Charme
Charme was a studio project, best known for their 1979 self-titled album, also widely referred to as Let It In. The "group" primarily featured uncredited lead vocals by the R&B legend Luther Vandross early in his career, before he became a major solo star.
Charme was a production-oriented disco and funk act that released one significant album on RCA Victor in 1979. They were not a traditional, consistently touring band with fixed members, but rather an assembly of session musicians and vocalists brought together for a specific recording project.
The most notable aspect of the group's history is the involvement of Luther Vandross. He provided uncredited lead vocals on the album's most famous track, a cover of Toto's hit "Georgy Porgy". At the time, Vandross was a highly sought-after but unheralded backing vocalist and jingle singer, working with artists like David Bowie and Roberta Flack before launching his own successful solo career in the early 1980s.
Their album was a result of the vibrant New York studio scene of the late 1970s, involving various session players and producers, though full personnel details are sparse in available records beyond the main vocalists.
Charme's music is a blend of soul, funk, and disco. Their most recognizable song, the long vocal and instrumental version of "Georgy Porgy", became a club classic and an enduring favorite in the soul-funk community.
The album itself includes other original tracks like "Never (Gonna Let You Go)" and "Let It In". While the group was short-lived, the album remains a collector's item and a classic example of late-70s disco-era soul, especially noted for showcasing Vandross's distinctive vocal talent before he achieved superstardom.
Let It In
Lead Vocals – Babi Floyd
Written-By – D.J. Michaels, M. Barkan 5:45
A2 Never (Gonna Let You Go)
Lead Vocals – Gwen Guthrie
Written-By – Deborah McDuffie, Misha Segal 4:03
A3 Do It For Love
Lead Vocals – Vivian Cherry
Written-By – Carl Hampton, Homer Banks 3:46
A4 A Penny For Your Thoughts
Lead Vocals – Ken Williams
Written-By – Michael J. Breene 3:49
B1 It Discos To Show Ya
Lead Vocals – Janet Wright
Written-By – Misha Segal, Tasha Thomas 4:53
B2 Let's Let Love (Come Between Us)
Lead Vocals – Damaris, Ken Williams
Written-By – William Seidman, Gordon Grody 3:39
B3 Georgy Porgy
Lead Vocals [Uncredited] – Luther Vandross
Written-By – David Paich 7:25
Label: RCA Victor – AFL1-3393
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Disco, Funk, Boogie
The album Let It In by the one-off disco/funk assemblage Charme was released in 1979 on the RCA Victor label. The record is a notable piece of late 70s soul and funk, primarily recognized for featuring early-career lead vocals from uncredited session singers, including the legendary Luther Vandross and Gwen Guthrie.
Let It In is considered a significant modern soul and boogie groove album. It is praised for its slick production, particularly the catchy mid-tempo numbers and sophisticated arrangements by producer Misha Segal. The album has a runtime of approximately 34 minutes.
The album is most famous for its cover of the Toto song "Georgy Porgy," which features prominent, uncredited lead vocals by Luther Vandross. This track is a popular soulful boogie cover and was later re-released when Vandross became world-famous.
Gwen Guthrie provides lead vocals on the track "Never (Gonna Let You Go)". Other notable tracks include the title track "Let It In" and "Do It For Love".