Tellin' Stories


Tellin' Stories is the fifth album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 21 April 1997. It includes the final contributions of founder-member and keyboard player Rob Collins who died in a car accident midway through recording. The album was their most commercially successful, having three top ten singles, which remain their career's highest charting.

Production

The album was recorded and mixed at Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth. "North Country Boy", "One to Another", "How High" and "Only Teethin'" were partly recorded at Rockfield Studios. All of the tracks were produced by the band and Dave Charles, except "Area 51" by the band, Charles and Ric Peet, and "Rob's Theme" by the band and Peet. Charles also engineered the sessions with assistant Phil Ault. Martin Duffy of Primal Scream contributed keyboards, while Charles provided percussion. Loops on "With No Shoes" were supplied by Tom Rowlands, Richard March and Mark Collins. Rowlands would also supply loops for "Tellin' Stories" and "One to Another" – the former also featuring a string loop by Martin Reilly.

Legacy

In 2017, Pitchfork ranked the record at number 29 in its list, "The 50 Best Britpop Albums." The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Chart performance

Tellin' Stories charted at number 1 in Scotland and the UK, number 35 in Sweden and number 37 in Norway. It was certified silver and then gold in the month of its release, before subsequently reaching platinum status in January 1998. "One to Another" charted at number 1 in Scotland, number 3 in the UK, number 25 in Ireland and number 59 in Sweden. "North Country Boy" charted at number 1 in Scotland and number 4 in the UK. "How High" charted at number 3 in Scotland and number 6 in the UK. "Tellin' Stories" charted at number 9 in Scotland and number 16 in the UK.

Track listing

All tracks written by Blunt, Brookes, Burgess, M. Collins and R. Collins.

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.
The Charlatans
Additional musicians
Production