I was in attendance at this show and I can tell you that this review, pictures, etc DO NOT do Carlton Smith justice.
You gotta see him LIVE for yourself
You will feel that you are being let in on the "NEXT BIG THING"…
--Bob Davis
Meet Soul-Patroller Carlton Smith and listen to some STONE COLD SOLID FUNK on the World Famous Nightrain Radio Program!
Listen to 30 min of STONE COLD SOLID FUNK from tha SUPER BROTHA"at the following link:
CARLTON SMITH STONE COLD SOLID FUNK
Is it "old school"?
Is it "new school"?
Personally I think it's "REAL SCHOOL"
You should take a listen and decide for yourself :)
Listen to brotha Carlton as he TAKES US TO SCHOOL
and let us know what cha think?
Listen to 30 min of STONE COLD SOLID FUNK at the following link:
CARLTON SMITH STONE COLD SOLID FUNK
CARLTON J. SMITH'S at the Bitter End on 8/24/01
by
-- Cheryl Page
-- Devie Boone (Unific 29)
-- Mike Boone (The Chancellor of Soul)
Carlton's showing at the legendary Bitter End was a throw-back to the days of old when you paid a little money and you got a great show. It had everything - talent, humor and audience participation. Carlton is a reflection of the past in the form of the present. He wrote most of the songs he sang. His energy on stage goes way beyond that of an average artist. You see him up there giving it his all. He's sweating, dancing, moving back and forth, gripping the microphone and singing with his eyes closed. He does remind you of a young James Brown (you can understand why he was chosen to play James in the movie "Liberty Heights").
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Sharon Quinn came on first and sang two songs. She was really great!
Sharon sang:
1) YOU MAKE ME HAPPY - An original Carlton Smith song. In the middle of the song she did a little Tina Turner type spiel "You know, we never do anything nice & easy", etc. And then ended the song by taking us to church - foot stomping and all. I asked Carlton's manager Trudie, why this song sounded familiar. Well, Carlton has a break in the song of "Suspicious Minds"!!
2) WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE - This beautiful ballad was also written by Carlton. Sharon sang beautifully and wished everyone the feeling of falling in love.
Now we're waiting for Carlton to come on, looking to our left toward the "backstage" area. Carlton doesn't just walk on stage. No, not Carlton! We look to our right and there's Carlton standing on the bar. He walks across the bar, jumps down, runs up on stage and starts singing...
...MR. SMITH - Another original song being performed for the first time. This was a funky, funky song. Which actually described him perfectly. And believe me, by the time he got through with this song, you were definitely calling him "MR. SMITH" - that's right, all capitals!!! Again, that's "MR. SMITH!!".
Here are some of the songs that MR. SMITH performed:
M-O-N-E-Y - This was a song about how money don't buy you love. But in the middle of the song, he looked down and saw fellow SP'er Kenny Pitt. This was my surprise to Carlton and it worked. He just stopped singing. He was totally shocked and bent down to hug Kenny. (They had worked together on the movie "Liberty Heights" and hadn't seen each other in a couple of years). This was a genuine Kodak moment!!
SUPERNATURAL THING - Carlton spoke about Ben E King and what a great song this was and he then preceded to tear it up. Sorry, Mr. King, but Carlton sings it better. He dedicated this to the Soul-Patrol. At the end of the song he acknowledged guests in the audience, Aadamsrib's birthday and the Soul-patrol.
KISS YOU IN MY DREAMS - This was another great song. Carlton said that soul has no color and to prove it, he had his bassist, Coyote, do a soulful moan in the middle of the song. Coyote said he needed to start out slow and build up to it, which is exactly what he did. That man can moan!!! He also made Kenny get up and do a "Harlem shake".
IN MY HEART - Another really funky song.
AIN'T THAT GOOD NEWS - Here Carlton spoke about his one of his idols, Sam Cooke. He also told us that he has Sam's name tattooed on his arm - ALONG WITH James Brown, Bobby Womack, Al Green, Sly & the Family Stone, Otis Redding. (He plans on having some others done, like Marvin Gaye, Temptations, etc.) The keyboardist, Dan had a great solo here.
STANDING ON MY HEAD - There was a "Soul Clap" in the middle of this song, along with solos by Jay and Coyote.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL - Carlton had 11 women come up on stage and dance. In the middle of this song he sang Mystical's "Shake yo a**, watch yourself!" refrain. All 11 women had to shake their thangs. The crowd was going wild as each of the ladies, all from diverse backgrounds, showed everyone how it's done! The best "shaker" was (our fellow SP'er) Renee's daughter, NaQuavaha. She got up, shook that thang and definitely won the competition.
She was so good that Carlton had her shake it twice (lol!).
RIGHT ON - This was another super-funky song where Carlton had most of the audience throwing our fists in the air during his "right on, right on!" refrain.
SO LONG - This is a song that Carlton wrote for Rod Stewart. Well, as Carlton stated "Rod hasn't sung it - yet!". He sang this with Sharon Quinn.
I gotta tell ya - this would be a perfect Rod Stewart song, but it's also a perfect Carlton Smith song.
At this point, Carlton gave another shout out to the SP and was introduced to Bob Davis, Unific 29, and Mike Boone.
He introduced the band, The Mighty Magnificents:
· Joe Mahone - drums
· Coyote Turner - bass,
· Jay Googan - guitar
· Dan Nachimson - keyboards
Everyone had a little solo, but Jay said a little rap and then played a solo and used his wah wah pad. The Mighty Magnificents were a tight, funky, soulful band.
And then the show was over. People were screaming - "More, Come back, you can't be done yet", etc. I honestly believe that if Carlton hadn't have come out for one more song the place would have rioted. He wasn't prepared for an encore and asked what he should sing. At Renee's request, he performed "Mr. Smith" again and we, very, very, very sadly let him go!
But it was just as well, because I - and the entire audience - was exhausted! I don't understand how Carlton could stand or even talk after a performance like that.
Carlton is INDESCRIBABLE! GO SEE THIS MAN!!!
Peace,
-- Cheryl Page
-- Devie Boone (Unific 29)
-- Mike Boone (The Chancellor of Soul)
Meet Soul-Patroller Carlton Smith and listen to some STONE COLD SOLID FUNK on the World Famous Nightrain Radio Program!
Listen to 30 min of STONE COLD SOLID FUNK from tha SUPER BROTHA"at the following link:
CARLTON SMITH STONE COLD SOLID FUNK
Is it "old school"?
Is it "new school"?
Personally I think it's "REAL SCHOOL"
You should take a listen and decide for yourself :)
Listen to brotha Carlton as he TAKES US TO SCHOOL
and let us know what cha think?
Listen to 30 min of STONE COLD SOLID FUNK at the following link:
CARLTON SMITH STONE COLD SOLID FUNK
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