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After Scruffy the Cat broke up in the early '90s, Charlie Chesterman began playing with a new band called the Harmony Rockets. Charlie has stated that his original vision of the Harmony Rockets was as a super-condensed pop band with super-sweet, fun, fast, short songs, kind of like a twangier version of the Ramones.

The Harmony Rockets lone official release was an EP for the song "Skeleton Man," which included three songs written by bass player Mike County. In addition to appearing on a 1991 Sonny Bono tribute CD, the Harmony Rockets made an unreleased tape of four finished songs, one of which, titled "Thunderchicken," appears on a compilation from Pete Weiss' Zippah Records. (Thanks to Bruce from Fitchburg, I now have all four tunes on the unreleased cassette -- see the EPs and SINGLES section below.)

The Harmony Rockets era was from about 1990 to 1993. After the band broke up, Charlie continued to write songs in the same vein, and those that fit the Harmony Rockets theme were parenthetically titled as such. Each of Charlie's solo records since has included at least a few Harmony Rockets.

Charlie put out his first solo record, titled From the Book of Flames, in 1994. That record and its follow-up, 1996's Studabakersfield, were released on Slow River records and featured a decidedly twangy, loose-limbed sound.

In 1997, Chesterman released his third solo album on Slow River (which was now under the Ryko umbrella). Dynamite Music Machine is a rootsy rock-and-roll record whose sound is equally indebted to Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, and the Ramones (refered to as "The Holy Trilogy" in the liner notes).

That same year, Ryko released the European-only Hit This and Kick That compilation, which included songs from Charlie's first two solo albums as well as two of the tunes on the Chaz and the Motorbikes EP released in 1994 by the Hello CD of the Month Club run by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants.

Ham Radio was released in 2000 on Charlie's own Aerola Recordings label. Perhaps Charlie's most accomplished record yet, Ham Radio is another winning, hook-laden rock record steeped in '50s-rock fundamentals and indebted to the glory days of AM radio.

This discography -- which is broken down by albums, singles and EPs, and compilation appearances -- begins with the Harmony Rockets 1991 compilation appearance. These releaseas are all that I know about; if you have additional information, please let me know.

Most of Charlie's CDs are available for purchase at his official Web site, www.charliechesterman.com. Do yourself a favor and buy them all. You'll be glad you did!


From the Book of Flames
1994--Slow River (SRR 25051)
  1. Hello Judy!
  2. Sexy Rickenbacker
  3. Short, Brown Hair Brown Eyes (Harmony Rocket #1)
  4. The Shabby Dress
  5. Lover's Day
  6. Sleeping With Nero and Dreaming of Smokey the Bear
  7. Pink Lemonade
  8. Got You Bad
  9. Makin' Wishes
  10. On a Stacka Bibles
  11. Theo's El Camino (Harmony Rocket #2)
  12. If You Were Mine
  13. Boogie Children


Studebakersfield
1996--Slow River (SRR 10)
  1. Mister Blue
  2. Mona's Prayer (Harmony Rocket #3)
  3. So Long Now
  4. Lonesome Cowboy's Lament
  5. Trash
  6. Heart of a Fool
  7. Time Never Forgets
  8. The Missing Person's Waltz
  9. The Confession (Harmony Rocket #4)
  10. Ballad of the Holiday Ramblers
  11. Good Morning Mrs. America
  12. Out of Nowheresville
  13. Truth Stars
  14. If I Had a Heart
  15. North of the Moon
  16. I've Got Time
  17. LulliBye


Dynamite Music Machine
1997--Slow River/Ryko (SRRCD 28)
  1. Goodbye to You
  2. Everybody's Baby
  3. Go Go Li'l Fairlane (Harmony Rocket #6)
  4. True Love Song #9
  5. Big Hairy Eyeball (Harmony Rocket #7)
  6. Tallahassee Lassie
  7. Wants to Be Bob Dylan Singing Electric Guitar Blooze
  8. Bread and Butter
  9. Jaguar Tan
  10. Where'd Ya Go?
  11. I'm Ready
  12. Fireball


