We all have those lists of discs that we’d want to have with us if we were ever stranded on a desert island.  I’ve always tried to keep mine as a nice mix of different artists and groups.  Every few years one or two drop off and a couple others are added.  That inside core of six or seven seems to be consistent and stands the test of time.  You get that grin or warm feeling every time you put it on.  Recorded over a decade ago (where does time go??), Larry Carlton’s The Gift is one of those overlooked gems that showcases some of this guitarist best works.  As a GRP release, Carton produced and arranged all ten tracks.

The fast paced “Ridin’ The Treasure” gets things going from the opening down beat.  The melodic hook sets early and leads to some long runs that are rarely heard on guitar.  This one’s all Larry and is nonstop until the end.  Take a breath at the end and continue on to a nice cover of “Things We Said Today.”  The featured vocals of Michele Carlton come off well.  Larry’s guitar accents through the Lennon penned lyrics before letting loose on a haunting solo that crescendos to a melodic high before giving way to those soft vocals again. The two quietly play until the end.  “Goin’ Nowhere” has a funky little opening with help from Kirk Whalum before giving way to a cord induced melody that acts as a backdrop for both Larry Kimmel’s bass and Kirk’s sax.  The song is aptly named since the guys are basically in the same place at the end as they were at the beginning.

The title track is one of those thought provoking songs that you really don’t come across very often.  Carlton crafts his strings in such a way that speaks to you as they slide from note to note.  The eight bar hook continues to play in varying degrees and octaves.  Whalum accents this phrasing as he soars with an emotional sax solo that finishes by Larry coming back to the mix to finish things off.  “Shop Til You Drop” is primarily light hearted in its delivery while giving us some nice guitar licks.  “Pammie Dear” is one of my favorites.  It’s very melodic and simple in nature.  For the most part it’s played just one note at a time with a western like theme that lends itself to echoing the previous phrase before regressing into a five note reprieve.  Although it is simple in the approach, it still has a very nice effect.

Most everyone’s familiar with “Osaka Cool” whether they know the name or not.  This one has become a standard for many of his shows and features Kirk again on sax.  It’s well crafted classic that plays off itself time and time again.  There’s a real bluesy feel to “My Old Town” that hasn’t been heard so far.  The notes are deliberate and are constantly fed with a nice keyboard background.  The reflective “Mourning Dove” reminds me in approach to “Pammie Dear” with its story telling style.  Its saxophone accents from Whalum only add to a nice one that I’m sure you’ll want to listen to again.  The set finishes off with a cute one named “Buddy.”  The guitar is a little more choked but the flight is still the same giving melodic phrases and solos.

This may be one that you’ve overlooked for a while, but its well worth taking a listen to.  The years have been good to it and it’s still as fresh as the day I brought it home.  There are several songs that will stick in your mind and make you think.  I believe this is why we have “The Gift.”

- Harvey Cline