are the best section I've heard ever plus Nathan and Dave's arrangements are miles ahead of everyone, and I mean everyone. All of these guys are soloists and they bring fire to everything the play, breathtaking stuff. If you ever get near Las Vegas try to catch them on Monday nights at The Palms Hotel on Flamingo Blvd. Anyway, it was time for The Champlins to hit: I started with "Turn Your Love Around" and they used my arrangement from "Through It All" but threw their touch on it. Dave and I soloed and then Phil Wigfall, Alto Sax, pretty much nailed it, he's baaaaaaad. Then Will came out and played a short beautiful piano solo and started "After The Love Has Gone" which is sorta' like the Mayday version but Phil came out again and got into some major mischief, brilliant. The Santa Fe Singers, Jerry, Tony, Tyriq, and Lanny, I think I got all the names at least close, basically tore it up with some great vocals that were arranged really well. The song went over well and it was time for Tamara to come out and we did "Love Is Gonna' Find You" which is a Matheison/Champlin song that me and Tam did on "He Started To Sing", she brought her usual fire to the song; we all tore it up. Then it was Tamara's turn to take the room into Rock Land with her great song "Backstreets of Paradise", we pretty much did the "Mayday" version of it and, she tore it up; I brought my Gibson 345 and had a good time on that one. Then we did a song that was on "Single" that I've been putting back in the ball game lately: "Yo' Mama", we all wondered why we hadn't played that with the solo bands that some of these guys have been in, anyway, it was perfect for the whole thing, or should I say, "Thang"? Lotsa' fun and the singers nailed it as well as the horns. Then it was time for Will to take it up to the next place. He'd never been exposed to Santa Fe's audience and I saw a lotta' people with their jaws dropped. Will did a song, "All My Might", that Santa Fe already had arranged and performed before that was written by Will, Me, and Chas Sandford, who wrote "Missing You". The band's arrangement was really true to Will's original version, which he did a demo on years ago except this time Nathan did a horn chart that was off the hook. Will sang his butt off and took a piano solo that had the whole bldg AND band swooning; I've heard him solo before but this one was over and above anything I'd ever heard from him before, WOW!!! Then we did "Raining Sunshine" with Will singing lead and me and Tamara on backgrounds. The band lit into this one with a vengeance and the horn chart was "funkier than a 3 day old band-aid", to borrow a phrase from my old pal, Tris. Will took a synth solo that was slammin' and the whole thing went over great. Then it was Santa Fe's version of Stevie Wonder's, "Livin' For The City", Jerry handed the verses over to us and it was an honor to be on the stage when THAT thing was being played. I've been in the audience before for that one but up there it was something. Anyway, we're all looking forward to the DVD of this and the mix of the music we did last night. There will be more of these DVD's with Santa Fe, including one a few weeks ago with Ole Borud, from Scandinavia. I think I got his name spelled right, pretty close anyway; the man is one of the best. Go to "Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns" website and they will keep you in the loop. They also have DVD's and stuff for sale there; if you haven't heard them, go there and get something 'cause it's a "one of a kind" thing. I wanna' thank the band for digging into our music and putting their special thing on it; and, even more importantly, I wanna' thank the band for doing what they're doing because this kind of music is a rare thing, especially when it's played with that much love. My special thanks go out to Jerry Lopez for putting together one of the most memorable nights of my life. Jerry is a monster singer/guitarist/writer and one of the best friends I've ever had, I love that guy. Keep an eye open for the DVD; should be a kick. Bill Champlin January 14, 2011 Hey everybody, you've probably noticed that we're canceling the March and June/July Sons' gigs. It was a decision that we had to make for various reasons, mostly economic. We're finding it impossible to make it happen in the current economy. As we all know, it's affecting just about every business out there in the arts, business, real estate, etc. The level that the Sons are at is just shrinking away. There will be music coming from all the band members in different venues, but the Sons of Champlin band is something I just can't cut down to a trio and tapes, or sequences. It's been one of the most real and vital parts of my musical world for almost my whole life, so I can't cut it down to just make the rent. I'm sure that down the line we'll look at doing it again, but right now we have to put the band in what we refer to