Of their 70’s albums, ‘Lines’ saw Charlie at their most creative and commercial peak, though it was still some way off their 80’s AOR era.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Charlie
ALBUM: Lines
LABEL: Polydor
SERIAL: SUPER 2383.487
YEAR: 1978
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Terry Thomas – guitar, vocals * John Anderson – bass, vocals * Eugene Organ – guitar, vocals * Julian Colbeck – keyboards * Steve Gadd – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 She Loves To Be In Love * 02 No More Heartache * 03 Life So Cruel * 04 Watching TV * 05 Out Of Control * 06 LA Dreamer * 07 No Stranger In Paradise * 08 Keep Me In Mind * 09 I Like To Rock ‘n’ Roll
WEBLINKS: www.charlie-music.com
Background
Borrowing again from the Roxy Music school of the sexual soft sell, Charlie’s third album ‘Lines’ (see the credit card and mirror- get it?) was something of a breakthrough in the American market with the minor hit ‘She Loves To Be In Love’.
The band had spent much of 1977 on the road with Thin Lizzy, Doobie Brothers, Styx, UFO and even holding the dubious honor of opening for Billion Dollar Babies on their ill-fated U.S. tour consisting of just two dates.
But despite their hard work, the previous album ‘No Second Chance’ failed to chart in a big way. ‘Lines’ changed all that and thirty years later the album still holds up as one of Charlie’s best.
The Songs
Now of course this is not the same Charlie of the 1980’s and those looking for another ‘It’s Inevitable’ will surely be disappointed., Charlie circa 1978 was nothing more than the Doobies wrapped up in a Union Jack especially on the first three tracks, but how can anyone resist the chorus of ‘She Loves To Be In Love’? It was a hit for a reason and fit nicely on most AOR play lists of the day.
But what to make of ‘Watching T.V.? Believe it or not, this incredibly dated song also received air play and might even made it as a follow-up 45 if I remember right. Lyrically it’s a novelty record very popular at the time much like Paul Nicholas‘ ‘Heaven On The 7th Floor and Alan O’Day‘s ‘Undercover Angel’.
Although it comes nowhere close to pop stupidity as those musical tragedies, it’s pretty ugly with references to ‘Star Trek’, ‘Starsky and Hutch’, and ‘The Bionic Man’. Enough said. Fortunately ‘Out Of Control’ is a return to form as is most of side two with top prize going to the jazzy ‘L.A Dreamer’ and the ballad ‘Keep Me In Mind’ although the closer ‘I Like To Rock And Roll’ despite it’s banal title is a decent track as well.
In Summary
An extensive North American tour with The Kinks would follow as well as a one off co-headlining show in New York with Fotomaker.
I’m old enough to remember ‘Lines’ posters plastering the walls of most record stores at the time and why not. The model was gorgeous and Charlie it seemed were on the way to the top. Of course as we all know history would play a different hand for Charlie but of their 70’s albums, ‘Lines’ was their creative and commercial peak.
Charlie on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
