18. Sons Of Champlin: Get High
Sons of Champlin formed in 1966, and released their debut album Sons, in 1969; it dented the charts at #171. Their biggest, and most notorious album was their sophomore album, also from 1969 Loosen Up Naturally, which peaked at #137; unfortunately its cover was marred by a hidden obscenity in the artwork (the original artwork was defaced, apparantly without the band realizing it) that resulted in a recall, killing any chance it had to be a hit. Essentially, the band was a funky r&b influenced outfit that used a horn section in the manner of Electric Flag, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Chicago. "Get High" is the best moment from Loosen Up Naturally, the horns escape their charts and get semi-improvisatory; lending a pleasantly discordant sound to an instrumental bridge; a funky vibraphone also gets a solo in the middle. At their best, Sons of Champlin were a complex band that suggest Moby Grape with horns; at their slickest, they almost had a hit in 1976 with the disco/funk "Hold On" which peaked at #49. The band broke up after a 1977 album failed to go anywhere; leader Bill Champlin joined Chicago in 1981, and remains there to this day.
19. Tower Of Power: Sparkling In the Sand
Tower of Power actually hailed from Oakland, a very important distinction in the Bay area; Oakland is the working-class side of the Bay. Still, they belong on this list not only because they were Fillmore regulars in the early 70's, but also shared with Sons of Champlin and Electric Flag the idea of a rock/soul/r&b group with horns. They didn't hit their stride until 1972-73, after most of the other bands on this list were gone, although they made their debut in 1970 with East Bay Grease, from which "Sparkling In The Sand", the nine minute album closer is taken. The group would get much tighter and funky in their prime, although the shaggy, formative qualities of "Sparkling In The Sand" lend the album a slightly homely quality that makes it sound at home with some of the other bands. In later years, members of Tower of Power, and the entire horn section itself became very in demand as session players; Tower of Power releases albums under its own name to this day.
20. Country Joe & The Fish: Section 43
Country Joe & The Fish are best remembered for their anti-Vietnam War "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag", a ragtime-esque novelty protest song that appears in Woodstock. This has pigeonholed them as a novelty act in the eyes of many, but in fact Country Joe & The Fish were a good psychedelic band, capable of electric freakout and improvisation. Country Joe McDonald was raised by lefty parents and played the folk circuit in the early 60's, specializing in topical folk classics by The Weavers and Woodie Guthrie. Country Joe & The Fish formed in 1965 from an aggregation called the Instant Action Jug band. Their debut album, Electric Music For Mind and Body, released in January 1967, is an early psychedelic classic, eclectic and varied, that resembles Jefferson Airplane to a considerable degree in places. "Section 43" opens as a crisp-sounding raga rock with organ and acid rock guitar, before taking the listener through 4 distinct phases of eerie, freaky, and baroque psychedelia. Country Joe went solo in 1969 and has maintained a fairly regular schedule of releases ever since.
Article comments
1 - Don
Does anyone know what's going on with Sly? The last I heard is his showing up in costume (bikers helmet) at his sisters concert there in Cali.
2 - uao
No idea; the last two decades are pretty fuzzy. He recorded a flop single in 1987, "Eek-a-Bo-Static", but was jailed for drug possession that year.
He also managed a duet with Martha Davis (of the Motels) "Love & Affection" at about the same time.
He showed up at the Hall of Fame induction in 1993, by all accounts to the surprise of his bandmates.
In 2003, the original Family Stone (without Sly) entered the studio; I don't know if the session amounted to anything.
Freddie Stone is a minister with a website.
Here's the article about Sly showing up at his sister's concert in August 2005, the only news I could find for him for the last decade. He came by 4-wheel Harley wearing a motorcycle helmet, which he kept on all night, and wasn't recognized in the VIP room because most of the VIP's were blind (!)
Al Barger posted this article on Sly's 60th birthday; I was moved by the very personal nature of the comments from fans, friends, and well-wishers that appeared on the thread.
