THE CHARLOTTES
"Are You Happy Now?"/"How Can You Say (You Really Feel)?"
(Molesworth Records HUNTS 5)
coverpage
introduction
The Blue Mist
Darkness At Noon
The Pleasureheads
Nutmeg
Flowershop
The Charlottes
- on Molesworth
- on Subway
- Peel interview
- on Cherry Red
- Mercer photos
The Nightjars
80's Cambs rock(c) Andrew Clifton 2000-1
"Pioneering in their use of walls of guitar sound, The Charlottes led the way for the likes of Ride and Chapterhouse. Despite their independent chart success they fell very much into the category of 'ones who got away', the band splitting just as the single Liar was gaining extensive college radio play in the USA. Drummer Simon Scott went on to join Slowdive."
(The Cherry Red Records Catalogue)
This single was launched at a gig on Saturday 19th November 1988 at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology. The Charlottes played with The Darling Buds and The Telescopes. Over quarter of the audience bought the record there. In every way, the event was a triumph for the band.
Six months earlier, in concert with The Snapdragons at the same college, they had been booed. It had been their last appearance under the name Giant Polar Bears, and the first with their new singer Petra Roddis. The previous week the bassist Dave Fletcher, guitarist Graham Gargiulo and Simon Scott on Keith Moon-style drums had split with John Lindsell, a vocalist who couldn't sing in tune, but whose charismatic stage presence had built a large following. His fans had turned up and made it clear what they thought of John's absence.
At their third gig, bottom of the bill in King's Lynn, a town that knew nothing of their past, their "extremely energetic and exciting" performance was ecstatically received. They were on their way! By their sixth gig they were headlining an alternative summer festival in Cambridge. At their seventh, in Ipswich supporting The House Of Love at the height of their powers, The Charlottes showed they could already give even the top indie bands a run for their money. In between, they recorded the single with Baz Voce in Peterborough's Music Room Studio, which had relocated to Mayor's Walk.
"Are You Happy Now?" is a two minute, instantly-catchy, pop thrash, compared at the time with The Primitives. "This record blasts at you like a cannonball through your gut. The female vocal only serves to pull you in and the music churns you round like you've been put on high speed in a washing machine." (House Of Dolls 22) The single was widely reviewed in fanzines. Most felt, whereas the A-side was "brilliant", the B-side was a "truly brilliant" (Pop Eats Apathy), "indescribably wonderful" (Total Warpout), "minor classic" (Avanti). Graham's band Barefoot Contessa still plays the song today. Both sides received good airplay too.
Many people wrote in to say how much they liked the record. Most striking was the response from abroad. The band received fan letters from Japan, Australia, Germany, Spain, Poland, Belgium and Greece.
The single sold out in weeks. It has to be said here that its success was entirely due to the hard work of the band. They wrote, recorded, designed and financed it. In June they had been facing down a hostile local audience; by December they were receiving plaudits from the other side of the world.
Continue to follow the rise and demise of The Charlottes.