Los Angeles Songwriter Bob Beland To Release 8th Album "Happy Camper"

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. He is releasing his 8th album “Happy Camper” on June 30th on the Wrong Way Works label. The music reflects upon his experiences living and performing in California since 1967.

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 in August 2020.

BOB BELAND - “Happy Camper”
As I was assembling the songs for my 8th album, “Happy Camper,” I started to see a theme develop. It was a personal travelogue of sorts about my time here in California. I came to the Golden State by rail via the Santa Fe Super Chief with my Mom, Dad, five brothers and one sister. We arrived in Los Angeles in 1967. From that year on I would spend time and play music both in the Northern part of the state in San Francisco from 1970 to 73 and then back down South to Los Angeles in 1974. These songs reflect upon those experiences either directly, as in ‘Big Sur,” “I'll See You There” and “Orange Groves,” or indirectly as with “Honey In The Hive,” “Underneath The Sweeping Sky” and “Pal O' Mine.” “Heartbreakers and Soultakers” main storyline revolves around a pair of young people from different ethnicities venturing out into the nightlife of club land. In the song there’s also a hidden reference to a certain famous band and their leader's A.K.A. if you listen closely. For “Something/Anything?” I had this driving acoustic rhythm guitar riff happening but I needed something lyrically to fit it. For some unknown reason I thought of Todd Rundgren's great double album “Something/Anything?” and realized that he hadn't any song on that album or anywhere in his catalog and the phrase fit perfectly so I hope he's not offended by my 'borrowing' it.

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.

Now, a little background on the players who contributed their time and talents to “Happy Camper.”

Bob Gross is someone I’ve known since the early 1970’s. Among the other acts he's worked with was Delaney Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie fame, Bob Wier's Jemima Puddleduck and currently can be seen and heard gigging with the Deanna Bogart Band. Richard d'Andrea is a friend and former Furys alumi who's been a mainstay in the L.A. rock scene since the 70's most notably founding the Know with Gary Valentine and working with musicians such as the Roosters and Carla Olson. Marty Korth is a long standing friend of mine who also spent some time in the Furys and has played bass on other songs that I've written and recorded over the years. Greg Embrey is also from the Furys. Smokey Fennell is Canada's “most OK est” steel guitarist according to Smokey. In classic Canadian humility he actually is a much in demand musician who can be heard on the British singer/songwriter David Gray's smash it, “Babylon,” as well as on two of Gray's best selling albums. Paula Kuhr is a classical violinist who has performed on two of my albums before this one. She is a member of the MESTO orchestra who perform worldwide.

I hope you enjoy the musical travelogue that is my 8th solo album, “Happy Camper!”

Bob Beland
Mar Vista, Ca

Bob Beland's musical history is as follows: 
Southpaw - A founding member along with Jules Shear and Deki Mason (Victorino) - 1973-75
Bates Motel - A founding member along with Les Bohem - 1977- 1979
Bob Beland solo recording - “Stealing Cars” / “I Can Walk Away” 45rpm single on Deli Platter Records, produced by Stephen Hague - 1980
Bob Beland solo recording - “the Bob Beland e.p.” on What Records produced by Stephen Hague -1982
The Furys - A charter member as lead guitarist – 1985 -1989
The Furys - “Indoor/Outdoor” self produced 12” vinyl e.p. on King Coitus Records - 1986
Skin Trade - A charter member as lead guitarist - 1989
Co-writer with Kevin Godley of “the Bang Bang Theory” for Kevin Godley's solo album “Muscle Memory” set for release December 2020 on the UK label state51conspiracy

Bob Beland solo recordings:
“Stealing Cars”/”I Can Walk Away” - 45rpm single on Deli Platter Records (produced by Stephen Hague) - 1980
"The Bob Beland e.p." on What Records (produced by Stephen Hague) -1982
"Amnesia Lane" on Seeing i Records - 1993
"Life Begins..." on Wrong Way Works - 2007
“Left Of Center” - on Wrong Way Works - 2016
"Mar Vista" on Wrong Way Works - 2017
"Forward & Backworks" on Wrong Way Works - 2018
"Mano Sinistra" on Wrong Way Works - 2018
“Welcome” on Wrong Way Works - 2019
“Happy Camper” on Wrong Way Works - 2020

