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.
The Magician
Larry Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something in your eyes
Gives away the actress
Baby, I am wise
Well I'm the magician
You, you're under suspiction
Witches' brew, you were the entrancer
You have met your master
Seeing as your all
Well I'm the magician
You, you're under suspiction
I could conjure up a mystic
...the spirits for a love charm
For a love charm, girl
Wave my hand and leave you mesmerized
But I'm not gonna hold on
To someone I have to cast a spell on
Cast a spell on you
Got to be the real thing with no alibis
'Cause I'm, well I'm the magician
You, you're under suspiction, yeah
I'm, well I'm the magician, girl
You, you're under suspiction, yeah
I'm, well I'm the magician, girl
You, you're under suspiction, yeah
The lyrics to Larry Carlton's song The Magician suggests a story of a woman who seems to be preoccupied with something that's not related to her current situation. The singer, in this case, seems to be her significant other and is aware of her distraction even when it is not noticeable to others. The line "Something in your eyes gives away the actress" implies that the woman is trying to hide something and is not as transparent to the singer as she may appear to be to others.
The singer then goes on to refer to himself as the magician who can read through her deception. He refers to her as being under suspicion because he knows that she's not being truthful with him. He says that he could conjure up a love charm to keep her but he chooses not to because he doesn't want to hold on to someone he has to cast a spell on. He wants to be with someone who is real and sincere, without any ulterior motives.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of candidness and honesty that the singer values in his relationships. He chooses to be with someone who is genuine and true to who they are, rather than someone who is not being truthful with him. The lyrics also imply a certain assertiveness in the singer's personality, as he is not willing to settle for anything less than what he truly deserves.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' you, you seem so distracted
I've noticed that you are preoccupied and not fully present with me.
Something in your eyes
I can see that there is something bothering you by looking into your eyes.
Gives away the actress
You are not able to hide your emotions or act convincingly like everything is okay.
Baby, I am wise
I am experienced and knowledgeable enough to recognize when somebody is holding back or not being truthful with me.
Well I'm the magician
I have the power and ability to manipulate situations and perceptions to my advantage, hence the title magician.
You, you're under suspicion
I am skeptical of your motives, and I believe that you are withholding information or hiding something from me.
Witches' brew, you were the entrancer
You used your seductive and charming qualities to lure me in and entice me, but now I see through your facade.
Flying for a fall
You took a risk and now you are paying the price for it.
You have met your master
You are dealing with someone who is more experienced and cunning than you, and you are at a disadvantage.
Seeing as your all
Despite your attempts to deceive me, I have seen through your facade and know the true extent of your abilities.
I could conjure up a mystic
I have the power to create an illusion or manipulate reality to achieve my goals.
...the spirits for a love charm
I can use supernatural forces or magic to create a romantic connection with someone.
For a love charm, girl
I could use my magical powers to make you fall in love with me, but that is not what I want.
Wave my hand and leave you mesmerized
I can easily influence your thoughts and emotions with a simple gesture or word.
But I'm not gonna hold on
I refuse to cling to someone who is not genuinely interested in me and requires magical manipulation to feel love and attraction.
To someone I have to cast a spell on
If I have to use my magical powers to make you love me or stay with me, it is not a genuine connection.
Cast a spell on you
I do not want to use my magic to manipulate you into being with me.
Got to be the real thing with no alibis
I need a genuine and authentic connection with someone, and I will not settle for anything less.
'Cause I'm, well I'm the magician
I have the power and the skills to create an illusion or change someone's perception of reality to achieve my goals.
You, you're under suspicion, yeah
I am still skeptical of your intentions and motives in our relationship.
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.