Charlie - No Second Chance / Lines (Reissue) (1977-78/1996)

Two of Charlie's better albums, No Second Chance and Lines are included here in one package. With a light rock sound, à la Firefall and Chilliwack, these two albums are only a grain more grittier than Fight Dirty and Good Morning America because of the strong guitar work from Martin Smith. While Charlie did crack Billboard's Top 40 in 1983 with "It's Inevitable," these two albums from 1977 and 1978 reflect a soft, gentile musical mood. The blend of drums, keyboards, and guitars are heard but come across as one dimensional, sometimes sounding like a short step up from Muzak. A more spirited effort can still be differentiated from other Charlie albums, along with the intervention of a flute and electric piano, keeping it only marginally above par.