The Charlatans on The White Room

If YouTube could produce a top 10 list of videos I've watched over the years, then I dare say that The Charlatans blistering appearance on Channel 4's The White Room, broadcast on  16th August 1996, would be up at the top. Just behind the last few minutes of Manchester United's dramatic Champions League win back in 1999!

I can't believe this footage (full video at the end of the blog) is thirty years old! The Charlatans performance is pure raw energy and emotion. Super charged from the grief of losing Rob Collins. Elated from playing Knebworth. Energised by the outpouring of support and encouragement to keep going - including the offer from Primal Scream's Martin Duffy to help them out, and knowing they had One To Another (among other songs) up their sleeve.

Tim at Knebworth

Photo by Tom Sheenan

The Charlatans were absolutely flying going into the summer of 96. They had already released 4 albums and 13 singles. They were prolific, always recording, releasing and on tour. Then ... utter tragedy, trauma, shock, sadness, grief and disbelief.

Somehow, within a remarkably short period of time, aided by the opportunity of playing in front of 125,000 people at Knebworth, The Charlatans regrouped. There was an outpouring of love and support. Followed by an immense display of strength, courage and defiance. The Charlatans somehow, against all odds, turned disbelief into belief.

There have been many times where I have wondered if footage of The Charlatans performance at Knebworth is lying in storage. The whole event was filmed, yet nothing has been released to date. I was there and I was super proud of the band. They were incredible, totally and utterly in the zone.

However, footage of their White Room performance shortly afterwards is available

Read on ... and watch.

July and August 1996

22nd July - Rob Collins tragically dies after crashing his BMW while driving round the country roads near Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire. Collins was a genius on the Hammond organ, integral to The Charlatans sound.

The Charlatans were scheduled to play Knebworth with Oasis on Sunday 11th August . Family, friends and management encouraged them to play the show. Martin Duffy from Primal Scream called with an offer to help them out.

Duffy stepped forward and said he wanted to help us out. And from that moment, probably just 24 hours after Rob died, people were just offering help for us to continue as a band, and I think that's one of the things that kept us going. Tim Burgess

We had to make a statement. It was a bit weird, all of it, and hard to believe. We didn't know what to do. Tim Burgess

Band statement - We've lost our mate. There will be no change. We are Fuckin' Rock!

11th August - The band play an emotionally charged set at Knebworth. They are on fire. I hope that the footage of this is released one day. See my blog from 2016 on the 20th anniversary of me and my great friend Elliott travelling down to Knebworth. I was so proud of The Charlatans that day.

Tim taking to the stage

Photo by Tom Sheehan

16th August - The Charlatans performance on Channel 4's The White Room is broadcast. They play One To Another and Crashin' In - more below.

26th August - The Charlatans release One To Another which reaches number 3 in the UK Charts.

One To Another and Crashin' In on The White Room

One To Another is my favourite Charlatans song. No question. The power of this song still astonishes me all these years down the line. The first single following the death of Rob Collins, this was a big statement.
It meant something, more than any previous single I had previously anticipated and bought. Upon release, The Charlatans meant even more to me. They were powerful. Soulful. Defiant. 

On to Channel 4's The White Room. The Charlatans are lined up and ready to go, Tim's hair is looking incredible, he's wearing a super cool sweatshirt, patrolling the stage, egging on his band and the crowd.

The One To Another intro is immensely powerful, beginning with a loop from Tom Rowlands from Chemical Brothers, then exploding into life with a heavy riff from piano, guitar, drums and bass leading to Tim coming in;

One to another

A sister and a brother

And a-changing the way that you feel

Mark Collins is on fire through the first guitar break,  Jon Brookes is all over his kit. The band are up for it. Totally on it. Second verse in and one of my all-time favourite lyrics is be my spider woman, I'll be your spider man, so much so that a poster with those words used to be on display at the top of our stairs. I might need to dig it out from the loft!

Then the band pick up the pace, flying forwards, soaring upwards. 