Hit This and Kick That
1997--Ryko Europe (RCD 10367)
  1. Sexy Rickenbacker
  2. Lonesome Cowboy's Lament
  3. Mister Blue
  4. Hello Judy!
  5. So Long Now
  6. A New Lease on Life Parts #1 and #2
  7. Short Brown Hair Brown Eyes (Harmony Rocket #1)
  8. Mona's Prayer (Harmony Rocket #3)
  9. Jackhammers
  10. Trash
  11. Theo's El Camino
  12. I've Got Time
  13. Got You Bad

Please note, this CD was released in Europe and is compilation of songs from Charlie's first two solo CDs, plus two of the tunes on the Chaz and the Motorbikes EP.


Ham Radio
2000 -- Aerola Recordings (AR01)
  1. When I've Got Me (And All I Want is You)
  2. Anymore
  3. Beatle Boots
  4. Tell Me
  5. 3 Chords & a Ya Ya Ya
  6. Hollywood (Harmony Rocket #11)
  7. Roll On!
  8. Gilded Harp of Love (Harmony Rocket #12)
  9. A Little Magic Spell
  10. Mustang Twang
  11. Take Me For a Ride
  12. Crickets Love Song
  13. (Call Me) Tigerman


Skunk on the Loose
2005 -- Tin Whistle Recording Co. (TW-001)

Andy Pastore (guitar),
Jim Faris (bass),
Gary Gendron (drums)
Ken Schopf
producer: Pete Weiss
  1. Hide Your Love
  2. Tarzanna
  3. Texas Rendezvous
  4. Question Mark
  5. Lost Summer Nite (Summer Opus No.1)
  6. Swingin' Cutlass
  7. Baby Talk
  8. Good in Blue
  9. Scrable the Jets (The Ballad of Agent Sam)
  10. Cheater!
  11. Big Backseat (Summer Opus No. 2)



Well My Heart Went Boom!
2005 -- Tin Whistle Recording Co. (TW-002)
Recorded live on WMBR`s Pipeline show 10/10/2000
  1. Intro
  2. Big Hairy Eye Ball
  3. Where`d Ya Go?
  4. All By Myself
  5. I`m Waiting
  6. Heart Of A Fool
  7. Ona Stacka Bibles
  8. Trash Short
  9. Brown Hair Brown Eyes
  10. Wants To Be Bob Dylan Singing Electric Guitar Blooze
  11. I`m Waiting
  12. Mister Blue
  13. Kissing Galaxy
  14. The Shabby Dress
  15. Fireball
  16. Hollywood
  17. Heartshipped
  18. Theo`s El Camino
  19. I`ve Got Time

 

 


The Harmony Rockets
Skeleton Man 7-inch
1993--Rockville Records (ROCK6113-7)
  1. Skeleton Man
  2. Big Day
  3. Tony

The only song Charlie sings is Skeleton Man; the other two songs are sung by Mike County, who wrote all three tunes.


The Harmony Rockets
Unreleased Four-Song Cassette -- 1992 (Bottlecap Management)
  1. Jackhammer
  2. One Year Later
  3. Kid Gloves*
  4. Thunderchicken+

Tracks 1, 3 and 4 were written by Charlie; track 2 was written by Mike County. Recorded and mixed at Arabellum Studios, Albany, NY.
Produced by the Harmony Rockets.
* produced by Jim Haggerty
+ recorded at Zip-Loc Recording Brookline, MA

The Harmony Rockets are:

  • Charlie Edwin Chesterman - Guitar, Singing, Hi-Hat
  • Mike County - Electric Fender Bass Guitar, Singing, Acoustic Guitar
  • Michael Faughnan - Drums & Bad Hair
  • John Fremer - Electric Guitar & Epiphone Guitar, Singing, Suck Knob, Chuck Berry Rip-Offs

Thanks to Bruce from Fitchburg for the information above.


