How Popular Was Tina Charles?

**markydefad** · December 17th, 2001, 08:17 PM

Keefe & I were just recently discussing why we were never really aware of Tina Charles during her heyday. I had heard of her, but I didn't really know her music. I know she was from the UK, but was her popularity an East Coast versus West Coast thing, a UK vs. US thing, or wasn't she that popular at all?

I guess I first heard one of her songs in it's entirety on one of those Epic/Columbia compilations and have subsequently found her Greatest Hits on CD.

What was her story?

**Move2This** · December 18th, 2001, 06:37 AM

Tina Charles was a slightly chubby Greek or half-Greek lady from north London, who achieved considerable chart success in the UK in the mid-late 70s. I would describe her as more of a chart act than a disco act and all her songs were very much on the commercial side of disco. Much of her stuff was produced by Biddu.

She was said at the time to be the UK's answer to Donna Summer, but I don't think she was really in the same league! Her main success was probably between 1975-77, although one or two of her tracks were remixed and reissued in the 80s.

Personally I find most of her stuff of historical interest only, but these are the tracks I remember hitting the charts:

I Love to Love

Dance Little Lady, Dance

Rendezvous

Sweets for my Sweet

Dr. Love

Love Bug

You Set My Heart on Fire

There were probably a few more which I've forgotten.

**markydefad** · December 18th, 2001, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the info, move2this.

The song that actually inspired the question is "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me". I found this on a compilation by Jimmy James & The Vagabonds originally. Recently, I found Tina's version. Which came first? I'm guessing Tina's cause it's a Biddu song, but need an authority to verify.

Is Tina still around? Is she in the same league as Lulu? How chubby was she? I only see tight shots of her face on the photos used.

**markydefad** · December 18th, 2001, 12:44 PM

Oh, and one more thing...I read in the Disco 500 list in Mel Cheren's book that Tina sang the lead on "I'm On Fire" by 5000 Volts "Honey now I'm on my way/I'm on fire" (well, the female vocal part, anyway).

**Move2This** · December 18th, 2001, 05:21 PM

Yep - she did indeed do "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" though I don't recall whether her version or Jimmy's was first.

You might find these websites helpful - they list all entries in the UK Top 40 for each year:

http://www.martinsmusic.freeserve.co.uk/top40/19xx.htm

Simply replace the xx with the year you want to look at.

I know this sounds kind of cruel, but it's simply fact: Tina just didn't have the figure of a Vogue model - I even heard her described by one commentator as "rather ungainly"! Having said that, she was by no means obese.

She's still around. She turned up recently as a "talking head" on some TV nostalgia show. She may even still be singing for all I know, but her days of stardom seem well and truly over.

She was probably more popular than Lulu in the 70s but, taken as a whole, Lulu's career has lasted longer and been much more successful than Tina's, so I'd say no, they are not in the same league. Tina was basically just someone with the right sound at the right time. She was popular for a few years, and then seemed to fade into obscurity.

Whatever, she seems to have excited a bit of interest with you, Marky! How do you rate her records, and which is your favourite?

You are absolutely right about her standing in on the 5000 volts single "I'm On Fire". Ostensibly the lead singer for this group was Linda Kelly, but it soon seemed to be public knowledge that it was Tina on I'm On Fire. 5000 Volts had one further hit "Doctor Kiss Kiss" which I believe actually was sung by Linda Kelly!

**markydefad** · December 18th, 2001, 05:44 PM

Hi move2this,

Well, my interest in Tina Charles may be proportionate to the fact that it's a pretty slow news week around here!

The Tina thing was just a curiosity because I don't ever remember hearing her songs anywhere--radio or club (at least that I was aware of). Also, because she is featured so prominently on some Epic or Columbia Club Classics compilations, I just wondered if she was indeed a big deal or just a footnote.

I kinda like Tina's "I Love To Love" and "Dance Little Lady Dance" as cheesy disco artifacts. "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" is the best of the lot, although I am partial to the Jimmy James version, which I recently found on a Casablanca 12 inch ( must have been a U.S. rerelease?)

_________________

Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2001-12-18 17:46 ]</font>

**Move2This** · December 18th, 2001, 07:23 PM

I was never aware of any of Tina's stuff being on 12" (save the 80s remixes), though maybe some were. She got a lot of radio play over here in her day though I suspect her music was not generally rated by serious disco fans - most of her output was, as you say, a little on the cheesy side!

