Charlie?

**rickawakeman** · 03-05-2015

Perusing the new used arrivals at one of our wonderful record stores (Turn It Up!) in beautiful downtown Northampton (MA), stumbled upon a Renaissance reissue of "Charlie", (s/t), by a line-up including the late Steve Gadd on drums and much to my surprise, Julian Colbeck (known to me via collaborations with Hackett) on keys. I campled the disc but returned it to the stacks...prog it ain't and a bit too saccherine for these ears. I know they must have some love here, yes?

In reading more about the band, I loved an interview with Julian Colbeck in which he reported having a "cathartic" moment on stage in '96 with Hackett, John Wetton, Chester Thompson (must have been the Hackett Tokyo tapes shows), wherein he realizes he's onstage with a bunch of men of a certain age, himself included, realizes "rock is a young man's game" and vows never to perform live again.

**progeezer** · 03-05-2015

I love Charlie and have most of their recorded output, Rick.

Different Steve Gadd, not the session genius. Same Colbeck tho'

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They are massively under-appreciated & unknown. Best album is No Second Chance followed by Fight Dirty.

One of those (perhaps, tho I don't think so) guilty pleasures that still gets some listens around here. Top-level harmonies and great Brit Pop-Rock songwriting & they were amazing live.

**Dave (in MA)** · 03-05-2015

Terry Thomas, Lead vocals & guitar

John Anderson, Backing vocals & bass

Steve Gadd, Drums (not the American session drummer of the same name)
Martin Smith, Backing vocals & guitar

**flowerking** · 03-05-2015

Originally Posted by progeezer

They are massively under-appreciated & unknown. Best album is No Second Chance followed by Fight Dirty.

I like all four of their initial albums. Didn't care much for Kitchens of Distinction. Seemed like a total departure from their 70s sound.

**Nijinsky Hind** · 03-05-2015

Have Charlie records downstairs... Sexy covers, have never played them. Now is the time then.

Dave in mA cracks me up.

**Progbear** · 03-05-2015

The only song I’ve ever heard was their hit, “It’s Inevitable,” which got heavy rotation on MTV back in the day:

**progeezer** · 03-05-2015

Originally Posted by flowerking

I like all four of their initial albums. Didn't care much for Kitchens of Distinction. Seemed like a total departure from their 70s sound.

Agreed! Kitchens excited the hell out of me when I first heard about its release, but it was a huge disappointment to me as well.

I just looked (couldn't remember), and I have Fantasy Girls, No Second Chance, Lines, Fight Dirty, Good Morning America, s/t and the aforementioned Kitchens.

**moecurlythanu** · 03-05-2015

I had 'No Second Chance' and 'Lines' back in the late 70s or thereabouts. Good albums, with a very 'late 70s' sound. I was always surprised that they never really broke through.

**GuitarGeek** · 03-06-2015

I was gonna ask if we're talking about the guys who did It's Inevitable, but I see that song's already been mentioned. That's the only song I've ever heard by them as well.

And while reading the Wikipedia page, I find that the Steve Gadd from Charlie is the same Steve Gadd who served as Nicko McBrain's drum tech with Iron Maiden. Nicko tells a great story on one of the DVD's but how they were playing an outdoor show in Southern California, and it was so hot that in the middle of Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (where he has nothing to do), Nicko decides he's going to jump in the backstage swimming pool to cool off, and Gaddsy (as Nicko calls him) had to drag him back onstage when it was about time for him to come back in. He said he sat down on the throne and started doing the hi-hat bit, then found that his feet were so slippery that he yells, "GADDSY! GET ME A FUCKING TOWEL!", and Gaddsy had to run in and towel of Nicko's feet. There's a little fill that Nicko does that was supposed to cue the rest of the band into the next section, and apparently on this particular night, the rest of the band was hung up a little longer than usual, waiting for that fill, because he was still toweling off. Yeah, I know that has nothign to do with Charlie, but I just think it's an amusing story.

**flowerking** · 03-06-2015

Originally Posted by Progbear

The only song I’ve ever heard was their hit, “It’s Inevitable,” which got heavy rotation on MTV back in the day:

Charlie had 3 or 4 "KSHE Klassics", so we got to hear them occasionally in St. Louis. Mostly She Loves to be in Love, Fantasy Girls and Killer Cut.