THE CHARADES - THE KEY TO MY HAPPINESS (MGM)
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- čas přidán 2. 04. 2008
- The MGM CHARADES were formed with a different line-up when the original 1950/60's Doo-wop group, who had planned a comeback, were reluctant to sign a new contract. This prompted the record label to work with a mysterious new act based in New York.
However, when soul singer Dean Courtney moved from RCA records to MGM, he mentioned that John T Mac Junior had been running The Charades. The same group may be linked with the Charades that recorded 'You're With Me All The Way'/'Power Of Love' on the Mercury label in 1965 -both sides written by J. Mack.
Robert Pruter's 'Chicago Soul' book, explains that only a few Chicago acts in the 60's appeared on Mercury.
The producer credited on the label is Tom Wilson -best known for his work in the 1960s with Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Simon and Garfunkel and The Velvet Underground. Arranged and conducted by Horace Ott.
The Charades recorded two 45's for MGM Records;
'Key To My Happiness/'Weeping Cup' (66) written by Robert Gerald Maxwell
'I Don't Want To Lose You'/'Never Set Me Free' (66) written by Maxwell flip Rhodes-Casey
'Can't Make It Without You'/'Love Of My Life' also recorded by the Charades (Okeh Records) 1964 -arranged and conducted by Horace Ott.
'You Better Believe It'/'Darling Believe Him' also by the Charades (Harlem Hitparade) Woodbury, New York 1973. Distributed by Pickwick Records, this is a much earlier recording -again, written by Horace Ott.
"From the very first bars of the piano and drums this is Northern Soul at its very best, with heart pleading vocals, accompanied by tight group harmonies and brass. 'Keys To My Happiness' just gets better as it goes along. Perfect for dancing to."
As far back as 1973, the Charades track was being featured at the Pendulum Club in Manchester. - Hudba
one of the best northern tunes EVER!!!!! the energy and electricity that runs through the track, right from the get-go, the piano riff, the rolling bass, the cymbals coming in at the perfect time, and the vocals pumping out all that energy. awesome one of the very very finest songs ever committed to vinyl. can't get enough of it - wish it was 10 minutes longer. i believe this is a certain ian levine's fave NS tune
It really don't get any better than this. Each time I hear I am taken back to station road Wigan and the first time I heard it. It took my breath away and it still does
If I had a broken leg, I'd still have to dance to this KTF....
Fun fact - I once broke a toe dancing to this very song. :--)
Did you still carry on dancing though?
Here In The States In My Hometown Of Baltimore,This Was A Common Record,My Uncle Was A DJ In Washington D.C In The 60's,And He Gave Me All Of His DJ Copy 45's,And This Was One Of Them,Great Post!!!!!
You lucky devil...... These would fetch a fortune on the northern soul cct in UK.
What a time to live through...ktf
One of my NS top ten ever... a fantastic 60/70's crossover happy tune from the Mecca days. My MGM "for DJ's only" pressing has pride of place in my collection. If anyone's planning to play this in their set at any of the North West venues, please let me know so I can be first on the floor.
its northern not crosso
Two of the best minutes of joy, ever recorded... FACT!
Probably the greatest Northern Soul record ever made? Sometimes I wish the recording or mastering was a little cleaner, but then it wouldn't be the same record, would it? That production is so full-on and that slight distortion is a big part of the sound.
thanks to my dad i grew up listening to northern soul im still finding great tunes like this, new to me!!!!
Absolute perfection..if you want a definition of proper Northern just play this record. Rob's description nails it..iconic 45, major label art on both issue and demo, both keepers..x
I absolutely love this, it just gets better with every note, brilliant dancer, Northern Soul at its very best!!
Another mid-73 gem of a side from the Catacombs, Va-va, Mecca etc. Timeless, quality side.
woe Va Va awesome KTF
when I listen to the best music ever! I forget I'm 56 ha!ha!
To right luv
Tina Davies - yeah me too
Me too Tina
ME TOO
Tina Davies 56 aint ole miss tina
Love this song so glad I have a copy KTF
CZcams put this to me....fantastic tune...great dancing...love seeing blacks and whites together! Great times....us "kids" were more tolerant than todays youth....
excellent track and very useful information on the history of the group.
As for those guys dancing... wow... brings back memories when we'd all stand and admire from a distance..
Thx for posting... KTF
Iconic rare soul that I used to stomp and spin too. Blackpool Mecca magic.
top.. Hats off to the bloke dancing in a Macc Lads T shirt... he has a wide taste in music
Absolute classic😊... in my top 10 all time NS favs.. takes some doing with 100s of worthy tracks about
Life's a bit shit at moment but this makes me feel alive again KTF
got a mint mgm demo in an old record box...found this link by chance..what a tune...
