The Amazing Charlatans [Import]

Charlatans (1960's) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 27, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Big Beat UK
• ASIN: B0000004EI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,234 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. CODINE BLUES

2. ALABAMA BOUND

3. I ALWAYS WANTED A GIRL LIKE YOU

4. I SAW HER

5. HOW CAN I MISS YOU WHEN YOU WON'T GO AWAY

6. 32-20

7. WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME TRIP

8. WALKIN'

9. SWEET SUE, JUST YOU

10. EAST VIRGINIA

11. THE SHADOW KNOWS

12. I GOT MINE

13. STEPPIN' IN SOCIETY

14. DEVIL GOT MY MAN

15. BY HOOK OR BY CROOK

16. 'LONG COME A VIPER

17. SIDETRACK

18. ALABAMA BOUND

19. NUMBER ONE

20. BABY WON'T YOU TELL ME

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

After almost 30 years, there's finally a definitive document of one of the first San Francisco psychedelic groups -- or, at least, as definitive a document as surviving tapes allow. This compilation assembles 23 tracks from their demos for the Kama Sutra and Autumn labels, as well as a couple of later sessions recorded at San Francisco area studios. Much of this material has been bootlegged previously, on both vinyl and tape, but here it appears in its best fidelity to date by far. Those expecting psychedelic fireworks will be surprised. There's some acid-soaked folk-rock here (most notably "We're Not on the Same Trip" and "I Saw Her," the two best cuts), but on the whole it's much more of a travelog of roots music, with White blues, jugband, folk, country, and music hall influences much more to the fore. Sure the Charlatans never really got the opportunity to flex their muscles in the studio, but it's also true that they didn't possess either the songwriting or instrumental chops to rival the Jefferson Airplane or Moby Grape. If you gear your expectations to the appropriate level, there's plenty of good-time mid-to-late-'60s Bay Area rock to savor here. Big Beat's meticulous packaging and programming also ensures that an important chapter in psychedelic/San Francisco music has been properly presented for the first time. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE original San Francisco Sound, February 1, 2000

By 

Home Cinema (Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing Charlatans (Audio CD)

If you have any affection for the Psychedelic sounds of the 60s and want to get an idea of how it started, this is the Record to listen to: The Charlatans started it all, before the Jefferson Airplane, before Moby Grape and yes, before Grateful Dead. The group did release a record in 1969, but most of the original band members were gone by then and it is a rather mediocre affair. This colloction however brings together for the first time the songs that made them famous in the Bay area during their 1965 and 1966 heydays. Some of these songs may sound strange and not "psychedelic" at all, more like old fashioned good time music. But try to imagine their outfit, place yourself in the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco around 1966 and the music will fit perfectly. Listen to "Alabama Bound", their version of "Codeine" and "How Can I Miss You, When You Won't Go Away". I just wish there would be some live recordings salvaged from that time. But this collection is the only thing left and therefore the best there is.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "I Got Mine" and you can enjoy yours!, June 4, 2007

By 

Craig Fenton "Craig The Airplane Man" (Airplaneville, New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Charlatans (Audio CD)

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.

The Charlatans (Please do not confuse them with the 80's band Charlatans U.K.) unfortunately share a few things in common with the Great Society (Grace Slick). Both bands didn't get the respect they deserved at the time and that is a rock and roll disgrace. These groups were helping to carve the incredible sounds that would make the San Francisco music scene legendary.

By the time the Charlatans released a record there were too many years past and the line-up had shifted. That is why you'll find "The Amazing Charlatans" an essential archival release.

This collection puts together the 23 demos they had shopped in the creative period. The old story is now a broken record when a band can perform folk, blues, country, rock, jug band, and psych the suits don't have the knowledge or the patience to formulate a marketing strategy.

There is plenty of strong material to sink your teeth into. Please understand before the CD starts to play the Charlatans niche at this time did not involve an entry into the improvisational zone. Excluding the energy charged "Alabama Bound" that clocks in over 6 minutes, the rest of the tunes fall into standard range. They pack a lot of wallop with standouts such as "Codine" sometimes called "Codine Blues", "How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away", "Walkin", and "The Shadow Knows."

Herb Greene the legendary photographer from the San Francisco scene that supplied numerous pictures for my book (Jefferson Airplane and Great Society) had photographed the Charlatans. If Herb took your picture there was something in your music that yelled out "Timeless."

If you want some Hot Licks from Mr. Dan Hicks it is part of the package.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not charlatans at all, June 29, 2009

By 

JORGE VALENCIA-CUELLAR (Bogota, CO, SA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Charlatans (Audio CD)

The music contained in this album is superb and an extraordinary sample of what it could have been. An other great band of the Frisco scenario of the pyschedelic era. The music is fantastic. So is the sound of this cd. Their lyrics and the music reflect a solid point of view which is far form being light statements (verbal and musical), and the band (in spit of their name) is far very far away of being charlatans, as many bands of our days are.