Trust is for believers and love can keep the faith

I don't need you, I can't buy you, I can't hurt you

The next guitar break is even more ferocious. Burgess cries out and I'll do it the best that I can. There is the briefest of pauses for breath. Then drums crash, Tim yells something to the crowd and gazes lovingly at his band as they build things up to go at it harder than ever. The Charlatans are in full flight. The riff is supersonic and Burgess is flowing... 

Stand by my accusations

I'll come clean, I don't need no vice

What a sound. What a sight. What a band.

 Love is hard to leave and it's hard to never have 

Burgess is into a couple of Sympathy for the Devil style woo-hoo's as the band play it out in style. One To Another never fails to lift and inspire me. I can never only watch this performance once.  

There is a brief thanks a lot from Tim as Mark fires up the opening riff of Crashin' In and Tim shouts out the song title. The energy leaps out immediately from Mark Collins guitar, there is an urgency to Tim's voice and the rest of the band drive things along. 

I can go for miles and miles and miles

The band are on fire. I love the change in pace after 90-seconds with Tim just shouting oh yeah, and the band just get lost in a jam. They do it again later in the song. I love the looseness and the energetic vibe.

At one point Tim is singing Mark's guitar parts, smiling, winking, watching Mark on guitar and Duffy on keys. The band build and then burst into a new groove. See me, I can feel it coming around

Duffy is off on one on the Hammond, Mark is ringing his guitar for all its worth and Jon Brookes is doing indescribable things on drums with Tim grinning and looking on in amazement. Martin Blunt is somehow anchoring all of this. What a jam! What a performance.

The Charlatans live on! Long live The Charlatans.

Confidently top 10

My sister and her friend Kat recently co-presented a regular show (fLUNT) on LP Radio which I thoroughly enjoyed. The two enjoy great banter when discussing songs, proudly stating after some that it would confidently be in their top 10 list of fave songs ever.

It got me thinking, could I confidently state my top 10 fave songs ever?

I think I can ... it might change. But these 10-songs will always be there or thereabouts.

1. Come Together (Farley mix) - Primal Scream
This is blissful psychedelic pop touched with a little acid house and gospel. Absolute perfection.

The ambition, progress, collaboration and invention surrounding Primal Scream at this time still generates interest and debate all these years down the line. This is an example of why.

The Weatherall version on the Screamadelica LP is blissful, the Farley mix is my favourite. During the anniversary shows the Scream combined about 3 versions together to create utter euphoria. Check the Farley mix and then the extended live version below.

Kiss me, won't you, won't you, kiss me

2. Going Back To My Roots - Richie Havens
I discovered this song on an incredible compilation called All Back To Mine by Sean Rowley. Every track was incredible and impeccable, but this stood out. That intro, those lyrics, the vocals ... a perfect groove.

Not talking 'bout the roots in the land, I'm talking 'bout the roots in the man

3. Temptation - New Order
Whether it is the original raw version in its extended glory or the polished rerecorded version from Substance, or an extended live version, Temptation pushes all the right buttons for me. The guitars, groove, lyrics, vocals ... it is perfect. Sumner shows why he is one of my favourite singers and guitarists, the circular guitar riff is one I could listen to for hours on end.

Oh you've got green eyes, of you've got blue eyes

4. You Set The Scene - Love
I had fallen for Love after the Fanclub, the Roses and the Scream all mentioned their Forever Changes album in interviews. Then amazingly Arthur Lee announced that he was playing King Tuts following a release from prison and a long period of inactivity through a drug habit. The show was astonishing, a captivated crowd were treated to a show they never thought they would see and you could have heard a pin drop during You Set The Scene. One of my all-time favourite live moments was during this show and this song when Arthur sung I see your picture, it's in the same old frame his voice soared in a way fans could only dream of after years of substance abuse.

The way this song flows, dips and rises is astonishing. Lyrically and musically brilliant, structurally ambitious and just all round stunning.