Chaz and the Motorbikes
1994--Hello CD of the Month Club
  1. Jack Hammers
  2. Hamburg Romance
  3. The Missing Person's Waltz
  4. A New Lease on Life Parts #1 and #2

This CD was released in December 1994 by the Hello CD of the Month Club, a now-defunct subscription-only CD club that was run by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants.


45rpm
1996--Zippah Records

This is a four-way seven-inch single also featuring the Eddies, Pete Weiss Rock Band and Penguin. The Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes tune is "Waiting (Harmony Rocket #5)" and is a whopping 34 seconds long.


Bonograph: Sonny Gets His Share--The Classic Songs of Sonny Bono Interpreted by Today's Hippest Artists
1991--Bogus Records

Charlie Chesterman and the Harmony Rockets cover the tune "Baby Don't Go" on this compilation put out by Bogus Records.


A Hello CD of the Month Club Sampler
1994--Hello CD of the Month Club

This compilation includes "A New Lease on Life Parts #1 and #2" from the Chaz & the Motorbikes EP put out by the Hello CD of the Month Club.


Safe and Sound--A Benefit in Response to the Brookline Clinic Violence
1996--Big Rig/Mercury

Letters to Cleo with Charlie Chesterman perform the classic Scruffy the Cat tune "You Dirty Rat."


Hit the Hay Vol. 2
1996--Sound Asleep Records

Charlie Chesterman with the Firecrackers contribute the song "All By Myself" to this compilation put out by Sound Asleep Records in Sweden.


Too Cool for School
1997--Ryko

Ryko promo sampler that includes three Charlie songs: "Go Go Little Fairlaine," "Everybody's Baby" and "Big Hairy Eyeball."


Roll -- A Slow River Compilation
1997--Slow River

Slow River promo sampler that includes "Fireball."


The XRT Files
1997--WXRT

Promo CD put out by WXRT 93.1 in Chicago to commemorate the station's 25th anniversary. Includes the song "Everybody's Baby."


The Times They Are A Changin'--Tribute to Bob Dylan, Vol. III
1998--Sister Ruby Records

This compilation was a limited release of 1,500 copies and includes Charlie's cover of "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You."


Somewhere Down the Road
1998--Lazy Cat Records

Charlie contributes the song "Tigerman" to this compilation put out by the Japanese label Lazy Cat Records.


Our Favorite Texan: Bobby Fuller Four-Ever!
1999--#9 Records

Charlie covers the song "Fool of Love" on this compilation of covers of songs by the late, great Bobby Fuller (he of "I Fought the Law" fame). For information about ordering, e-mail #9 Records.


A Place to Call Home--A Benefit for Mass. Adoption
1999--Reverse Curve Rock and Roll Records

Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes contribute the song "King Size Cigarette." This compilation was produced by Pete Weiss, whose name is all over Charlie's releases.


It's Heartbreak That Sells--A Tribute to Ray Mason
1999--Tar Hut

Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes contribute the song "Big Hug."


Rockin' at the Barn, Vol. 3
2001--Dusty Records

Chaz and the Motorbikes contribute the song "Jealous Again" to this compilation put out by Sweden's Dusty Records.


Have a Piece of American Pie
2002--Lazy Cat Records

Charlie and the Legendary Motorbikes contribute the song "Senioritis vs. the Sophomore Slump" to this compilation put out by the Japanese label Lazy Cat Records.


Twangfest: It's the Music
Edges From the Postcard 5
2002--Twangfest Inc.

This compilation features a live version of "Where'd Ya Go" and is available through Twangfest Inc.


Hit the Hay Vol. 6
2003--Sound Asleep Records

Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes contribute "Beatle Boots" to this compilation put out by Sound Asleep Records in Sweden.


This One's for the Fellows
2004--Blue Disguise Records

Charlie Chesterman and the Legendary Motorbikes cover "I Hate Everything" on this Young Fresh Fellows tribute album available from Blue Disguise Records.

Send me an e-mail with any questions, corrections, comments, contributions, etc.




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