Product Description

Since their 1990 debut single, the Charlatans (originally known in the United States as the Charlatans UK) have slowly evolved into one of the biggest rock bands in their native England. MELTING POT collects 17 of their singles and key album tracks from 1990-1997, illustrating the steady development of this hard-working, down-to-earth band. Early singles ("The Only One I Know," "Weirdo") borrow heavily from the Stone Roses, blending funky Manchester beats with Tim Burgess' trippy, laid-back vocals. The mighty Hammond organ playing of the late Rob Collins, however, set the Charlatans apart from the countless Stone Roses-inspired UK bands of the '90s.Although the Charlatans moved away from such influences with each successive album, their sound has remained fairly consistent for close to a decade. Some of the many highlights collected on MELTING POP include the Chemical Brothers remix of "Patrol" and such loose-grooved college radio hits as "Can't Get Out Of Bed" and "Just Looking." While the Charlatans have never been innovators, they are a solid, entertaining band. The final track, a catchy fusion of Dylan and the Stones called "North Country Boy," suggests that they may be ready to take their music to the next level.

Track Listing

1. Only One I Know
2. Then
3. Opportunity
4. Over Rising
5. Sproston Green
6. Weirdo
7. Wish
8. Patrol
9. Can't Get Out Of Bad
10. I Never Want An Easy Life If Me And He Were Ever To Get Ther
11. Jesus Hairdo
12. Crashin' In
13. Just Lookin'
14. Here Comes A Soul Saver
15. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over
16. One To Another
17. North Country Boy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8530 in Music
• Released on: 1998-02-23
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Charlatans are the sole survivors of the Madchester boom, and Melting Pot commemorates this, a 17 track "Best of" running from 1990 to 1997. It's chronological tracklist let's you follow their development, beginning with the wonderful wah-wah and hammond organ psychedelia of "The Only One I Know" (a shame "Indian Rope" wasn't included, too). Back then you could call The Charlatans endearing: Tim Burgess' vocals were fragile, the guitars chiming in that peculiarly, shambling English indie way. Rather than fading away like their peers, on Melting Pot you hear The Charlatans' sound get stronger and better over the years. It switches up a gear with the Flood-produced, rockier "Weirdo" era and the magnificent Chemical Brothers "Patrol" mix and swells into awesome bluesy, Rolling Stones-style anthems under Steve Hillage's direction in 1994. By the album's end, their confidence is brimming over and, with Byrds-esque guitar, they¹re producing proper kick ass rock & roll. A celebration of growing up in public. --Sarah Champion

Customer Reviews

Saving the Soul of Britpop
I have a distant recollection that this album was a collection of tracks as chosen by the band. I don't know where I read this, but it explains the addition of a few of the tracks on this essential album. This is a chronological guide through what you could loosely call now the early years of Charlatans music, and opening tracks don't get much better than "The Only One I know", which takes you (if you are of a certain age) back into baggy trousers, floppy fringes and indie clubs in an instant. Through the less familiar tracks (to me at least), to the floor filler "Weirdo", the big tunes get bigger, and I love the inclusion of the fabulously titled "I Never Want An Easy Life If Me And He Were Ever To Get There."

For a Britpop fan as myself, this goes next to all the other greatest hits albums from Ash, Dodgy, Shed 7, Space, and all the others that got left behind by Oasis and Blur.

The heart and soul of indie
The boys are legends in their own life times and they keep getting better. This album shows you what proper indie music sounds like from start to finish - with a bit of rock for good measure. Would have like to have seen How High creep in somewhere but it wasn`t to be. Pure Magic. Long Live Mr Burgess (Even if you are in L.A.)

A masterclass of indie/rock
What can I say, great great songs, from the classic "Only One I Know" to the wonderfull hit from 96 "North Country Boy" theres not a duffer in site. Buy this,The Best Of Blur, The Stone Rose debut, Oasis 1st two releases and Verves Urban Hymns.........and never leave the house again!