All of Bob’s music is currently available at these online music retail outlets - Apple MUSIC, iTunes, Pandora, Deezer, Google Play, Tidal, Facebook, Amazon Music Spotify and most other online streaming subscription music services as well as SoundCloud

Music Platforms:
SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/bobbeland
APPLE MUSIC -https://music.apple.com/us/album/happy-camper/1519606
YouTube Music - https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCW1DB2NCH6dhaR3v8oRe5QQ
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X15eV_LooOw&list=PLwERyPtTQxtOvjzgx42423E0h0IEW8r9s&index=1
Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Bob+Beland&i=digital-music&search-type=ss&ref=ntt_srch_drd_B0016SR3JQ
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4CirZ6zawv0jZCorMOnlrr

Social Media Patforms:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/belandbob/?hl=en
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bbeland

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

LA Songwriter Bob Beland Releases New Album "Welcome" Plus 3 Unreleased Studio Albums!

Los Angeles – Bob Beland is an American born musician/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, where he has performed, written and recorded original music from 1973 to the present. Much to the excitement of his fans worldwide, Bob has just released his much anticipated seventh studio album “Welcome” on his own Wrong Way Works label. Along with the release of “Welcome”, Bob recently collaborated on a track for 10cc/Godley & Creme legend Kevin Godley for his forthcoming solo album!



“Welcome” is my seventh self produced solo album release and was written and recorded over 2018 at Wrong Way Works, Mar Vista, California. Extra special credit should be given to my good friend Greg Embrey for all of his help and involvement along the way. The opening track, “Rocky Up! (love theme from “The Bang Bang Theory”) is an instrumental version of a song I co-wrote earlier last year with Kevin Godley, from the acclaimed UK band 10cc and groundbreaking art rockers Godley & Crème fame, which is called “The Bang Bang Theory” that will be included as part of his first solo album “Muscle Memory” due out soon on the UK label state51conspiracy.

Bob Beland decided to release three other studio albums that he recorded over the last three years but never released until now.



“Forward and Backworks” is a conceptual idea for orchestra that I recorded in 2015. The title refers to the four opening tracks and music that has a reverse or “mirror” counterpart. The album also contains four other original compositions. The sole guest musician on the album is classical violinist Paula Kuhr from the acclaimed multi Ethnic orchestra MESTO.



“Mar Vista” was recorded in 2016 and features the only guest musician on the album, Grammy award winning classical percussionist T.J. Troy whom I met as a member of the MESTO orchestra.



“Mano Sinistra” Latin music terminology for “to be performed with the left hand” was recorded in 2017 and features the talents of acclaimed pedal steel player Greg Leisz who has recorded and performed with renowned music artists such as k.d. lang, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and whom I first met as a member of the Funky Kings with Jules Shear, Jack Tempchin and Richard Stekol way back in 1975. Peter Curry on drums and bass is better known as the bassist for Los Straightjackets. I’ve also worked with Pete before on my first full album “Amnesia Lane” as well as co-writing a few instrumentals for his surf group the Halibuts. Pedal steel player and premier microphone designer Dave Pearlman, The Legendary Fontenelle DuClaw on keyboards, bass, and vocals, bassist Joe McGrath and vocalist Remy Beland round out the rest of the musical guests on the album.

Now, a little background on the players who contributed their time and talents to “Welcome.”

Greg Embrey was the co-founder of the mid 70’s L.A. rock band the Furys whom I later joined as their lead guitarist in the mid 80’s. A.K.A. The Legendary Fontenelle DuClaw

Bob Gross is someone I’ve known since the early 1970’s. Among the other acts he’s worked with was Delaney Bramlett of Delaney & Bonnie fame and currently can be seen and heard gigging with the Deanna Bogart Band. Bob is also playing on “The Bang Bang Theory” for Kevin Godley as well.

