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CHARLINE

Wallenstein

Symphonic Prog


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Wallenstein Charline album cover
2.24 | 23 ratings | 3 reviews | 9% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 1978

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Charline (4:04)
2. Fire In The Rain (3:33)
3. Life Is True In London Town (4:06)
4. Red Wine For The Judge (4:35)
5. All Good Children - Part One (Parent's Talk) (3:10)
6. Midnight Blue (3:14)
7. Sally Don't Mind (4:51)
8. All Good Children - Part II (Children's Reply) (3:15)
9. Strong And Steady (4:06)
10. Oldtime Café (2:36)

Total time 37:30

Line-up / Musicians

- Kim Merz / lead vocals
- Pete Brough / guitar, vocals
- Michael Dommers / guitar, vocals
- Jürgen Dollase / keyboards, vocals, co-producer
- Terry Park / bass
- Charly Terstappen / drums, percussion

Releases information

Artwork: Roland Schmidt with Michael von Gimbut (photo)

LP RCA Victor ‎- PL 30045 (1978, Germany)

Thanks to ProgLucky for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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WALLENSTEIN Charline ratings distribution


2.24
(23 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(9%)
9%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(4%)
4%
Good, but non-essential (26%)
26%
Collectors/fans only (35%)
35%
Poor. Only for completionists (26%)
26%

WALLENSTEIN Charline reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by philippe
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars The space, dynamic, fast symphonic rock of the band totally disappears in this very controversial album. Since their previous "No More Love" many members of the original formation have left the team. We can really regret the absence of Barone's prodigious guitar playing. The differences in the composition and style are too evident. The band failed to rebirth with a new line up, deviating in a common, melodic, modern sounded like rock album with almost none guitar/ synth duets. The only interesting parts are the instrumental passages and the energic mood that give to the album an optimistic atmosphere. A light, rather commercial effort that you need to avoid unless you are a true fan of the band.
Review by Tom Ozric
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars Wallenstein were never really 'up there' with their contemporaries, in terms of 'staying power' anyway, although their first 3 releases are highly recommended. Led by keyboardist/composer Jurgen Dollase (nowadays a food critic writing for a popular German magazine), the music was mainly centered around keys, with liberal doses of shredding guitars and a competent (but basic) rhythm section. Their vocals were never a strong point but they 'did the job'. Toward the mid-70's they seemed to have undergone a few line-up changes, and their style of music becoming ever more mainstream. The album before this release, (No More Love), whilst still containing 2 or 3 decent prog tunes, was clearly displaying a lack of direction, and that entire line- up was sacked by Dollase. Recruiting a bunch of new musicians, it seemed that Dollase's ambitions got the better of him, as the nature of this new direction may have convinced him of taking the world by storm - stream-lined little pop-songs with standard verse-chorus-verse-solo structure, a lead singer who looks like he sounds (or vice-versa), and the musicianship being tight but not so flashy - sure, as a pop album it may be fairly credible, but there are NO prog elements whatsoever (not even Dollase's varied keyboards add much), hence, it's of little interest unless you have to have it all. It's a pleasant listen (in an FM Rock kind of way), with catchy melodies and all - the better tracks for my tastes being 'Life is True in London Town' and 'Red Wine for the Judge'.

The album must've been partially successful, as they carried on in this format for a few years more, and supported the successful hard-rocking German group 'The Scorpions' on several occasions. I wouldn't get rid of my vinyl of 'Charline', but I have not gone any further than this. 2 stars.

Latest members reviews

3 stars Charline is the first record by great Symphonic Prog band Wallenstein that isn't really progressive, it is pop-rock, but hold on, it should not really be condemned because of that, as it is one of the best pop-rock records to be released by any group in the whole seventies decade.While many prog ... (read more)

Report this review (#911196) | Posted by presdoug | Thursday, February 7, 2013 | Review Permanlink

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