CHARISMA
RECORDS
Independent label: Charisma was started in 1968 by
journalist Tony Stratton-Smith, at the suggestion of B&C boss Lee Gopthal,
after a conversation in a pub. Reportedly the design of the first label was
influenced by the scrollwork and lettering on one of the mirrors at the
pub. The scroll design was replaced by the famous 'Mad Hatter' after
CB-192, in mid-'72; the hatter himself went in 1975, replaced by a dull
injection-moulded label when manufacturing and distribution were switched to
Phonodisc - manufacturing during the 'Hatter' era appears to have been by EMI
Records. Charisma demos from that period are unusual in that they have the same
track on both sides, a practice followed by B&C's offshoot Mooncrest and by
no other British label - it was commonplace in the USA, though the American
companies tended to put a stereo version on one side and a mono on the other,
unlike Charisma and Mooncrest. The injection-moulded label appeared in
various colours, including silver, purple and green. In its early days
Charisma shared a catalogue series with B&C; following the demise of that
company, in 1975, it had the CB prefix to itself. Stratton-Smith believed in
signing artists who were 'the best of their kind'; a policy which resulted in
records which were sometimes popular (Genesis, Lindisfarne) and sometimes
unpopular (poetry-to-music group Doggerel Bank). The label continued
on in its own individual way into the '80s; it was bought by Virgin in 1985, and
continues as a part of that company. Thanks to
Robert Lyons For The Info.
| 70 |
Genesis |
Looking For Someone/Visions of Angels |
CHARISMA |
GS |
1/2 |
| 70 |
Every Witch
Way |
Go Placidly |
CHARISMA |
BD |
1/2 |
| 70 |
Jackson Heights |
Doubting Thomas |
CHARISMA |
JH |
1/2 |
| 71 |
Audience |
Your Not
Smiling |
CHARISMA |
BCP |
1 |
| 71 |
Carol Grimes & Delivery / Rock 'n Roll
All-Stars |
I Don’t Wanna Discuss It / I'm Walking |
B&C |
BCP |
2 |
| 72 |
Spreadeagle / Capability
Brown |
Nightingale Lane /
Liar |
CHARISMA |
BCP |
7 |
| 76 |
Alan Parsons Project |
Tales Of Mystery And Imagination |
CHARISMA |
FS |
1 |
| 76 |
Monty Python |
Bruces Song |
CHARISMA |
PY2 MP |
001 |
| 76 |
Monty Python On
Song |
Lumberjack Song (Double
Pack) |
CHARISMA |
MP |
1 |
| 77 |
Brand X |
Sun In The
Night |
CHARISMA |
BRAND |
1 |
| 77 |
Peter Hammill |
Crying Wolf |
CHARISMA |
PH |
001 |
| 77 |
Genesis |
Spot The
Pigeon |
CHARISMA |
GEN |
1 |
| 78 |
Adrian Wagner |
Chasquis
(Roadrunner) |
CHARISMA |
AW |
001 |
| 78 |
Steve Hackett |
Narnia |
CHARISMA |
SH |
001 |
| 78 |
Hawklords |
Psi Power |
CHARISMA |
HL |
001 |
