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Carl Carlton

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For the German guitarist, see Carl Carlton (German musician).

Carl Carlton
Carlton in 1968
Carlton in 1968
Background information
Born (1953-05-21) May 21, 1953 (age 71)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresPop, R&B, soul, funk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1965–present

Carl Carlton (born May 21, 1953)[1] is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer-songwriter, best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)".[2]

Background

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Carlton was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began his career in the mid-1960s as "Little Carl" Carlton.[2] It was a marketing ploy to capitalize on some vocal similarities to Stevie Wonder, who recorded under the name "Little Stevie Wonder" in the early 1960s. His first recordings were for Lando Records,[2] for which he recorded some minor local hits, including "So What" and "Don't You Need a Boy Like Me".

In 1968, Don D. Robey signed Carlton to the Back Beat Record label, which Robey had started in 1957. Shortly after signing with the label, Carlton relocated to Houston, Texas, to be closer to his new label.[2]

Career

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His first single with Back Beat Records, "Competition Ain't Nothing" became a huge hit on the UK northern soul scene after its release on the UK's Action Records label.[citation needed]

Carlton was listed as one of the Cash Box Best R&B Artists of 1970 in the December 26 issue of the magazine.[3]

In January 1971, Carlton had a hit on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart with "I Can Feel It". It spent three weeks in the chart, peaking at no. 47.[4][5][6]

Carlton finally saw major success in the United States with a cover version of Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love". This song went to number 6 in 1974 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 11 on the Billboard R&B chart.[7]

Back Beat Records owner Robey sold his labels to ABC Records in 1972.[2] Beginning in 1976, Carlton became embroiled in a royalty dispute with ABC Records that caused him to stop recording for some time.[2] He then signed with Mercury Records in 1977, but only released one single on that label.[2] Carlton was unable to land a new recording contract for several years until Leon Haywood helped him get a singles deal with 20th Century Records.[2]

A Haywood-penned single, "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)", became a major hit in 1981, peaking at number 2 on the soul chart and earning Carlton a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards.[8] in 1982. The track peaked at number 34 in the UK Singles Chart.[9] Carlton's subsequent album, Carl Carlton, went gold in 1981. "She's a Bad Mama Jama" has since become a staple of compilation albums and soundtracks and is often sampled in rap music.[10]

Carlton released several more albums in the 1980s but had only a few minor R&B hits. After 1985's Private Property, he did not release another album until 1994's Main Event, which also failed to chart.

In late 2002, Carlton appeared with many R&B stars on the "Rhythm, Love, and Soul" edition of the PBS series American Soundtrack. His performance of "Everlasting Love" was included on the accompanying live album that was released in 2004.[11]

On August 1, 2010, Carlton released his first gospel single entitled "God Is Good". On April 16, 2011, Carlton was nominated for a Detroit Music Award in the "Outstanding Gospel/Christian Vocalist" category.[12]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album Chart positions Label
US
[13] 		US R&B
[7]
1973 Can't Stop a Man in Love 165 51 Back Beat
1974 Everlasting Love 132 22 ABC
1975 I Wanna Be with You — 49
1981 Carl Carlton 34 3 20th Century Fox
1982 The Bad C.C. 133 21 RCA Victor
1985 Private Property — 36 Casablanca
1994 Main Event — — Evejim
2010 God Is Good — — CTU
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

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Year Single Chart positions Certifications Albums
US
[14] 		US
R&B
[15] 		AUS
[16] 		NZ
[17] 		UK
[18] 		CAN
Top
[19] 		CAN
AC
[19]
1968 "Competition Ain't Nothin'"
Little Carl Carlton 		75 — — — — 55 — Can't Stop A Man in Love
"46 Drums – 1 Guitar"
Little Carl Carlton 		105 — — — — 85 — N/A
1969 "Look at Mary Wonder (How I Got Over)"
Little Carl Carlton 		— — — — — — —
"Don't Walk Away" — 38 — — — — —
1970 "Drop by My Place"
Little Carl Carlton 		78 12 — — — — — Can't Stop A Man in Love
1971 "I Can Feel It" /
"You've Got So Much (To Learn About Love)" 		— 47 — — — — — N/A
1972 "I Won't Let That Chump Break Your Heart" — 42 — — — — — Can't Stop a Man in Love
1973 "You Can't Stop a Man in Love" — 81 — — — — —
1974 "Everlasting Love" 6 11 — — — 19 11 Everlasting Love
1975 "Smokin' Room" 91 13 — — — — —
"Morning, Noon and Nightime" — 71 — — — — —
1976 "Ain't Gonna Tell Nobody (About You)" — 67 — — — — — I Wanna Be with You
1980 "This Feeling's Rated X-Tra" — 57 — — — — — Carl Carlton
1981 "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)" 22 2 — 27 34 — —
1982 "I Think It's Gonna Be Alright" — 65 — — — — —
"Baby I Need Your Loving" 103 17 12 — — 27 — The Bad C.C.
1983 "Swing That Sexy Thang" — 54 — — — — —
1985 "Private Property" — 28 — — — — — Private Property
1986 "Slipped, Tripped (Fooled Around and Fell in Love)" — 88 — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Television appearances

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Year Title Notes
1970 The Merv Griffin Show
1974—1982 American Bandstand Two episodes
1974—1983 Soul Train Two episodes
2003 American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love and Soul Television documentary special

References

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  1. ^ Alexander, Otis (December 5, 2021). "Carl Carlton". BlackPast.org. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Hogan, Ed. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Cash Box, December 26, 1970 - Page 74 Cash Box BEST R&B ARTISTS OF 1970, Male Vocalists, Male Vocalists (Cont.)
  4. ^ Billboard, January 30, 1971 - Page 34 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles, This Week 47, Last Week 49, TITLE I CAN FEEL IT/YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH (To Learn About Love), Weeks on Chart 3
  5. ^ Billboard, February 6, 1971 - Page 42 Billboard BEST SELLING Soul Singles
  6. ^ MusicVF.com - Carl Carlton Top Songs Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography
  7. ^ a b "Carl Carlton - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "Past Winners Database". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2006.
  9. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 94. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  10. ^ "Samples of She's a Bad Mama Jama". Whosampled.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  11. ^ "American Soundtrack: Rhythm, Love and Soul". IMDb. March 1, 2003. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Nominees". Detroitmusicawards.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  13. ^ "Carl Carlton – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "Carl Carlton – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  15. ^ "Carl Carlton – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  16. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 55. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. ^ "Discography Carl Carlton". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Carl Carlton – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "RPM Carl Carlton". Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013.
  20. ^ "American certifications – Carl Carlton". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
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