#1 The Charades were a rhythm & blues group who were active in California in the early to mid 1960s and released a number of singles.
They started out in the late 1950s under the name The Latin Knights. The Charades were popular in the San Joaquin Valley in California doing local functions etc. The name was changed to The Charades in 1962. By 1962, they had signed with Anthony J. Hilder. They had their first release on Northridge Records. Another label they had a release on was Äva Records which was owned by Fred Astaire. Hilder who in those days was called Tony Hilder is credited ads co-composer and producer of "Please Be My Love Tonight" which was the A side of the single. Robert Hafner was the credited as co-composer for the B side.[5][6] Other 45 releases were on Original Sound Records and Impact Records. They recorded a single for the Skylark label. The single "Flamingo" actually featured Los Angeles vocalist Billy Storm on lead. Storm also co-produced the single.
At one stage the group was joined by Tom Johnston who would go on to become a member of The Doobie Brothers.
Their 1966 recording "The Key To My Happiness" has become a Northern Soul favorite, and is in Ian Levine's all-time Top Ten Northern Soul sounds list. It is also in the top-ten list of Northern Soul fillers as picked by Wigan Casino DJ Richard Searling. As recorded on the Popsike website, in a 2007 eBay auction, a black label version of the MGM release of the song went for a tasty £350.
The Charades, with original members Ray Baradat and Syl Grigsby, continue to perform and record. The group has two CD release in 2010 "Connections" and a release in 2015 "Echoes of Yesterday".
Members
Johnny T.Johnson (Tenor,Lead)
Syl Grigsby (Falsetto,Baritone,Lead)
Alex Pilkinton (Bass,Baritone,Lead)* Levern Butler (Baritone)
Ray Baradat (Tenor,Baritone)
Key To My Happiness
The Charades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pra não ter que te encarar
Afogo na piscina
Pra você me salvar
Tropeço na escada pra você me pegar
Crio mil feitiços pra tentar te conquistar
Eu só quero brincar com você
Tenho todos que quero
Mas perco o ar quando te vejo
Saio com seus vizinhos
Só pra você me notar
Tropeço na escada pra você me pegar
Crio mil feitiços pra tentar te conquistar
Eu só quero brincar com você
Eu só quero brincar com você
Eu só quero, quero brincar com você
Eu só quero brincar com você
Eu só quero brincar com você
Eu só quero brincar com você
Eu só quero, quero brincar com você
Eu só quero brincar com você
Não me despreze
Eu sou pior que você
Não tenha medo
Eu só quero brincar
The lyrics to The Charades's song "Key To My Happiness" speak of infatuation and the lengths a person will go to get the attention of the one they desire. The singer pretends to be invisible and even goes as far as to drown in the pool just to be saved by the desired person. The singer trips on the stairs, hoping to be caught by the desired person, and creates "a thousand spells" in an attempt to win their affection.
The singer seems to be consumed by their desire for this one person, as they lose their breath just by seeing them and even go on dates with the person's neighbors just to get noticed. Despite admitting that they are "worse" than the person they desire, the singer asks not to be rejected and only wants to play with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Finjo ser invisível
I pretend to be unseen to avoid confronting you
Pra não ter que te encarar
So that I don't have to look at you
Afogo na piscina
I drown in the pool
Pra você me salvar
So that you can save me
Tropeço na escada pra você me pegar
I stumble on the staircase so that you can catch me
Crio mil feitiços pra tentar te conquistar
I create a thousand spells to try to win you over
Eu só quero brincar com você
I just want to play with you
Tenho todos que quero
I have everyone I want
Mas perco o ar quando te vejo
But I lose my breath when I see you
Saio com seus vizinhos
I go out with your neighbors
Só pra você me notar
Just so you can notice me
Não me despreze
Don't reject me
Eu sou pior que você
I'm worse than you
Não tenha medo
Don't be afraid
Eu só quero brincar
I just want to play
Writer(s): Rodrigo O'reilly Brandao, Bianca Maria Rodrigues De Mir Jhordao
Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulwwwynne
one of the best northern tunes EVER!!!!! the energy and electricity that runs through the track, right from the get-go, the piano riff, the rolling bass, the cymbals coming in at the perfect time, and the vocals pumping out all that energy. awesome one of the very very finest songs ever committed to vinyl. can't get enough of it - wish it was 10 minutes longer. i believe this is a certain ian levine's fave NS tune
@iainstewartstewart9749
It really don't get any better than this. Each time I hear I am taken back to station road Wigan and the first time I heard it. It took my breath away and it still does
@chess1458
Here In The States In My Hometown Of Baltimore,This Was A Common Record,My Uncle Was A DJ In Washington D.C In The 60's,And He Gave Me All Of His DJ Copy 45's,And This Was One Of Them,Great Post!!!!!
@andywilley3041
You lucky devil...... These would fetch a fortune on the northern soul cct in UK.
@chrisgraham9778
What a time to live through...ktf
@jonnyrocket3659
One of my NS top ten ever... a fantastic 60/70's crossover happy tune from the Mecca days. My MGM "for DJ's only" pressing has pride of place in my collection. If anyone's planning to play this in their set at any of the North West venues, please let me know so I can be first on the floor.
@alniter1000
its northern not crosso
@regjames3450
Absolute classic😊... in my top 10 all time NS favs.. takes some doing with 100s of worthy tracks about
@MJ.71
If I had a broken leg, I'd still have to dance to this KTF....
@WestfaliaStuff
Fun fact - I once broke a toe dancing to this very song. :--)