The Wild Reed: Carl Anderson: On and On

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Carl Anderson: On and On

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As was the case last year, February this year at The Wild Reed is dedicated to singer and actor Carl Anderson, who was born on February 27, 1945 and died on February 23, 2004 at age 58.

As I noted last year, I sometimes like to think that in a parallel universe Carl has the superstar status which in this universe was inexplicably denied him. This despite the fact that he possessed a vocal range, elasticity, and sensuality that matched, and often bettered, those of his contemporaries Freddie Jackson, El Debarge, Jeffrey Osborne, John Whitehead, Al Jarreau, and Luther Vandross.

As the Funky Town Grooves website notes, “Carl Anderson was a singer with great range, clarity of diction . . . [and] that rare ability to sing flawlessly from a technical standpoint [while] still communicating character and emotion.”

He was, in short, an artist and vocalist extraordinaire!

Indeed, I think a case can made for Carl's 1996 album Heavy Weather Sunlght Again being a sonic bridge between the “old school” R&B of his contemporaries and the then-emerging neo-soul of musicians such as Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Eric Benet, and D'Angelo. (Perhaps more on this contention in a future post.)

I dare say that for most people, Carl Anderson is best remembered for playing Judas Iscariot in the 1973 film adaptation (above) and numerous stage productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. (For more about Carl’s groundbreaking portrayal of Judas, click here, here, and here.)

Of course, there is much more to the life and career of Carl Anderson than Jesus Christ Superstar, as has been well-documented at The Wild Reed (see for instance here and here) and elsewhere.

This year's series of February posts celebrating Carl will, in large part, focus on his film career beyond Jesus Christ Superstar. But for this initial post, I want to focus on what he is most well-known for: his singing and that voice.

And so without further ado, I share one of my all-time favorite Carl Anderson tracks, "On and On." It's the title track from his second solo album, released in 1984. The title of this song also sums up well what it is I'm committed to doing here at The Wild Reed when it comes to keeping Carl's talents and career out there for people to experience and appreciate. . . . Enjoy!

Changing times
Love seems left behind
But it's only in our troubled minds
Don't despair
Look in your heart and find
The love so strong
That's where we belong
Give yourself a chance
Love won't do you wrong

And now we're not afraid
'Cause our love is so brave
And we know our love will grow and grow
On and on
On and on and on
Love goes on and on
On and on
On and on and on
On and on

Loving you
Is like living through
All of the joy of ages old and new
There is only one love
That we all can have a share of
And we know our love is growing
Growing on and on
On and on and on
On and on

There is only one love
That we all can have our share of
And I know that love is you and I
On and on
On and on and on
On and on

My love for you
Growing strong
On and on

After all that's said and done
Our love goes on and on

All our fears are gone
Gone and gone and gone

Fills my heart with song
As our love goes on and on and on and on
On and on