The Prodigy – Charly

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Genre:	Electronic
Style:	Hardcore
Year:	1991

Tracklist

		Charly (Alley Cat Mix)	5:27
		Pandemonium	4:25
		Your Love	6:00
		Charly (Original Mix)	3:56

Credits (4)

Jay McKendry Jenkins
Illustration
Chaz Stevens
Producer
Unknown Partnership*
Sleeve
Liam Howlett
Written-By, Producer

Notes

Band's 2nd official release and their first single (taken from their [then ] Debut album "The Prodigy Experience").
Released 12 August 1991.

The titular "Charly" refers to "Charley Says" - a series of animated PSA shorts staring Charley the Cat, who would "miaow" the lesson of the episode, which Tony (the cat's owner) would then translate and explain.

From all its segments, "Mummy Should Know" had by far the biggest influence on the Song's development. The segment's Quotes, that were sampled into this Song (and all its Main Remixes) were:
- Charley meowing out "Get out! Go, Women! Woo ... Meeow!"* (occurs at 0:10)
- Tony's "Charley says always tell your Mummy before you go off somewhere." (occurs at 0:53)**

* - This is a loose transliteration. It may not be 100% accurate.
** - The scene in which Tony said that (Charley eating the Fish), was included in the song's Official Music Video (based on its "Alley Cat Mix").

An extended (5 minute 12 seconds) version of the track's "Original Mix" exists, but it was never officially released.

Like the other 2 "Experience" era Singles ("Wind It Up"), NONE of the Single's Mixes ended up appearing on their Debut Album ("Trip into Drum and Bass Version" was featured on it instead).

On Torso Dance's CD Release, the Cover's Colors are Inverted.

Two Tracks from this Single also appeared on American-only Combo Maxi "Charly / Everybody In The Place" (released by Elektra).

Versions

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38 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve	XL Recordings – XLT-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Single	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	UK	1991	UK — 1991
	Charly 7", 45 RPM, Single	XL Recordings – XLS-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", 45 RPM, Single	Torso Dance – Torso 12201	Netherlands	1991	Netherlands — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Blow Up – INT 125.921		1991	— 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 7", 45 RPM, Single	XL Recordings – INT 110.926		1991	— 1991
	Charly CD, Maxi-Single	Torso Dance – TORSO CD 201	Netherlands	1991	Netherlands — 1991
	Charly Cassette, Single	XL Recordings – XLC-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Maxi-Single	XL Recordings – INT 825.921		1991	— 1991
	Charly 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo	Blow Up – INT 192.744		1991	— 1991
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo	GFB Records – GFB 022	Italy	1991	Italy — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Test Pressing, White Label	XL Recordings – XLT 21	UK	1991	UK — 1991
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Company Sleeve	XL Recordings – XLT-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, White Label, Stickered	XL Recordings – XLT 21	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Generic Sleeve	XL Recordings – XLT-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991
	Charly 12", White Label	GFB Records – GFB 022	Italy	1991	Italy — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", 45 RPM, Single	Torso Dance – Torso 12201	Netherlands	1991	Netherlands — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 7", 45 RPM, Single	XL Recordings – XLS-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, XL Recordings Die-Cut Sleeve	XL Recordings – XLT-21	UK	1991	UK — 1991
	Charly CD, Single, Misprint	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	UK	1991	UK — 1991	New Submission
	Charly CD, Single	XL Recordings – 6120	UK	1991	UK — 1991	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Maxi-Single, Reissue	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	Canada	1995	Canada — 1995
	Charly CD, Single, Reissue	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	UK & Europe	1996	UK & Europe — 1996
	Charly Cassette, Single, Silver Version, single-sided cover	Koch International – 33965-7	Poland	1997	Poland — 1997	Recently Edited
	Charly Cassette, Single, Gold Version	Koch International Poland – 33965-7	Poland	1997	Poland — 1997
	Charly CD, Single	Koch International – 33965-6	Poland	1997	Poland — 1997	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Single	XL Recordings – XLS 21 CD	Benelux	1997	Benelux — 1997	Recently Edited
	Charly Cassette, Single Sided, Single	Koch International Poland – 33965-7	Poland	1997	Poland — 1997
	Charly Cassette, Single, Silver Version, double-sided cover	Koch International – 33965-7	Poland	1997	Poland — 1997
	Charly 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo	XL Recordings – XLXV 1506	UK	2004	UK — 2004	Recently Edited
	Charly 4×File, MP3, Single, 320 kbps	XL Recordings – XLXV 1506	UK	2004	UK — 2004	Recently Edited
	Charly 4×File, WAV, Single	XL Recordings – XLXV 1506	UK	2004	UK — 2004	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Maxi-Single, Repress	Koch International – XLR CD 21	Canada		Canada	Recently Edited
	Charly CD, Maxi-Single, Reissue	XL Recordings – 7243 8 84194 2 0
	Charly CD, Single	MNW ILR – XLS 21CD	Scandinavia		Scandinavia
	Charly CD, Single, Reissue	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	UK		UK	Recently Edited
	Charly 4×File, WAV	XL Recordings – XLS 21CD	UK		UK	New Submission
	Charly 4×File, AIFF	XL Recordings – XLS 21DS	UK		UK	New Submission

