The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Charlie Dore
Green Hotel, Kinross, June 2
It’s literally the stuff of life itself that fuels Charlie Dore’s creativity nowadays.
She remains best known for her 1979 folk-pop single Pilot of the Airwaves, which actually enjoyed far greater success in America than Britain.
Other career highlights have included co-writing Sheena Easton’s US top 10 hit Strut, and having her songs recorded by the likes of Tina Turner, George Harrison, and Celine Dion. She also had a major hand in Jimmy Nail’s charttopper Ain’t No Doubt.
However, Charlie’s latest album, Dark Matter, has been as much inspired by the work of cosmologists like Stephen Hawking as any musical heroes.
“The whole thing is a metaphor or analogy for inner space,” the former drama student explains. “Dark matter makes up 85% of the known universe, and yet scientists don’t really know what it is.”
The idea for the album’s lead track Breakfast of Neutrinos came from an article she read in New Scientist magazine. “Neutrinos are the smallest particle known to man,” adds guitarist Charlie, who turned 60 last year.
“They call it the shady particle and there are 65 billion of them going through us at any one time.
“They don’t react, or if they do they cause a little tiny explosion, but mainly they just pass through. I thought they’re like some relationships I’ve had and that they’re a fertile area for a song.”
While solo hits may have eluded the Londoner, her worth has long been recognised by her fellow songwriters.
She once enjoyed studio backing from three-quarters of arena rock giants Toto and guested with Monty Python’s Eric Idle on acclaimed troubadour Harry Nilsson’s album Flash Harry.
It was Idle who introduced her to Beatles star Harrison, with whom she became friends.
“I found out he (Harrison) had my song Fear of Flying on his kitchen jukebox, which was very flattering indeed,” she says. “I sat in his garden with him one time and he put his feet up on the table and he played it.
“I was the least famous person there. I didn’t have anyone to turn to and go, ‘Hey! It’s a Beatle playing my song!’”
Schoolfriend Julian Littman partners Charlie on her acoustic tour, which called at Clarks in Dundee on Wednesday and hits Kinross tonight.
It’s a entertaining mix of recent songs, classics and anecdotes, with piano, mandolin, harmonium and autoharp all featuring.
For Charlie it’s the culmination of a lifetime spent honing her writing craft.
“As the years have passed I’ve decided to try to look at things sideways,” she says. “There are so many great songs out there that I feel like I have to earn my place and do something original.”