Born in Gainesville, Florida, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Bradley spent the better part of his childhood living on the streets. One of the more optimistic moments of his childhood came in 1962, when his sister took him to see James Brown at The Apollo. Brown’s energy formed a lasting impression on Bradley. He went home and immediately began practicing microphone tricks with a broom attached to a string, imitating the Godfather’s every move. With his newfound inspiration came an urgent desire to get off the streets and make something of himself.
Bradley made his way out of Brooklyn via Job Corps, a federal program for helping underprivileged families. His job placement took him to Bar Harbor, Maine where he learned to cook. While in Maine, he put together a band and began to pursue his passion for performing. He had his first taste of the stage when he was asked to perform for some female employees of Job Corps in Poland Springs. The ladies went wild and Bradley knew that he was destined to be an entertainer. Unfortunately, his fate was put on hold when his band mates were drafted in the Vietnam War, and he was forced to find work as a chef in Wassaic, New York at a hospital for the mentally ill.
After nine years cooking for 3500 people a day, being harassed by local police officers, and having no musical outlet, Bradley decided to leave Wassaic and head west in search of a dream. He had saved up enough money to buy a new Ford but soon realized that he couldn't keep up with the payments; he promptly returned it to a dealer and began hitchhiking. He caught rides all the way from New York to California and up through Canada. He persevered through the dangers of the road (including one driver who confided in him that he had just killed his wife and children) and eventually landed in Alaska where he once again found work as a chef. Though the job paid well, he was not well liked by his fellow chefs, and soon made his way back to California via airplane.
Bradley spent over 20 years in California, making his living as a chef, all the while playing music on the side. He had no regular band, but he played pick-up gigs when they came along and sat in on recording sessions to feed his musical cravings. Things seemed to be looking up for Bradley, but just as he was about to put a down payment on his first house, he was laid-off from his job of 17 years. Being fired forced him to re-evaluate his life out west. Ultimately, he decided to come home to Bushwick, Brooklyn to be with his family again. Bradley took every penny he had saved, loaded up a truck with the musical equipment he collected over the years, and drove back to New York. At this point, he was fed up with the tribulations of being a chef and took up work as a handyman to allow himself the flexibility to pursue his musical career.
Bradley finally found an audience when he began making appearances in local Brooklyn clubs performing his James Brown routines under the alter ego “Black Velvet.” At 51, he was finally making a life for himself back home. His musical career was moving forward, but he was to be tested once again.
Bradley awoke in his mother’s house one morning to the sounds of police sirens. He was devastated to find that his brother had been shot and killed by his nephew. Life did not seem worth living anymore.
Bradley was down and out when Gabriel Roth of Daptone Records happened upon him performing his Black Velvet act at the Tarheel Lounge in Bedstuy. Roth recognized his raw talent and directly brought him into the Daptone “House of Soul” studios for a session with the Sugarman 3. "Take It as It Comes" was Bradley's first single on Daptone and it proved him as a worthy vocalist. Roth eventually brought Bradley out to Staten Island to see Dirt Rifle and the Bullets, a young funk band playing James Brown and Meters influenced songs. Thomas Brenneck, songwriter and guitarist for the Bullets, hit it off with Bradley and they began working together. They released two singles on Daptone under the name “Charles Bradley and the Bullets,” but the Bullets soon dismantled in order to form the afrobeat influenced Budos Band.
However, Brenneck knew that Bradley had something more to give and after moving to Bushwick himself, he and Bradley reunited. In time, they became close friends and Bradley confided his life story in Brenneck. The young producer was moved when he heard Bradley tell the painful story of his brother’s death. Brenneck said, "Charles, we gotta put that story to music." Brenneck had put together a small bedroom studio and was working on instrumentals with a new group soon to be named Menahan Street Band. His new sound was the perfect compliment for the heartfelt and troubled lyrics that sprang from Bradley’s story. Brenneck had just launched Dunham Records, a division of Daptone, and would release Bradley’s "The World (Is Going Up in Flames)" and "Heartaches and Pain" as it’s second single. A departure from his Black Velvet act, the songs showed a new side of Bradley as a compelling artist in his own right and proved to be a great success. Many late night writing and recording sessions later, he and Brenneck completed their first full-length record, "No Time for Dreaming". Bradley always knew he was born to entertain, but in the making of this record he discovered a proclivity for songwriting as well.