as "Alpha State", for the time being. I'm sorry that the venues were expecting us in March, but we just can't afford to play. My most sincere apologies go out to them. Simple economics has taken its toll. Anyway, I'll miss the hang with those friends who come out to see the Sons, but it's just not in the cards right now. I'll most likely try to keep performing at some level with a smaller band as a solo artist, or with Tamara and maybe even Will. I'm sure you'll hear about it if and when that's ready to go. I'm sorry about this, a lot, but I have to face the same reality as does everyone else in the US right now. When the economic downturn hit the US a few years ago I thought to myself, "Wow, the rest of the country is finally catching up with the music business!" You could say that we led the charge. Anyway, we love you guys and hopefully we'll see you at a gig of some kind somewhere. Be good, bill champlin December 8, 2010 Hey, everybody. This is BC. I just wanna' wish everyone a great Holiday Season and a good 2011. It's been a trying year for just about everyone and I hope that we all climb out of the basement intact. I've been busy working on new music, just song demos and different things. The Sons have been chomping at the bit to get back into it and March looks like the time for that. We will have the same line-up of players for 2011. Will, Curtis and Tamara are up for the gigs, so we'll pick it up where we left off. Will and Tamara have written a new tune that they're thinking is right for the Sons, so we'll be adding a little new stuff into the set. We may do some of the tunes I'm a little more known for that have been on the radio and TV, etc. It's been a rough time for the venues where we can play and, of course, we go for a 9 member band; leave it to me to try swimming upstream when the snow's melting and the current is strong, going down. In spite of the times that we live in and the small amount of gigs available, the Sons are a living, breathing, and slammin' band that is always looking forward, rather than backward. Will has brought a new life to us that we're really having fun with. Although we only did a few gigs with Curtis, we are way happy with his vibe and his playing is just what the doctor ordered. Jeff and Doug are really the guys who belong on horns, great arranging and ears. Carmen is and has always been one of the best guitarists ever. He owns the rhythm grooves and scares everybody when he plays lead; then he sings--ouch!!!! Of course, the only thing missing there is a sense of humor......wrong!!! Tamara has been singing like a bird, so between Will, Carmen, Tamara, Jim and me we've got vocals that are killer. Jim is in the pocket, and always has been the perfect drummer for us. Geoff is on it like never before. He's been using an instrument called a "Mallet Cat", which is a high-tech set of Vibes that we never have to worry about microphone feedback with, 'cause it's really a synth. All systems are "Go", so now it's just a matter of finding gigs. We're back with Lisa Walters Booking Agency and I think we'll be better off with her than with last year's agency. We're hoping to see as many of you as possible in March for some gigs. We're doing the Mystic Theater in Petaluma and that's been a great one for us for quite a few years, a good one to look into checkin' out for a great Sons' gig. Anyway, I'm rambling. Love you all. Bill C. May 3, 2010 Hi, everybody. This is Bill Champlin. Sorry I haven't written anything in a long time; it's been a busy time of transition for me. Anyway, Tamara and I are aiming, once again, for some gigs and writing in Scandinavia: Norway and Sweden. We're playing with TOBB, one of the best bands in the area, in Norway, and a gig with my pal Peter Friestadt on June 2 in Stockholm. Unless anything unexpected comes up, we'll be back in June to get ready for the next round of Sons' gigs. The last round was awesome, with the addition of Bobby Vega on bass and Tamara Champlin on vocals. The groove with Bobby and Jimmy is undeniable, and the fun factor is really high, plus we've never had as good a vocal sound than with Tamara upstairs. Also, we did a gig in San Juan Capistrano where Will Champlin sat in with us on a tune he sang for the Sons on "Hip Li'l' Dreams". We did a duet on "Dream On". Anyway, the people at the gig went crazy when he sang, and it got all our heads turning. So, this next round we're integrating Will into the Sons, and we'll learn a handful of his tunes as well. I can't wait to hear some of his stuff with this rhythm section, and when we go off into "Jam-Land" Will can hang with the best of 'em. So, we're hoping for some cool stuff to happen with this change for the band and for Will, but, most of all, for the listeners. I can't think of another artist out there right now who is "Packin'" like Will Champlin is. We're doing the Fillmore with Electric Flag on July 17 and The