Larry Carlton - Discovery (1987)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a CD which was either sold, stolen, traded or lost, then replaced by another CD.

I owned this CD in 1988 when I was trying to finish up my undergraduate studies and recently finding another copy in a used bin was like reconnecting with an old friend. Back in '88, I didn't have many CDs so the few that I had were played quite a bit and this was one of those few. The album features Carlton on acoustic guitar and he receives a lot of support from Kirk Whalum on saxophone and Terry Trotter on keys. There's also a few of Carlton's fellow "West Coast sound" stalwarts in the credits, including Jerry Hey, Rick Marotta, and David Pack. The single released was a cover of the Doobie Brothers' Minute By Minute, which hit #25 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and received a Grammy award in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist).

Reviews/ratings:

• CashBox: "bright and melodic fusion date"
• Billboard: "On some past albums, Carlton was seduced by the rock side of fusion, but this leans heavily the other way."
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #180
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #1
• R&R Jazz Radio National Airplay Chart: #2
• CashBox Jazz: #4

Tracks: It's a smooth listen from top-to-bottom, but my favorites haven't changed since 1988. Of the nine tracks (7 Carlton originals, 2 covers), my top picks include the aforementioned Minute By Minute plus Hello Tomorrow, My Home Away From Home, and a cover of Knock On Wood.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above

Previously revisited for the blog:
Fingerprints (2000)
Larry & Lee (1995)
Collection (1990)

Larry Carlton - Fingerprints (2000)

Carlton is an exceptional guitar player, no question. However, his material here is so weak that we rarely get a chance to hear what he's capable of. The music here seems to value groove above melody and chord structure. Perhaps seeking help for the material, Carlton calls in some markers and has some great guests on this album, including Michael McDonald, Kirk Whalum, and Vince Gill. It's well-produced and sounds clean, but he's just playing it safe with this one.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4

Tracks: The best two tracks are the last two, Gracias (a guitar duet with Vince Gill) and Crying Hands. As for the rest, its so bland that it doesn't excite, but it doesn't offend either.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Picked this up from a used CD bin for background music at work. It certainly fits the bill for that.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Collection (1990)
Larry & Lee (1995)

Larry Carlton - Collection (1990)

"COLLECTION" WEEK (JUNE 4-10, 2012)

Carlton is a famous Grammy award wining LA session guitarist (you've heard his work, trust me), but he also carved out a niche in the '80s as a smooth jazz artist just as the smooth jazz radio format was emerging. His versatile work on both electric and acoustic guitar is technically superb and he has a very recognizable "California" tone with electric guitar. Even though he started a solo career in 1968, this CD chooses music from the years 1978-1989. Music from this disc comes up frequently in my "background music shuffle" at work.

Sadly, two years before this compilation was released, Carlton was the victim of gun violence (click the May, 1989 newspaper article below to enlarge).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #156 (July 14, 1990)

Tracks: The best track, Smiles And Smiles To Go, is also on a sampler CD I own. It is so popular, I still hear it on smooth jazz stations 25 years after its release. Also, there's a good covers of Sleepwalk and the Doobie Brothers' Minute By Minute, the latter with Michael McDonald on keyboards and Kirk Whalum on saxophone. The rest of the tracks are solid smooth jazz, with the only real misstep being an ill-advised cover of Tequila.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Carlton's 1986 release, Discovery, was one of the first CDs I owned. I don't know if I lost it or sold it, but it's not around here anymore.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Larry & Lee (1995)

Lee Ritenour & Larry Carlton - Larry & Lee (1995)

Two well-known session guitarists that have had somewhat successful solo careers as well. Carlton has recorded with Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, The Four Tops, Christopher Cross, and Barbra Streisand. Ritenour has recorded with Pink Floyd, The Brothers Johnson, Fourplay, David Foster, and Yellowjackets. With a pedigree like that, this album should have been much better. Scott Yanow over at AllMusic says it best:

Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour have had parallel careers, but this CD is their first joint meeting on record. The two guitarists complement each other well and there are hints of Wes Montgomery along with a tribute to Joe Pass ("Remembering J.P."), but the songs (all of them their originals) are little more than rhythmic grooves most of the time with the usual fadeouts. The consistently lightweight music is reasonably pleasing but never too stimulating.

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, eventually losing to We Live Here by the Pat Metheny Group.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #2
• CashBox Jazz: #10

Tracks: The better tracks are Crosstown Kids, Remembering J.P., Fun In The Dark. I usually skip Low Steppin' and Reflections Of A Guitar Player.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
On The Line (1983)
Rio (1979)