
The Charlatans (known in the United States as The Charlatans UK) are an English indie rock band. The band's line-up currently comprises lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers. Former members of the band include vocalist Baz Ketley (1989); guitarist Jon Day (Jonathan Baker) (1989–1991); keyboardist Rob Collins (1989–1996), who died in a car accident during recording of their fifth album; and drummer Jon Brookes (1989-2013), who died after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010.
Links To Peel[]
Peel got hold of The Charlatans promo single in 1989 through Alison Martin (who is also mentioned in Margrave Of The Marshes as a listener of his show who once asked Peel for advice whether she should marry her Manchester United boyfriend supporter, which Peel adamantly said no: however she ignored the advice and later married him). She was working in a press promotion company in Manchester and originally received copies of the single through her Manchester Evening News music journalist friend Sarah Champion. [1]
In the biography, The Charlatans We Are Rock book, Alison Martin mentioned how she was surprised Peel liked the band's material: [2]
- "We were surprised John liked the stuff. He didn't seem to like most of the Manchester stuff. I guess it was a bit too mainstream for the sort of thing that he played on his show."
After the Madchester scene, which the Charlatans were part of, faded away, Peel would occasionally play the band's material. The group later adopted the Britpop sound, which he occasionally liked, although wasn't its biggest fan. In 2002, Peel played a mashup track between The Charlatans and the Sugababes called Weirdo Overload on his show.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- 1990 Festive Fifty: The Only One I Know #17
- 1990 Festive Fifty: Polar Bear #28
Sessions[]
The Charlatans - Polar Bear (John Peel Session May 1990)
The Charlatans recorded two sessions for Peel. On the 2010 reissue of their 1990 album 'Some Friendly', all four tracks from session #1 were included as bonus tracks. 'You Can Talk To Me' was also included on some 12" and CD versions of the 1990 single 'The Only One I Know'. 'Always In Mind' and 'Polar Bear' also appear on the 2006 anthology 'Forever. The Singles.', as does 'Between 10th and 11th' from the second session.
1. Recorded: 1990-03-20. Broadcast: 09 April 1990. Repeated: 31 May 1990
- Then / Always In Mind / You Can Talk To Me / Polar Bear
2. Recorded: 1991-01-22. Broadcast: 10 February 1991. Repeated: Mainly Peel Feb 1991, 20 April 1991, HO John Peel 31 1991, Peel April 1991
- Can't Be Bothered / Between 10th & 11th / Opportunity
Other Shows Played[]
The Charlatans - The Only One I Know
- 1990
- 08 January 1990: Indian Rope (12") Dead Dead Good
- 07 February 1990: Indian Rope (12") Dead Dead Good
- 22 February 1990: Indian Rope (12") Dead Dead Good
- 02 May 1990: The Only One I Know (12") Situation Two
- 21 May 1990: The Only One I Know (7") Situation Two
- 02 June 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 146 (BFBS)): The Only One I Know (12") Situation Two
- 08 September 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 157 (BFBS)): 'Then (12")' (Situation Two/Dead Dead Good)
- 17 September 1990: You're Not Very Well (LP-Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 17 September 1990: White Shirt (LP-Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 26 September 1990: Polar Bear (LP - Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 29 September 1990: White Shirt (LP - Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 06 October 1990: Sonic (LP-Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 06 October 1990 (BFBS): Sproston Green (LP-Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 13 October 1990: You're Not Very Well (LP - Some Friendly) Situation Two
- 23 December 1990: 'Polar Bear (LP-Some Friendly)' (Situation Two) FF #28
- 29 December 1990: 'The Only One I Know (12")' (Situation Two) FF #17 (JP: 'I've got two copies of this, two 12 inches, one pressed off-centre and one with the hole absolutely bang in the middle. Unfortunately, the first one is the one that I brought in. I apologise for that...you only really notice during the last 45 seconds or so, but nevertheless I apologise.')
- 1991
- 27 January 1991 (Mainly Peel January 1991) (HO John Peel 29 1991): Opportunity Three (Promo 12") Situation Two
- 03 February 1991 (BFBS) (Peel 168 (BFBS)): 'Opportunity Three (12"-Sproston Green)' (Virgin)
- 16 February 1991: Over Rising (12") Situation Two
- 17 February 1991: Over Rising (Single: Over Rising) Situation Two
- 23 February 1991: Over Rising (Single: Over Rising) Situation Two
- 09 March 1991 (BFBS) (Peel 174 (BFBS)): 'Over Rising (12")' (Situation Two) (JP: 'Charles Foster, described in court as an executive producer, said that he quite liked that, and some of the other records that are included in this programme, so I shall have to go away and reconsider my position, I think.')
- 1994
- 26 March 1994: Subterranean (CDS) White Label
- 02 April 1994 (BFBS): Subterranean (EP - I Never Want An Easy Life If Me And He Were Ever To Get There) SPV
- 1997
- 09 April 1997: ‘With No Shoes (CD – Tellin’ Stories)’ Beggars Banquet (JP: I think it must be the influence of Mark and Lark you know. I’m starting to get into pop music again.’)
- 28 April 1997: North Country Boy (single) Beggars Banquet
- 01 May 1997: How High (single) Beggars Banquet
- 05 May 1997: With No Shoes (LP - Tellin' Stories) Beggars Banquet
- 22 May 1997: How High (single) Beggars Banquet
- 29 June 1997: How High (single) Beggars Banquet
- 27 October 1997: Tellin' Stories (single) Beggars Banquet
- 29 October 1997: Tellin' Stories (single) Beggars Banquet
- 2002
- 13 February 2002: Weirdo Overload (12" - Bastard Pop 1) White Label