[nigel2shady]

Workmate today lent me The Charlatans greatest hits,and to be honest I never really heard much of thier stuff till now,heard of the band and that was it,but having just listned to the CD a couple of times I have to say very impressed,some decent songs,One to another cracking song...

What is your opinions on this band,and if you know a bit about them be greatfull for little bit of history of the band....

Thanks Nigel...

[manny]

over the years i was aware of them but never took much notice, saw them couple of years ago on ...Later and thought they were interesting, then saw them live supporting the Rolling Stones last week and they were rubbish! very disappointing. from that show i'd have to say they're just another britpop band, i seem to remember a funkier, more soulful sound when they were on Jools.

ah well, i doubt i'll lose any sleep over it.

you can probably get their best off for a few quid, so might as well take a chance, you might really like 'em

[Mylo]

Early albums were very good, later albums like Wonderland were superb

They were about during the Madchester phase. Britpop came much later.

[nigel2shady]

Originally Posted by manny

over the years i was aware of them but never took much notice, saw them couple of years ago on ...Later and thought they were interesting, then saw them live supporting the Rolling Stones last week and they were rubbish! very disappointing. from that show i'd have to say they're just another britpop band, i seem to remember a funkier, more soulful sound when they were on Jools.

ah well, i doubt i'll lose any sleep over it.

you can probably get their best off for a few quid, so might as well take a chance, you might really like 'em

Would you off happened to see them at Slane castle in Dublin,a mate of myne was there.

The Charlatans oh aye....'The Only One I Know' was a floppy-fringe shaker round about 1990. 'One to Another' also a great tune.

History: erm think they're from Chester. Keyboard player died tragically in a car accident in 1995. He was kind of key to their sound.

[reevesy]

did catch the singer...whats his name...tim burgess is it? on bbcs glastonbury coverage on stage with mark ronson with the 'only one i know getting the remix treatment.....was'nt too bad.......well dodgey top his was wearing though,think it must have been designed by some colour blind mexican on acid.

[manny]

Originally Posted by nigel2shady

Would you off happened to see them at Slane castle in Dublin,a mate of myne was there.

indeed it was, and the Stones were well worth seeing! maybe the Charlatans would be better in a smaller venue?

[nigel2shady]

Update from my first post...

After listening to them more over the weekend really lovin there stuff,..couple of tunes catching my eye are,How High,Cant get out of bed,Wierdo,Indian rope,and of course the obvious One to another and The only one I know...Are fantastic tunes...Cant belive this band slipped under my Rader...

Looking forward to listen to them more over the bank holiday weekend...

[krish]

My Beautiful Friend is probably my favourite, and from their post Rob Collins period. A very moving and haunting song. I believe Tim once said this song wasn't meant to be about Rob when they started writing it, but then they couldn't help it ending up that way.

Life Is Sweet is also a superb track ... from '95 by the Chemical Brothers with Tim (from Chem Bros album Exit Planet Dust):
[youtube]X7VDy-yT6RE[/youtube]

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by krish

My Beautiful Friend is probably my favourite, and from their post Rob Collins period. A very moving and haunting song. I believe Tim once said this song wasn't meant to be about Rob when they started writing it, but then they couldn't help it ending up that way.

Great track & from their best album IMO "Us & Us Only". Also highly recommend Tim Burgess's solo Album "I believe" - great stuff.

[easycure]

One of the best bands I've ever seen live. I remember seeing them back in '97 at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. It was the night of the general election when Labour came to power after 200 years of Tory rule. That's what it seemed like anyway. Tim Burgess was wearing a t-shirt in support of the striking Livepool dockers, and I recall him quoting Bob Dylan, "The times they are a changin'", and the band finished on an absolutely thundering version of Sproston Green. Looking back it seems a bit silly now. Nothing really changed at all. But, y'know, it was just one of those moments that just seemed to capture the general mood at the time.

Great band. Like others have said, they just seemed to get better and better with each album, which is amazing when you think they were largely written off by the music press at first as just another bunch of chancers, riding on the back of the Madchester scene, when none of them were actually from Manchester.

I like most of their stuff, but I'm particularly fond of Tellin' Stories and the self-titled album, the one that features Just Lookin', Crashin' In and Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over. Not a single duff track on it.

