Saturday, August 4, 2012

Champaign - [How 'Bout Us]


My pal Greg had this album.  I will forgive him.  And now, so do I.   This septet, who named themselves after their hometown of Champaign, Illinois, included Pauli Carman and Rena Jones (later Day) on vocals; Michael Day and Dana Walden on keyboards; Leon Reeder on guitar; Michael Reed on bass; and Rocky Maffit on percussion/drums. The title track from their 1981 album, How 'Bout Us, was a hit single, reaching #5 in the UK Singles Chart, and on the US Billboard R&B chart (also #12 US Billboard Hot 100). Their second album, Modern Heart, was released in 1983 and contained the Top 10 R&B track "Try Again" (also #23 US Pop). Another follow-up, 1984's Woman in Flames, included the Top 10 R&B song "Off and On Love." Other songs include "Party People" and "Walkin'".  In the mid 1980s Carman left the band to begin a solo career. He released his first solo album, Dial My Number in 1986, scoring an R&B hit with the title track. His second album,It's Time was released the following year. This follow-up effort proved less successful. In 1990, Champaign (including Carman) reconvened to record, and the Champaign IValbum was released the following year. While it was not a hit, it did herald a brief return to the US R&B chart with the single, "Trials of the Heart."

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