Charlie
Charlie is an English band that was formed in 1971 in London, England. The band's ineup during its most productive period consisted of Terry Thomas (guitar and vocals), John Anderson (bass and vocals), Julian Colbeck (keyboards and vocals), and Steve Gadd (drums).
Charlie's music is often categorized as progressive rock, but the band's sound also incorporates elements of pop, jazz, and funk. They are known for their complex arrangements and tight musicianship, as well as their catchy melodies and lyrics.
In 1976, Charlie signed a recording contract with RCA Records, and released their first album, "Fantasy Girls". The album was a critical success, and the band went on to release a number of other well-received albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "No Second Chance", "Lines", and "Fight Dirty".
Despite their success, Charlie never achieved mainstream commercial success, and the band went through a number of lineup changes over the years. Today, Terry Thomas remains the only original member of the band, and Charlie continues to tour and record new music.
Originally named for a racehorse, "Charlie Cuckoo". Great, little-known and forgotten band. Thanks to John Warburg for helping me with the early lineups for Maton's Magic Mixture and Axe. -GSH
Maton's Magic
Mixture I (1967 -
February 1968)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals - formerly with
Peter and the Wolves,
Amalgamation, Pearly Kings, and Pleasant Street.
- Mel Hacker - bass - b. Melvyn Hacker - formerly
with Peter and the
Wolves, Amalgamation,
Pearly Kings,
and Pleasant Street.
- Simon Kirk - drums - b. Simon John Frederick
St. George Kirk, July 28, 1949, Lambeth, South East
London, England.
Maton's Magic
Mixture II (February
1968 - 1969)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Mel Hacker - bass - b. Melvyn Hacker
- Stan Curtis -
- Jake Curtis -
Axe I (1969 - ? )
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- John Anderson - bass/vocals - b. January 20,
1950, London, England - formerly with The Wells Street Blues Band.
- Nikky McBrain - drums - b. Michael Henry
McBrain, June 5, 1952, Hackney, East London, England -
formerly with 18th
Fairfield Walk and The Peyton Band.
Axe II ( ? - ? )
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Martin Smith -
guitar
- Ray B. Bulloch - bass
- Nikky McBrain - drums
Axe III ( ? - 1971)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Martin Smith -
guitar
- Ray B. Bulloch - bass
- Steve Gadd - drums
Charlie Cuckoo
(1971)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Martin Smith - guitar
- Ray B. Bulloch - bass
- Nikky McBrain - drums
Charlie I (1971 - ? )
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Martin Smith - guitar
- Ray B. Bulloch - bass
- Nicky McBrain - drums
Single: "I Need Your Love" b/w "I'm So
Happy"
Charlie II
( ? - 1976)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Martin Smith - guitar
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
Album:
- "Fantasy
Girls" (1976) - Singles: "First
Class Traveller" b/w "TV Dreams", "Fantasy
Girls" b/w "Miss Deluxe"
Charlie III
(1976 - 1977)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- Julian Colbeck - keyboards/vocals - b.
Aldershot, Hampshire, England.
Album:
- "No
Second
Chance" (1977) - Singles: "Turning
To You" b/w "Love Is Alright", "Johnny
Hold Back" b/w "Please Let Me Know", "Turning
To You" b/w "Pressure Point"
Charlie IV
(1977 - 1978)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- Julian Colbeck - keyboards/vocals
- Eugene Organ - guitar/vocals - b. October 21,
1951, London, England.
Album:
- "Lines"
(1978) - Singles: "She Loves To Be In Love", "Watching
T.V." b/w "Out Of Control"
Charlie V (1978 - 1980)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- Julian Colbeck - keyboards/vocals
- Eugene Organ - guitar/vocals
- Shep Lonsdale - drums
Albums:
- "Fight
Dirty" (1979) - Singles: "Fight
Dirty" b/w "The End Of It All", "Killer
Cut" b/w "Heartless", "Killer Cut"
b/w "The End Of It All"
- "Here
Comes Trouble" (1982) - recorded in
1979/1980 - Singles: "Five Years" b/w "Only
Dreaming", "There You Go Again" b/w "Jealous"
Charlie VI
(1980 - 1981)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- John Verity - guitar/vocals - b. July 3, 1949,
Bradford, England - formerly with Argent and Phoenix.
- Bob Henrit - drums b. May 2, 1944, Broxbourne,
England - formerly with Argent and Phoenix.
Album:
- "Good
Morning America" (1981) - Singles: "My
Perfect Lover" b/w "I'm Angry With You", "Fool
For Your Love" b/w "Im Angry With You"
Charlie VII
(1981 - 1982)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- Bob Henrit - drums
Charlie VIII
(1982 - 1983)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Steve Gadd - drums
- John Anderson - bass/vocals
- Bob Henrit - drums
- Terry Slesser - vocals
Album:
- "Charlie" (1983) - Singles: "It's
Inevitable" b/w "Can't Wait 'Til Tomorrow",
"Never Too Late" b/w "Tempted"
Group disbands.
Charlie IX
(1986) (reformed)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Felix Krish - bass/keyboards/vocals
- Richard Cottle - keyboards/sax
- Graham Broad - drums
- Linda Thomas - vocals
Album:
- "In
Pursuit Of Romance" (1986) - Single: "The
Kings Of The World" b/w "Take It Or Leave It"
Group disbands.
Charlie X (1998 - ? ) (reformed)
- Terry Thomas - guitar/vocals
- Felix Krish - bass/keyboards/vocals
Charlie XI
( ? - ? )
- Terry Thomas - guitar/bass/keyboards/vocals
- Martin Smith - guitar
- Janne Jarvis -
bass
- Julian Colbeck - keyboards
- Steve Alexander
- drums
Album:
- "Kitchens
Of Distinction" (2009)
Compilations:
- "No
Second
Chance / Lines" (2-fer) (1996)
- "Fight
Dirty
/ Good Morning America" (2-fer) (1996)
- "Best
Of
Charlie" (2000)
- "Anthology"
(2007)
Links:
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Last Revised: June 8, 2013
© 2004, 2005, 2013 by Gary S.
Hartman. All rights reserved.
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