The Charades

The Charades
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres R&B, Doo-wop, Surf music
Years active 1960s
Labels Northridge, Impact Records, MGM
Associated acts The Latin Knights
The Rhythm Aces
Website www.charademusic.com
Past members Johnny T.Johnson
Syl Grigsby
Alex Pilkinton
Levern Butler
Ray Baradat

The Charades were a group who were active in California in the early to mid 1960s and released a number of singles.

Background

They started out in the late 1950s under the name The Latin Knights. The Charades were popular in the San Joaquin Valley in California doing local functions etc.[1] The name was changed to The Charades in 1962.[2] By 1962, they had signed with Anthony J. Hilder.[3] They had their first release on Northridge Records. Another label they had a release on was Äva Records which was owned by Fred Astaire.[4] Hilder who in those days was called Tony Hilder is credited ads co-composer and producer of "Please Be My Love Tonight" which was the A side of the single. Robert Hafner was the credited as co-composer for the B side.[5][6] Other 45 releases were on Original Sound Records[7] and Impact Records.[8] They recorded a single for the Skylark label. The single "Flamingo" actually featured Los Angeles vocalist Billy Storm on lead. Storm also co-produced the single.[9]

At one stage the group was joined by Tom Johnston who would go on to become a member of The Doobie Brothers.[10]

Note: There was a group from Nashville bearing the same name that released a politically motivated single in 1966, "Hammers and Sickles" / "Left Wing Bird" - Monument 921. They were unrelated. [11][12]

Later years

Their 1966 recording "The Key To My Happiness" has become a Northern Soul favorite, and is in Ian Levine's all-time Top Ten Northern Soul sounds list.[13] It is also in the top-ten list of Northern Soul fillers as picked by Wigan Casino DJ Richard Searling.[14] As recorded on the Popsike website, in a 2007 eBay auction, a black label version of the MGM release of the song went for a tasty £350.[15]

The Charades, with original members Ray Baradat and Syl Grigsby, continue to perform and record. The group has two CD release in 2010 "Connections" and a release in 2015 "Echoes of Yesterday".

Members

Discography

Singles

List
Title Label and cat Year Notes #
"For You" / "Surf 'n Stomp" Northridge 2002 1962 [16]
"Christina" / "Sophia" Impact Records 32 1962 [17]
"Be My Love Tonight" / "Turn Him Down" AVA 154 1963
"Flamingo" / "Someone's In The Kitchen With Dinah" Skylark 45-502 1964 [18]
"Take A Chance" / "Close To Me" Original Sound 47 1964 [19]
"He's Not Your Boyfriend" / "Hey, Operator" Warner Bros. Records 5415 1964
"Can't Make It Without You" / "Love Of My Life" Okeh 7155 [20]
"Power Of Love" / "You're With Me All The Way" Mercury 72414 1965
"The Key To My Happiness" / "Weeping Cup" MGM K13540 1966
"Never Set Me Free" / "Don't Want To Lose You" MGM K13584 1966
"Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy" / "Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy" (Instrumental) Eiffel EF 1005-B [21]
"Darling Believe Him" / "You Better Believe It" Harlem Hitparade HHP-5009 1973 [22]
"All My Love" / "Bad Lolita" Charade Records 501 1975 From the movie Black Lolita
"Corruption" / "Corruption" (Instrumental) Charade Records 1976 [23]
Shared singles
Artist & title A Artist & title B Label and cat Year Notes #
The Charades - "Please Be My Love Tonight" Charlie And Ray - "Love You Madly" Collectables "Back To Back Hit Series" COL 4040
Admirations - "Bells Of Rosa Rita" Charades - "Please Be My Love Tonight" Popular Request 107 [24]
The Charades – "The Key To My Happiness" The Scott Brothers - "My Day Has Come" Stardust Records – URS 014 [25]

Albums

List
Album title Label and cat Year Format Notes #
Corruption LP Produced by Art Stewart[26]
Looking Like Love Charade Records CLP 8702 1987 LP [27][28]
Looking Like Love Charade Records CLP 8702 1987 Cassette Engineered by Bryan "BC" Campbell[29]
Looking Like Love 1987 CD
Please Be My Love Tonight Collectables COL-5728 1996 CD [30]
The Imaginations meet The Charades Collectables COLCD 1438 2009 CD Imaginations and the Charades[31][32]
Connections CCD-2010 2010 CD Produced, engineered by Art Stewart[33]
Echoes of Yesterday CCD-2015 2015 CD [34]

References

  1. ↑ Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky Chaps. 73 Charades (Los Angeles)
  2. ↑ The Brymers website - 1960's ROCK-N-Roll BANDS - FROM THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY (1960 - 1970) - Rampage
  3. ↑ White doo-wop collector THE CHARADES_Turn Him Down
  4. ↑ Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky Chaps. 73 Charades (Los Angeles)
  5. ↑ 45Cat C-154
  6. ↑ Artist direct The Charades Please Be My Love Tonight
  7. ↑ Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky Chaps. 73 Charades (Los Angeles)
  8. ↑ Global Dog Productions 45 Discography for Impact Records
  9. ↑ Office Naps Vocal group exotica
  10. ↑ Milwaukee Sentinel July 21, 1973 *** Young America *** Part 1 Page 7, Doobies' Basic Rock Conquers All By Martin Hintz
  11. ↑ http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/monument.htm Monument Records
  12. ↑ Atomic Platters Hammers And Sickles: The Charades [1966]
  13. ↑ The Story of Northern Soul: A Definitive History of the Dance Scene that Refuses to Die by David Nowell Chapter 4 Turn the Beat Around
  14. ↑ Manchester Evening News 17 Oct 2014 Wigan Casino DJ Richard Searling picks his top ten northern soul floor-fillers
  15. ↑ Popsike Northern Soul : THE CHARADES - KEY TO MY HAPPINESS
  16. ↑ Popsike auction details > CHARADES 45 For You 1962 Doo Wop SURF Northridge
  17. ↑ Global Dog Productions 45 Discography for Impact Records
  18. ↑ 45Cat The Charades - Discography
  19. ↑ Encyclopedia of Rhythm & Blues and Doo-Wop Vocal Groups by Mitch Rosalsky Page 73 Charades (Los Angeles)
  20. ↑ The Rock & Country Encyclopedia & Discography Charades
  21. ↑ Discogs Charades, The – Dreaming Up A World Of Fantasy
  22. ↑ 45Cat The Charades - Discography
  23. ↑ Popsike Rare California Funk 45 - THE CHARADES (Charade) Corruption
  24. ↑ 45Cat The Charades - Discography
  25. ↑ Discogs Charades, The / Scott Brothers, The – The Key To My Happiness / My Day Has Come
  26. ↑ Charades website Charades History
  27. ↑ The Charades website Charades History
  28. ↑ Discogs Charades, The – Looking Like Love
  29. ↑ The Charades website Charades History
  30. ↑ All Music The Charades Please Be My Love Tonight
  31. ↑ Allmusic The Charades/Imaginations The Imaginations meet The Charades
  32. ↑ The Rock & Country Encyclopedia & Discography Charades
  33. ↑ All Music Connections, Credits
  34. ↑ cdbaby The Charades
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