Rancho Nicasio the next afternoon, July 18. Seems like a good one, or two, to check out. There's gonna' be a few gigs in the Northwest, Whidby Island--Mulikteo Coffee Roasters, which is a great hang with great people, and the Alladin Theater in Portland. I've forgotten the dates for those gigs; they're probably posted in a few places. I'd give you the old routine about my memory, but you've all heard it. So, see you all at the next Sons' gigs. It's gonna' be waaaaaayyyyyyy cool. December 17, 2009 Hi everybody. I know it's been a while since I've said anything on the forum, but I've been so busy that it's crazy. First of all, the tour with the guys from the Santa Fe band, and Tamara, was a musical success . Man, if any of you were there you can vouch for these gigs. There were a few voice problems, though easily dealt with when there was a stage full of world class singers, as well as some of the best players I've ever played with. For me, it was so refreshing to play some new and old BC songs, and to present them the REAL way, which means to learn them, practice them, and play and sing them without all the tricks the "Big" bands all seem to use. I've been so underwhelmed musically for the last 10 years or so that to do this was, for me, healing. Now, it's back to the old songwriting thing that I was doing when I got sidetracked quite a few years ago. I was talking with Jim Preston last summer and I said: "I know it's kinda' late in the game to start new." Then he spouted some serious wisdom when he said, "No, Bill. You're resuming YOUR career." A true friend. So, the future. The Sons are playing in March with Geoff Palmer on keys and vibes, Jim Preston on drums and vocals, Carmen Grillo on guitar and vocals (always a baaaaaadddddd boy). Johnnie Bamont and Jeff Lewis are on sax and trumpet--great guys and awesome players. This time we're using Bobby Vega on bass because David Schallock has opted out for this round and moved up to the country. "'Gonna' paint his mailbox blue." Ooops, sorry, I Taj-ed out there for a minute. Tamara, Will and I just moved out of our big house in Nashville and got a smaller place with just enough room over the garage for the studio gear to fit just fine. We'll start putting that gear together after the 1st. In mid-March I've taken a job with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra for a concert of different songs from the BC book. It's gonna' be awesome doing "Keys To The Kingdom", complete with that awesome beginning that Foster and I put on it......ok, mostly Foster. "Yo' Mama", "Sara", "All Along", "Light Up The Candles"....all kinds of different things to do, and maybe later in the year I'll be doing some other gigs with some old friends over there. More on that later; we'll just write first. Anyway, it's Christmas time again and it was cold as hell today in Nashville; I picked the wrong day to take a walk--sore throat already. It was 80 degrees in LA and I'm going out to meet up with Tamara in a few days for Christmas. She did a beeline for her puppy the minute we were moved. Anyway, new songs are being written and new stuff will be ready to hear in the next 6 months or so. Hope to see some of you out in CA for some Sons' gigs. The Mystic gig, in Petaluma, will have the Will Champlin Band open for us. Think we might get Will to sing "Dream On" with us? Merry Christmas and have a great 2010. Bill C. July 14, 2009 Hi everybody, This is me, Bill. Anybody who's been following the "No Place Left To Fall" spotted history knows that my new CD has been out in Japan, Europe and I-tunes, etc., but not a product in the States that you can touch, read, or throw--frisbee anyone? It's finally coming out on August 4, 2009 in the United States. Of course, if this were the 80's or 90's we'd be putting out a new CD by now, but it's not. The record business is so "iffy" that it would be counter-productive to keep making records that didn't have the support of a record company, or at least have a concerted promotional effort. New music is happening all the time and I'm putting new songs away for the next CD, but, for the moment, this album needs to be promoted. Now, that brings me to the next point. Lisa Walters, a California booking agent, has been booking gigs all up and down the West Coast for the month of November, and we're planning on rehearsing for it in late October. Then we'll hop into the vans and start in San Juan Capistrano on Nov 6, then San Diego and points North after that. I'll be using the rythym section from Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns for this run: Jerry Lopez - guitar and vocals, Jaimie Hosmer - keys and vocals, Rochon Westmoreland - bass and vocals, Eddie Garcia - drums, and Tamara Champlin - vocals. Does "Mayday" strike a familiar note? These clubs are gonna' do the gigs, but I think it's gonna' be up to me and whatever "Street Team" I can put together to, as they say