From Lancashire to Texas

Have you ever looked up who was number one on the UK charts the day you were born? Well, that’s exactly what Darwen soul singer Paul Davies did and discovered ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ by American music legend, Charlene, was number 1 in 1982 on the day he was born. Quite fitting then, that at the time of the number-one-hit’s 40th anniversary and Paul’s 40th birthday, Charlene and Paul joined forces to write and record new hit, ‘Fairytale Life’.

Paul is no stranger to working with classic Motown artists, having previously performed and recorded with Kim Weston, Brenda Holloway, Gloria Jones, Chris Clark and The Original Vandellas. “I found her on Facebook and sent her a message introducing myself, and that she was number one on the day that I was born. Charlene thought it was really cool, and she was actually looking for new song writing partners so I sent a few of my songs over and she loved them!” Paul explains. “The song was an idea Charlene had half written on the piano, she showed me her ideas and then we created another verse together. The idea was there on her side, I just helped her create it into a song. I added the instruments and she trusted me to get on with my own thing, she was definitely happy with the results!”

Charlene, sat at her piano in Fort Worth, Texas, as Paul sat in his studio in Darwen, Lancashire, working on their new song which is set to be out October 21st. “Creating a song over video call isn’t too bad when you’re writing songs. Me and Charlene did things one step at a time, she sang while I listened, I would play chords back to her and she would listen. My uncle, Pete Willmott, who used to play in the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra played guitar and bass in the track, and another guy from Blackburn called Paddy Higginson played saxophone.” said Paul. Originally, the track was planned as a solo single for Charlene with Paul as the co- writer and the producer, but after Paul sent her a version with a demo vocal, Charlene loved it that much the song ended up as a duet! “It’s nice to say you’ve produced a song but when you can say you sang on it too it’s such a good feeling. I don’t care if my songs aren’t hits, I love doing it. It can only open more doors for the future.

“Charlene had the top spot. You’d think that someone who’s had a number 1 record would be a diva, but she was so friendly and so excited about life. She was very respectful too; we tried a couple of ideas where we weren’t on the same page and we’d just tell each other what we thought.”

Mastered by Damon Martin in Detroit, Michigan, ‘Fairytale Life’ will be released on all digital platforms soon. “I’m really hoping to plan a trip to Texas to meet her. It would be really good to do some song writing together in person. If you had told me eight years ago that half of my friends would be classic artists from around the world, I would never have believed you. I’m friends with people whose songs I used to sing. One of the ladies from the Vandellas, Annette Beard, calls me her son!” grinned Paul.

I JUST INSTANTLY FELL IN LOVE, I KNEW I HAD TO DO THIS SONG, I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY LIFE STORY

Known for ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’, one of the biggest selling ballads of the 1980s, Charlene shares her story about her time in the spotlight. But it’s incorrect to label Charlene a one-hit wonder – when she had three other songs on the Top 100 charts!

“I grew up in Hollywood, right down the street from Capital Records and this is going to age me so much but, I remember when they were putting the stars down in the street. Oh man, it was amazing, I saw some freaky things growing up there you know…I’m ancient, I’m a dinosaur!” laughed Charlene.

Charlene had just been signed to Motown Records in 1973 and was recording many demos for different producers at the label. A turning point for her at Motown, came, when she crossed paths with songwriter Ron Miller, who had previously written multiple songs for Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross.

“Ron heard me sing, and told me I was singing all the wrong songs. He brought me in and played ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ and I just instantly fell in love, I knew I had to do this song, I felt like it was my life story.” explained Charlene.

I HIT ROCK BOTTOM AND HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

Although, the first release in 1975 didn’t seem to get anywhere, but it was randomly picked up by a radio DJ Scott Shannon in Florida seven years later, it quickly gained popularity and became a global hit. “It was number one in England, Australia, Canada, Japan, and I think it even charted in China. I met a man called Jeff Oliver in California and we moved to London and we got married! I thought, this is going to be my new journey. And then– all of a sudden, I get a phone call saying, ‘You’re on the charts.’ I was working in a sweet shop in England at this point!”

Re-signing with Motown, Charlene wore her wedding gown from her marriage to Jeff while filming the song’s music video at Blickling Hall in Norfolk, England. Her peaceful life in England was soon over as she returned to the United States because of the promotional tornado that starts with nonstop radio, TV, and live appearances. ‘Used to Be’, was going to be Charlene’s next big blockbuster hit, a duet with legendary Motown star, Stevie Wonder also written by Ron Miller. However, the song was rejected by and even banned from some radio stations for its lyrics. “The lyrics were about what was going on in the world! They didn’t get that they were metaphors for things happening,” explained Charlene.

Together, they recorded the ballad decrying the state of the modern world and nostalgically longing for a better place. “I was really depressed at this point, and one day I opened up a magazine and it had me and Ron Miller sitting at the piano, and the caption was ‘Charlene: The Magnificent Failure’. I was so sad; I hit rock bottom and had a nervous breakdown. What was I meant to take from this?”

Despite suffering from a throat infection, Charlene was on the historic 1983 TV special Motown 25. “I was sat right next to Diana Ross; she was kissing Berry Gordy. We went backstage and my friend who knew Michael Jackson introduced me to him, he said he’d love to write me an album, I said that would be great Michael, thank you! Jermaine Jackson was also a really good friend of mine, he used to come to my shows whenever I’d sing!” beamed Charlene.

After returning to a quieter life for a few years, in 1994, her recording of ‘I’ve Never Been To Me’ is featured in the opening scene of the Australian film The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, an iconic LGBT movie. Charlene has since, been an instructor at the Creative Soul Music School in Fort Worth, Texas, and writing children’s books and war inspired novels.

In ‘Fairytale Life’ you can hear a strong Motown influence, mixed in with a more modern pop style. “When Paul contacted me, I thought, oh my gosh, I’ve got to work with writers because I’m a lone wolf here in Texas! I listened to Paul’s track and he blew me away, he comes up with this beautiful piano, amazing saxophone in the background and I’m like oh my god, this is like the best!” beamed Charlene. “I came up with the very beginning of the song about seven months ago and it was just a little idea and then Paul came along and enhanced it.”

Before saying goodbye to the iconic Charlene, she shouts, “please tell England that my heart is always there! I love it so much!” Do you reckon there would be any Northern
Life readers in Texas?

Northern Life Sept/Oct 22