Charly

• 12th August 1991, 7" XL-Recordings XLS-21
• 12th August 1991, 12” XL-Recordings XLT-21
• 12th August 1991, Cassette Single XL-Recordings XLC-21
• 12th August 1991, CD, XL-Recordings XLS-21CD
• 12th August 1991, 7" GERMAN Blow Up / XL-Recordings INT 110.926
• 18th June 1992, CD digipak, Elektra CD5: 66411-2
• 18th June 1992, 12” Elektra 66411

Charly is the debut single released by The Prodigy, taken from their debut album Experience. It was released in the UK on August 12, 1991 through XL Recordings on vinyl, CD and cassette tape format. Almost a year later, it was released as a double A-side single with "Everybody in the Place" in the United States on June 18, 1992 through Elektra Records on CD, digipak and maxi-single format.

On 24 August 1991, "Charly" debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks later it rose to a peak position of number three where it stayed for two consecutive weeks. On October 1, 1992, Charly had sold over 200,000 copies in the UK which in turn enabled it a Silver BPI certification.

The single re-entered the chart almost five years after release at number sixty-six on 20 April 1996. The single re-entered again, a further eight years on from its previous re-entry due to a digital download release of the single. This time at number 73 on 4 December 2004. Altogether it spent a total of six weeks within the top ten and twelve weeks within the top seventy-five. On November 22, 2004 the single was released on digital download format.

Charly was written and produced Liam Howlett, together with Chaz Stevens as an additional producer. The single's cover art was designed by Jay McKendry Jenkins. The song samples a 1970s BBC Public Information Film, Charley Says, (from "Double Deckers" of ITV's "Say No To Strangers" campaign), in which a little kid is shown with his cat. This sample later resulted in the band being unsuccessfully sued for plagiarism.

The song received generally mixed reviews from critics, despite its popularity. Dooyoo.co.uk described "Charly" as "An infamous song which was played at very loud volumes for weeks and its music video turned it into one of the controversial songs of its time." NME named it Single of the Week, writing, "A pretty damn naughty techno track which cleverly uses a catch line from an old public information film. Charly says you should always tell your mummy before you go off somewhere, is the line you're going to be hearing over the next few weeks. This could be a good or bad thing as hundreds of bedroom samplers go scouring old BBC soundtrack films/records for all sorts of gems. Let's hope it gets people thinking about their tracks as well. A charter without a doubt."

Popmatters.com described "Charly" as an electronic track developed in such a way that it would ensure boredom avoidance. Stylusmagazine.com interpreted the song as "All teenage rampage and suckingly vacant insurgency". Regardless of "Charly"'s mixed critical reception, the track has still genuinely managed to garner a rather widespread cult following over the years for its innovative use of sound, as it has been considered by many fans to be one of the main turning points in electronic music history, if not the overall rave scene in general.

Alexis Petridis, writing for The Guardian in 2020, listed "Charly" at number 16 in his list of his 25 best early '90s breakbeat hardcore tracks.

Sleeve notes

Produced by Chaz Stevens and Liam Howlett
Recorded at C.W.S. Studios
All tracks written by Liam Howlett
Published by EMI / Virgin Music Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Made in England.

Illustration: Jay McKendry Jenkins
An unknown partnership sleeve

A shout to all the friends we have made whilst on the circuit
Love and respect to the rocking people of Braintree for full support (you know who you are)
Special thanx to Sharky. Respect to 4-Tune, Carl Cox, Dj Rap, Slipmatt, Lime and Devious D
Xtra special thanx to Ziggy (Captain Naughty) and to Jay for artwork and costume design.

- Liam, Keef, Leroy and Keity (The Prodigy)