The Famous Charisma Discography

The Famous Charisma DiscographyWinner of the 2022 Association for Recorded Sound Collections' Award for Excellence, Best Historical Research on Record Labels (Best Discography). Updated and Expanded 2nd Edition forewords from Monty Python's Michael Palin and String Driven Thing's Chris Adams. Tony Stratton Smiths acquaintances have said he named his record label after what he himself had in abundance, _______ an extraordinary power and appeal of personality with an innate ability

Winner of the 2022 Association for Recorded Sound Collections' Award for Excellence, ÒBest Historical Research on Record Labels (Best Discography)Ó. Updated and Expanded 2nd Edition - forewords from Monty Python's Michael Palin and String Driven Thing's Chris Adams. Tony Stratton SmithÕs acquaintances have said he named his record label after what he himself had in abundance, _______ Ð an extraordinary power and appeal of personality with an innate ability to inspire a large following. His vision led to Charisma becoming home to several uncompromising and ground-breaking progressive rock bands, a maverick classical conductor, a cross-dressing Australian satirist, a cult TV comedy combo, a sports commentator or two, a singing school teacher, a well-known psychoanalyst, the Poet Laureate, and more. Strat, as he was known, then got it completely wrong in music industry terms by caring about his acts. The rest, as they say, is history. In the Charisma Disturbance sleeve Tony Stratton Smith said, ÒA record label is the sum of its artistsÓ. With Charisma, however, it can be argued that the record label was the sum of its owner: this book celebrates of Stratton SmithÕs vision to sign to Charisma Òanything good of its kindÓ and includes: the most complete listings available, with full track listings for all of the Charisma records listed; the advised month of release for LPs, and week of release for singles, for most releases; most records specify the original label design; most LPs and tapes include the original advised price; new information on B&C-era pressing plants, and original advised price for singles in the 1970s; the cassette and 8-track cartridge sections have been combined and Ôfirmed upÕ; the Charisma Books and Charisma Films listings have been dusted over and updated. To contextualise the listings, the book includes a detailed history that discusses both Strat and the organisational set-up at Charisma, supported by memories from those who worked for the company alongside those of artists that made the label such a delight of eclecticism in an industry where confirmation of taste through providing bland, watered-down product is the norm. Charisma bucked this trend and in its heyday provided an intelligent and varied mix of the sublime and the (mostly deliberately) ridiculous for anyone who was willing to listen.