Richard d’Andrea is a friend and former Furys alumi who’s been a mainstay in the L.A. rock scene since the 70’s most notably founding the Know with Gary Valentine and working with musicians such as the Roosters and Carla Olson. Richard’s just released his first solo album under the handle Raw Terra called “Mars 12 Earth 0.”

Bobby Pickett is another dear old friend who worked extensively with the great Etta James, Sugarloaf, Detective, Jimmy Page and many other top names in music.

Doug D’Martino is from an earlier incarnation of the Furys

Marty Korth is a long standing friend of mine who also spent some time in the Furys and has played bass on other songs that I’ve written and recorded over the years. He’s a great film animator as well working on many classic Walt Disney and Hanna Barbarra features.

Stephen Linsley is a new friend I met through my old buddy Jules Shear. Stephen was the original bassist in the Jim Carroll Band and is also a fine portrait photographer.

Joe Conte is yet another former member of the Furys who came in at the last minute and played some very cool harmonica for me on “Rocky Up!’

Allie Menapace is an acoustic bassist I met through my old friend Peter Curry from Los Straightjackets fame. Pete suggested Allie for my song “Welcome Me” and she came through with flying colors.

Kevin Louden is a fine pedal steel guitarist, dobro, and multi-instrumentalist I’ve gotten to know over the past few years who’s based in Frederic, Wisconsin and plays all throughout the state.

Me? I’m just a musician. You can tell me by the way I walk… Enjoy!
Bob Beland
Mar Vista, Ca

Bob Beland's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bbeland

All of Bob’s music is currently available at these on line music retail outlets – CD Baby, Apple MUSIC, iTunes, Pandora, Deezer, Google Play, Tidal, Facebook, Amazon Music Spotify and most other streaming subscription music services as well as SoundCloud and for licensing opportunities – Songtradr.

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Renowned LA Songwriter Bob Beland Releases Highly Anticipated New Album “Left Of Center”

Mar Vista, CA - Much to the anticipation of music aficionados worldwide, renowned LA songwriter Bob Beland is releasing his new album “Left Of Center” on his own independent label Wrong Way Works! Beland is an American born musician/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA, where he has performed, written and recorded original music from 1973 to the present. His diverse career spans over four decades

ABOUT THE ALBUM:

“Left Of Center,” my new fourth solo album and the third under my own label, came as a surprise to me in 2016 as I had two complete albums of new songs already in the archives that I hadn’t released yet.

Early in the year I had just completed a long project partnering with my ex-Furys band mate, the Legendary Fontenelle DuClaw to co-write, co-perform, co-arrange and produce his first (and still unreleased) solo mini album at my home studio Wrong Way Works. Danny Simon, who mastered Fontenelle's EP, also helped me retrieve 45 song demos by my buddy Jules Shear from 1973 with 3 reels of tape that I had kept with me for over 40 years. When I went to look for those tapes again I found a few reels of my own stuff. One of those reels had the original 1983 recordings of two songs found on this new album. I ended up using one of them, “It’s Alright With Me Mr. Bob” and the other one, “Off The Handle,” I re-recorded.

“Off The Handle” was a song of mine that Fontenelle and I used to perform in the Furys back in the 80’s but I never recorded a proper version of my own until now. I'm certain that today's political climate and one unsavory character in particular inspired me to revisit it again and record it.

“It's Alright With Me Mr. Bob” was recorded with my dear friend the late David Beebe who played drums on many recordings of mine including “Stealing Cars” and “The Bob Beland E.P.” David was the drummer par excellence for Jules & the Polar Bears and Slow Children. It was always a joy to record with David and on “It's Alright With Me Mr. Bob” we had a particularly fun time recording it in a garage in Santa Monica, CA along with the help two other good friends of mine, Marty Korth on bass, and R&B singer/songwriter Dale Mitchell on vocals. All the guys were completely into accommodating my oddball idea about freedom of expression and the fun of creating that idea still seemed to exist in that recording even after 33 years and some wear and tear. Once I heard it again after Danny Simon retrieved it this year from the old tape I really felt the urge to release it flaws and all. It's a source of personal satisfaction that I wrote and recorded “It's Alright With Me Mr. Bob” 3 years before Paul Simon's African influenced album “Graceland” came out. My only regret is that David isn’t here to enjoy it again but I can close my eyes and still see him smiling, laughing and having a great time while we were putting the song together. It was always that way with David but through all the crazy fun he still delivered a great performance every single time we worked together. I still miss him and I hope he is resting in eternal peace.

