In Review

02 December 2008 02:50 BST

Tim Burgess: Why the Charlatans are back

The Charlatans release a (second) Greatest Hits album this month as Forever. The Singles hits the shelves.

Here lead singer Tim Burgess tells InTheNews.co.uk's Chris Webber why this is more than just a money-spinner and how the fire is still there.

Why release a best of album now, how did it come about?

A while back we had a record out called Melting Pot, which was kind of a compilation of everything. We kind of did that because we were with Beggars Banquet and we signed with Universal, so it was a kind of get out clause. With this one, Universal approached us about doing a definitive singles, with stuff from Beggars Banquet, stuff from Universal and Indian Rope and the last stuff we did on Sanctuary. So we wanted to do that, thought it was a good idea, thought we'd put a bit of effort into it. Cause we didn't put any effort in Melting Pot really, it was just a pilot. But this one is all the singles and we thought we'd make a really big deal out of it really.

How did you go about choosing the tracks? Obviously it's a chronology…

Well there were some members of the band that didn't get that it was a singles album and wanted album tracks on there! But in general, we all wrote down a list… I think it's 23 singles… I mean it's just the definitive collection really. We're missing Then and Jesus Hairdo and a couple of other tracks, I think Easy Life and stuff like that, but I think the ones we have chosen are definitive really. I think anyway! It sounded pretty good on the way to Chatham the other night anyway!

What is your favourite single from the album?

Tellin' Stories. It's the title of the album, it's a good song, everyone thought it was great. I remember a friend of mine at the time saying that song was as good as Dylan. So that'll do me! That's praise isn't it - I'll take that!

Other bands that have been around for a similar time such as Primal Scream have flitted with different genres, while yours has stayed kind of similar…

Well I think that we're not maybe as experimental as Primal Scream, but I think we are considered an experimental band, a band who does get better, I think. And I think that's why we've been around so long.

And what would you say is the biggest influencing factor in why you've been around for so long?

I think we're quite ambitious with the music most of the time and we enjoy what we do and want to keep doing it really. I think that's a lot of it and there is a part of me that tries to stop and I find it very irritating living without music. For me it's cathartic, but I've got a record deal, so why not put them out!

Do you still enjoy making music as much as when Indian Rope was released? That must have been a very exciting time…

It was kind of different then, it was all about being in a band, learning and being in a gang - it was just amazing really. It was different in a lot of ways, but I've still got the fire when it comes to writing and going on tour, I've still got the same sort of vibe really that I think I had then. That's probably another reason why it's still working out. I don't think there's any time when I've fallen asleep for too long.

How much of an influence is the whole '90s Manchester scene in your music still?

How much of it is in there? Well you can take the fella out of… what's that f****ng saying? You can put him in Los Angeles ha ha ha… I don't know really. We just played Preston and we just played Oldham on a DJ tour and it's just a really big stronghold really. But then I guess Liverpool is and Scotland is, so I don't really know. How much of it's still in there? I don't deny it, whatever's there really… It's whatever's in my heart really, it's always going to be there.

What's the biggest notable change?

It's quite a big question. But I think that music's changing all the time, the music scene changes, the way people buy music changes. I think our second single, The Only One I Know, came out on cassette, everything really. And I'm all for change, all for the new.

If you had to sum up what the album's all about in a few words, what would you say?

Pop definitive. There's two words! Pop definitive compilation… Pop definitive singles album… LP… CD. I guess it is what it is. It's a definitive singles compilation.

I was just delighted to see Tellin' Stories on there…

Well that's Ed from the Chemical Brothers' favourite too and it's definitely one of mine.

The Charlatans: Forever. The Singles is out on Island, on November 6th.

To see if it's worth getting click here.