The Only One I Know – The Charlatans

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The Only One I Know – The Charlatans


Just watched a brilliant documentary on TV, 'Rockfield : The Studio on the Farm' on BBC4, it shows the history of the legendary residential studio set up in the middle of the Welsh countryside. Two brothers, gradually turned their farm into a succession of recording studios and in the process managed to record some of the most iconic songs and groups of British music. Black Sabbath, Queen, Simple Minds, Stone Roses, Maniac's and Coldplay to name a few. Special mention of Oasis also recording there, Liam on the program and is his usual charming self, apparently it's where the 'Wonderwall' is.

But just as I hadn't thought about 'The Charlatans' for quite until I saw them featuring in the program, I picked out this song, 'The Only One I Know' out of the bunch, not only did they record at the farm, but one of the band actually died in a car smash whilst being there. Totally tragic but some would say also very rock n roll.

I had this song on one of my many Indie compilation CDs at the time and always thought it had a very happy buzz, going by what they said on the show, it sounds like there was a very good reason this was the case. It's not the happiest of lyrics when you read through them, about us all knowing the pain of love, but the songs style gives you hope. There is also a great bass line in this song, it's very of that period, Indie music ruled at that time. As always I have to get a coincidence in here, on the same day as watching this documentary I just happened to come across the lead singers, Tim Burgess' twitter listening party whilst researching a new job. Looked him up and figured out what he's up to now, then few hours later there he is being interviewed. Music is a small world.

Favourite lyric : Everyone has been burned before / Everybody knows the pain

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