Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton Version

Carl Carlton Version

The most successful US release of "Everlasting Love" was that by Carl Carlton which reached the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.

The track features a distinctive countermelody, running through most of the song, consisting of background vocal harmonies. Brenda Russell is among the background vocalists.

Carlton had recorded "Everlasting Love" in October 1973 at Nashville recording studio Creative Workshop which was owned by the song's composer Buzz Cason; however Cason was not involved in the recording by Carlton, the singer himself choosing to record "Everlasting Love" which he knew via the version on David Ruffin's 1969 My Whole World Ended album. Produced by Papa Don Schroeder and Tommy Cogbill, Carlton's original recording of "Everlasting Love" was issued as the B-side of the 1973 single "I Wanna Be Your Main Squeeze"; the track (i.e. "Everlasting Love") was then issued in July 1974 as an A-side having been given a disco style remix and became a discothèque favorite before breaking on the Hot 100 in September 1974 to proceed to a #6 peak that November, almost reaching the R&B Top Ten at #11.

Carlton's version remains an airplay favorite on American oldies radio stations. According to Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI), the 1974 Carl Carlton version has been played more than 4 million times.

One of the earliest Pop hits to crossover from disco airplay, Carlton's "Everlasting Love" is a staple of disco music compilations including the second installment of the Pure Disco CD compilation series.

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