Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD

Subject: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Dec 03 - 11:04 PM

Folks, just in time for Christmas I want to tell you about this CD that BILL CAMPLIN put out recently. It simply contains the most heartfelt labor of love renditions of Bob Dylan songs that I haver ever heard. I listened first with earphones and it was a sublime experience. It's just Bill and his guitar generating pure taste all the way on every song. Respect for Bob and his creations runs through the whole CD---but Bill Camplin is a master of putting a good song across in a way that'll allow you to hear MUCH more than even Bob Dylan's versions of these might show.

The CD is BILL CAMPLIN--Bob Dylan Project--One. (Yes, more are planned.)

Who is Bill Camplin?? --- Bill is a singer/songwriter who would sell out the entire house wherever he was playing with lines of his fans snaking around two or three city blocks in Milwaukee back in the early 1970s when I first noticed him. Several years ago he and his wife, Kitty Welch, decided to slow down some and they started a great folk club/bar/pub/restaurant in the town of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin---U.S.A. Called CAFE CARPE, they feature great music --- and the pizza they make is the best in Wisconsin. Take my word for it. I loved playing this club both for the food and because going there always felt like coming home to me. (Indeed, the last gig I ever did was at Cafe Carpe in 1997 --- with friend Jerry Rasmussen lurking in the wings to take over in case I couldn't make it to the stage. Ah, nostalgia!)

But I digress. The songs here encased are :

The Times They Are A-Changin'
Senor
Girl From The North Country
All I Really Want To Do
She Belongs To Me
Boots Of Spanish Leather
Mr. Tambourine Man
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
If Not For You
One Too Many Mornings
and
Desolation Row

As I said, this CD is PURE TASTE. Here are musically wondrous arrangements and interpritations of some of Dylan's best creations. It's just one guy (for the most part) with his instrument. Backup is mostly only Bill's GREAT, just about perfect, finger-style picking throughout.

I've got a call in to Bill to find out how folks can order this CD. I'll get back to this thread with the info as soon as I get the o.k. to post it...


Everyone, have a fine holiday !!!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 07:36 AM

I hope he gets round to some of the newer ones, which deserve to be sung a bit better than Bob is up to these days.

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 07:52 AM

McGrath, you clearly didn't catch the recent Dylan tour. The set lists were brilliant and he was in far better form than 2 years ago even though the London dates came right at the end of a gruelling European marathon.

And I'm told the Shepherds Bush gig was much better than the Hammersmith one I got to the following day.

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Ritchie
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 08:10 AM

Thanks Art, apart from having a fondness for Dylan I love to hear different interpretations of his songs. As for Dylan now I love listening to love & theft and the tracks on masquaded & anonymous.
But then again I like Tom Waits so what do I know?
regards
Ritchie

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 08:42 AM

Hi, Art: Bill certainly is one of the great unknowns in folk music. He's that rare person who can endlessly praise (and showcase) other musicians, most of who can't hold a candle to him, and do it so casually that you might never even know he plays guitar unless you are fortunate enough to hear him.

And the Cafe Carpe will be a permanent bond in our friendship after all the years that we shared an evening together, there.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 03:46 PM

Thanks for info. Never heard of BC but have been a fan of BD since '63 (got each and every album). Will definitely buy BC CD if and when it hits UK.

PS - McGH - "nobody sings Dylan like Dylan" [irrespective of age]. You're missing the point.

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 03:55 PM

Apropos my previous post(I'm in the mood tonite): just remembered. In '63 my copy of "Freewheelin" was playing in the Games Room of the place where I was working. An overly determined table tennis player, trying to return an impossble smash, knocked the record player and scratched the "Blowin in the Wind" track! Being only 18 and poor, he couldn't afford to replace the LP, so he bought me the PPM single instead. It wasn't the same.

Subject: RE: Review: Bill Camplin-GREAT DYLAN CD
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Dec 03 - 04:17 PM

Art here once again!!

I just got off the phone with Bill Camplin.

His CD of Bob Dylan songs will cost you $17.00 (Postage is included in that price.)

Send a check to:

Bill Camplin
Cafe Carpe
18 South Water Street--West
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538
U.S.A.

It can also be ordered from the Cafe Carpe website ---

www.cafecarpe.com