This is the time and life that I am living

And I'll face each day with a smile

For the time that I've been given's such a little while

And the things that I must do consist of more than style

5. Don't Leave Me This Way - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
What .... A .... Song
What .... A .... Tune
I adore this song. I still find so much in it, the groove, the way it develops, the way it builds to the euphoric chorus, the way it picks up pace, the way that even as it fades out I want it to keep going. Does an even longer version exist?

This is a song I always played whenever I DJ'd in pubs or at parties. Even if you haven't heard it you're going to be hooked in and singing along by the second chorus. The vocals are exceptional, the band are incredible, the drums and percussion are just sublime.

Don't leave me this way

I can't survive, can't stay alive

Without your love, oh baby

6. Everything Flows - Teenage Fanclub
Probably no surprise that Everything Flows is in my top 10! I think this song gets better with age, like a fine wine, I get more meaning out of it, I get more feeling out of it.

A young Norman Blake sounds wise beyond his years as he sings;

We get older every year

But you don't change

Or I don't notice you changing

And perhaps this opening line, more than anything else that is magical about the song, highlights why the song takes on more meaning year on year, gig on gig, listen on listen.

The whole song is magical. The guitars sound incredible and the chorus is beautifully self reflective and one that we can all relate to and the band just gel. It is perfect.

The band later revisited their debut single on the Teenage Fanclub Have Lost It EP that I blogged about HERE and where you can check out their stunning acoustic version.

You can check out the original release and a stunning Peel session version below.

I'll never know which way to flow

Set a course that I don't know

7. Don't Let Me Down - The Beatles
Lennon is so in love that he needs 4 words rather than 3. I love the rawness of this song, the feel and the soul. And I particularly love the middle-eight as Lennon drifts off sounding dreamy I'm in love for the first time, don't you know it's gonna last ...

And I love the footage of The Beatles playing on the roof of the Apple building looking super cool. Imagine if they had gone on tour at this time?

8. I Believe In Miracles - The Jackson Sisters
This still blows my mind every single time I listen to it. I love the power, the groove, the big long intro on the extended version and the skyscarping euphoric vocals, the way they rip through the verses to reach the chorus and the whole way this comes together to sound like it is a remix, but it is the real deal. It just sounds this good, this catchy, this dancey, this groovy.

Believe in dreams and think they are real

And one day soon

The miracle will come true

9. California Soul - Marlena Shaw
I was lucky to catch Marlena Shaw a number of years ago, when the Renfrew Ferry was still moored on the southside of the River Clyde. The reception for this song will live with me forever. It seemed to go on longer than the song itself, such was the reaction, the appreciation, the love for it in the audience.

This is another song I would play (back in the day) when I DJ'd and it would always generate the response I look for. People dancing, people coming up to say 'tune' or people coming up to ask who sings it.

Quite simply perfect. It's controlled yet it still has a sense of euphoria for me. I will always dance to this song.

Like a sound you hear

That lingers in your ear

You can't forget

From sunrise to sunset

10. One To Another - The Charlatans

We end with a monster tune from one of my all-time favourite bands. One To Another is a song I sing most days as I have a framed print at the top of our stairs containing the lyrics be my spider woman, I'll be your spider man.

The first single after the death of Rob Collins, One To Another has a sense of defiance to it, it rocks, it grooves, it explodes and it is utterly magnificent. I think the promo film captures all of that perfectly and I have also included a live version from The White Room - you get the added bonus of Crashin' In. This is my favourite Charlatans TV performance. Look at Tim Burgess gazing on with love and admiration as his band are on fire.

Justice for believers and love can keep the faith

I don't need you, I can't buy you, I can't hurt you

The Charlatans at the Usher Hall

I have seen The Charlatans over 30 times since I first caught them live away back in 1994. They have been helping to provide the soundtrack to my life since 1991. I should no longer be surprised....but I am still amazed.

I'm amazed at the songs, albums and performances that the band continue to deliver all these years down the line. Tim Burgess was on fire last night, singing better than ever and seemingly getting younger rather than older. 

