Craig Charles

[Guest son of stan]

Sorry. I bet this has been discussed before, but the bbc's know-nothing 'Mr Funk and Soul' really makes my blood boil.

 

I can't even string a coherent sentence together about this plastic div....

 

And then my well-meaning friends, who sort of know what kind of music I like, text me saying "Are you listening to Craig Charles?"

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gogger]

but he likes his soul music

[Guest son of stan]

Does he?

 

How come no one ever heard about this until he got the gig on 6 Music?

 

I first heard of him as a rubbish poet who tried to associate himself with the post-punk scene in Liverpool in the late 70s....

 

I think he likes his career.

 

The reason I posted this was I just heard some of his show. He was going on about "digging through the crates" for "choons" and finding a copy of that holy fucking grail "Talking Book" by Stevie Wonder.

 

He's a clueless chancer and somebody else picks the records.....

Edited September 6, 2014 by son of stan

[Gogger]

ok stan , i respect your views 

[Geeselad]

totally agree, he's got shite taste too, if i hear another mention of alice russell, jeez. Not always keen of trev nelsons picks but at least he's genuine. 

[Carty]

I wasnt too keen on the guy either to be honest and he dosent seem to have a clue about the northern stuff , again he is definately a career driven type ,and used to be incredibly arrogant ,in this area he seems to have changed for the better . For me though his saving grace is his enthusiasm, i find it quite infectious .  Thus ends my in depth character analysis of Mr  Charles.

[Zed1]

Sorry. I bet this has been discussed before, but the bbc's know-nothing 'Mr Funk and Soul' really makes my blood boil.

 

I can't even string a coherent sentence together about this plastic div....

 

And then my well-meaning friends, who sort of know what kind of music I like, text me saying "Are you listening to Craig Charles?"

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

...... so you don't Smegging like the Smeghead then?..

[pow wow mik]

I think that it's probably fair to say that mr charles knows, or cares, fuck all about music in the record collecting sense, but it seems like he does possibly at least like it.

Funny really, we complain about djs conceit and arrogance on the scene, none of whom earn a bean out of it when all's said and done, yet the publicly funded bbc present shows hosted by this clown, who knows less than the average soulie, let alone funk collector, and vanity shows based on the musical 'expertise' of the likes of suzie quatro, michael ball and moira stewart.

sometimes you have to think that the worst tendencies of the soul scene are still better than the best of mainstream culture.

makes me think we're too hard on each other.

[Soul16]

I've always been of the opinion that Craig Charles is to Funk, as Stuart Maconie is to Northern Soul.

 

In defence of Craig Charles though, I do like him in Coronation Street.

[Guest Dirk Tiggler]

Fair enough point ! But often listen to Craig Charles because it fits in with my Saturday night prep plus I'm a radio six listener anyway. Sometimes there's a gem and amongst the usual dross it seems to make listening worthwhile! Ade

[Guest john s]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTLWQQvZcu4

[Guest manusf3a]

I thought he was famous for taking long distance taxi rides fro London to Liverpool sitting in the back hammering into loads of crack cocaine and pouiring over a pile of nude books, apart from Red Dwarf thats all that he reminds me off concerning his body of work.Appears to be that the taxi,crack and girlie mag behaviour was his opus magus.

[Kjw]

Seem to remember he's had a stint as a radio DJ before - Kiss FM (when it actually played soul music)  - late 80's or early 90's ?

[Mark R]

..........somebody else picks the records.....

Never listened to his show, but I believe this to be true......as I was once told by whom, and I reckon it even came from the horses mouth though my memory is vague on that!

And no, I'm not going to reveal who if it's not public knowledge. .....besides which it may no longer be the case as this was some time ago, or indeed the guy in question may have only put together a one off show for him. .. .

Cheers,

Mark R

[Soulfinger]

I've been to a couple of his Funk 'n' Soul things at the Band on the Wall and enjoyed 'em. I have mates who don't like Northern who really rate them. I can't knock him for doing anything to make a few quid and he is very friendly and enthusiastic. I give him a lot of credit for promoting the best of new music on his BBC 6 show; for example Smoove & Turrell. 

[El Corol]

Never listened to his show, but I believe this to be true......as I was once told by whom, and I reckon it even came from the horses mouth though my memory is vague on that!

And no, I'm not going to reveal who if it's not public knowledge. .....besides which it may no longer be the case as this was some time ago, or indeed the guy in question may have only put together a one off show for him. .. .

Cheers,

Mark R

So you believe its true and know who it is and think you know who told you but are a bit unsure if you remember correctly, but even though you can't quite be certain who told you, you're not going to tell us who it is. Also said person might no longer be doing it or might have only done it once!