[moby125]

Certainly one of the better 'Madchester' bands, originally hailing from Northwich, hence Sproston Green, just off M6 jct 18.

Seen them a couple of time's, first being at the Birmingham Irish Centre, Digbeth, a couple of weeks after THE ONLY ONE I KNOW was released, so the hype around the band was pretty intense. Very good concert, although played for around an hour, first album material. I remember they hired a lighting man, who was very well respected in his profession and had been around for many years, so hence pyschedelic effects throughout their tours.

A couple of year's later saw them at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, by now the show was more polished and longer.

Tim Burgess has always had a good sound to his voice, still enjoy Indian Rope, The Only One I Know,. I think I got the first couple of albums, the first being released in a nice white vinly pvc slip sleeve, 'Some Friendly'. If I remember Up to Our Hips was also a very good album.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by easycure

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over.

Probably the most played song on my ipod - love it, so uplifting from the very start + got a softspot for tracks with great piano melodies.

I think I've only seen them once, but definitely only once on their own tour. At the Brighton Centre a good few years ago. I was actually a little disappointed, I think more so with the venue than the performance - it just didn't seem to work & seemed like I was standing in a school hall watching a band I liked during their Manchester period & lost touch with until a few years ago.

Tim Burgess had the honour of singing my first dance at my wedding last year, well, he wasn't there obviously but it was one of his solo tracks "Love to Spend the Night"

[nigel2shady]

Just listening to them now cant belive only discovering this bands music now lol,As said on post above workmate lent me the greatest hits album last week been listening to it since....Tellin Storys as said above is a belter....

Lots of great tunes on greatest hits cd I have here

[Ian182]

I've loved The Charlatans since the start

Going to see them on Sunday - they're headlining the Bingley Music Festival in West Yorkshire. Tickets were only £7.50 - possibly the bargain of the year !

Seen them 6 or 7 times over the years, and they've never disappointed. And they ALWAYS finish the set with the classic Sproston Green.

They sound a little bit more American since Tim moved to LA, but still write some cracking tunes.

Oh, and they made their entire Delamere Forest convert available for free from their website recently - a cracking gesture.

Ian.

[DJT75]

If you haven't already - listen to 'Reverend and the Makers' & their first single 'Heavyweight Champion of the World'. It came out a couple of months ago & really reminds me of The Charlatans, especially his voice.

Great track & nice little video too

[krish]

Their new album is going to be free, and there'll be no need to buy a rag like the Mail On Sunday ...

www.thecharlatans.net/news.php:

Get The Charlatans new album for free with Xfm 01 10 07

The Charlatans have signed an x-clusive deal with Xfm to give away their new album as a free download at www.xfm.co.uk - starting with the new single ‘You Cross My Path’ on Monday 22nd October. The album will follow in early 2008 and will be available in its entirety as a free download via Xfm.

The first radio play of the new single along with exclusive interviews with the band and Alan McGee management can be heard on Xfm's Music: Response shows shortly after 8pm on Thursday October 4.

Read more about the new deal at www.xfm.co.uk

www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=485685:

Get Entire New Charlatans Album For Free With Xfm

In a groundbreaking industry first The Charlatans have joined forces with Xfm to give away their latest album completely free right here on xfm.co.uk.

The revolutionary move which suitably reflects the changing way that music is made, distributed and listened to today, The Charlatans have decided to give their entire new album to fans for the bargainous price of absolutely nothing. Yes, you heard us right, an entire album from one of the UK's premier bands for free!

And who better to help them realise this exciting new move than Xfm - whom The Charlatans have signed an x-clusive deal with - with the first single 'You Cross My Path' available as a free download on xfm.co.uk from Monday October 22.

Lead singer Tim Burgess said "We want 'the people' to own the music and we want the artist i.e. us, to own the copyright. Why let a record company get in the way of the people getting the music? We reckon the people who listen to Xfm are the people who love The Charlatans and we're excited at releasing our forthcoming singles and tenth studio album online free of charge through xfm.co.uk."

The first radio play of the new single along with exclusive interviews with the band and management can be heard on Xfm's Music: Response shows shortly after 8pm on Thursday October 4.

Xfm's head of music Mike Walsh commented "Xfm is a proudly innovative brand and we are very excited to be involved with The Charlatans new material in this way. Providing our listeners with such great exclusive content was an offer we couldn't refuse."

