Carlton's studio credits from the 1970s and early '80s include musicians and groups like Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and literally dozens of others. Among his more notable projects as a session guitarist were Joni Mitchell's critically acclaimed Court and Spark and Hejira albums, Steely Dan's The Royal Scam album, and Donald Fagen's Nightfly album. For much of the 1970s, Carlton was active as a session guitarist, recording on up to 500 albums a year. Although he recorded a number of LPs under his own name as early as 1968's With a Little Help from My Friends (Uni), and 1973's Singing/Playing, he didn't land a major-label contract until 1978, when he signed with Warner Bros.
Carlton began taking guitar lessons when he was six. His first professional gig was at a supper club in 1962. After hearing Joe Pass on the radio, he was inspired to play jazz and blues. Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel became important influences soon after he discovered the jazz guitar stylings of Pass. B.B. King and other blues guitarists had an impact on Carlton's style as well. He honed his guitar-playing skills in the clubs and studios of greater Los Angeles. He attended a local junior college and Long Beach State College for a year until the Vietnam War ended. Carlton toured with the Fifth Dimension in 1968 and began doing studio sessions in 1970. His early session work included studio dates with pop musicians like Vicki Carr, Andy Williams and the Partridge Family. In 1971, he was asked to join the Crusaders shortly after they'd decided to drop the word "Jazz'' from their name, and he remained with the group until 1976. In between tours with the Crusaders, he also did studio session work for hundreds of recordings in every genre. But it was while he with the Crusaders that he developed the highly rhythmic, often bluesy style he has now. His credits include performing on more than 100 gold albums. His theme music credits for TV and films include Against All Odds, Who's the Boss, and the theme for Hill Street Blues. The latter won a Grammy award in 1981 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Carlton delivered his self-titled debut for Warner Bros. in 1978, shortly after he was recognized for his ground-breaking guitar playing on Steely Dan's Royal Scam album. (Carlton contributed the memorable guitar solo on "Kid Charlemagne", and the opening to "Don't Take Me Alive.") He released four more albums for Warner Bros., Strikes Twice (1980), Sleepwalk (1981), Eight Times Up (1982), and the Grammy-nominated Friends (1983), before being dropped from the label.
He continued studio session work and touring in between, emerging again in 1986 on MCA Records with an all-acoustic album, Discovery, which contained an instrumental remake of Michael McDonald's hit, "Minute by Minute." The single won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1987. Carlton's live album, Last Nite, released in 1987, got him a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.
While working on his next album for MCA, On Solid Ground, Carlton was the victim of random gun violence, and was shot in the throat by gun-wielding juveniles outside Room 335, his private studio near Burbank, California. The bullet shattered his vocal cord and caused significant nerve trauma, but through intensive therapy and a positive frame of mind, Carlton completed work on On Solid Ground in 1989. Carlton formed Helping Innnocent People (HIP), a non-profit group to aid victims of random gun violence.
Carlton's most recent albums include two releases in 1996 for GRP Records, Gift and With a Little Help from My Friends. His other recordings include 1990's Collection and 1992's Kid Gloves for the same label, Playing/Singing (1995, Edsel), and Renegade Gentleman, a 1993 release for GRP.
Despite the tragedy that was foisted on him in the late '80s, dragging him through a long and dark period of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Carlton's output over the years has been steady through the 1980s and 1990s. Carlton seems to have slowed down his touring schedule a bit, but certainly not his recording schedule. Always happy to meet with the press, Carlton has a sweet, peaceful personality, and one can hear it in his unique, rhythmic, warm guitar chords and ringing guitar tones.
Larry Carlton's niece is pop singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton.
Minute By Minute
Larry Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been here many times before
Girl, don't you worry, I know where I stand
I don't need this love, I don't need your hand
I know I could turn, blink, and you'd be gone
Then I must be prepared any time to carry on
But minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on
I keep holding on
You will stay just to watch me, darlin'
Wilt away on lies from you
Can't stop the habit of livin' on the run
I take it all for granted like you're the only one
Livin' on my own
Somehow that sounds nice
You think I'm your fool
Well, you may just be right
'Cause minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on
Oh, minute by minute by minute by minute
I keep holding on
Call my name and I'll be gone
You'll reach out and I won't be there
Just my luck you'll realize
You should spend your life with someone
You could spend your life with someone
Minute by minute by minute by minute
I'll be holding on
Oh, minute by minute by minute by minute
I'll be holding on
The lyrics of Larry Carlton's song "Minute By Minute" describe the life of a man who has been hurt many times before. He tells his current partner not to worry about his past hurt because he knows where he stands. Despite this assurance, the man admits that he doesn't need the love or the hand of his partner. He believes that he could easily turn and find her gone at any moment. He is prepared to carry on and live his life minute by minute. Although he expresses a desire to be on his own, he is still holding on to the relationship.
As the song continues, the singer explains that his partner is only with him to watch him "wilt away" on her lies. He admits that he can't stop the habit of living on the run and taking her for granted. He expresses a desire to live on his own, but at the same time, he believes his partner may be right in thinking he is her fool. In the end, the singer warns his partner that if she calls his name, he may not be there, and it may be too late for her to realize that she should spend her life with someone else.
Overall, the song's theme is about the internal struggle of a man who is both hurting and holding on to a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the relationship is not healthy, and the man is aware that it could end at any moment. Despite this knowledge, he is still holding on, minute by minute.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, don't worry, I've been lied to
Don't be concerned, I've experienced deceit
I've been here many times before
I've encountered similar situations repeatedly
Girl, don't you worry, I know where I stand
Don't fret, I'm aware of my position in this relationship
I don't need this love, I don't need your hand
I don't require your affection or assistance
I know I could turn, blink, and you'd be gone
I recognize your possible departure in an instant
Then I must be prepared any time to carry on
I must be ready to move forward at any moment
But minute by minute by minute by minute
Continuously, second after second
I keep holding on
I continue to cling to this relationship
You will stay just to watch me, darlin'
You'll stick around only to observe my decline
Wilt away on lies from you
Suffer and weaken due to your deceitful words
Can't stop the habit of livin' on the run
Can't break free from the pattern of running away
I take it all for granted like you're the only one
I wrongly assume that you're the only person who matters
Livin' on my own
Living independently seems preferable
Somehow that sounds nice
That could be an appealing notion
You think I'm your fool
You believe I'm gullible or foolish
Well, you may just be right
Actually, you could be correct
Call my name and I'll be gone
If you need me, I won't be here
You'll reach out and I won't be there
If you extend your grasp, I won't be within reach
Just my luck you'll realize
It's unfortunate that you'll only recognize then
You should spend your life with someone
You ought to share your existence with another person
You could spend your life with someone
You have the potential to have a fulfilling life with another
Minute by minute by minute by minute
Continuously, second after second
I'll be holding on
I'll persist in staying attached
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lester Abrams, Michael Mcdonald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind