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A unique voice, ‘powerful and piercing’. Charles scored 4 UK single hits in 1976, including a # 1 with ‘I Love To Love’. All produced by Biddu, Charles also released two LPs in the same year , and became a massive artist in Europe. Charles also scored her highest chart hit in the US in 2006 with a national Billboard top 5 , ‘Higher’ – Sanny X feat. Tina Charles. This raised her profile again, although she has always retained a large and very loyal following.
For our album we wanted to show part of the progression Charles went through in reaching that # 1 position. We begin with a 15-year-old and two of her first single releases for CBS Records in 1969. It is a happy note that although the singles didn’t move the public so much back then over the years one of the tracks, a B-side as ever, ‘Rich Girl’ has gone on to become a massive club favourite.
Following this Charles established herself as an accomplished entertainer and session singer, learning her craft. We’ve included some session highlights, songs she recorded for BWD Productions that were released on the famous Hot Hits series. ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘Stoney End’ were the songs, amongst many. Charles also sang as special guest on the 1970 BBC TV series of The Two Ronnies. ‘You Can Do Magic’ and ‘Smarty Pants’ are moving with the times as pop moves into disco, and leading Charles into the territory where she would really make her mark.
The breakthrough came in 1975 when producer Tony Eyres used Charles as the voice for his 5,000 Volts project and scored a massive hit with ‘I’m On Fire’. This helped promote Charles in Europe where the single reached # 1 in many countries. For 1976 Charles was able to pick up her own solo career again, in the hands of Biddu and a return to CBS. The story is told in the package by fellow CBS and Biddu artist also from 1976, John Howard…
For our album we wanted to show part of the progression Charles went through in reaching that # 1 position. We begin with a 15-year-old and two of her first single releases for CBS Records in 1969. It is a happy note that although the singles didn’t move the public so much back then over the years one of the tracks, a B-side as ever, ‘Rich Girl’ has gone on to become a massive club favourite.
Following this Charles established herself as an accomplished entertainer and session singer, learning her craft. We’ve included some session highlights, songs she recorded for BWD Productions that were released on the famous Hot Hits series. ‘Band of Gold’ and ‘Stoney End’ were the songs, amongst many. Charles also sang as special guest on the 1970 BBC TV series of The Two Ronnies. ‘You Can Do Magic’ and ‘Smarty Pants’ are moving with the times as pop moves into disco, and leading Charles into the territory where she would really make her mark.
The breakthrough came in 1975 when producer Tony Eyres used Charles as the voice for his 5,000 Volts project and scored a massive hit with ‘I’m On Fire’. This helped promote Charles in Europe where the single reached # 1 in many countries. For 1976 Charles was able to pick up her own solo career again, in the hands of Biddu and a return to CBS. The story is told in the package by fellow CBS and Biddu artist also from 1976, John Howard…
Tracklist
1. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY
2. RICH GIRL
3. GOOD TO BE ALIVE
4. SAME OLD STORY
5. I LOVE TO LOVE (BUT MY BABY JUST LOVES TO DANCE)
6. YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (PT1)
7. HEY BOY
8. TAKE ALL OF ME
9. LOVE ME LIKE A LOVER
10. WHY
11. HOLD ME
12. DISCO FEVER
13. YOU SET MY HEART ON FIRE (PT2)
14. DISCO LOVE