Top MGM sound,fantastic Northern classic,ktf.
Blistering tune👍great dancers!!! Old Wheeler 😎
I bought this record way back in the 70's, and still think it's a wonderful Northern Soul record!Excellent video as well!
defoe one of my favs, thanks for the up, keep them comeing much appreciated ktf
Shivers up and down my spine every time I hear this brilliant
BADASS JAM & VIDEO! THANK YOU.💖
Fantastic tune xx
Love this song, love the vid, koko.....Colin
been after this for years Rob, went above my price range for a while, has now came back down in price a bit but still very hard to get anyone to part with it, one of my fav's, true Northern Soul at its best.
Yet another winner Rob. Pure class....the song and the vid.
+Graham Hawkins
Many thanks Graham.
Have you owned one of these MGM's in the past?
Brilliant tuneeeeeeeee
brilliant song,
You have some great tunes combined with brill vids! This one included! Thanks for posting Rob!
great stomper always gets me up or away from the bar lol ktf
Top tune - thanks for posting
First time I ever heard this was on a CD and I like: "Ohhh yessss" :-D KTF
Cracking Northern track with some great footage, thanks for this!!
absolute peach of a tune got it on compilation , nice post man , ktf
Great track, thanks for the extra info as well, interesting.
Absolute class.
This is great!
Awesome , killer dancer.....
i agree.
This is absolute quality. KTF
New song to me - excellent song + (to echo the others) excellent vid. Much appreciated.
keep up music as been around for ever ,,don't listen 2 the obious, u b ok
Yahooooooooooooooooooooooo! Brill tune.
Love love love xxx
thanks Rob a banging soul sound for sure love your channel cracking upload boss man 💯😎🎼🎹🎵🎶🍑🍑🍑⭐⭐⭐💎💎💎🎻🪕🎺🎷🎸🕺💃🕺💃🕺✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻
Amazing
No problem ...I'm just glad you enjoy the music and images.
Thanks for your support.
Much appreciated
thanks -BCS
awesome KTF
Class with a capital C! Love it. ktf
Sounds just like lead singer Cuba Gooding Jr. from the Main Ingredient. 😍😍😍
Nice find! ®
Wow, I never knew this was written by Robert Maxwell. How he turned from soulster to greedy newspaper baron is beyond me !! Great piece of soul though.
👍🤣😂 BrilliantrB
love this track since hearing it at mansfield, kingswayhall, played 2nite at big club in aycliffe soul nite - crackin tune ktf
Glad you enjoyed the footage!
Thanks for commenting.
Thanks for visiting the original video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
No problem - glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your comments.
Top tune
another sterling video mate as they should be awesome production
Hey - thanks for stopping by and leaving your positive comment. Much appreciated.
+ROBSBIGSCITYSOUL youre very welcome please do more if you get chance 😊 ktf
So very hard to fault in every way
SUPERB
OH YES ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for commenting.
Nice
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for commenting
brill track, ktf
Many top sound s this is One what it means to you at that Moment in time 👞👠
what a brill dancer ktf
Northern Soul Personified. And a few bob as well.
time marches on
NORTHERN SOUL.KTF
northern soul is the key to my happiness, ktf
No problem -thanks for commenting.
Thanks for your enthusiastic comment!
Thank you for your rating
Got to agree with you there!
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Thanks for your comment.
Two great sides.
Not really a rare record on this major label.
However, some collectors do not want to part with it. ®
Thank you for your comment.
ACE.
Allright fuck it, I'm knocking off the liquor store and picking up the next one of these I can find. What an amazing record. NICE video by the way, usually not into the montages and what not but this vid really works with the track, thanks alot
❤️❤️❤️
+RAMLIA1
Thanks RAMLIA1.
scrolling down accidentally knocked report bleedin button twice. no offence if it comes up. great track ktf.
If Carlsberg made N/S. KTF.
the first dancer with the afro is the same one from 'above and beyond - sun and moon' video
Steve Cato from Manchester he used to come to northern soul gigs in Dublin
That clip is from Function at the Junction short movie from 2002
Enjoy
hi, love the vid, on it is some footage from a nighter in leeds that was shown on the telly as part of a doc about northern an phil dick , where did you find this ive been looking for ages for it
Macc Lads T Shirt!!!!!!!!
If this ain't rare, can you sell me one cheap? Thanks. (I'm serious!)
Tracie x
@bobmonkhouse50 great comment im still alive ha
Stomper!
No problem -thanks for commenting.