The Charlatans have weathered many, if not all, the storms that could be thrown at a band since their arrival in 1989 and still they keep moving. A Covid delayed thirtieth anniversary box set and tour has been completed this year and in September they play Manchester's New Century Hall as part of a week of celebrations for that venue where they'll play 1992's Between 10th And 11th in full plus 'all the hits'. Singer Tim Burgess regularly proves himself to be the nicest man on Twitter and his listening parties lit up lockdown back in 2020. They don't just rest on their laurels either- 2015's Modern Nature is among their best work and the follow up, Different Days, showed they still wanted to press forward. Tim's solo albums are full of ideas and good songs. None of this is what many would have expected from the five piece that stepped into the light in 1989 with Indian Rope.
Todays' thirty minute mix focusses on their swirly, heady, psychedelic side of the group's songs, a Hammond organ- led stew, with a couple of remixes thrown in, perfect for a bit of mellow/ wigging out on a Sunday. The Norman Cook remix is a 2016 Record Store Day release, a beautiful Balearic version of a song from Modern Nature. Come In Number 21 opened their third album, 1994's Up To Our Hips, produced by Steve Hillage- the 10: 40s edit here is somewhat unofficial. Opportunity is on debut Some Friendly (and thinking about this now I probably should have included Opportunity Three, the Flood produced remix and superior version). Another Rider Up In Flames is from Up To Our Hip. Chewing Gum Weekend is from Between 10th And 11th, the first album to feature guitarist Mark Collins. Imperial 109 is one two B-sides from their 1990 hit single The Only One I Know. Sproston Green closes Some Friendly and most of their gigs (the US single version I've included is slightly shorter, losing some of the long organ led intro- not the best version but it worked better here). Sproston Green is a small village near Middlewich, Cheshire, home to a couple of hundred people, a pub and a parish council noticeboard and not much else. The village has lost its signs on occasion, light fingered Charlatans fans taking it away from the side of the A54 in the dead of night.
Half An Hour Of The Charlatans
- Trouble Understanding (Norman Cook Remix)
- Come In Number 21 (10:40's 21 With A Bullet Edit)
- Opportunity
- Another Rider Up In Flames
- Chewing Gum Weekend
- Imperial 109 (Edit)
- Sproston Green (US Version)
5 comments:
Awesome stuff Adam. I've been working on a Charlatans series for my place, but I can only do bits and pieces when I can be arsed, so it's going to be a little while before it sees the light of day...
The 3 early albums have such a lot going for them and tend to get overlooked, Between 10th and 11th and Up To Our Hips especially. Looking forward to whatever it is you pull together at your place Robster.
I've always 'liked' The Charlatans but I never actually bought any of their albums, although I did pick up Tim Burgess' solo efforts, oddly. I've definitely grown to appreciate The Charlatans more and more over the years.
Another excellent mix, Adam, but I wouldn't expect anything less.
Robster, looking forward to The Charlatans series, when it's ready, it'll be a treat.
Great mix...have you ever heard the early John Peel session track Always In Mind? It's a swirling and barnstorming Hammond workout that would have fitted well here, and I could never understand why they seemed to abandon it. (As far as I know...)
Good shout Nick L, I'd forgotten about that song.
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