Incidentally I once met a taxi driver who used to know Tina, and he had some very amusing stories to tell of her rise to fame! I hesitate to repeat them on a public forum ....

This whole discussion made me think of other UK artistes in the same vein - and two that come to mind are The Nolans, and Liquid Gold. Their most popular tracks, respectively, were "I'm in the Mood for Dancing" (1979) and "Dance Yourself Dizzy" (1980).

**markydefad** · December 18th, 2001, 07:46 PM

Maybe I wasn't clear, I found the Jimmy James version of "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" on the Casablanca 12", not Tina's.

I found a Tina LP, though. She was sort of a little "meeskyte" wasn't she?

C'mon, this is no time to exhibit good taste and NOT tell some Tina Tales! Spill your guts! I told my Tony Perkins story here (although I did leave out a few details).

Ah well...I'll leave it to your discretion whether to dish Tina or not to dish Tina.

I don't know The Nolans but I've got some Liquid Gold stuff.

**Mixmachine** · December 18th, 2001, 11:09 PM

I guess to each his own, but “I love to Love” (12”- 6:06-CBS ‘76) and “You set my heart on fire” (12” 7:08 CBS’75) are classic disco tunes in my book, I have 12” original versions (I just gave them a good wash and spin), I remember this cuts used to pack floors, as I remember people used to do different dances to Tina’s songs, some danced really close and dirty others “Hustle” yet others did the “Bus Stop” kind of like Travolta on SNF, ILTL was played in Sleaze/morning music sets into the mid 80’s.

In the 70’s this music was strictly club music (in my area) no radio play (the way we liked it) and the Biddu sound was popular with the early Disco heads and DJ’s, besides a lot of Disco music at the time had a similar sound, sure it may sound a bit dated and cheesy now but at the time it was fresh and different, “Dance little lady” is nice too but never was as popular as the other two, and Tina’s “I go where the music takes me” can’t compare to Jimmie James’s version.

**paul** · December 19th, 2001, 12:33 AM

Hey Mixmachine. I haven't seen anyone mention the Bus Stop in over 20 years. I always liked the dance but I never quite got it right. Did you know how to do it? Didn't the Fatback Band have a song based on that dance?

**originalbigm** · December 19th, 2001, 04:18 AM

Speaking Of Jimmie James one of my alltime favourite cuts was his kick ass funky "I Am Somebody".I concur with Mixmachine assessment .She was popular in the clubs here in Toronto in the mid 70's.

**Boodikka** · December 19th, 2001, 10:39 AM

I believe Liquid Gold's Ellie Hope to be a really great singer, so I find the comparision to Tina Charles a bit unfair. Tina Charles always sounded a bit wispy, while Ellie Hope sounded great on Liquid Gold tracks such as "My Baby's Baby", "Substitute" and even dross like "Secret Love".

**Bernie** · December 19th, 2001, 01:29 PM

Initially, I wasn't going to reply to this thread, but after reading some of the lukewarm replies I just had to. Tina Charles is actually very good. Must be me, but she has a nice voice and her songs, produced by Biddu, are a guilty pleasure of mine and so catchy and full of fun. The first time I heard one of her songs, I couldn't stop and had to hunt down her elusive 12" singles and albums.

Posting only words here won't do justice to Tina and her music so to give some of those who aren't familiar with her music a chance to hear them, I will feature many of her songs Post your responses to her music here on the boards and let me know what everyone thinks. I hope to change a few minds

Merry Christmas!

_________________

Defender of the Disco beat,

Bernard Lopez

================================

owner & publisher of http://www.discomusic.com

================================

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-03-30 22:25 ]</font>

**markydefad** · December 19th, 2001, 01:52 PM

Bernie,

You did say "guilty pleasure", right? That's the way I feel. I like her stuff, too...but she ain't Donna Summer.

She's got that radio disco sound from 1975. That's why I'm surprised she wasn't played on the radio here in the U.S. (at least not in San Francisco).

**paul** · December 19th, 2001, 07:34 PM

Ok. I didn't respond to the Tina talk in my previous post because quite frankly I really thought her music was verrrry average in my opinion. If it disappeared tomorrow I wouldn't miss it.