The record was a labor of love for both Bradley and Brenneck. After years of working together, "No Time for Dreaming" was released on Dunham Records. After that, Bradley toured with the Menahan Street Band and honed his passion as a singer and an entertainer.
Bradley died on the 23rd of September, 2017, due to the consequences of cancer.
Strictly Reserved For You
Charles Bradley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m tired of the same people
Tryna get to my bindess,
Just me and you
I know baby, we gotta get on through and go somewhere
I got the love, uh, I got the love, baby
I got love, strictly reserved for you and me
Let’s do 95, and feel the fire
Just you and me baby,
I got the love strictly reserved for you
I got the love strictly reserved for you
I got the love strictly reserved for you
I got the love, uh
Just you and me, uh baby
I, I got the love, I got the love,
Strictly reserved for you
I got the love, strictly reserved for you
I got the love, strictly reserved for you
Just you and me, uh
I got the love, oh, strictly reserved for you
Baby, I got the love, strictly reserved for you
I, I got the love, strictly reserved for you.
In "Strictly Reserved For You," Charles Bradley sings about being tired of people and their lies trying to get in the way of his love for someone special. He's looking to escape with this person and leave everything behind. He desires a place where they can be together without outside interference. He assures his love that he has the love strictly reserved for them and states it multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing his commitment and intention.
This song has soulful music and Bradley's powerful vocals reinforce the message in the lyrics. The powerful horns, funky guitar riffs, and upbeat tempo add to the song's energy, encouraging the listener to move and feel uplifted. This song is about love and the desire to escape with someone we love, a feeling that can resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m tired of the same lies
I am exhausted of hearing the same false statements.
I’m tired of the same people
I am exhausted of being surrounded by the same individuals.
Tryna get to my bindess,
Trying to get into my business.
Just me and you
Only the two of us.
I know baby, we gotta get on through and go somewhere
I understand we need to move on and go somewhere else.
I got the love, uh, I got the love, baby
I possess love, yes, I possess love, darling.
I got love, strictly reserved for you and me
I have affection that is exclusively for you and me.
Let’s go somewhere, where I don’t care
Let’s travel somewhere, I don’t mind where it is.
Let’s do 95, and feel the fire
Let’s exceed the speed limit and experience euphoria.
Just you and me baby,
Only you and me, darling.
I got the love strictly reserved for you
I have affection that is exclusively for you.
Just you and me, uh baby
Only you and me, oh dear.
I, I got the love, I got the love,
I, I possess love, I possess love,
Strictly reserved for you
Exclusive for you.
I got the love, strictly reserved for you
I have affection that is exclusively for you.
Baby, I got the love, strictly reserved for you
Darling, I possess love, exclusively for you.
I, I got the love, strictly reserved for you.
I, I possess love, exclusively for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM FEENEY, LEON MICHELS, HOMER STEINWEISS, NICHOLAS MOVSHON, DAVID GUY, THOMAS BRENNECK, CHARLES BRADLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@irrelevantsuggestions4372
I waited in a line at womad festival about 4 years ago to meet Charles. Eventually my turn came. He was sat on the other side of a small table with 3 of his band mates just signing things people were putting in front of them. I walked over and locked into eye contact with him. As I arrived in front of him we shook each other’s hands. He took his other hand and put it over the hand shake whilst we both were engaged in a mutual stare. His presence was pretty over welming. I stood and enjoyed that Moment for bout 20 seconds. Nothing else, just each other’s presence. After standing in silence Charles simply said “I know, man”. I walked away with a tear in my eye. I knew I’d met a genuine star, not of the fame, but of the cosmos.
@stratyocasterson9237
That’s a wonderful story. ❤️
@alexmendoza5277
Thats amazing
@funkforward
you creeped the fuck out of him
@stratyocasterson9237
Roberto Funkforward Can you please go to hell?
@funkforward
@Stephen Kelly easy to say that to a screen, big boy
@johann23
Judging from the comments, I'm not alone in having felt an immense amount of joy upon discovering Bradley's music.
@Smerzone
Johann Skilton im so upset ive discovered his music after he has passed. Truly heartfelt music.
@4435kev
Rip charles Bradley
@johnbattaglia6686
Agreed I’m happy to have found his music beyond happy but sadly as we know it’s after his passing and that is extremely upsetting he won’t be creating anymore great content.