The rest of the album - which is currently having its' final touches put in place - will be available in its entirity as a download early in 2008.

The Charlatans and Xfm started discussing the idea a few months ago, both equally excited by the prospect of creating an industry first. The band - out of contract with their record label Sanctuary but backed by Alan McGee and with access to their own recording studio - realised the potential of getting their material out to fans for free.

Alan McGee commented, "Why would you volunteer to join the army for ten years unless you had no choice? Record companies are a kind of army; very regulated. We were really excited when Xfm got behind us and were as enthusiastic about the download as we are - they are the first people to embrace music for the people."

Whilst live music and merchandise sales are booming, physical sales are steadily decreasing with more and more fans simply burning tracks from friends or free download sites. McGee continued, "The band will get paid more by more people coming to the gigs, buying merchandise, publishing and synch fees. I believe it's the future business model."

The Charlatans - who've already played alongside The Who and The Rolling Stones this year - recently announced new tour dates in London, Glasgow and Manchester which unsurprisingly sold out immediately.

[zAndy1]

Record companies must be getting a bit nervous, prince, Radiohead and the charlatans all cutting out the middle man and pretty much giving stuff away. Seems to be a growing trend, long may it continue IMO

[krish]

www.xfm.co.uk/news/2008/download-charlatans-new-album-for-free

Download The Charlatans' New Album For Free!

Xfm are giving offering you the brand new album from The Charlatans absolutely free. Plus a great competition to win a rare vinyl copy.

You've already feasted your ears on two phenomenal singles: title track 'You Cross My Path' and 'Oh Vanity', and now the time has come for the whole album 'You Cross My Path' to be made available to download for free. Yes you did hear us right, the album to have and to hold for nowt, zilch, zero, zip.

Speaking to Xfm frontman Tim Burgess revealed "We always knew this album was gonna be given away for free, even before we started writing so we wanted to make it the best album we've ever made. This isn't a case of left over tracks and b-sides, we wanted to give our fans a quality record."

Manager Alan McGee agreed: "I completely mean it when I say this is their best record in year, their best since 'Telling Stories'. I think for ten years they've been a brilliant band but they haven't fulfilld their full potential until now."

[WWFCB]

IMO

One of the most underated bands ever. Outlasted the rest of the supposed Madchester bands, even though, Tim Burgess (lead vocals) originally from Northwich, with the remainder of the original line up, from various parts of the West Midlands.

Downloaded the album today, from early listen, sounds pretty good.

They've just announced another British tour, so will be going to see them in Liverpool, must be about 13 to 14 times I've seen them in total, 3 times on, I think the 'Some Friendly' tour (Liverpool, Manchester & Wolverhampton).

[dazza1011]

Originally Posted by WWFCB

IMO

One of the most underated bands ever. Outlasted the rest of the supposed Madchester bands, even though, Tim Burgess (lead vocals) originally from Northwich, with the remainder of the original line up, from various parts of the West Midlands.

Downloaded the album today, from early listen, sounds pretty good.

They've just announced another British tour, so will be going to see them in Liverpool, must be about 13 to 14 times I've seen them in total, 3 times on, I think the 'Some Friendly' tour (Liverpool, Manchester & Wolverhampton).

cracking band saw them years ago when they supported Treebound Story ( Richard Hawleys FormerFormer Band )at Take Two in Sheffield for about £1 and they where good then as they are now

[Ian182]

Really impressed with the new album so far

Also worth saying a massive thanks to the Charlatans for doing this. They also gave away their entire Delamere Forest concert via their website last year in a similar fashion.

Top band, and a top gesture for the fans.

If anyone needs the artwork for the album, they've stuck it on their MySpace page. I'm sure its available elsewhere too.

Ian.

[easycure]

Wow, thanks for this Krish.

I'm liking the new album. Lovely and summery, even if it is freezing outside. Reminds me of New Order a bit.

[krish]

Originally Posted by easycure

Reminds me of New Order a bit.

You know, I thought that too, especially the more recent New Order stuff, i.e. the last two albums that had more guitar ... Tim's also sounding a bit like Barney

[Nexus21]

It's a crackin album, easily one of there finest. You guy's are spot on comparing the sound to that of the later New Order albums. Great to hear Tim's voice back on top form as well!