“One Bright Burning” is a song I wrote way back in the 80's but never recorded until now. I came across the lyrics in my notebook and actually remembered the melody! I can't remember my username and password but I can remember a song I wrote from the 1980's. Go figure!

And of the new songs:

“Some Friends Of Mine” was originally called “Funky Folks” written on a lark for a friend who was working on a solo album with the working title of “Funky Folks.” I thought, “How the hell do you write a song called “Funky Folks?” So I did for the fun of it and sent a demo of it to my buddy who, much to my surprise, wasn’t that impressed by it (this is in spite of the fact that I reference his nick name AND his wife in the frickin' song! LOL!). Well, in spite of the rejection, I kind of liked it myself so I decided to retool and record the song with a new title so as not to encroach upon his own record. One man’s loss is another man’s gain and “Some Friends of Mine” seemed to work out for me that way and I'm happy about it for no other good reason than to have my old friend Bobby Pickett playing monster bass on the song. Bobby was Etta James bassist for many years and was an original member of Detective, the first band signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label.

“Sloppy Joe” and “Who’ll Save The World?” feature The Legendary Fontenelle DuClaw on bass, pipe organ, digital saxes, drum loops and ½ piano.

“Cold” features a dear old friend of mine, singer/songwriter Dan Navarro formerly of the duo Lowen & Navarro. Dan and I go all the way back to the Troubadour and the early 70's. You'd be hard pressed to find a nicer guy than the Calexico Cowboy. Dan and his partner Eric wrote and recorded many albums together throughout their prestigious 20 year career and hit it big with Pat Benatar's recording of their song, “We Belong.” Look for Dan to be releasing his first solo album very soon.

“The Lost Highway,” “It'll Take Overtime” and “Ain't Goin' Back To That” are all new songs as well. I hope you enjoy the music and performances on “Left Of Center” and thanks again for listening!

Bob Beland Discography:

Southpaw - A founding member along with Jules Shear and Deki Mason (Victorino) - 1973-75
Bates Motel - A founding member along with Les Bohem - 1977- 1979
Bob Beland solo recording - “Stealing Cars” / “I Can Walk Away” 45rpm single on Deli Platter Records, produced by Stephen Hague - 1980
Bob Beland solo recording - “the Bob Beland e.p.” on What Records produced by Stephen Hague -1982
The Furys – A charter member as lead guitarist – 1985 -1989
The Furys - “Indoor/Outdoor” self produced 12” vinyl e.p. on King Coitus Records - 1986
Skin Trade – A charter member as lead guitarist - 1989

Bob Beland solo recordings:
“Amnesia Lane” on Seeing i Records - 1993
“Life Begins...” on Wrong Way Works - 2007
“the Evening Shade” (unreleased) on Wrong Way Works - 2008
“Mar Vista” (unreleased) on Wrong Way Works - 2013
“Forward & Backworks” (unreleased) on Wrong Way Works - 2013
“Mano Sinistra” (unreleased) on Wrong Way Works - 2015
“The Legendary Fontenelle DuClaw” (unreleased ) - 2015
“Left Of Center” on Wrong Way Works - 2016

“Left Of Center” is available now as a digital download album through http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bobbeland3 and will soon to be available at most on line music web sites such as iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify, Tidal and others.

Bob Beland's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/bbeland

Bob's albums “Amnesia Lane” and “Life Begins...” are both available as downloads at iTunes
and Amazon mp3.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com