Well thats cleared that up

[Mark R]

In short, I reckon I was at a weekender when I was told this......that should explain the vagueness! !

In hindsight, I should have simply said I believe it to be true......

Cheers,

Mark R

[Steve S 60]

In short, I reckon I was at a weekender when I was told this......that should explain the vagueness! !

In hindsight, I should have simply said I believe it to be true......

Cheers,

Mark R

It was probably a hologram.

[Guest Andy Kempster]

I love that he be so absorbed by the theme from rainbow. Must be some good gear

[kevinsoulman]

I've always been of the opinion that Craig Charles is to Funk, as Stuart Maconie is to Northern Soul.

 

In defence of Craig Charles though, I do like him in Coronation Street.

thats not him though just an act

kev

[Guest son of stan]

It's definitely true that the records are selected by someone else. And if you listen closely, there are bits of his show when he talks about records where he is clearly reading off a script.

 

I don't blame the fella for earning a few quid. The bbc seem to have this idea that stoopid Joe Public will only listen to a music show if it is presented by a 'celebrity'....

 

By the way, anyone hear Gilles Peterson the other week where he did the hour before Craig Charles came on playing some proper, proper Blackpool Mecca type records? Bit of a needle there I thought.

[Mal C]

I've tuned into his show, It's not for me, but at the end of the day its existence must be a good thing... he is who he is.. if you dont like that, tune into Solar..

 

Mal :-)

[Guest Polyvelts]

He's alright.

[Guest Rob Alias]

Seriously?

 

The issue is that he has a spot with the BBC and so, therefore, has a degree of exposure that very few have. Before anyone on here starts to moan it might be worth considering some of the individuals on this site who have attempted to engage with the 'whore of Babylon' (his show on the BBC) in an attempt to further their careers. They know who they are.

 

As a DJ he has no technical skills and is clearly working according to the dictates of the BBC. I'm so far ahead he could kiss my arse twice and still be behind me.

 

Rob Alias

[Guest Mrs Simsy]

He definitely didn't show any DJ skills when I saw him 'live' a couple of months back. My friend was the warm up DJ and told me that CG had a pre mixed CD going for at least part of his set. What was more stupid was he pretended to be mixing the songs in. Farcical.   

 

Butchered a Marvin Gaye track as well!

[Guest manusf3a]

Never listened to his show, but I believe this to be true......as I was once told by whom, and I reckon it even came from the horses mouth though my memory is vague on that!

And no, I'm not going to reveal who if it's not public knowledge. .....besides which it may no longer be the case as this was some time ago, or indeed the guy in question may have only put together a one off show for him. .. .

Cheers,

Mark R

Are you really certain how uncertain you are?

[Mark R]

Are you really certain how uncertain you are?

Well, I'm certain about the name I was given, which is the bottom line.........

 

 

Cheers,

Mark R

[Guest son of stan]

Seem to remember he's had a stint as a radio DJ before - Kiss FM (when it actually played soul music) - late 80's or early 90's ?

[Guest son of stan]

Yeah. He did pop up on there. There was some kind of crisis where a lot of their original djs got sacked or walked out..I remember tuning in one day and all of a sudden there were the likes of Craig Charles and Lilly Savage presenting shows..

[Stevegods]

Ive seen Craig a few times myself .. last one at Glasto this year ... and he span some good tunes .... but even I can't defend a fellow Scouser that has no real skills as a DJ what so ever and is very hard to listen to on the radio , trying to string together a scripted monologue in a very disjointed way. It is hard to listen to him sometimes, especially when he interviews someone

But one thing in his defence is that he does have a history with music and started his career in the 80's as a performance poet, gaining local respect and being asked to perform live with local bands. However his knowledge of soul and funk is questionable and his skills as a DJ are minimal ... think Im better and have a better voice ... Sorry Craig

[Quinvy]

When he first appeared on TV as the arrogant scouse poet I couldn't stand him, and when I saw he was in Red Dwarfe I refused to watch it just because he was in it. Shame that because years later I watched some Red Dwarf and really enjoyed it.

I know people change as they get older, but once a t**t always a t**t.

[Daz]

He gets a couple of gigs a year in Darlington and is reported that he is paid £1000's for each night.

It is also reported to be the worst soul / funk night many people have been to.

As it happens i've never been as I agree 100% with the original post.

I've listened to his show in the past and turned it off after about 20 minutes. It sounds to me that he is playing the most inferior records on both scenes Soul & Funk ?