Prior to joining Nazareth, Charlton played in a few bands, most notably the Mark 5 and later the Red Hawks until joining the local semi pro Dunfermline band "The Shadettes". In 1968, the band changed their name to Nazareth, inspired by the opening lyric from "The Weight", a classic song by The Band.
Charlton played a huge part in Nazareth's worldwide success. His direct, fluid and bluesy style of playing sparked a great chemistry with the raw power of Dan McCafferty's vocals. Charlton also became the band's producer for many years, after the band decided they wanted to move in a new direction for the Hair Of The Dog album, succeeding Roger Glover. Hair Of The Dog attained platinum in the U.S. and has to date sold in excess of two million copies. It is the band's most well known album, it contains their biggest ever hit "Love Hurts" which reached No.8 in the U.S., and also holds the record for the number of weeks spent on the Norwegian chart.
Charlton also produced the self-titled Dan McCafferty debut LP around this time.
After leaving Nazareth in 1990, Charlton played some solo shows on the Scottish club circuit, and released his first solo album Drool in 1997, on the Red Steel label with Neil Miller on vocals. The following year, he relocated to Texas, where he formed the Manny Charlton Band (MCB). The new outfit released a pair of albums — Stonkin and Klone This — before disbanding in 2003. Charlton then focused on solo material again, releasing Say The Word on the Scottish label River Records in 2004.
2005 saw the release of Sharp, which is on the whole a covers album, including Tim Hardin's "Hang On To A Dream" and Bob Dylan's "Shelter From The Storm". Later that year, Charlton completed the follow up to Sharp, the aptly named Sharp Re-Loaded.
In early 2006, Charlton joined the Swedish rock band, From Behind who also feature the ex-Samson frontman Nicky Moore on vocals. From Behind released their debut album titled Game Over, and toured around Europe before disbanding in late 2007. Charlton then released a solo album Americana Deluxe, covering songs such as Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk".
In March 2013, Charlton released Hellacious co-produced by Gary Bryant (GB Records). This recording was made in California and featured Tim Bogert, Walfredo Reyes, Jr., Steven Adler, Vivian Campbell, and Robin DeLorenzo.
In 2014, Charlton's solo albums Sharp and Sharp Re-Loaded were issued as a double CD. Neil Jefferies of Classic Rock commended Charlton's production work, writing: "Among three Dylan songs tackled, All Along The Watchtower is simply stunning, sidestepping both the original and Hendrix’s seminal version with quasi-reggae tones that cement Charlton’s reputation as a truly gifted arranger." In 2018, Atom Records released Créme De La Créme, an album celebrating the 'Best Of' Manny Charlton's solo career.
Sleep
Manny Charlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking in tongues I recognize
A sound in my room, is it rain on my window
I lie awake eyes open wide
Sometimes I read, or watch my t.v.
Tryin' in vain to close my mind
I'm tossin'and turnin'
Sometimes I think this bed's too wide
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
I think of my father remember my mother
I wonder if they can see me now
Sleep¡.
Sleep¡.
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Solo
Sleep¡¡..sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
Manny charlton
Copyright 1999 elgin songs
The lyrics of Manny Charlton's song Sleep express the struggles of insomnia and the desire for restful sleep. The first stanza paints a picture of a person with a troubled mind, haunted by voices from the past and unable to find comfort in his surroundings. The second stanza describes the various unsuccessful methods used to induce sleep - reading, watching TV, tossing and turning, and feeling hot and cold.
The chorus is a repeated plea for sleep, emphasizing the singer's desperation for rest. In the final stanza, the singer reflects on his parents and wonders if they are watching over him as he struggles with insomnia.
Overall, the lyrics of Sleep convey the frustration, exhaustion, and emotional toll of chronic insomnia. The use of vivid imagery and repetition in the chorus adds to the impactful message.
Line by Line Meaning
A voice in my head, a voice from my past
I hear a familiar voice speaking to me, reminding me of my past experiences and memories.
Talking in tongues I recognize
The voice is speaking a language that I understand, but it feels foreign or strange in my mind.
A sound in my room, is it rain on my window
I hear an unidentifiable sound inside my bedroom, and I wonder if it's just rain hitting the windowpane.
I lie awake eyes open wide
I am unable to fall asleep, and I lay in bed with my eyes wide open, trying to relax my mind.
Sometimes I read, or watch my t.v.
To distract myself from my insomnia, I engage in activities such as reading a book or watching television.
Tryin' in vain to close my mind
Despite my efforts to calm my thoughts, I am unable to stop them from racing in my head.
I'm tossin'and turnin'
I am physically restless in bed, unable to find a comfortable or still position.
I'm cold then I'm burnin'
My body temperature fluctuates between feeling cold and overheated while I struggle to fall asleep.
Sometimes I think this bed's too wide
I feel a sense of loneliness or emptiness in my bed, as if it's too big for just one person to occupy.
Oh, how I wish I could sleep
I express a strong desire to finally fall asleep and escape from my current state of wakefulness.
I think of my father remember my mother
Memories of my parents come to mind, and I wonder if they are somehow present or watching over me.
I wonder if they can see me now
I question if my parents are able to witness my current struggles and state of mind from wherever they may be.
Solo
Instrumental break
Sleep...Sleep...
Repetition of the word 'sleep' as the desired state of rest and escape from insomnia.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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