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43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE original San Francisco Sound, February 1, 2000
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.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"I Got Mine" and you can enjoy yours!, June 4, 2007
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"
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Not charlatans at all, June 29, 2009
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.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
~ The Charlatans
~ Various Artists
~ Quicksilver Messenger Service
~ Kak
~ Great Society
See all 23 tracks on this disc
by The Charlatans 
