It’s Turntable Tuesday because life is too short not to listen to great music! Turn that TV off! Crank up a some party tunes and dance the night away! Recently the amazing Clarence Carter came to mind so I located a rare new vinyl copy of one of his recordings to turn up and smile a while. This music reminds me of all the great times I have had while either attending one of his shows or just plain listening to the music of Clarence Carter for decades. More on that in a moment. It’s Turntable Tuesday let’s get this party started.
If you would like to listen to my companion podcast you can listen here or subscribe for free on any of the streaming services you use. My podcast is easily searchable on any streaming service where you get your podcasts by searching “Andrew Talbert.” Look for the World Wide Music Media logo. I’ll talk to you on your mobile device!
Summer 1977. It’s a real hot Saturday night and I am in the parking lot of the “Good Times Express” which was a real plain building that was built on rural land purchased from my Grandfather Andrew as a remote piece of property adjacent to his original farm land. It’s dark and the gravel parking lot is filling up with cars from North Carolina and Virginia. This is going to be one busy night inside as the word is out and the flashing road sign says “Tonight Clarence Carter.” Clarence Carter always drew a packed house. I had been to the “Good Times Express” many times having seen everyone from Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs to Bill Monroe followed the next weekend by The Chairmen of the Board. So many great party bands found their way on to that stage as the locals loved everything from bluegrass to Carolina beach music. I am sure some of my high frequency hearing loss probably had it’s early beginnings in this building. I was fired up to see Clarence Carter as I was already a fan having seen him several times already at the age of 18. He loved the “Good Times Express” and it was a regular stop on his tours. The man is an absolute superstar on the stage and his talents to write, perform, and entertain are the envy of many in any genre of music.
As the late sunset went to dark our gang was already inside listening to background music and having a good time talking about our busy week. Suddenly the lights dim and the announcer takes the small stage in front of a “SRO” also known as a standing room only crowd. The band starts with an introductory lead-in and suddenly the man himself walks on to the stage being led by a very scantily clad and very attractive lady. It is dark and he is wearing sunglasses. As soon as he reaches down to find the microphone stand with his hand he smiles, the lights come up, and the night begins. Clarence starts his show with “Girl I am Gonna’ Kiss Ya All Over” and throws in his classic Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha….(like he is up to something) laugh and you cannot help but want to start dancing and laughing at the same time. Some call him Dr. CC I call him Dr. Feelgood.
C’mere girl
I’m gonna kiss ya all over
C’mere girl
I’m gonna kiss ya all over
I’m gonna kiss ya so much, you’ll think I’ve gone mad
Kiss ya in places you forgot you had
C’mere girl
I’m gonna kiss ya all over
Ha ha ha ha…
I could tell Clarence Carter stories all night. I will never forget seeing Clarence at the Bull Durham Blues Festival so long ago. It was September 12, 1998 and here was the line-up: Boozoo Chavis & the Magic Sounds, Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Clarence Carter, Deborah Coleman, Lightnin’ Wells, and yes Wilson Pickett. The whole evening was fabulous and I will never forget that entrance from Clarence Carter on that night. Now for those of you who don’t know Clarence Carter was born blind in Alabama. He went to school at the Alabama School for the Blind and later to Alabama State College where he graduated with a BS in Music! Not only that he can play every instrument on any song he has ever recorded but sometimes he played everything on the track. Not only is Clarence good, he is damn good. Back to the story at the Durham Bulls baseball field. There was a small travel trailer in the corner of the field in the distance. The PA came up after a break and the band on stage starts playing a rhythm and the door on the trailer opens. Out come two very young ladies dressed in very, very short sparkling dresses. Clarence steps out very finely dressed and each one of the ladies grabs an arm. Here comes Clarence Carter strutting slowly across the field with some of the best looking ladies at the show. He is smiling like he is up to something. It’s dark and he is wearing sunglasses…the Blues Brothers wish they were this cool. The crowd ROARS…I remember pumping my fist in the air and saying yes! Clarence Carter is in the house tonight! Ha, ha, ha, ha…..I got that Dr. CC laugh down.
This album set contains some of the early great hits from Clarence Carter that are getting harder to find as time passes. Later Clarence survived the disco era and kept cranking out hits from “Dr. CC” to “Strokin.'” As I write this Clarence is still out there at 85 years old and I would go to a show tonight if I could only see him again. The good news is I spent many nights smiling and watching this talent from only a few feet away having the time of my life. It’s time to get back to my turntable. I got a date with my Clarence Carter double album and a volume control that needs crankin.’
Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.