in the biz, "Put asses in the seats". As the shows are confirmed I'll start a list on billchamplin.net and myspace.com/billchamplinmusic and, I guess Facebook and Reverb Nation. There are so many internet sites now, that I just can't keep up and still make music, or have any kind of life. Melanie, Rona, Sharon, Mary and the Dream Makers Record Company are all trying to find ways to make this CD/tour happen in a good way. Even though I've been on the scene for a long time, a lot of people don't know me, other than as a singer/pianist for Chicago, so it's gonna' take a lotta' help to make this stuff happen. I hate to use old ad campaign slogans, but "Tell a Friend" is gonna' help immensely. This is a grass roots thing that is gonna' take a lot of Grass or a lot of Roots, maybe both. Thanks for being there. I appreciate all your help. See ya' in November! Be good, Bill Champlin August 14, 2008Greetings from Seattle! This is Bill Champlin. Melanie Carlston, my administrator at bc.net and my pal for years, has reminded me that I haven't said anything on my websites for a while. I've been waiting for some news about the new album, and there's been very little, so I've kept my "computer mouth" shut about it. It seems that JVC in Japan has posted Sept. 24 as a release date, and I guess everything is geared toward that end. Dream Makers is trying to set up, at least, a digital release here in the States around the same time. The great news is that Rod Simons has been producing a DVD retrospective to go with the album. The documentary spends a good deal of time on the making of the CD and my career in general. Also, Arnaud Leger has done the cover for the new album and new covers for the re-release of the catalogue. They are awesome, especially the new "Hip Li'l' Dreams" cover. Well, that stuff is pretty much done, so that means that all the product in question is complete. Now it's time to market the thing. Of course, there aren't many retail outlets doing business anymore, so we'll be trying to come up with new ways, or even old ways, to get the music to......well....you. I'm guessing that a download thing will be in place and maybe Amazon.com kinda' stuff, but I'm thinking we may also go with the old tried and true mail order; some people still like CD's or vinyl or, in my case, cylinders. (They were out during the civil war--well maybe not that long ago--but you know what I mean.) Keep checking billchamplin.net and myspace.com/billchamplinmusic. As we find our way in this not so brave new world of what used to be the music business (before Disney and Stridex took it over), we will keep you up-dated as to what we're gonna' do. I think we'll probably put up little vignettes of Rod's documentary, and maybe a little music from the album, just to kinda' repay you guys for hangin' in while us "slower than slugs" old guys figure it out. I know that the album, after all this time, will probably be anti-climactic, but believe me, if I like it after this long it's got some hang time. And I do like it. I hope you will, too. Anyway, gotta' Chicago gig tomorrow somewhere, and that just goes to remind me that some things don't change very much; there's always a Chicago gig comin' up. Thank you, guys. See ya' soon, Bill Champlin December 19, 2007Hey, Guys. This is Bill Champlin. I figured I'd drop a line to you all, or y'all, as they say 'round here. Anyway, it's been a long coupla' years on the road with basically very short breaks, and Chicago is about to go into a 2 month break that I think we could all use. We like working, but I personally think the music is better and fresher sounding when there is a little AIR in our lives. It can't be that good when you think of your suitcase as your home. I have finished a solo album for the Dream Makers Company and the mastering is going great, according to my engineer, Jason Cursaro. I'll hear the final stuff in a few days, but so far it sounds great. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's probably not gonna' see the light of day until about March, or maybe even April. Please believe me when I say that it's gonna' be well worth the wait. A few people have heard rough mixes or even final mixes without mastering, and are knocked out by it. I've been living with it for almost a year, with a little time away from it in the summer 'cause I was doing something else. I can't remember what else I was doing; hmmmmmm, it was something musical, I think. Oh well, whatever; that memory thing kicks up it's heels occasionally. All I know is that when you're living with a record all the time you eventually don't know whether it's good or not. I got away from it long enough in the summer to come back to it and listen with REAL ears. All I can say is that the CD is happenin'. So, the CD is coming out in the spring, the band from the Midwest is going out around the same time, and I'm trying to remember what else I wanted to say.......oh, Merry Christmas guys, and have a slammin' 2008. Be good, Bill Champlin September 2, 2007Hey, Everybody! April 11, 2007