3 - Steve
Visit the John Cipollina website here
4 - uao
That's a beautiful website, Steve. A fine tribute that really gets into all aspects of his career and musicianship. I know you've done him proud.
I'm still preachin' the Quicksilver and San Fran word to the young squirts. Cipollina is a name worthy of remembrance and discovery.
5 - Joanie
Thankfully, we have some great realitvely unknown bands who are carrying on the tradition established during the big Haight era.
6 - Tom Weller
Nice reminiscense on the San Francisco sound. Actually, Country Joe has put out half a dozen albums since 1996. Check out his site (I'm the webmaster).
7 - uao
My apologies for the error, Tom. I've corrected the sentence; I was looking at an outdated discography. Joe deserves his due.
Nice website too!
8 - Dave
FYI, "Loosen Up Naturally" (1968) was the first release from the Sons of Champlin. "The Sons" (1969) is their second release. In addition, they've reformed and have been performing and recording since 1997, with a new release, "Hip L'il Dreams", on August 23rd of this year.
Check out their website at www.sonsofchamplin.com for more info...
9 - uao
Doh!
Sorry Dave. Should have looked for your website first. I can't fix the error here anymore, it has been archived. But I'll fix it on the original blog entry at my blog.
I very much appreciate the webmasters checking in here, though. You've alerted me to the fact you guys are out there, which will help me keep better informed of these musicians (for whom latter-day info is sometimes hard to find or cross-reference for facts). As penance, I think for future playlists of this nature, I'll post links to official websites, when I can find them.
I'm kind of expecting to hear from Joy of Cooking or Dan Hicks next...
It's all meant in loving tribute, though, as well as an introduction for listeners who have never even heard of some of these names.
10 - Hammond Guthrie
Dave - These are excellent album reviews and commentaries. If by chance you also review 60s memoirs please contact me and I would be pleased to send you a copy of my book "AsEverWas" released in 2002 by SAF publishing in London. If you visit their website you can find the pr blip for my book near the bottom of the book index page. In the listing I think you will find books about some of your favored musicians as well - Thanks for taking the time - best of the moment to you and your readers.... Hammond Guthrie
11 - Hammond Guthrie
Sorry for the inadvertant omission - here is the SAF publishing url
http://www.safpublishing.com/
asever - Hammond
12 - uao
I don't review memoirs as a rule, but I do read them on occasion; memoirs of a "Beat Survivor" is germaine as San Fran was beat city before it was psychedelicized. Thanks for the comment Hammond.
13 - Dennis Newhall
The Sons of Champlin's Loosen Up Naturally was their first album. THEN, The Sons (The Sons of Champlin Have Changed Their Name to The Sons)
14 - Temple A. Stark
We can fix the link if you ask uao. Just e-mail the link that gors with this comment.
15 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
16 - Hammond Guthrie
Thanks for your reply - SF takes up a rather small part of the tale - and largely set in Europe late 60s vs. SF. Best to you and your projects.
17 - Blake
great album reviews. I wish i could have lived during the rock/blues and psychedelic era. I agree that blue cheer's lesser known album OutsideInside is better than their debut album, although i love both albums, especially the songs out of focus and babylon.. I also agree with that one guy that the guitarist of quicksilver is amazing and should be remembered next to hendrix, page, clapton... oh man actually there were so many amazing got guitarists that never got the recognition they deserved... like guitarist from tons of garage rock/ garage punk bands.. also from old psychedelic bands.
Mick Abrahms from Bloodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull was great for example.
18 - GoHah
good to hear Dan Hicks, with or without the Hot Licks, still kicking around. I had their LP--might've been called "Stikin' It Rich" or to that effect. All pretty much good-timey music like "The Laughing Song" and I believe "Canned Music was on there too. Then there was the exception--an extended scary number with wigged-out violin titled, appropriately, " I Scare Myself." Truth in advertising, indeed.