Clarence Carter, “Patches” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 112^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Patches” by Clarence Carter. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 112^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Patches”, performed by 🎙 Clarence Carter. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“I was born and raised down in Alabama / On a farm way back up in the woods / I was so ragged the folks used to call me ‘Patches.’” With those lines, so begins the soul gem, 🎵 “Patches”.  The definitive version of “Patches” was released in 1970 by blind soul musician, 🎙 Clarence Carter.  Although he’s responsible for the 🏆 Grammy-nominated version, which peaked at no. 4 on the pop charts, “Patches” was written by 🎼 ✍ General Johnson and 🎼 ✍ Ron Dunbar.  Carter, and his brilliant delivery of the spoken word portions, as well as his soulfulness on the sung portions, truly makes “Patches” the classic it is.

The songwriting is impeccable on “Patches” – pitch perfect.  The record depicts a family struggling to survive – working hard and doing the best that they can.  ‘Patches’ himself becomes the breadwinner, the head of the family, following the death of his father.  In addition to doing the things expected of a child, Patches also doubles as the man of the house.  The chorus truly hits home because there are so many families, even 52 years after “Patches” was released, that experience some version of this.

“Patches, I’m depending on you, son

To pull the family through

My son, it’s all left up to you.”

Final Thoughts 💭

All told, Clarence Carter feels like the perfect artist to sing 🎵 “Patches”, period.  Added to the awesome songwriting and Carter’s exceptional performance is terrific production work. Like much of the soul of the 70s, Clarence has a picturesque, ear-catching backdrop to work with (horns, strings, and backing vocals, especially).

🎙 Clarence Carter • 💿 Patches • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1970

Clarence Carter, “Patches”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 112 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]