Hello everybody, February 6, 2007Guys, there's been talk of a new solo album and I've kept a pretty low profile about it 'cause sometimes these things fall through. So far this hasn't, and probably won't. Anyway, it's being co-produced by me and Mark Eddinger, a friend from New Hampshire who's played on a lot of sessions and with a lot of bands over the years. He has a great set of ears, which helps when I'm in the phones; it's nice to trust the guy in the booth. It's being released by a new company, Dreamakers. They also own the studio in New Jersey that we cut basics at, The Barber Shop. The owner of the whole mess is this really cool guy named Scott Barber, who also is a singer/songwriter. One of the things that attracted me to this company is that everybody plays and understands what music is supposed to be, rather than what it seems to have become. That doesn't mean that they wanna' go back in time; it means that they want it to be good for music's sake. I've been dreaming about doing this album for a long time, a dream that is shared by my friends--Bruce Gaitsch, Billy Ward and George Hawkins Jr. We've wanted to do a quartet record since the time when we used to jam regularly at a club in LA called The Mint. We originally thought of this as the "Swampy" or "Bluesy" record, but after sending my rough demos to Mark Eddinger and Dennis Damico, the "song guy" at Dreamakers, we decided to cut what we considered the best songs and make 'em just feel soulful. When I say "song guy" it's becase I hesitate to say A & R man, so "song guy" will do, since A & R are the 2 most dangerous letters in music. Dennis is a great guy who also has ears, and plays great guitar too! See??!! We also decided to try cutting the old-fashioned way, which is: 1.
Write good songs. On the record we also have a few unexpected surprise guests and re-makes of some stuff you've heard. Will's on a few things and Tamara has sung a little, too. There'll be other guests also. The basic band is Bruce Gaitsch--guitars, Billy Ward--drums and percussion, George Hawkins Jr.—bass guitar and vocals, Will Champlin--piano and vocals, Mark Eddinger--keys, and Me on guitars, piano, and hammond organ. It'll
be a while before we've finished the vocals, overdubs and mix time,
so it's too early for even a guess about release date. When it comes
out I hope you're gonna' get it and tell 10 friends, etc. Right
now I'm trying to come up with a title that isn't dirty, but that
always happens eventually after you grow up. My question is this--will
I ever grow up? I hope not. Anyway, if nothing else, this has been
a great experience doing an album This record is feeling right. Thanks for your attention and your patience. - Bill C. August 27, 2006
See
ya' there, July 30, 2006Well,
the Chicago/Huey Lewis and the News tour is over, for now. I hafta'
say that I had more fun hangin' with these people than all the other
bands we've been out with. I like all those other bands, but there's
something about these "Marin County" boys that feels great.
They are great musicians, great fun, and great friends. I hope to
see more of these guys in the near future. I'm gonna' try to synchronize
schedules with Huey and Johnnie Bamont and maybe do some writing
when I'm out there in Marin for Sons' rehearsals and gigs. I don't
remember having as much fun on any other Chicago tour. We're gonna'
miss 'em. I told our manager, "Please, please book another
tour with these guys!!!" As you know, the powers that be ALWAYS
listen to me, so I never expect much, but it sure was fun while
it lasted. By the way, did I mention that they sound GREAT? The
audiences were groovin' all the way back to the lawn. It's a good
sign when the whole place is movin'. Hey, YOU try to stand still
with Bill Gibson and John Pierce layin' it down and Jim "Bugsy"
Moran mixing. I dare ya'. Go on. Sit still!!! See, ya' can't!!!!
I told you so. I learned a ton of cool B-3 stuff from Sean Hopper;
that guy is the bomb! Johnny Cola is still one of my all time favorite
singers, and can play anything he touches as easily as breathin'.
Great sax solos! Stef July 7, 2006 - Nashville, TN
Thanks, |
Burns
is one of the very best guitar players in the world, and he's a
cool guy. Duh hoins is always in the pocket and it's great to hear
Johnnie Bamont, the Sons sax player, lettin' fly on "Small
World", a Chris Hayes/Geoff Palmer song. Small world, indeed.
Their crew is as cool as their band, and last but never least, Huey
Lewis is a world-class harp player and a major league singer/writer.
He's so down to earth you forget what a Mofo he is on stage. He
owns the audience in one minute up there. At the same time you can
borrow his lawn mower and get good advice on that pesky crabgrass
problem in the neighborhood. Real folks. I had a gas.