Lester Abrams formed the The Les Smith Soul Band (the Band would be renamed… Read Full Bio ↴Lester Abrams formed the The Les Smith Soul Band (the Band would be renamed L.A. Carnival later) as Lester was developing the "Fabulous Impacts" and a reputation as "the baddest drummer in town", Leslie Orlando Smith (born 1949 in Detroit) was attending North High School and singing lead in the band "Sights and Sounds" with, amongst others, schoolmate Ron Cooley on guitar and a bass player from Central High, Rick Chudacoff. After a series of personnel and name changes, including the addition of Arno Lucas, they became the Les Smith Soul Band.

After some time, Leslie invited Lester to a performance at a local high school, and subsequently to sit in on a rehearsal. At the rehearsal, Lester joined in, and by the end of the sessions was part of the band. He immediately took over control of the band, and it went from being a soul band to being a funk band with the lineup:

Lester Abrams – drums, vocals, organ, acoustic piano, percussion
Arno Lucas – vocals, percussion
Leslie Smith – vocals
Rick Chudacoff – electric bass, backup vocals
Ron Cooley – electric and acoustic guitar
Geno DeVaughn – trumpet
Percy Marion – tenor saxophone, flute
Michael Patterson – alto saxophone

In 1969 the band cut three tracks, all written by Abrams: the soulful “Blind Man”, the Arno Lucas lead “Bad Luck”, and an instrumental funk number, “Blues for LA”.

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L.A. Carnival Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vivid colors

つないだ手を離したなら
僕は誰もいない午後の中
ひとり静かに次の言葉を探していたい

列車は今日彼女の街をこえて
知らない風景をつれてくる

この色彩に映された僕は何色に見えているのか

広がる彼方へと誘われてゆく
このゆりかごに届く ah vivid colors

まだ閉ざされた口元は
風が通りすぎるのを待ってる
この色彩に映された僕は何色に見えているのか

どれだけ離れたなら忘れられるだろう
風の声を聴きながら
やがて降りたつ日差しの下
そっとそっと目を閉じていたいだけ

あざやかに彩られた窓の向こうに瞳うばわれるけど
面影をかさねてしまう

どれだけ離れたなら忘れられるだろう
想ってみても空しくて
やがて降りたつ日差しの下
そっとそっと目を閉じて
In to vivid colors

In to vivid colors

In to vivid colors

Overall Meaning

The first verse of the song speaks about the overwhelming feeling of loneliness when someone is left alone after holding hands with another person. The singer is left searching for the right words within the stillness and silence of the afternoon. The second verse introduces the idea of a train that is travelling through unfamiliar scenery, with the singer questioning what color they would appear if viewed within these shades. The chorus of the song mentions the notion of being invited to an ever-expansive space, eagerly searching for vivid colors. The third verse speaks about a mouth that is closed, waiting for the wind to pass by. The same question continues to hover over the singer, the idea of what color would they appear to be.

Line by Line Meaning

つないだ手を離したなら
If I let go of the hand I am holding,

僕は誰もいない午後の中
I would be alone in the afternoon with no one around me.

ひとり静かに次の言葉を探していたい
I want to search for my next words quietly and alone.

列車は今日彼女の街をこえて
The train is passing by her town today.

知らない風景をつれてくる
It's bringing unknown scenery with it.

この色彩に映された僕は何色に見えているのか
What color do I appear to be reflected in these colors?

広がる彼方へと誘われてゆく
I am being invited to the expanding distance.

このゆりかごに届く ah vivid colors
Ah, reaching into this cradle of vivid colors.

まだ閉ざされた口元は
My closed mouth

風が通りすぎるのを待ってる
is waiting for the wind to pass by.

どれだけ離れたなら忘れられるだろう
How far do I have to go to be forgotten?