15/20-years ago if Tim said on stage 'I hope you're feeling as good as I am' it would probably have been because he was high on E or coke. In 2015 he is high on life, love, music and family and when he said he was feeling good to the Usher Hall crowd last night you could tell that he meant it.

He then displayed it by bounding effortlessly around the stage, conducting his impeccable band and the crowd and by delivering an exceptional performance - as a singer and a frontman. Tim couldn't keep the smile from his face.

Burgess was on fire and so were his band and Tim recognised this towards the end, introducing them one by one to give them their moment in the spotlight; the stalwarts Mark Collins on electric guitar, Martin Blunt on bass and Tony Rogers on hammond and keys. They were joined by Pete Salisbury on drums and together they created groove after groove.

Highlights? Well check the setlist below, it was pretty much all one big highlight that flowed superbly, but here are my standouts.

North Country Boy - the Edinburgh crowd are (lets be honest) a little reserved. North Country Boy was delivered 3-songs in and the place erupted.

Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over - the groove machine were in full flow, as was Burgess

Trouble Understanding - a surprise highlight for me, delivered with real class and it made me go back to listen to the studio version this morning.

Let The Good Times Be Never Ending - up with the best songs of their lengthy career, they still have it in abundance, the way the band coaxed and teased towards the climatic chorus was orgasmic and the crowd responded accordingly. The grins onstage said it all.

One To Another - powerful and soulful, euphoric

In The Tall Grass - playful and melodic, Tony Rogers was brilliant 

The Only One I Know - the ultimate indie disco anthem 

everyone has been burned before

everybody knows the pain

Come Home Baby - Tim introduced the band and then said 'We're The Charlatans and we're from Scotland' before launching into the song of the year, with a reach for the sky chorus that gets me every time - euphoric

Sproston Green - the intro was incredible, the delivery sublime, ending the show in style

The Charlatans have had a brilliant 2015, releasing an album that has made it on to many end of year best of lists that contains several gems and career highlights, touring the world and playing to tens of thousands of adoring fans.

I look forward to seeing what they do next.

The Charlatans at the Barrowland

'This is a song about sunshine' said Tim Burgess, introducing So Oh a few songs into last nights set. Was it a co-incidence that The Charlatans were in town and Glasgow basked in double digit temperatures as locals dared to believe that Spring had arrived as we saw clear blue skies for the first time in ages?

There was certainly loads of warmth in the legendary Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom last night as Tim led his band through a 2-hour set featuring a good half dozen songs off latest album Modern Nature in amongst some true classics.

Opening with a lengthy version of Forever that allowed the band to get into their groove before Tim walked on with his arms aloft, you just knew this was going to be a great gig. Before we could pause for breath it was straight into the groove of Weirdo and the place was going mental.

Let The Good Times Be Never Ending, the new single, was an real highlight, the band gelling beautifully and leading the song into a euphoric chorus. It easily stands up with the best of The Charlatans back catalogue and that was exactly what they did next - playing You're So Pretty, a storming Crashin' In, a banging Oh Vanity and a truly stunning One To Another in succession.

Burgess patrolled the stage and controlled the crowd, conducting them and encouraging them to get lost in the music.

Emilie and In The Tall Grass are two of the best songs not to be released as singles from the new album, and they gave an element of breathing space in amongst classics like Just Lookin' and Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over, with Burgess unsure if the band were about to take the audience back to 1994 or 1995. It didn't matter, they took us back alright!

How High was delivered at blistering pace, a speed punk groove, straight into The Only One I Know which probably generated the reaction of the night - still sounding fresh and vital after all these years.

Come Home Baby was an absolute delight, the chorus soared towards the stars on the ceiling of the Barrowland and threatened to take the roof off the place.

The band ended with Sproston Green, done in 'Glasgow style', Martin Blunt slowly, slowly teasing the band into the groove that erupted into a monster.

The Charlatans play a second night tonight - tickets are still available and I would highly recommend going if you can. This is a special band, still releasing brilliant music and they are one of the best live bands around.