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Ghost Canyon

Title - 'Happy Camper'
Artist - Bob Beland

For those not in the know, Bob beland is an American born musician/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, where he has performed, written and recorded original music from 1974 to the present.

On his recently release eighth album Happy Camper (June 30th, 2020 via Wrong Way Works), the 9-track musical gem reflects upon his experiences living and performing in California since 1967.

"As I was assembling the songs for my 8th album, Happy Camper," Beland explains, "and I started to see a theme develop. It was a personal travelogue of sorts about my time here in California."

1. 'Honey in the Hive'
2. 'Something / Anything?'
3. 'Underneath the Sweeping Sky'
4. 'In Big Sur'
5. 'I'll See You There'
6. 'Heartbreakers and Soultakers'
7. 'Orange Groves'
8. 'Pal O' Mine'
9. 'Happy Camper'

This quite vibrantly adorned album of raw and openly honest musings opens with the foot-tappin' 'Honey in the Hive,' and backs that up with the rockier 'Something / Anything?,' the magnificently free-flowing hipsway of 'Underneath the Sweeping Sky,' the lush drift of 'In Big Sur,' and then comes the late '70s, summer Sunday drive time vibe of 'I'll See You There.'

One of my own personal favorites is the low key, one-two drum and guitar flow, Petty-esque troubadour work of the aptly entitled 'Heartbreakers and Soultakers,' which is followed by the mid-tempo AOR of 'Orange Groves,' with the album rounding out with Celtic-tinged 'Pal O' Mine,' closing on the piano balladeering of the title track, 'Happy Camper.'

Bob Beland - "The title track, 'Happy Camper,' came as a surprise to me as I had no intention of writing a song with that title."

"I had it in mind only for the album title two thirds of the way through when I suddenly became ill in February 2020."

"While recovering, the lyrics of the song came to me fast. So fast that I felt more like a stenographer taking notes than a songwriter."

"A melody came as soon as I reviewed what I had written but it took another 3 days for me to feel good enough to go into the studio and put it to music and the piano."

"The music came together very quickly as well. This song didn't come to me in a dream. It came to me in the middle of the day while I was sick and anything but alone with my thoughts in a busy family household."

"However, what I did feel was the presence and words of my mother and father, who had passed away decades ago, coming back to me and whispering into my ear."

"I was listening to the spirits from long past and it was an intense but beautiful feeling of resolution. I hope those who listen feel the same way I did."

FYI - Beland recently collaborated with 10cc legend Kevin Godley on a song that will be released on Kevin's first solo album Muscle Memory in December 2020.

The collaborative track, 'Big Bang Theory' will be released as a single this month of August 2020.

Amazon Digital Purchase Link

Bob Beland @ Facebook





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