The Charlatans (1969 album)

The Charlatans
Studio album by The Charlatans
Released	1969
Recorded	1969, Pacific High Recorders, San Francisco, CA
Genre	Folk rock, psychedelic rock
Length	41:28
Label	Philips Records
Producer	Dan Healy The Charlatans

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The Charlatans is the self-titled debut album by the influential San Francisco psychedelic rock band The Charlatans and was released by Philips Records in 1969 (see 1969 in music). The album was recorded at Pacific High Studios, San Francisco, with production and engineering by Dan Healy and The Charlatans.

Although the record was The Charlatans' debut album, it was recorded and released relatively late in the band's career, a factor which contributed to its commercial failure. By 1969, the band's lineup had changed considerably from their 1965 – 1967 heyday, leaving Mike Wilhelm (lead guitar, vocals) and Richard Olsen (bass, vocals) as the only original members. Terry Wilson (drums) and Darrell DeVore (piano/keyboards, vocals) were recruited in order to flesh out the band, prior to the recording of the album.

The Charlatans was a critical and commercial flop upon its release. A contributing factor to the album's lack of success was the fact that The Charlatans' sound had become somewhat outdated by 1969, with their brand of jug band blues and gentle psychedelia being largely eschewed by the public in favor of a heavier rock sound. In his book, The Summer of Love: The Inside Story of LSD, Rock & Roll, Free Love and High Times in the Wild West, author Joel Selvin describes the album as "an unenthusiastic coda to a misspent career." Other reviewers have been kinder towards the album, with critic Bruce Eder, noting that the album "is a rather gorgeous and gently challenging piece of San Francisco rock, incorporating elements of blues and big-band swing, as well as '50s rock & roll and elegant '60s pop."

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