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Reviews

boyd_westerman Apr 20, 2025
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Generic Sleeve) XLT-21

absolute stormer of an EP. top notch early rave stuff. a total classic.
sircharlz Dec 28, 2024
Edited 5 months ago

referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

This record blew my mind when it was released. Of course, CHARLY, but YOUR LOVE is pure fire witches brew magic piano breaks for your fucking brain.
GrimUpNorth Oct 22, 2024
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

Pandemonium and Your Love.....whys it so cheap?!?!
Word word word
Bartone88 Feb 23, 2024
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

Some Covers Are Lighter And Some Are Darker And Texture is Also a Difference on the covers so I found after collecting these presses over the Years
mattyb33ts Jul 5, 2023
Edited one year ago

referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

This was a controversial track when it was fresh. Some critics saw the mixture of hardcore techno with a children's public service announcement sample as edgy and clever, while others thought it was corny and in poor taste. I think it's a shame that people couldn't look deeper to the core grit of this track. It's truly awesome, and a heavy dance floor hitter. To me, it has a classic sound, but it doesn't date itself to '91. I love it, glad to have it in my collection. Alley cat mix is the one to spin for me.
Brano424111 Aug 12, 2022
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

Happy 31th anniversary to Legendary Charly. The first single of The Prodigy that changed The rave scene in 1991.
808-MAN Mar 4, 2022
Edited 3 years ago

referencing Charly (CD, Single) XLS 21CD

Matt means the 2 demo tapes. Poor quality, never released tape 2 has 16 tracks including 3 versions of Charlie. Children always tell your mummy before you go off somewhere with a stranger! cause Charlie thinks hes a peadophile lol then charlie gets a lovely fish for doing the right thing.
TheScavenger77 Dec 19, 2021
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

The Cats Whiskers...Charlie Says,Don't Forget 2Tell Ur Mummy B4 U Go Off Some Where..meOwwww..I Love It The Day it was Released Proper Old Skool Tuninge Still got my Copy
Johnmarcus Sep 4, 2021
referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

Big 12" this one, "Charley" "Alley Cat Mix" was probably the better know & heavily played track with its cheeky sample from a safety advert for kids from the late 1980's. But then you also have "Your Love" which later became a huge track in its own right, along with the tough driving beats & synth of "Pandemonium".
mattcymru2021 Jul 30, 2021
Edited 3 years ago

referencing Charly (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Picture Sleeve) XLT 21

I knew the advert way before i knew the tune... legendary stuff though! screw the haters! and kenny everett did the miaowing!