Gold Record Alert!
Song#: 0720 Date: 08/22/1981
Debut: 86
Peak: 22
Weeks: 21
Genre: R&B, Funk
Pop Bits: Originally billed as Little Carl Carlton, this Detroiter had a few singles reach the R&B chart in the late 60s. He finally got a big break when in 1974 his remake of "Everlasting Love" hit #6 pop and #11 R&B. Unfortunately, he encountered issues with his label and it kind of killed his momentum. A label switch didn't help and soon he was without a contract. He finally found a home at 20th Century and this first single for them became a smash hit reaching #2 R&B and getting Carlton a Grammy nod for Best R&B Vocals. But once again he couldn't follow it up and it ended up being his last pop chart entry. He would go on to put a few minor singles on the R&B chart, but by 1986 those all dried up. Still in Detroit, he has moved on to Gospel music.
ReduxReview: I think it was just the lack of pop radio airplay at the time that kept this from going Top 10, especially since it went gold. It's a terrific tune and seems to be one that everybody remembers. I'm not sure why I didn't buy it back in the day as certainly liked it. But thanks to several 80s compilations, the song makes several appearances in my collection.
ReduxRating: 8/10
Trivia: It was Leon Haywood who helped Carlton secure his contract with 20th Century (the label Haywood was on at the time) and he also wrote this song. Haywood had been on the pop chart the previous year with "Don't Push It Don't Force It" (#49 pop, #2 R&B).
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