 The jazz-inflected, London-based group Charlie was as well known for their album covers as they were for their close, smooth harmonies and slick, catchy singles like "Turning" and "Watching TV." The band's core lineup included vocalist/guitarist Terry Thomas (who had also been in a band with Free), bassist/vocalist John Anderson (formerly of Axe), and drummer Steve Gadd. |
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Play Turning to You Play Fight Dirty Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. She Loves to Be in Love 2. Turning to You 3. Killer Cut 4. Fight Dirty 5. Watching TV 6. Good Morning America 7. Johnny Hold Back 8. My Perfect Lover 9. There You Go Again 10. Five Years 11. Kings of the World 12. Fantasy Girls 13. Please Let Me Know 14. L.A. Dreamer 15. Inpursuit of Romance 16. Fool For Your Love 17. Never Too Late 18. It's Inevitable  | | Play Take the Money Play Zero Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Jealous 2. There You Go Again 3. Five Years 4. Writing On the Wall 5. Literary Love 6. Take the Money 7. Don't Stand In My Way 8. Only Dreaming 9. Mind Your Own Business 10. Zero 11. You Are My Life 12. I'm a Consumer 13. I'm Sorry 14. Don't Let Go 15. Stupid World 16. All My Life (Bonus track) 17. Fool for Your Love (Bonus track) 18. Just One More Chance (Bonus track) |
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Play The Kings of the World Play One More Day Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. The King of the World 2. Swimming in a Secret Sea 3. One More Day 4. Missing a Heartbeat 5. Take It or Leave It 6. In Pursuit of Romance 7. Don't Stand in My Way 8. Everything's Safer than Love 9. Hang on to Your Dreams | | Play She Loves To Be in Love Play Watching T.V. Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. She Loves to Be in Love 2. No More Heartache 3. Life So Cruel 4. Watching T.V. 5. Out of Control 6. L.A. Dreamer 7. No Strangers in Paradise 8. Keep Me in Mind 9. I Like to Rock and Roll |
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Play Killer Cut Play Runaway Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Killer Cut 2. Fight Dirty 3. Don't Count Me Out 4. Heartless 5. Too Late 6. So Alone 7. Just One More Smiling Face 8. California 9. The End of It All 10. Runaway | | Play Turning to You Play Johnny Hold Back Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. No Second Chance 2. Don't Look Back 3. Pressure Point 4. Turning to You 5. Thirteen 6. Lovers 7. Johnny Hold Back 8. Love Is Alright 9. Guitar Hero |
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Play It's Inevitable Play Tempted Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. It's Inevitable 2. Tempted 3. Spend My Life With You 4. Never Too Late 5. Playing to Win 6. The Heartaches Begin 7. You're Everything I Need 8. This Time 9. Can't Wait 'Til Tomorrow | | Play I Can't Get Over You Play Heading for Home Play Samples of the entire album Songs on this album are: 1. Good Morning America 2. I Can't Get Over You 3. Roll the Dice 4. Heading For Home 5. Saturday Night 6. My Perfect Lover 7. All My Life 8. Fool For Your Love 9. I'm Angry With You 10. Just One More Chance 11. The Girl Won't Dance With Me |
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| Briefly called "Charlie Cuckoo" (after a racehorse), the band soon began work as "Charlie".
After a couple of early singles, including the often-played "Johnny Hold Back", and several albums, the band finally had a certified hit in 1978 with "She Loves to Be In Love," which reached the Top 60 in the United States. Julian Colbeck, who had replaced Martin Smith after the first album, departed four albums later in 1980 amid some turmoil. He writes, "Finally, the touring band line-up of Terry Thomas, John Anderson, Eugene Organ, Steve Gadd, and myself ceased operations once Arista refused to release "Here Comes Trouble", and our caring, sharing management company immediately cut off all our money in 1980. That's a whole other story but, for the record, our final gig was in 1979 at the Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island on October 29th, alongside Foreigner." Thomas commented "Arista, our new label in the U.S., wanted more songs - our company in the UK - Trident Audio Productions - refused to put us in the studio or spend any more money. The UK record company - Polydor - wouldn't release anything until it had a U.S. release. Effectively Charlie had no record label and no money to live on. Eugene and Julian decided to leave." In 1982, Terry Slesser joined the group as lead singer. In 1983, the group had their most successful hit single, "It's Inevitable". The MTV music video featured a rousing pie fight. The album, however, was a flop and the band folded. In 1986, Thomas re-formed the band with a new crew and released In Pursuit of Romance. Thomas writes, "This was basically a contractual album - Steve had gone off to work with Iron Maiden as a drum tech and John had a job in the telecommunications industry. I ended up making the whole album by myself - and it put me in the hospital!" Other than a "best of" retrospective in 2000, and the re-mastered Anthology in 2007, Charlie has been dormant. |