”Charly” is one of, if not THE definitive rave anthems of early 1990s, becoming synonymous with the drug fueled British rave scene and firmly launched the Braintree lads into the mainstream when Mark Goodier announced it as a new entry straight in at #9 on 18th August 1991. “Charly” served as the introduction to a group that adapted with ease to the fast moving dance music landscape throughout the entire 1990s, always remaining both relevant and exciting - they managed to navigate the fine line between artistic merit and mainstream visibility, with more flair than most, if not all other dance groups.

The group, the brainchild of then 18 year-old Liam Howitt, was formed in 1990 when Liam met nominal frontman Keith Flint at a rave in the nearby club in Braintree called ‘The Barn’, and it was the rave scene from which the band, in its first forms, emerged into the UK singles chart later during the following year. The group were quickly snapped up by indie label XL at Christmas and although “Charly” was their first hit single, “What Evil Lurks” was the first actual release and went on to sell over 7,000 copies and made #31 on the UK dance chart - impressive for a virtually unknown band.

“Charly” was the first single from the band’s 1992 debut Experience, a unique blend of old-skool jungle, breakbeat and hardcore techno. The track famously built around the sample taken from the Charley Says - stranger danger public information films for children, broadcast in the 1970s and 1980s, however this merely detracts from the excellent production on the track - taking the bassline from Meat Beat Manifesto’s white label “Radio Babylon” (also later used by Future Sound of London on 1992’s “Papua New Guinea”) the breakbeat from Bobby Byrd’s “Hot Pants” and opening vocal from James Brown’s “Godfather Runnin' the Joint”. In August 1992, the group were essentially blamed for ‘killing rave’ by Mixmag, and in retaliation the band burned stacks of the magazine in the music video for “Fire”, Mixmag eventually apologised 10 years later…

Love the Prodigy, interesting it debuted top 10 which must have been a rarity for a new band at the time.

The Prodigy really are the Rolling Stones of the rave scene!

What a banger. I wish there was an edit/single release of Charly on streaming though

The chart it debuted on also had a new entry at 21 for Oceanic with the massive end of year top 10, albeit dated now rave anthem “Insanity” and the first hit from rave sample giants Utah Saints at 26. Very futuristic chart